Good Records

goodrecords

Do you remember that scene in Armageddon when Bruce Willis pushes Ben Affleck into the future space capsule, thereby ensuring that he’d be the one to lay down his life in order to press the button that destroys the asteroid? Do you happen to remember Bruce stumbling into a super cool record store to waste time until there were only like two seconds left on the doomsday fun clock? Well, Good Records is just like that record store. Ok, that didn’t happen, but I think it’s always wise to relearn the lessons taught by Bruce’s rugged team of reluctant heroes.

And if there were an outlet for all of your record buying needs situated on a death meteor hurtling toward our eastern seaboard, I’d imagine that it might be Good Records-esque…mostly because retired drillers occupy the front counter. Ok, that’s not true, either. In fact, none of this is relevant, but you should give Good Records a shot. Considering the dearth of quality record shops in our fair burgh, it has to be high on your Dallas to-do list.

All the hippest and nowest (not a word) cd’s are super organized and ready for perusal in Christmas light enhanced rows. It’s easy to find whatever super cool Japanese Neil Diamond bootleg you “need,” but I wouldn’t recommend it…you don’t want to face the oil-covered staff with such a disreputable purchase. If you want high fives about the new Animal Collective, though, this be yer place (pirate talk?). The cherry on top of their rad selection of new stuff (that you say you’ve heard despite only having read about it on Pitchfork and Insound) is their growing selection of new and used vinyl lp’s. If you think it’d be cooler to have the Brighten the Corners reissue on vinyl (you’re right), then consider such a need fulfilled.

I like records, and I Iike cd’s…but I triple like excellent bands playing free shows. Guess what, people of earth, they have an amazing roster of bands playing in store every week, too. It’s actually a pretty nice venue, what with their Astroturf stage and opium den (ssshhh). I shuffled off to the Brightblack Morning Light concert, at which pixies were floating freely and sprinkling pink dust into everyone’s ears…and offering freshly cured meats. Sweet tunes and amazing sandwich fixins? Count me in. But really (this is how a fifth grader starts a sentence), the space is quite conducive to live performances and offers an intimate venue for free. You would be well-advised to catch your favorite band there…and buy some records…and visit the pixie deli counter. Yum-yums on all counts.

Art Prostitute (now called The Public Trust)

Art Prostitute

Art Prostitute was founded in Denton in 2003 and quickly gained global recognition as being an outstanding design/art publication featuring some the most talented and relevent creative minds out there. Since then they’ve moved their gallery to Deep Ellum into the space shown above.

Art Prostitute Opening

The show openings here are always a blast—they had free Shiner on tap at the last one I went to, not to mention a bunch of jaw-dropping work. If you think most “art galleries” are stuffy and pretentious, then this will be a breath of fresh air. And it’s because of the founders, Brian Gibb and Mark Searcy. They do a great job of finding artists/designers who live and breathe creativity—people who truly depend on creativity for their survival. At least this is the vibe that I got out of it. You won’t be dissapointed. They also have a nice little collection of art books and lots of other cool stuff for sale. Here’s a map.

Thanks to Justin Childress and Christina Childress for the photography.