The Seven Inch Bandit

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Howdy Pardners, we just roped in a new pinball for ya’ll! This here be MUSTANG from 1977. It’s one of them ding-dong kinda machines. It’s got drop targets. It’s got rollovers, and it’s got saucers kickers and bumpers. Check it out at our downtown arcade YEE-HAAW

Our 12 Year Anniversary Sale is still going on through this Friday. Also we have another batch of new vinyl releases on Friday too!

– MADISON BEER, singer songwriter is here with her third studio album “Locket.” available on black vinyl.
– CAVETOWN, which is an indie-rock solo project is here with a new album “Running With Scissors” (black vinyl).
– EMINEM with a soundtrack to a new documentary film called “Stans” – which is about the rapper’s career and fans? Out on black and red mixed vinyl.
– American rapper A$AP ROCKY with his 4th studio album “Don’t Be Dumb” on black and white vinyl. Don’t be Dumb… come to Dumb Records and buy it.
– LIZZY MCALPHINE with “Older (And Wiser)”, the deluxe edition of her latest album which came out last year.

This week Pepperoni picked an odd choice for the Pixies, what the heck Pep.

“I know, it’s a wonder why I haven’t picked an album by Pixies as my pick of the week at this point. I think a little over a year ago everyone in the store shared one spotify account and when our “wrapped” came out, Pixies were the number one band that we all agreed upon. While most would probably argue between “Surfer Rosa” or “Doolittle” being their best albums, I am throwing a little bit of a curve ball by choosing their 3rd album from 1990 “Bossa Nova” as my official pick. I’d say this is an all around great start for anyone getting into the band! Some of my favorite songs on this one are “Dig For Fire,” “Hangwire” and of course “Allison”. Enjoy!”

Blind PictureDisc Johnson, One Of The Greats

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We just got our downtown store cleaned up on Jan 1st, and sufficiently undid all that with the Goth Night and Hardcore show right.

This Friday we’re hosting a hip-hop show downtown.

Then Saturday starts our 12 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SALE, plus ILLINOIS VINTAGE FAIR Saturday and Sunday! Both stores are running the sale, the vintage fair is happening downtown. That’s right we’ve been around for 12 years! That’s 12 years of people asking us if we’re another recycled records or somethin.

Finally we’re back to Friday releases again! Here are this Friday’s hot new vinyls

– RAMONES Greatest Hits being re-issued on clear vinyl as part of the Rhino “Start Your (y)Ear Off Right” series.
– Also a part of the same series, the FIGHT CLUB ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK being pressed to double pink vinyl!
– Then two STEELY DAN albums that had been pretty unavailable on vinyl before now – 2000’s “Two Against Nature” and 2003 “Everything Must Go”
– Then we got two BLUE NOTE TONE POET REISSUES:
– Hank Mobley “Hank”
– and Tyrone Washington “Natural Essence”

This week Pepperoni picks Kid A

“One thing’s for sure – getting through the holiday season it is harder than ever for us to keep RADIOHEAD albums in stock. The kids can’t get enough of this Radiohead band, what’s up with that? Well, here is my fourth ever Radiohead pick… we’ve had “The Bends” we’ve had “OK Computer,” we’ve had “In Rainbows”… now here is their 2000 album “KID A.” The first Radiohead album to chart number one on the US Billboard 200, it didn’t even have any hit singles and is filled with mostly experimental post-rock ambient sounding stuff. I even don’t know if I get it, but the kids seem to love it.”

Do You Have A Sandwich?

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It’s Christmas Eve and we’re still here dishing out the records

This week Pepperoni picked Ozzy again

“We’re down to my last two picks of the year, I better make them good. We lost many legends in the music world here in 2025 – R.I.P. Brian Wilson and Sly Stone were two big ones, Roberta Flack, Chuck Mangione, Terry Reid, D’Angelo, Jimmy Cliff, (the list goes on really). Of course we all know that OZZY is high up on that list as he gave us one final performance sitting down in a mighty throne with the whole world watching and then he died just a few days later. What a life that man had, with Black Sabbath shaping metal music for years to come and then his solo career. This is his second solo album “Diary Of A Madman” which came out in 1981. It does not have Crazy Train on it but I think it is still good.”

I Saw Santa Using the Mall Employee Service Entrance

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It’s the week before Christmas and we’re certainly going through the ringer over here. First the big snow cancelled all our events last Saturday. And just last night all of our lighting went out at once in the main area of our downtown store.

But we’re still hanging in there. DIY till ya die right?

