It's a rough time no matter who you are during this pandemic. Although we have all experienced different levels of tragedy, economic loss, and stress, we are all going through this together... yet not at all. It is lonely. Even with technology, the ability to Facetime or Zoom someone, our ability to download and play a game with friends online... it feels lonely. We are keeping 6ft from each other, we aren't experiencing group gatherings; festivals, school, concerts, spiritual gatherings, birthday parties, weddings, and even funerals. Unlike most tragedy bringing people together, this one has made the world feel quiet, distant, and uncertain. Which is why music has become this force in many of our lives to get us through hard times.

Now before this post becomes depressing to no return I want to explain highlights within our store during this rough patch because there has been silver linings. 

Firstly, we have been grateful for those who have reached out. We have had people buy gift cards, turntables, records, and apparel. Every sale counts right now. Secondly, Bishop Arts' stores have come together to help each other. We've had Eno's keep a crate of mystery bags for sale with every pizza bought on the go. Thirdly, our staff has been forced into this opportunity of finding unique ways to get the store by and update our website. We hosted our first live auction on Instagram and sold all our auction records. We had margaritas, played some tunes, danced... it was a good time. So we are staying strong and working as hard as we can. It's frustrating to see large multi-million dollar corporate companies get the small business loans we've been trying to receive, but go figure. 

Anyways. Long prologue... we wanted to share the Staff Picks Albums getting us through quarantine... these range in genre, beat, and no order. Some relate into our sadness of self-isolation while others help us get up in the morning and find joy in life. Here we go...

1. Postal Service "Give Up"

(Kate Pick) 

If you've listened to this album while not being alone and sad in your room then you haven't listened to it correctly. It's beautifully written, melancholy, and lyrics have qualities of longing. Even in the first track you know what you're getting, " The District Sleeps Alone Tonight". Just take a moment and listen to the lyrics of this album, it's as if it was written for this pandemic.... "I've got a cupboard with cans of food. Filtered water and pictures of you. And I'm not coming out until this is all over. And I'm looking through the glass. Where the light bends at the cracks. And I'm screaming at the top of my lungs."

 2. Animal Collective "Strawberry Jam"

(Kiley Pick)

Animal Collective is one of my favorite bands and I enjoy all of their albums. However, I’ve found Strawberry Jam to be comforting to me during this time. I like to listen to it while closing my eyes and lounging in my hammock. It’s nice because I have no where to be so I can get really lost in the sound. It’s soothing to me to basically micro dose harsh electronics and ambient drift but in this super synthetic pop exterior. I feel this album paved the way for most of the indie records in the 2010s. Every song on the album is intricate and detailed. from the instruments, vocals (very shrill and unpredictable), to the lyrics and this albums production is proficient. I often revisit the albums I loved in the 2000s. When Strawberry Jam came out I was 15 and I think the album shaped me and my taste in music heavily. I actually don’t care for a majority of indie music being produced present day.

3. Las Hermanas Hernandez "Boleros de Hoy y Siempre" 

(David Pick) 

I’ve been listening to boleros, which is a really amazing style of love songs that were very popular in the 50s and 60s with horns and awesome harmonies. It makes you feel like you’re in some Cantina on the beach in Acapulco in the 50s! The kind of escape we all are longing for right now... especially given all the rain.

4. Grimes "Miss Anthropocene"

(Kiley Pick)

I’ve also been listening to Grimes new album, Miss Anthropocene aka the goddess of the climate crisis. I particularly like this album because it’s a 2020 production that presents current crisis’ and futuristic themes (that somehow feel more present the I think even Grimes intended). Grimes conceived a child in the making of this album. As a new mom and total weirdo I somehow feel more of a connection to Grimes in this album. It feel weird to have to have a child during all of this. In all of Grimes music videos she’s rubbing her tummy but it’s all taking place in this sci-fi nihilistic setting. In one video she’s even wearing a fabric mask. So it feels very on theme for current situation and I can get down with the dystopian vibes of the album.

5. Arcade Fire "The Suburbs" 

(Kate Pick)

Yes, this album is about being stuck in the suburbs and waiting for more.... inspired by Will Butler growing up in The Woodlands of Houston. However, I found this record relevant for a whole new reason during this quarantine. The song "Wasted Hours" holds that patient waiting and trying to pass time to live. Also with the "Month of May" around the corner I can feel all the angst and wanting to create and be a part of the world again. This record came out when I was a reckless senior in high school in The Suburbs, and I love how it's meaning has become something new in this experience. 

6. Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"

(David Pick)

We usually always have Amy Winehouse in stock and it's because it's one of our best selling albums, and reaches a large audience. This album is full of so much heartbreak and longing. We feel even though the song "Rehab" is a number one hit, the song that reaches us emotionally during this pandemic is "Wake Up Alone". 

