In the ever growing list of things that were awesome about the nineties I would like to add Empire Records. It captures a moment in time and an endangered species: independent record shops. Do you remember record shops? A lil’ tumble weed probably just rolled by your iPod. I remember saving up my money and riding my bike to Tower Records to buy Slaughter’s Stick It to Ya on cassette. I probably slid it across the register thinking I was so cool and got a judgemental scoff or an eye roll from some heavily pierced goth chick that worked there. She probably got major nerd chills when later that day my mom forced me to return it. Bummer. She’s more of a Keith Sweat kind of girl but that’s a whole nother story.
Empire Records is about an independent record store and the motley crew that keep it barely afloat. Yes, they are annoying teen archetypes but somehow here they work. The slut, the sensitive art student, the pill popping perfectionist, the sad girl, the stoner, and the rest are all one very dysfunctional but totally loving family. It’s twee, it’s silly (See: scene where Mark eats pot brownies and gets eaten by Gwar), it’s emo (see: Deb’s Britney moment) but it’s awesome. Add to it some snappy dialogue and killer tunes from The Cranberries, Dire Straits and AC/DC to name a few and you have to like it at least a little. I also appreciate the styling, especially on Liv Tyler’s character Corey. Ladies, you KNOW you wanted to dress like that. Admit it, you still do. And dare I say this is a film where Renée Zellweger is kind of charming? Hmm actually let me sit on that statement for a sec. Damn the man. Save the Empire.