This week Pepperoni picks Primus

“Alright this one’s for all you 90’s freaks out there. This 1993 album by Primus, “Pork Soda” sounds just about as weird as the album title. I’m not sure if it’s metal, funk, punk, or what. You’ve got your funky bass licks and you got a guy rambling on about who knows what and I can hardly understand a word he says. This one includes songs “My Name Is Mud” and also the Christmas hit “Mr. Krinkle.” Enjoy!”

I Need Some Sugar

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It is the season when all parents and grandparents come to our stores trying to figure out how to get all these wacked out vinyls for their kids and loved ones. One way to make this easy is a Dumb Records Gift Card! These can be used at either store.

Tonight we have this show going on Downtown

This week Pepperoni picked Twin Peaks

“(Twin Peaks theme plays) Diane… it is 11:30am, Thursday December 10th. We are entering the town of Twin Peaks. There’s a waterfall. 106 miles to Chicago a full tank of gas and a half pack of cigarettes. Diane, if you ever get up this way, that cherry pie is worth a stop. That’s the best cup of coffee I ever tasted.”

Have you sat on Santa’s lap yet at the mall? While you’re there, be sure to check out our tree. They have a whole bunch of Christmas trees at the mall to check out.

I’m Too Young To Know Who Mac Miller Is

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We had a Record Store Day Black Friday last weekend, and then a bunch of snow instead of Small Business Saturday. Who needs small businesses anyway, they’re always whining about getting the shaft all the time anyway.

Both stores had the goods and lines. Everyone behaved and made it the best Black Friday to date, good job!

This Friday we have another batch of new releases!
– KHRUANGBIN “The Universe Smiles Upon You II” this is actually 10 new renditions of Khruangbin’s first album! Out on double LP, white vinyl!
– JELLY ROLL has two re-issues for earlier albums “Self Medicated” and “A Beautiful Disaster” out on Friday, black vinyl.
– OLIVIA RODRIGO “Live From Glastonbury” double LP – looks like the records are two different shades of blue!
– A re-issue of the 1981 punk album from GUN CLUB, “Fire of Love”
– Big time punk rock band NOFX releasing the first volume of a new rarities comp, “A to H”.
– MAC MILLER with a triple LP deluxe edition of his 2015 album “GO:OD AM” – there are a couple of different variations but one has yellow, white, and clear vinyl.

Eric Carr’s Pee

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Oh it’s that time again. The time when we gulp down our thanksgiving dinner and get back to work on setting up for Black Friday Record Store Day!

Both stores will have the goods. All but a few more minor titles will be at both stores. We’ve publishe a list of titles where we only have 1 copy and which store will have those. Otherwise you can expect to see the rest at either store (assuming it’s still there when you make it in).

Both stores open at 8am. You can start lining up at the mall at 6am. You can start the line downtown whenever you crazies desire.

We will have 50 shirts and 50 bags at each location (100 shirts and 100 bags total). Free for the first 100 in line at either store will be able to snatch one of these!

Also starting Black Friday we will be offering our 2025 Ornaments at 11.99. These are made locally by Jeff’s Cat wife and there will be a limited supply.

This week Pepperoni picked Sublime

“It’s time for another 90’s classic. I’ve already picked Operation Ivy, but it’s time to strike big with another 90’s ska-punk adjacent pick: Sublime. This 1996 album was released right after singer Bradley Nowell had passed away – unfortunately the band could not tour on the huge success of the album. It’s got hits that you all know and love like “Santeria” and “What I Got” however I prefer circle pitting in my living room to the more punk cuts such as “Paddle Out.”

This Saturday we’ll be hosting a real heck’uva reunion show assuming we survive the possible snow. Tickets are available online to help make sure you secure your spot.

I Forgot About Wasabi Baby

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This Saturday we’re hosting a listening party for Wicked For Good at the Mall at 6pm. We’ve got lots of giveaways and items you can get with purchase of the album! We’ll have copies of Wicked For Good as well as the original Wicked on hand.

Also this Friday we have this show going on downtown.

Here are the Friday releases this week:

– THE BEATLES boy it’s not often that we have new stuff from THE BEATLES… here they are with “Anthology 4” – rare studio outtakes and more, all songs that have never made it to vinyl.
– WICKED: FOR GOOD (the soundtrack) on double black LP – of course we are having a listening party for this one 6pm Saturday at the mall! There is another (picture disc) version coming out for Black Friday as well!
– AEROSMITH and YUNGBLUD giving us a collaborative EP called “One Last Time” – does that mean they are finally going to give Springfield the concert they’ve owed us for decades??
– A reissue of JERRY GARCIA and DAVID GRISMAN “Not For Kids Only”
– A reissue of KORN’s 2005 album “See You On The Other Side” on double magenta vinyl.
– The soundtrack from the hit 2025 film “Sinners”

This week Pepperoni picked Tears For Fears

“How about a nice, real nice, 80’s pick? This is an album that if an original copy used ever comes in, it’s snatched up off the shelves within a matter of minutes. Every time. Tears For Fears 1985 album “Songs From The Big Chair” is THE album you all crave, that multi platinum Brittish pop-rock duo with the HITS “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” “Head Over Heels,” and “Shout” (really the whole album is great). It just hit its 40th anniversary and I tell you what this is a timeless classic. We still have a few copies of the anniversary of coke bottle clear vinyl over here!”

