“Buy more music from cool places with real people” is indeed a great resolution to the problem. And obviously Not Lame is just an example that perfectly fits to my case. Eventhough many are already gone, there are still some good places left. Not Lame isn’t even the only good power pop store out there and all the other genres surely have their own stores that are worth supporting. But if even the passionate music fans don’t wake up into the reality and support them they will be soon be all gone. Thankfully there are people who have been supporting these stores all the time, but hopefully folks like me will realise that every little bit helps and it’s quite easy to change your habits. I’m not saying that there’s something wrong with using the the big corporates for some bargain hunting for example, but if I start to think about why I would buy some new indie power pop album from Amazon if also Not Lame sells it, I really can’t think of any reason. Sure it might cost $2-$3 more at Not Lame, but I’ll feel a whole lot better if I purchase it from them and those few extra bucks go to a great cause. Helping a great record store to survive.

Now, so many of them are gone. GONE. The rest appear to be struggling as music fans abandon the places that spark the passions of niches like ‘power pop'(which I kinda like and think I will check out a bit more along with some of the bands you talk about here.) I am partially to blame on some level – I was bummed when Miles Of Music died in January. I used to buy a LOT of music from them but…..well, guilty and lazy.

Now, I feel like flogging myself. Resolution: buy more music from cool places with real people. Care more.