beta
beta
It's OK to still cling to your vinyl -- this is Austin, after all. Here's where to go to commune with your fellow iTunes rejectors.
The most famous (and certainly most resilient) of Austin music stores, Waterloo is one of the last bastions of old-school CD sales, but also hosts intimate, in-house shows for touring artists when they come through town. Also contains a curated vinyl section, as well as Toy Joy-esque trinkets and other geeky delights.
A not-insignificant record section (as well as several books on CD) sits primly in the front right corner of this particular Half Price Books, and if you're a bibliophile in addition to an audiophile, there's an awesome rare books room in the back of the store.
If blues on vinyl is your thing, Antone's is the place for you -- here, it's not just organized by name, but region. There's also a fantastic dollar bin of funky, weird finds, plus local music pressed on vinyl, too.
Cheapo Records is to record stores as Goodwill: Blue Hanger Outlet is to thrift stores. It requires LOTS of digging, but with an open mind and a little patience, you'll walk away with a musical gem that cost you pennies.
Lots of collectible vinyl LP's and singles at a reasonable price, coupled with a friendly, knowledgeable staff and not-judgy buy-backs (yep, they'll take your Spice Girls).
If Rob Gordon were an actual person and not a character out of High Fidelity, I like to think that Friends of Sound is the kind of music store he would run. Tons of used vinyl selection, a cute turntable listening corner, and events during SXSW make this non-pretentious record store a local favorite.
Welcome back to 1978! This tiny, throwback music store is not only a haven for vinyl aficionados (despite the small space, the record selection spans several different music genres), it also sells vintage band T's and actual turntables.
Breakway doesn't only sell records -- there's a deep, abiding affection here for classic rock and R&B -- but they'll fix your record player for you, too.