7. Al Green "Gets Next To You"

(Kate Pick) 

I feel like I throw Al Green as a common suggestion for every situation... heartbreak, weddings, bedtime, waking up... I feel like Al Green is a great go to in any situation. Now I will explain why he's great in Quarantine. He is so damn perfectly optimistic even with sad lyrics. I just feel like there's good to come after I hear his voice. Upbeat, sensual, warm... its everything we need to get out of our funks. I picked this album because of his song "Tired of Being Alone" because I'm so tired of being alone... 

8. Atlas Sound "Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel" 

(Kate Pick)

This gem came out 2008. I feel a lot of Atlas Sound (AKA Deerhunter singer Bradford Cox) songs are about isolation and not feeling understood. They are magical sounding and layer a lot of interesting sounds... this is the first album he released under Atlas Sound and I feel he only got better as he progressed. This album literally has a song called "Quarantined"... so if the shoe fits play the music. 

So there's some of our picks. We will get through this, and music will help with our nerves and mind... so please give us a call if you need any records, turntables, speakers... anything. We can't wait to have our doors open again bringing music to our intimate neighborhood, and see what our local musicians have been cooking up during this time of isolation. 

It has definitely been a transition despite being less than a mile away, however we are beyond excited to be in Bishop Arts District. 

The reason behind our move was the foot traffic of Bishop Arts, booking for events, and bringing music to this fast growing neighborhood. The move happened in early October, right before the holiday rush. It took a total of three weeks to move, paint, and conduct construction. The spot we are in is in the heart of Bishop Art, right across from Enos Pizza. We transitioned what was originally Ginger Fox's Art Gallery into a record shop. So we painted the back wall red, added a stage, drilled crates onto the walls. We kept are style because we love our minimalistic, yet warm appearance. We are still organized by last name because genres keep musicians boxed in. We also have special crates full of staff picks, new arrivals, and monthly themes. We still have our mystery bags as well. 

One of our favorite artistic additions to our space is our Big Red wall behind the stage, and our mural in the front designed by Hunter Moehring and Taylor Smith. It's an abstract groovy vision of the Dallas Skyline. We feel like it's a perfect wall to take pictures in front of. It brings life into the store. 

Some new things in our shop is the pressing of Oak Cliff Apparel which are locally designed by Lewellyn's Print Shop. These are special because they made only in a certain amount. So grab it while we have it. We are changing out the designs after 3 pressings. We value people having a shirt that's not super common. Also there is a design for everyone. We also have so many pins and stickers for sale. From Lewellyn's and Daniel Driensky aka Explordinary. We try to keep things interesting and change our what we have in stock. 

Even though our shop is small and curated, we are always buying records. new and vintage. So bring your albums by. We check for quality and demand. Of course, the better condition the better the price we will give. The best times to bring your records by are from Monday to Thursday. It's slow enough to find a good parking spot and get our full attention. You can bring an entire uhaul full and we will check it out. As you can see below...

Come see us! we are so excited to be a part of Bishop Arts! We are literally in the center and an area that is growing and lively. It's family friendly, but also has edge and progressive. Here's some more pictures of our new spot.

It Is here! Our first of many Spinster Episodes:

 Please subscribe to our Channel and keep up with our future videos. Expect to see more staff members, local musicians, more information about turntables, and lots of dancing. 

 It was 2 years in the making.... and here's how I, Kate Siamro, came about working at Spinster and getting comfortable with social media. Wanted to give a blog post on my personal perspective of this all. 

When I first met up with David to talk about working at Spinster it was at Davis St Espresso on our Typo Block. I just moved to Oak Cliff, was waiting tables and freelancing in film/writing. I dreamed about working at a record store since I watched High Fidelity. I wanted to be John Cusack with his lists of "Top 5's" and using music analogies to express my life experience. So whenever David reached out wanting me to work for him, I immediately jumped on the opportunity.

It was the most casual job interview I ever had, but one question hit hard and truly paved the road of my job at Spinster. David asked me "What can you specifically do for Spinster, that most people cant?" 

Given my previous experience with film, interviewing, and photography it came out without thinking... "Social Media" 

At this time I couldn't decide if I liked Social Media or not. I hated the conceit and hype behind it all, my biggest fear was losing touch with what I feel and who I am. I hated people who would spend their entire lunches over a plate taking pictures of it, or people who spent money on buying followers... yes that exists. I was also in school when I started at Spinster, and was taking advertising/marketing courses. So I knew sex sells, people's attention spans are low, and there's an art behind marketing. If I was going to work on Spinster's social media I wanted it to consist of 3 things. First off, I wanted it to show off Dallas and what is local. Secondly, I wanted it to be sincere... I wouldn't try to sell anything I wouldn't buy myself, and thirdly I wanted it to never be scripted or overly produced. I wanted it to be raw.  

