Turn It Up

The most generic of the three– Turn It Up’s. I think it is mostly based on the demographic of Keene, you will find mostly classic rock here. Not to say that I have not found gems. The condition of vinyl here is a miss mash. This is the only store i have bought warped records. No, not the label– I mean records that have a subtle bend and play funny. Make sure you check the records you buy here, for the condition thoroughly. you really should everywhere. They have a listening station record player and cd player, and you can listen to anything in house that is not sealed and collectable.
I had been out of town for a year, and the stock here was the lowest I have ever seen it. Which was disappointing. When I lived in NH, I used to spend 200 – 400 dollars on music and records a year at this and other record stores, In NH, Portland, ME, Boston, and North Hampton MA. My collection would get too unwieldily and it would be time to filter a box of goods for trade. The clerk working was the only one– who ever turned down perfectly good records, that I had brought in for store credit. Maybe his selective tastes is why the stock selections were so very low. Or maybe it has just been a crapy year for people getting rid of ephemera. Honey, not everyone likes Cat Stevens– wretch.

I love the fact that it’s a local, used music store. That being said, they didn’t have much that appealed to me. But in working for the school radio station, this store was a great place to stop by to pick up something to throw into the rotation.

I probably spent an hour here the other day going through all their vinyl. It is really hard to find places that sell any records these days. They also have a record player set up to allow you to listen to them to get an idea of sound quality for the record. There are once in a while brand new records but that is the exception not the rule, most of the time these records are in good conditions but the case is more worn. People here are very friendly, the selection other than records is decent. In my opinion the best benefit to this location is to avoid shipping fees on used electronics and music on eBay because the quality is similar.

Everyone who works here is great, and this would be a good music store anywhere… for Keene it is practically a godsend. I bought my first roxy music cd here back in like 1997, yeah that’s right Roxy Music baby. Turn it Up rox.
That said, WTF dudes new deerhunter comes out and no vinyl representation?

Eclectic selection of records, CDs, tapes, ad movies. They’ve also got a small selection of things like comics, pins, posters, stickers and the like. Great little local record store that feels like an old-​fashioned hole in the wall.

One day an elderly man goes into a CD store to buy a few Beatles CDs for his son’s birthday. Since Dad doesn’t know much about the Beatles, he gives the store clerk a list that the son has provided. The clerk picks out 4 used CDs and sends Dad on his way. It turns out that two are duplicates.
So, after unwrapping the gifts, the son goes to the store and says — «hey, you guys sold my Dad two of the same thing a few days ago — can I just exchange one for something similar but different?»
Answer in a normal store: «Why certainly. Sorry we screwed up and sold him two of the same thing in the first place.»
Answer in this store: «Ummm, no, gosh, we can’t do that. We don’t know how long you’ve had them.»
What??? I just told you it’s been a few days. Do you not believe me? Do you think I am trying to rip you off for $ 7? That’s pretty clever of me to try to exchange something worth $ 7 for something else that’s worth $ 7!
Also, dude. They’re USED. What does it matter how long I’ve had them?
Crazy bad customer service experience.

I am torn about writing a review about this place, on the sheer fact that people may find out about it. However, I think with the state of the music industry, people need to actually shop at record stores, not just on-​line. So here goes…
This place is great! It is on the main drag in Keene, NH. A quaint little college town, that reminded me a bit of New Haven, CT. It is downstairs from a little cinema and is floor to ceiling, music. Cd’s predominate the little landscape, but the back wall is all vinyl (my cup-​o-​tea). The boy headed for the Cd’s, I made a bee line for the vinyl.
Mostly used stuff, but it does have a small sampling of new. I have to say that I was happy to see the new Sufjan Stevens right up front in the new bin; followed by Cat Power (The Greatest) and the Elliot Smith (Either/​or). Being mostly used, I understand that the selections is only based on what people bring in to sell. That being said I spent $ 36 got an awesome collection of stuff. Here is my all important list:
*Bruce Springsteen Live from 1975 until 1985, 5 LP box set, $ 15. The box was a little worn, but the LP’s looked as if I was the first person to take them out of their sleeves.
*Led Zeppelin II, original pressing, $ 2. Sleeve a bit battered but the vinyl looked brand new.
*Led Zeppelin IV, second pressing, $ 2. Same condition as Zep II.
*Jackson Browne The Pretender, $ 1. The sleeve is a little busted up, but the vinyl plays perfectly.
*U2 Under a blood red sky, $ 4. Ring wear on the sleeve, but the vinyl looks just fine.
*Led Zeppelin, In through the out door, $ 5. VG++ as they say.
*The Highwaymen, $ 4. Original seal still sealed.
*Kris Kristofferson, Jesus was a Capricorn, $ 3. Also VG++.
The guy behind the counter kept to himself, but was not unapproachable. He put on «OK GO» just as we were wrapping up, which in my opinion was just fine; he could have put on a lot worse. The shop is tiny, but full of character. I really loved the wall of staff picks. You can tell that the people who run this place really love it, and that is the best kind of place to shop. 4 stars, it would be 4.5 but you can’t do that on Unilocal,so it is 4. So get off of Itunes and go check them out. It is a nice drive up MA-​12, and frankly you need to get away from the computer screen, you’re looking a bit pasty…