Friday, 5 Dec 2008
Last night the Atomic Records newsletter dropped the unfortunate news that the store would be closing its doors in February of 2009. Thus, the sad reality of 24 years of serving the Milwaukee community will only be ours for a few more months.
When I was making my decision to come to UWM for undergrad Atomic Records was one of the reasons. Pre-college I spent my summers driving into the city, especially during Summerfest, and would always find my way to the East Side for some new music discoveries.
When I got to school, my first house my sophomore year was on the 2900 block of Cramer. A mere four houses from Atomic Records. It became my second home, and the staff was always on the cutting edge of everything I hadn’t heard, but knew I wanted to. I purchased a black t-shirt, with gold Atomic logo, and wore that sucker with pride as I went to classes, concerts, and back in my hometown. I was proud of the store, they provided me the opportunity to be a taste maker amongst my friends. I would spend hours making lists of records just perusing the shelves. Slowly records would be crossed off, and new ones would be added. I remember purchasing a bootleg copy of Phish covering The Talking Heads Remain In The Light from Halloween 1996, which, at that point was my first introduction to The Talking Heads. I heard and purchased Calexico there for the first time, when I picked up Feast of Wire in 2003. I was introduced to My Morning Jacket, Yo La Tengo, and Will Oldham at Atomic Records.
On a late and cold October night in 2004, I packed up my Ford Explorer with all my worldly possessions. I had taken a job in Madison and made the reluctant decision to leave the city that felt like home. I made one last stop at Atomic Records to pick up my special order copy of Arcade Fire’s Funeral. It will always be the soundtrack of that transition in my life. The ending of one chapter and the beginning of another. The Funeral of my college years and birth of my new adult life. It’s a memory and listening experience that will never leave the caverns of my brain.
When I made the decision to move back to Milwaukee this August, one of the things I looked forward to the most was reestablishing my relationship with the store, who since beefed up their vinyl selection. My most recent purchase was Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Cardinology.
Atomic Records I’m sad to see you go. I know there are plenty of others who feel the same. I’ll cherish my remaining times seeing you and please know that despite this being a difficult decision, for 24 years you made a lot of people very happy. You gave the opportunity to share one of life’s greatest treasures, music. I thank you for being dedicated to Milwaukee and the music community. You’ll be missed and remembered long after you’ve closed the doors.
I urge everyone in Milwaukee to stop into the store and share your memories and support the ownership who is so graciously offering a 20% discount on everything in the store for the remainder of the month of December. For more details, please do visit their website for more information and what’s in store for the next three months.
Discuss: Feel free to share some of your past purchases and memories in the comments.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Rock n` Roll Rich was at every show i used to go in Milwaukee
in the 80s. He had some amazing in store shows,
Del Amitri
Pete Case
being just two I can think of off the top of my head.
He always had what I needed, and supplied so much more than
that. I love that shop, truly sad to hear that it is closing,
it will be missed by so many!
December 5th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Well said, Ryan. Atomic has always been more than just a record store. it has been a cultural center and an identity builder, allowing people like you and me to find our voices and believe that we could center our life around musical passion.
A couple highlights over the years:
1. Will Oldham solo in-store.
2. Last years full day of music for record store day.
3. Knowing I could walk in without a clue, leave with something tangible
4. Sharing a beer with a stranger in New Orleans, the two of us meeting because i was wearing my Atomic T.
5. Charlie Hosale
We’re sad to see you go Rich…and no words can really express the Milwaukee music community feels right now.
December 5th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Atomic Economic Stimulus?
I say we divert some of the $700 Billion taxpayer dollars to Rich and Atomic.
December 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Yeah…I’m at 2913 Frederick so the shop is about 100 steps from my house….Really, really, bummed to see it go….Charlie and Sahan are the best record shop staff ever…Will really miss going in there…I bought “Cardinology” before the store even opened the morning it was released…Will remember that purchase whenever I listen to the album….
December 5th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I’ve lived in MKE for a relatively short time, but I know Atomic is (was) one of the coolest records stores out there. When I went on a college visit to MKE, I visited Atomic before I even checked out the school. My last purchase at Atomic was Furr. I looked forward to spending all my money there this summer…As a musician that’s new to the city, I’m really bummed about this. A record store is a beautiful thing. There’s a certain romanticized idea about record store…a manifestation of everything music means to you. I’m going to watch High Fidelity tonight- ha. THANK YOU for the music, Atomic.
December 6th, 2008 at 12:20 am
“past purchases”? i wouldn’t know where to begin or end. the only disc i’ve bought anywhere besides atomic in the past…six months? would have to be ac/dc, because they can’t get it at atomic. i urge everyone to purchase a lottery ticket, and if one of us wins, to find out how much it would take for rich to change his mind. i can’t even think about what life is going to be like come march if atomic really closes. what the hell is happening in this city?
December 6th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Damn the man! Save the Atomic!
Seriously, is there anything that can be done? Isn’t there a group saving the Broad Vocabulary bookstore in Bay View?
December 6th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
My favorite memories of Atomic (back when I was living in Milwaukee) are the late-night album releases, when I purchased the big new new releases. The often came with a poster,t-shirt, etc.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Never been there but I always think it’s sad when a record store closes.
It hasn’t been a great week for indie music stores in the UK either:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/dec/04/pinnacle-distributor-enters-administration
December 7th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I remember going to Atomic for midnight sales. Driving the 45 minutes plus from Racine to come up there was a treat.
One of my fondest memories is when I was able to pick up some 7 inches and then head over to the MATC to watch Compound Red, Seam, and Mineral in their first Milwaukee show. Truly a magic night.
Thank you Atomic. I can only imagine this is what people felt like in NY when CBGB’s closed.
December 8th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Buying Kid A at a midnight sale
December 8th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Even though I’m from LA and I’ve never been there, it’s very sad to hear that another record store is closing. Those small, independent shops are always the greatest.
I agree with Dan, the bailout money should go to help great places like this stay open. I’ve had some of my greatest experiences at record stores – the first time you pick up an album and not realize how much you’re going to be in love with it once you hear it.
December 8th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Nooooo!
I was in a depressed funk all weekend after hearing this news. I can walk to Atomic from my house and it partly defines why I live where I do. What a loss for Milwaukee. Sure, we can buy music elsewhere but we lose the connection to others in our community who share the same passion and knowledge for music. Not to mention imported music mags, listening stations, used CD racks, music books and dvds, concert tickets, the list goes on and on.
Just recently an artist (Jennifer O’Connor?) did an in-store appearance and remarked how lucky Milwaukee was to have Atomic. We definitely were.
Atomic will be missed.
December 10th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I can’t believe this is happening! Atomic is the only still that still (kinda of) would stock modern 7″ records!! Well at least we still have a few really good record stores in Milwaukee.
Hopefully Rushmore and Bullseye can hang in there during these hard times.
Broad Vocabulary is having a benefit show in January at Franks Power Plant. Hope they can pull through, too.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
My wife is from Milwaukee (we live in Philadelphia) and Atomic is one of the greatest record stores I have ever been to. It has become a touchstone for all our visits back to your fine city, and I am very saddened to see that it is closing. I feel very lucky that I’ll have one more chance to peruse before it shuts down.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Very saddening news. During college I lived on Locust about 100 ft away and I would always go to Atomic to kill time and spend my money that I should have spent on books. I’d like thank Atomic for stocking cds I couldn’t find anywhere else and always having a used disc I could buy when funds were low. My all time favorite memory is any time I brought a “newbie” into Atomic. They were freaked out atfirst, but when we left they would always say, “That’s an awesome store.”