Lexington, Kentucky's Independent Music Stores

In the early 1990s I wore Cure and New Order t-shirts as well as a black trenchcoat (this was years before Columbine), engaged in illicit activities and spent money I didn't have or should've spent on tutors at a record store called Cut Corner. Cut Corner sat across from Holmes Hall, a men's dormitory at the University of Kentucky which had questionable air conditioning and clueless freshmen that sought alternative lodgings as soon as the last spring final ended.

The store wasn't that big and the clerks barely acknowledged your presence but they had Clash and Cure posters as well as the Sid Vicious one where he pleaded with the masses not to let anyone take them alive. It was also where I got the Miles Davis CD where he's playing his trumpet clad only in funky pajama bottoms and sporting a wild perm. Davis died not too long after he released that disc.

Today I'm wearing a plain light-blue t-shirt and the only illicit activity I engaged in recently was drinking a Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier while reading James Ellroy's White Jazz. Cut Corner is now CD Central but still sits across from Holmes Hall on the north edge of UK's campus. It fits in comfortably along the bar scene on South Limestone Street and, thanks in part to the changing musical scene, has managed to become a near-monopoly in Central Kentucky as far as local music stores. The only one left that comes to mind is the music section at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, which has a decent selection but not enough to detract me from my main reason for visiting "JB's".

Let's be honest - music stores hate me. I haven't bought a CD in, well, so long I can't remember the exact date. iTunes, on the other hand, loves me more than virtual life itself. I've gone through a few iPods and thousands of downloads. My big reason is that most CDs aren't worth plunking down ten to fifteen dollars for when I only like a couple of songs. I'd rather plunk down a dollar for a song off a CD that I do like and continue the "a la carte" process with nine other songs twice a month.

So what does a store like CD Central do in times of crisis? Join 'em.

To download music from their site I visited their website (www.cdcentralmusic.com/). Honestly, the site design could use some work. It's cluttered with links and its centerpiece is a photo of a band that looks like a second-rate version of Sisters of Mercy fronted by a young Brian Setzer (admittedly, they could sound pretty good but first impressions go a long way). I scrolled down until I saw the CD Central Download Store hyperlink banner (digital.thinkindie.com/stores.php) and clicked on it to be greeted by a woman with a great body and a sheep's head riding a rocket into space. Obviously, having indie cred means embracing new ideas in space travel and cloning.

First of all, kudos to CD Central on the wide selection. If you're willing to let your indie freak flag (or just love Goatwhore) fly this site is great. You have the option of buying the whole album or individual songs (average price is $1.11 per song). Like iTunes you have to sign up for an account before purchasing but unlike iTunes you can use other mp3 players besides the ubiquitous iPod. However, if you're like me and are merely an indie poseur (meaning you have more mainstream music than you care to admit) this site isn't going to have what you're looking for. I did a search for David Bowie, U2, Def Leppard and AC/DC and came up with practically squat.

Bottom line? CD Central will probably still be here when my son goes to college in about fifteen years. The powers that be were smart enough to realize the direction music is headed and took advantage of the opportunities that lay before them.