Village Green Records: Muncie's Independent Music Resource

By Laura Mathews

Today, we are run by big corporations driven by a constant lust for money. The many Wal-Marts of the world have made it so you only see the names of small businesses carved into granite gravestones. So, it is odd, and even enchanting to find a business that has looked past the seduction of the dollar bill and instead thrives on passion. Village Green Records, conveniently located on Martin Street just down from the rest of the village, offers students a source for finding new or old music, as well as friendly staff who are passionate about what they do.

“I like the Bravery,” I say, “Do you have anything like that?”

The man thinks for a moment and says, “I think you might like the Foals, and I really think you’d like the Klaxons too. Let me put some on for you.”

This is what it’s like at Village Green, or VGR as the regulars call it. When it comes to music, they pretty much know it all. From big names, to little known bands with small fan-bases, the staff at VGR can tell you about them. Every time you offer up an example of something you like, they can lead you toward another possibility. They’re the friendly human version of Pandora.com. It’s easy to spend literally hours in the small space, exploring new musical directions.

VGR has a selection of music that you probably won’t find at the Muncie Wal-Mart, and they are passionate about helping you discover new music. At times, they’ll hand out free CD samplers, or they’ll discount CDs because they really think you would get into them. They even have a myspace page (www.myspace.com/richardkarn) where they offer monthly mixes so that all the site’s visitors can discover up-and-coming artists and albums.

Another thing VGR offers to the community is free shows every few weeks. They’ve had bands all the way from Oregon come and play outside the store, and their staff’s openness makes everyone feel welcome at the shows. VGR offers a cultural connection to a large body of music many students have trouble finding on their own. So, if you’re experiencing music monotony, check out Village Green Records, and don’t be afraid to tell them what you like, because when it comes to music, they probably know you better than you know yourself.