🎧 Downbeat.fm Vol.5 Track 12
A quick note before getting things started...
A long-time Twitter friend recently launched a new website called "I Have That on Vinyl," where people from all walks of life and musical preferences gather to discuss their love of records and music. Check it out; there are a lot of incredible stories, and maybe you have a similar one to share.
Before getting to the music, I'd like to thank all of you for coming on this musical journey with me. I hope you're discovering new and interesting music like I have. If you'd like to follow me elsewhere on the web, here are my links: https://mike.fail
Growing up in the 90s and being the music lover I am, I spent a LOT of time at record stores. It's funny how I always called them record stores, even though I never bought an actual record in the 90s.
Recently, Sam Goody said that they were closing their last remaining stores.
Honestly, I had no idea that they were still around. Or any record store that wasn't a section in Walmart, Target, or similar stores.
When I heard the news, however, it was sad. I spent hours in two particular Sam Goody stores: the one in the Rockaway Mall in Rockaway, New Jersey, and the one on Rt—46 in Parsippany, New Jersey.
These were during my high school years when I was working a part-time job, and all of my money went towards gas for my car and CDs–an incredible amount of CDs.
The record store was a sacred place for me. It's where I found new music and where my collection grew. But as the 90s drew to a close, I was increasingly getting my music online and through less-than-legal means. Napster was king, and I was a loyal subject. Napster turned into Limewire, then IRC chat rooms and torrents, until online music became easier and legitimate with things like iTunes and, later, streaming.
Sadly, these cathedrals to music are mostly gone now, but they are relics of their time. It is so much easier for people, especially young kids, to find new music and make their own. And that is more than worth the sacrifice.
December's Playlist
This month’s playlist features MJ Lenderman, Beck, SYML, Rain on Fridays, Porch Light, and others!
Quick note: the Apple Music version of the playlist has a cover of George Harrison's "Be Here Now" by Beck, which is an Apple Music exclusive.
Listen to this month’s playlist on
As I've done in years past, I have created both a single Apple Music playlist and a Spotify playlist containing all of the songs from the 2024 editions of Downbeat.fm.
Quick Listening and Other Links
Last year, I saw Violent Femmes play their debut album in its entirety as they celebrated the album's 40th anniversary with a tour. Having never seen the band, it was very cool to experience a show like this. They recently performed the album with the Milwaukee Symphony for PBS. Imagine telling a Violent Femmes fan this in 1983 or 1984...
Josh Gottheimer, a Congressman from New Jersey was caught creating a fake Spotify Wrapped, which made him look like a bigger Springsteen fan than he probably is. This story is hilarious to me.
