It’s time again for music lovers around the World to unite and share their love of the independent record store. That’s right, Saturday, April 16th, is international Record Store Day! Record Store Day is a grassroots initiative to showcase and raise awareness of the independent record store or sadly, what’s left of them. For many music lovers, the local record store is a mecca of rare, hard-to-find vinyl, used CDs and discussions about obscure bands with limited edition releases. Record Store Day celebrates that, through huge sales, live concerts, celebrity DJs and killer parties around the World, all focused on one thing. Music!
So, in honor of Record Store Day 2011 we’re putting together a small list of our favorite record stores around the World who are participating in this year’s Record Store Day with excellent sales (up to 50% off), live shows from some of the best in independent music and of course, plenty of vinyl goodness for your ears and hearts. Do you have a favorite independent record store? Let us know in the comments!
5. Pet Sounds Stockholm
Skånegatan 53, Stockholm, Sweden 116 37
One of Stockholm’s best indie stores, you can grab everything from indie rock to electronica to ambient at great prices, in a cool atmosphere. And after you’ve finished sifting through the bins, you can head over to the Pet Sounds Bar & Restaurant!
Photo of Lykke Li live by bananiel (Flickr)
4. Kompakt Records Cologne
Werderstraße 15, Cologne, Germany 50672
The legendary Kompakt Records in Cologne, Germany features some of the most obscure in minimal techno, electronica and ambient music in continental Europe. Fans of minimal beats and blips have to visit KOMPAKT at least once in their lives!
Photo by veneman (Flickr)
3. Other Music NYC
15 East 14th Street, NYC, NY 10003
An absolute legend in the NYC music scene. Other Music is one of the tiniest record stores ever, but with one of the biggest hearts around. Find anything from minimal Brazilian techno, to the latest from Sonic Youth. Also, chances are you’ll even bump into Thurston Moore from time to time!
2. Rave Up Records Vienna
Hofmühlgasse 1, Vienna, Austria 1060
One of the more obscure record stores in Europe, but certainly one of the best. Over a decade of supplying Vienna music fans with obscure independent music, from indie rock to ambient to underground hip-hop, the Rave Up team love their music and you can feel the love the minute you walk in.
1. Amoeba Music Los Angeles
6400 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca 90028
What more can be said about Amoeba? They’ve set the bar for what to expect from a record store. Over 100,000 items in a huge warehouse-like environment, from obscure vinyl to used CDs to hard to find cassettes, it’s all at Amoeba, seriously. Chances are pretty good you’ll bump into Henry Rollins or Jason Schwartzmann, so be on your best behavior!
Photo by Marco Varisco (Flickr)
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