The New Best Record Store in the US

Then again, aren't record stores kinda unnecessary now, with the Internet?

As long as there is the impulse to browse, record stores will never die.

Man, screw all you major-metropolitan-area folks with amazing record stores just a short drive away... Oh yeah, that reminds me, another reason record stores will never die--listening to your new purchases on the drive home! It makes driving a long ways to get to a record store so worth it.

Am I really that big of a miser that $50 is usually the most I will splurge on music?

Not so much sad as grim reality. ;-)

To Maura -- fair enough, I have not yet visited, say, Other Music. But let us assume that until both of us have visited the others preferred haunts that the question remains open either way. ;-) Though you're right about In-n-Out, with the original Tommy's giving it a run for its money.

I pledge my undying loyalty to Amoeba.

Is anyone else frustrated with Amoeba? Maybe it is just that my tastes are getting a bit more obscure, but these days it seems like I cannot find anything at Amoeba anymore. Aron's has a more eclectic record selection sometimes, even, which says a lot.

*heading to amazon*

I think Aron's might seem better since they're smaller and everything is just easier to find, if that makes sense. They don't have as deep a selection, but of course I'll always go there first because the prices are better, especially on used stuff.

Any store where I can stumble across a used Russian Futurists CD for 7 bucks, the recent M83 release used for 11, and a really kick ass Sadies/Dan Melchior poster is okay by me.

subquestion: which store is generally fairer in trade value? I've had two recent experiences. I took a pile of 5 CDs, 5 vhs tapes, and 5 LPs to Amoeba and they offered up 25 in trade. I said I'd try my luck on ebay, ha, and went to Aron's. They gave me 45 in trade. Conversely, I took three LPs to Aron's and they offered me 7, for the same three I got 19 at Amoeba. WTF?

This latter part is very true. Amoeba is not at all good when it comes to used prices.

Yes, actually. Amazon.com! HI-YO! I mean, honestly, with free shipping can you beat it?

subquestion: which store is generally fairer in trade value? I've had two recent experiences.

Don't know about Aron's / vinyl trading. But I sold some CDs to Amoeba and while nothing great, they were things that would be sold out of the "new used inventory" section most likely and got nothing for them. The guy had the charm to say that he couldn't buy most of my CDs because they had been "rocked." Apparently, I had been "rocking" them too hard. You'd think with all that space they'd have a $1 used bin or something. Guess there's always Record Surplus.

The more they charge for new releases (which have raise $2-3 over the past 2 years), the more margin they can pull in on used.

This is why their used selection is larger than new stock. New stock they are buying at $8-10 on average from their distributor for a $13-16 retail. Used stock they are buying at $3-4 on average from consumers and selling at $8-11 (yes, i saw a $10.95 used CD yesterday, it was a new release).

And very often, they even turn a potential return (the purchase of used) into more profit when the consumer exchanges for credit.

Too expensive, too picked over, late on imports, very little deep stock.

Because there's 200 people in there just like us who are cleaning then out as fast as they can stock.

or are you meaning to say "vindication"?

or are you both meaning to say "vindication"?

Even though I'm a Westsider, I'm not a big fan of Rhino. Can't really put my finger on it. Maybe just the over-all quality of the store. Their bootleg DVDs are appreciated though. They have "Cocksucker Blues."

Now it just seems like the vinyl is overpriced compared to Amoeba and Aron's, and since I live in West Hollywood there's no point in making the trek when I could practically walk to the other two...

sad part of this pic from opening day at Amoeba: I'm in it.

http://www.amoebamusic.com/tour_openhollywood/graphics/amoeba_35.jpg

I'm still all about the Noise Noise Noise in Costa Mesa, though.. but i have the o.c. genes that way.

is this unethical ? the cycle would never end especially as i can WALK to it from my apt now, but i have been a good lad recently and have forced myself to stay away these past few i'm-so-broke months

Your stories about Los Angeles record stores have become tiresome

...

OK, Seattle... Easy Street records (the one in lower Queen Anne) has been REALLY good to me recently. Very helpful staff, great selection, used vinyl, new vinyl, used cds, new CDs, all sorts of stuff.

For finding cool vinyl shit, it's all about the Jive Time Records in Fremont... though most of you will justifiably think the prices are a bit high, I get the frequent member discount, and the guy who usually works there, R.J., is the coolest motherfucker on the planet who knows more about obscure Italian hardcore punk than anybody I know.

Most underrated record store in Seattle is Jam records in the Wallingford neighborhood. Jimmy, store owner, is a guy you never forget. They also have the very purrrrrific Jill working there (maybe M***s can share more there.. or not)

repeat

as you can see I'm fairly booked up

http://goldenstateblog.latimes.com/goldenstate/2005/11/record_store_up.html