TVD First Date | Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

We've been big fans of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes since '40 Day Dream' made itself known to us last summer. But we tend to handle our records carefully by the sides to avoid fingerprints (and more.) Nora Kirkpatrick, ES&TMZ's accordion player, turns out to be a bit more...shall we say... free-wheeling:

"In college, my roommates and I, yet unwise to the immense value and pleasure of vinyl, would use our parent’s old records as plates for parties, or melt them in the oven to use as bowls. I kick myself every time I walk by my Neil Young “On the Beach” party bowl, which is great for chips, but not nearly as great as actually hearing the songs!

Although I have known about the best hidden record store in Los Angeles for a few years now, I didn’t own my own record player or have what could be considered a bonafide collection until two months ago. Now that I have finally seen the light, I am working very hard to retire every digital album I have and replace it with its vinyl counterpart. My first and best stop is Music Man Murray on Exposition Boulevard.

It has been run for decades by 87-year-old Murray Gershenz, a former opera singer turned character actor. (You may recognize him from The Hangover as the half-naked patient in the hospital scene.) Murray has about every album you could ever want, and about 10,000 you’ve never heard of, but should want anyway. Music Man Murray is an experience in and of itself, and if you are looking for rare or interesting records, I suggest giving his store a try.



When I am on the hunt for records I never knew I wanted, I often go to thrift stores such as St. Vincent’s downtown or Oasis thrift shop in Indio, California. I’ve gotten such gems as “The Baja Marimba Band’ (greatest hits, of course), Perry Como “So Smooth,” and some that I have come to cherish, such as “The Art of Charles Mingus,” Little Richard “Gospel” and “The Piano Music of Erik Satie.”

Although my descent into the wild world of vinyl is relatively new, I have come full circle from my neglectful college years, and can’t wait for the day when I can delete iTunes, throw my iPod to the wind, and sit back with my new, much flatter and more sonic version of Neil Young’s “On the Beach.”"

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes - Home (Mp3)
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes - 40 Day Dream (Mp3)