I remember when I did the first video for Spinster... I channeled my inner John Cusack and grabbed my top 3 albums in the store. I made sure no one else was in the store. I could only do this alone, with my phone faced at me on top of some boxes, in the area with the best lighting. I pretended the phone was my mom, weirdly... the thought helped me talk about what I love more easily. At that time, Instagram videos were under 10 seconds, so I had to talk super fast to get it all out. I shared it on Facebook, remembered the simple "Social Media Rules"... tag what's related, speak with conviction and articulate your words, make sure you give credit when it's due. I felt good about it. I started connecting with others online who share a similar love for records. I realized how international Instagram is, and I feel because I went into it with good intentions, only good has come from it. When I scroll back through our Instagram it becomes a family photo album of all that's happened here. You will see Nick explaining turntables, Aileen boosting about up coming events, and myself showcasing records I love. It's become a daily contribute we make as a staff.  

It was a no-brainer to get a Youtube Channel going. We were lucky enough to come across Josh Davis who is a jack of all trades. He did the background music, film, direction, producing, editing... he did it all. These up coming videos are just the staff, and Josh Davis. You can follow his work or hire him on Currentcoast.com 

We are very lucky to have a solid store like Spinster, and we are growing, but also keeping it local. So keep up with us, and get into the music culture of records. 

Subscribe to our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFf3a6y8Bk1hPHlmNDRwvqQ

It's that time of the year once again...holiday shopping! 

Nothing is harder than trying to perfect gift for someone! Sometimes you have an idea of what they want, but there's so many brands and styles to choose from, and you still have to find one that fits in your budget. 

Here at Spinster Records we suggest you can never go wrong with a turntable as a gift. You are literally giving the gift of music. Turntables don't expire or offend and good quality turntables can be shared and passed down through generations. However, with so many to choose from it can be overwhelming to decide which is best for you or your gift recipient.

Below we have a list (from least to most expensive) with a helpful suggestion of who the turntable might suit. 

$100 - Crosley Cruiser - Record Player for the Young Teen 

A lot of people are attracted to this record player at first glance because it's retro suitcasecase look. It's small and easy to take anywhere. Everything needed to play a record is contained in the box, including built in speakers. It's a great idea youngsters that are just getting into vinyl records. 

The BIG benefits: 

• Includes speakers 
• Bluetooth compatible 
• Retro suitcase look - many fun colors to choose from 
• All three speeds: 33, 45, 78 
• Most portable turntable 

$150 - Crosley C100 - Budget Saving Gift 

The Crosley C100 shares many styling cues with the more expensive AudioTechnica LP120 and the two turntables do share several qualities. Most notably both feature a built in phono preamplifier for easy connection to a soundbar, home theater system, existing stereo system, and many other speaker solutions. It's an easy to use turntable that is a good step up from the all-in-one Crosley Cruiser above, but still easy on the pocketbook. 

The BIG Benefits:

• IT'S ONLY $150! That's as cheap as it gets for a brand new turntable 
• Built in pre-amplifier
• Belt-drive operation
• Two speeds: 33, 45

$200 - Music Hall USB 1 - Trying to get your parents or friend back into their Records

The Music Hall USB 1 is the bare minimum of what you need for a good turntable that can also download the records to your PC. It comes in a clean black and is super light. The lightness makes it easy to move around. The reason it makes a good gift to parents is because... lets be honest... it's not that expensive to give to someone who you're unsure if they will be into it, yet wanting them to get into it.

The BIG Benefits:

• IT'S ONLY $200! Cheap and cool looking to the record newbie 
• Built in pre-amplifier
• Plug and Play USB 
• Can digitize your vinyl 

$300 - Audiotechnica LP120 - For the Aspiring DJ 

Not only is this a great DJ turntable, it digitizes your vinyl, can play 3 different speeds, is heavy and sturdy, and the highest rated turntable online. It's truly hard to beat, and has been a consistent favorite at Spinster since we opened. This is for the person who wants to download records to sample and then potentially use the turntable to scratch and DJ like the good old days. 