We had a good time last week with Nil8, Acid Fog, and Evan VS Michael playing our store! Thanks to all who came and all who are commenting about not knowing it was happening.

I Was the One to Tell Ian Mackaye that the Drummer of Soundgarden gave Fugazi a Shoutout at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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So much happening here lately! To kick things off, we’re helping BLM-SPI host their food drive, you can drop off non-perishable food items at both our locations through November 21st.

Tonight we have a hardcore show happening downtown

Friday night we’re hosting a rock/punk/metal show featuring the Springfield legends NIL8, marking their first time playing the store.

Here are the new vinyl releases for this Friday!

– TEARS FOR FEARS “Songs From The Big Chair” is getting a re-issue! Out on clear viny.
– JESUS AND MARY CHAIN “Psychocandy” is also getting a 40th anniversary treatment, on fancy gold vinyl!
– GREEN DAY’s 2000 album “Warning” is getting a 25th anniversary pressing, looks like that might be a transparent orange or goldish vinyl of some sort.
– 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER “Everyone’s A Star” I am guessing this is some sort of pop punk band, out on glittery pink vinyl.
– CHEAP TRICK celebrating 50 years as a band and they have a brand new album out tomorrow called “Washed Up”!
– THE BLACK CROWES 1994 album “Amorica” is getting re-issued, on double black vinyl.

This week Pepperoni picked Blink 182:

“What’s my age again? My pick this week is Blink-182’s 1999 album “Enema Of The State.” Much like Green Day, Blink-182 was a band that broke through to big time mainstream success playing their rowdy pop punk / skate punk with lyrics about being a loser and adolescent frustration. This album might have been at the height of their career – it’s got hits like “All The Small Things” and “Adam’s Song” on it as well.”

Chris is once again our pinball champion, getting the top score in the Addams Family pinball contest which wrapped up this week. Here he is showing off his trophies including Dale from our last contest for Dale Jr. pinball.

We’ve also recently added a new pinball to the lineup at our downtown arcade, Genie from 1979.

We are solidifying our plans for Black Friday, here are all the details. First 100 through the line at either store will get either a few shirt or bag. We expect both locations to have all the heavy hitting titles

Brian, Polyvinyl records staff, and Ian Mackaye hanging out in Bloomington recently

Accidentally Scanned My Retina

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Our Mall store is now a whole 1 year old. When people ask how long we’ve been there I can now say a year and make them feel dumb. Kinda on brand if you ask me.

Here are the new records coming out Friday!

– HAYLEY WILLIAMS “Ego Death At A Bachelor Party” – the singer of Paramore is here with a new solo album on her brand new label. We ordered a bunch but looks like shipping on this might be delayed, hold tight with us on this one, more copies should be showing up in the coming week!
– WEEZER with their 2010 album “Hurley” being reissued on (black) vinyl – this is one we’ve never been able to get!
– Debut for American singer-songwriter SOMBR, “I Barely Knew Her” we had a couple of requests for this one. On red vinyl.
– The sixth studio album by MIDLAKE from Texas, “A Bridge Too Far” out on exclusive pink vinyl.
– Another one from California hardcore band DRAIN, “Is Your Friend” – on black and coke bottle clear vinyl.
– And finally, this one we had announced a few weeks ago and got pushed back a few times but CHANCE THE RAPPER – “Acid Rap” is getting re-issued out on vinyl for real this time.

This week Pepperoni picked James Brown Christmas

“First of all – I must get one thing straight and that is that we do not actually start celebrating Christmas in the Pepperoni household until December 1st. No tree up before then allowed. However, I must get my holiday pick out of the way for this year now – so you have plenty of time to come to Dumb or Dumber Records and pick it up. This year, I am choosing James Brown “A Soulful Christmas” as my record pick to bring you joy and cheer this holiday season! James Brown had a total of 3 Christmas albums throughout his career – this was the first, and in my opinion the best. You won’t be finding “White Christmas” or “Silent Night” on this one, folks. Nah, James is here with all original tunes like “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto” and “You Know It”, honestly some of his greatest work – even the classic “Say It Loud (I’m Black And I’m Proud)” is on this. Essential soul Christmas!”

Recently the Illinois Times published that we won Best Record Store and Best Music Store in town. They even wrote this article about us!