I’m so sorry but this essay is too long for alt text, but here’s the first paragraph:
“People go to record stores for the same reason they go to the farmers market. You get to see the merchandise, wander around, look at things you would never consider on your own, take advice from people who know what they’re talking about, stumble onto stuff, and maybe get your mind changed about something. No kidding, since when are there more than two kinds of eggplant? Man, a butternut squash. I’ve always wanted to try barbecuing a butternut squash. Ramps? What the hell is a ramps? Like a leafy onion that fights with you? I do not like tomatillos. No thank you. Never have, never will. I’ll eat this to humor you, but I do not like tomatillos. What else is in there? Just tomatillos and ramps? What the hell… Give me that squash and some ramps. Okay, okay. Some tomatillos.”
#Requiescat One last nugget, I promise. In 2009, @electricalwsop.bsky.social wrote this for Record Store Day and the #ChicagoReader published it as an ad for #RecklessRecords.