The BIG Benefits:

• Built in pre-amplifier
• USB plug to digitize your records to PC or Mac
• Heavy which makes it a tank of turntables 
• 3 speeds, 33, 45, 78 
• Adjustable Pitch 
• Reverse and Forward button 
• Easy to connect to mixers, and scratch friendly 

 $300 - Music Hall 1.3 - Minimalist who wants to get into Records 

Minimal is in, and this is for the person who wants to toss a record on with no complications. It's our most simple turntable. If you're minimalistic there's a good chance that you like black and white, so good news! This comes in sleek black. Visually it looks like it's worth 500, but this baby goes for $300. 

The BIG Benefits: 

• Built in pre-amplifier
• Belt Driven for smooth sound 
• 3 speeds; 33, 45, 78
• One switch to turn on and pick speeds 
• Simple, minimalist, and clean

$400 - Music Hall 1.5 - The Sad Dad... just kidding... The vintage wood loving audiophile 

Music Hall really picked up it's game with this gorgeous wood turntable. First off, it has real cherry wood... it's the real deal wood. It's our most expensive turntable that includes the Pre-Amp inside it. Just like the up-coming turntables mage by Rega, and Edwards Audio, the 1.5 is low noise belt driven. The S-shaped aluminum tonearm really adds a nice touch to this beauty. 

The BIG Benefits: 

• full-size aluminum platter and special vibration damping platter mat
• gorgeous real cherry wood veneer
• built-in phono pre-amplifier which is by-passable if plugging into an existing phono pre-amp
• S-shaped aluminum tonearm, 9″
• removable headshell for easy cartridge changing
• low noise belt-drive design
• three-speed motor provides 33⅓, 45, and 78 rpm
• properly aligned and mounted Music Hall Melody ($75 value) moving magnet cartridge
• high quality gold RCA connectors with detachable phono cable included

$475 - Rega Planar 1 - For the Minimalist Audiophile who wants to hear every note 

Throughout the 3 years Spinster has been open the Rega Planar 1 has been a consist big seller. It's hand made in England, put together bit by bit. When travelling through Marfa they had this at El Cosmico, and it just looks fantastic surrounded by cacti and mid century modern furniture... it's retro yet modern. We usually sell the white because it's so clean looking. This turntable plays Jazz, Classical, and softer music great because it's a belt drive and insanely quiet. You can hear every notes. for $175 more you get the turntable you'd eventually upgrade to... so why not jump on it early. 

The BIG Benefits: 

• Clean, simple white aesthetic
• Hand Made Turntable... just like the good old days 
• High quality parts; Tone Arm, Platter, Bearings, Cartridge 
• The bearings are built to remove stress on the record, so less weight damage 
• Synchronous AC motor with a new motor PCB and aluminium pulley offering low noise and better speed stability.

$600 - Edwards Audio Apprentice - The Futuristic Audiophile 

Futuristic? Because it looks like a turntable from Darth Vader's bedroom. That see-through platter doesn't even need a mat... makes you feel like you could transport the record to another dimension. This turntable is really just a improved Rega with a unique spin. It comes from the warehouse that supplies Rega with parts, so if this was made by Rega it would potentially cost a lot more. For a little bit more you really are buying better quality parts, and a more unique look.  

The BIG Benefits: 

• Futuristic look that will turn heads when they enter your living room 
• Low-Torque, belt driven with strong high end belt 
• Comes in black, matte white, and very bright red 
• Hand made in England 
• Made with high-end turntable parts for a steal price 
• makes your oldest records sound clear as day  

$1400 - Music Hall MMF 5.3SE - The REAL DEAL Audiophile 

To get the cleanest, exact, and most beautiful sound you must go big bucks. Like cars, turntables are an investment and the more money you spend the better the investment. This is hand-made, real rosenut wood veneer, a Ortofon Bronze Cartridge (which alone is $400), and a very low-torque, belt drive. This leaves the rest of our turntables in the dust and to really grasp it's greatness you should come in to hear it.... writing about it doesn't do it justice. 

SO MANY BENEFITS: 

• music hall’s unique dual-plinth construction
• gorgeous and classic-looking rosenut real wood veneer finish
• sorbothane isolation orbs
• one piece carbon-fiber arm
• carbon-fiber tonearm is fully adjustable for VTA and azimuth
• counterweight’s center of gravity is level with the stylus tip,
  is decoupled from the arm, and acts as a resonance damper
• DC synchronous motor for superior speed stability,
  separately isolated on the lower platform
• precision stainless steel main bearing sheathed in Teflon®
  for noise-free fluid operation
• main bearing provides noise free fluid operation
• dynamically balanced alloy platter with soft felt mat
• screw-on record clamp
• special vibration damping adjustable feet
• built-in round spirit level for proper leveling

To be honest, it's hard to describe sound like this... especially when comparing and contrasting these turntables. We have them hooked up and ready to Demo, so swing on by and check out what we got. Let us guide you to the right fit.