One of the things about the demise of the local, indie record stores that really sucks the most is the loss of the thrill: of walking in the door and hearing something new and exciting. Buying it. And taking it home, only to have it become one of your all-time favorites. What are the albums that you discovered like that? And where did you discover them (if you can remember)?

Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes (at Blackout Records, on Southport in Chicago)
Neutral Milk Hotel - On Avery Island (also at Blackout)
Eels - Electro-Shock Blues (Laurie's Planet of Sound on Lincoln Ave. in Chicago)

I'll try to think of more, too. But these are the ones that leap to top of mind.
I really miss Blackout!

I've been to Laurie's. They didn't have the Silver Jews record I was looking for at the time.

I can't remember ever buying something based on hearing it in the record store.

It's like having your first kiss. Again and again.
But, you know, not quite.

Point being, you missed out on something pretty special.

All of which were released after the demise of the "record store".

how do you figure?

1991

what about 1991

uh not really. I get the point of the joy of the impulse purchase that you end up loving or the joy in just running to the record store and coming home with something completely new to you.

I just don't seem to have the same experience a lot of you have with indie stores. I've been to ones I liked for what they stocked, prices, freebies thrown in for being a good customer, etc. I just never found record store clerks to be very helpful and never found what they play to be particularly new and exciting.

This isn't quite the same thing you are getting at, but I used to live a block away from a tiny indie store -- Go Records -- in Arlington, VA that would let you listen to any cd in the store via headphones before buying. I'd wander down there some when bored and listen to things that looked interesting. I remember pulling out the Auteurs - New Wave for a listen knowing nothing more about it than that the cover was somewhat intriguing. I've been a big fan ever since. It wasn't a great store though and that's the only thing great that I can remember discovering that way. I listened to a bunch of meh to find that one great band.