/culled from the Indie Initiative email list – a very worthy cause!!!!!  From this list, remember Heartland Records, Greville Records, Peril Underground, Polyester Records, Metal Mayhem:  but there’s also Missing Link, Hear Now Records, DMC Records, Liquorice Pie Records, Northside Records… plenty more too, just waiting to help you love music   Google maps can help if you need to find one near you!

It’s World Record Store Day on Saturday www.worldrecordstoreday.com .

Record stores are the heartbeat of music. Those indie stores that are left survive because they cater to their consumers needs. The proprietors and staff have the knowledge to steer people in the right direction, they help musicians get their product out and give joy when the have the music you want.

I have a bad vinyl habit that needs more records. This week I got Zaireeka (Flaming Lips) and a Superfunk compilation from Second Spin in Carlisle St, the new My Morning Jacket album (complete with CD) and a soul compilation at Greville Records and a DVD of The Prairie Home Companion from Record Paradise in Chapel Street.  Record Paradise in now run by Paul and Renee and is completely changed from Warrens Record Paradise. You can now find vinyl sorted into some sort of order. It’s still a crate diggers paradise, but they have added books and movies (helped by Paul Harris from 3RRR).

Warrens was run by possibly the unfriendliest and rudest proprietor ever. It’s next to the Police station at 100 Chapel Street (near Carlisle St).

If you’ve been there you know what I mean. But now it’s sweetness and light.

Basement Discs and Polyester will be having instore appearances.

Record store were and are a great source of knowledge. Support them on Saturday, but support them very week. It can be easier to go to a chain, but having some knowledgable discussion will be far more illuminating. You never know who you might meet. I met Nick Cave recently at Greville. He always supports local stores. In’t it time you did to.

<neil@indieinitiative.com>

What the world needs now is independent music, sweet independent music.  And Polyester Records on Brunswick Street has always been instrumental in mapping Melbourne’s musical landscape, supporting both local favourites and obscure internationals for years.  Polyester is the type of record store where the staff are still allowed to put their own recommendations on the wall: and what’s more, it’s the kind of store where you might even trust their judgement! As well as new releases and obscurities Polyester sell a great range of indie pop, reggae, hip hop, electro-rock, soundtracks, wrong-disco, pop-punk,  alt.nu.folk  and of course the retrorespectables like Iggie Pop, The Who, The Smiths, Jesus and Mary Chain and more.  Lots more information about Polyester is available on their website including charts, reviews, gig tickets and more. 

In recent weeks Polyester have nearly counted themselves out of an Underground Melbourne rating by **BECOMING A CHAIN STORE** “Noooooooooooooooo” I hear you wail.  Well, at least if they become a chain store they’re going to be a damn fine quality one – or they will be as long as we keep buying the good stuff!  With that in mind, you are encouraged to visit their new store in Flinders Lane, near Elizabeth street and Degraves Lane. It’s looking pretty shiny for an indie record store at the moment, so it’s essential to make a visit and help take some shine off the waxed floor and give the city the same pop-postered home away from home feel that the Brunswick Street store has in spades! 

In fact, so keen are Polyester for you to drop by, that they’re having an INCENTIVE OFFER  until the 20th of January 2008!!!! If you spend $80 on music you’ll get a $10 voucher. It’s available in the city and at the Brunswick street store, but only applies to music: don’t think you can be sneaky and attempt to use it to by gig tickets… 

Best thing  about Polyester 1 and Polyester 2:   good, solid range of stock in indie new releases.  letting their staff pick the music on the charts or even to have their own chart.  hiring music lovers as staff – it’s nice to have someone enthusiastic and /or knowlegeable helping dissuade you from buying that “ironic” Donny Osmond remix album and to take home some nice P J Harvey instead…

The downside: the range of 7″es is a bit limited – but they do offer to order things in for you.  The new shop needs the shiny newness scuffed and loitered out of it, so make your way in and mooch about in your improbably large boots. There are always too many interesting releases.  The experimental section is pretty small to nonexistent which is definitely a shame but experimental is a frisky can of worms, and perhaps they’re wise to steer clear.

Trivia: Chris who co-owns Polyester has put out a board game called ‘World Domination’!  Apparently you can buy it instore. I’m not sure if it’s available for $10 off though…

Details:POLYESTER RECORDS – CITY288 Flinders Lane, Melbourne(03) 9663 8696You can find the City store between Degraves and Elizabeth StreetsPOLYESTER RECORDS – FITZROY387 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy(03) 9419 5137You can find the Fitzroy store opposite Vegie Bar on Brunswick Street. The 112 trams stops right outside the store.Opening Hours – Fitzroy StoreMon & Tues 10am-9pmWed to Sat 10am-10pmSun 10am-9pmOpening Hours – City StoreMonday to Thursday: 10am – 6pmFriday: 10am – 8pmSaturday: 10am – 6pmSunday: 11am – 5pm