Before Amazon.com and iTunes existed, we bought CDs and records at...wait for it...record stores. The release of a new album by a big band was an event, in part because there was almost no chance any of us ordinary folks could hear it before the official release. The Internet was still too primitive, and only radio stations were likely to have advance copies.
For some of the bigger albums, the Tower Records across town would begin selling the new album at midnight. We'd have to drive a ways to get there, and there could be a line around the store as fans showed up to get their hands on the new album as soon as it was available. I waited in this line when Guns N' Roses released Use Your Illusion I
Today is the day Slayer releases their 12th album, Repentless
I won't be waiting in any lines today. I was able to find the entire album online a few days ago without much effort. I have only had a chance to listen to it once so far, so it wouldn't be fair to call this a review. I was very impressed with what I heard. And besides, with a cover like this, how can it not be good?
I will either stop by the local Best Buy and pick up the album on my way home from work today or order the album from Amazon.com this weekend. I don't much care for downloading music; I want my hands on the physical CD. And while it is certainly convenient to be able to order music online, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the excitement of the record store album release events. I guess I'll just have to console myself with a new Slayer album.