Silence & Sightlessness: Norman's Sound & Vision is leaving the East Village

 

I got in a discussion recently with my colleague Drew about the remaining disc shops worth visiting that were left in Manhattan. I rattled off my standbys like Other Music, Kim's, Rebel Rebel and Generation Records, while Drew cited Academy, a couple of vinyl-only outlets and Norman's Sound & Vision off St. Marks Place. I grimaced slightly at this last choice. Drew defended that he'd landed many a great musical find at Norman's. I could only make the "meh" face.

To be fair, I've regularly ducked into Norman's over the years, usually looking for less-than-rare titles that might be obtained for a less than entirely disreputable price. The racks are crammed to the hilt with discs of varying quality (some looking decidedly used but suspiciously re-shrinkwrapped). Much like Music Matters in Brooklyn, I usually go in there looking for a specific title or two that they never have, and usually end up leaving with something I don't necessarily need.

There's something about the place that feels more like a clearance outlet than a proper music shop. You probably won't find any "High Fidelity"-styled snobs behind the counter at Norman's. Norman himself probably knows his stuff, but the rest of the dudes who work there generally can't be arsed, so to speak. I actually used to see Norman in the neighborhood quite a bit, either walking his dog or taking his kids to school. We usually nod knowingly at each other. Haven't spotted him in a long while, though.

In any case, apropos of absolutely nothing, I walked into Norman's Sound & Vision this afternoon, perhaps subconsciously goaded into it by that conversation with Drew. The place was looking a little worse for wear and devoid of any customers. I did my usual cursory thumb-through. A gent in the back barked from behind stacks of newly-acquired-but-not-yet-sifted-though used discs (I had a discouraging experience trying to sell Norman's a clutch of old CDs not too long back). "Need any help?" I told him I was just looking.

I half-heartedly yanked a copy of the double-live The Name of This Band is Talking Heads out of the racks for a price that didn't make me frown and brought it to the abandoned register. The gent in the back sighed audibly and slowly lurched to the front. "How's business?" I asked, attempting to lighten the mood. "Well, we're moving," he announced balefully. "What?" While I've just spent the last few paragraphs giving a less-than-stellar review of Norman's Sound & Vision, that doesn't mean I want it to leave. The notion of another place that sells music leaving the East Village hurts my heart. "Yep, we're going to Williamsburg in August."

...Yeah, like Williamsburg needs another music shop in the wake of the announcement of the new Rough Trade.

I paid up, wished him well and out the door I went. 

 

Comments

[esquared]

I remember selling about 40 CDs there, good CDs as in good name bands and artists (mostly Britpop) and good quality, that I didn't wanna part with, but I had to since I was a starving student with a shitty part-time job that I just quit, and all I got was $15 for it. Not even 50 cents per CD. But I had to take it, since I was desperate and broke. First thing I bought with the money was a Papaya Dog special -- 2 'dogs and a drink -- and that was one of the best and delicious meal I've ever had even up to today. Better than the lobster rolls any of these artisanal foods, not that I've had many of those. But that's either here nor there.

As for Norman's Sound and Vision, it's just fitting that they move to Williamsburg. At least they haven't vanished completely. Williamsburg/Bushwick/Crown Heights are the new East Village. And the East Village is the new Hamptons. No one really comes to the EV anymore to shop for CDs. They head for that shiny glistening new bar or foodie artisanal restaurant, or just be like in a mall and head to the for-yo places. And at least Sounds is still around.

[Sammy]

Dude. You should have just gone around the corner and tried Sounds, or Joe's, or Kim's, or 13, or Wowsville, or whatever was in the now vacant spot that was Norman's 2 and then Rocket Scientist!

[Alex in NYC]

Rocket Scientist is leaving, Wowsville's LONG gone. Sounds is amazingly still there.

[Sammy]

I seemed to think you were referring to a while ago. Rocket Scientist sadly is gone now. I hope Joey the vinyl guy out fron is able to hang on to his spot, but not sure how well he will fare.

[Alex in NYC]

Shit, is Rocket Scientist now firmly gone? I haven't walked down St. Marks in a few weeks. Ugh.