As an officially uncool person, I have a couple of questions about this “top ten” business. Does this mean that more people have come in to Guestroom Records to buy the new Bonnie Prince Billy record than any other record? Does this mean CDs and lps? Do people actually come in and buy new music in this format, still? Don’t people download their music now? Aren’t cds printed for the sake of selling the new Eric Clapton live best ofs to our parents who buy a new cd every six months? Or for local musicians who want to get their music out to other local music lovers? Don’t record shops mostly sell vintage music fare and local music? Or does this top ten mean that the proprietors most love this album this week than other albums? Please explain. Thank you.

Good question, Susan. These are actual sales rankings provided by the good folks at Guestroom. Like Size Records, Guestroom seems to actually buck the trend and has thrived in the download era by keeping a wide-ranging stock.

Some people still dig owning the physical specimen of certain things. I’ve been to their stores, and they stay unusually busy.

By virtue of my consumer and professional needs, I’m in the download market, probably for good. But I champion the stores for staying vital at a time when the CD racks at the big box stores are mainly loss leaders to get people to buy new stainless steel appliances.

thank you! and i agree with you about being glad that size and guestroom remain alive and well. i haven’t been to norman lately let alone guestroom recs, but when i had leisure time (sigh) i loved sorting thru the bins at size. and they always had a bright shiny copy of a long play belle & sebastian on display. good for these shops for publishing a top ten. long live the cd and lp consumer.

The Guestroom in OKC is nice as well, though I’m sure not as extensive as the one in Norman. I’m pretty much a download buyer as well, but occasionally I’ll pick up something on CD for the packaging. I really like that artists are still putting things out on vinyl, too.