A record-store trip usually begins with one album in mind and ends with a bag containing something else entirely. These indie record stores in Boston and its neighboring cities leave room for both kinds of shopping: finding the release you came for and spending time with the bins.
The five stops below cover Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and Brookline. They differ in what they stock and what you can do while you are there, from listening to a record before buying it to looking at equipment for playing it at home. None requires you to arrive knowing the catalog number of an obscure pressing.
Cheapo Records
Cheapo Records has been in Central Square since 1954. Its shop at 538 Massachusetts Avenue carries vinyl alongside CDs, cassettes and other formats, with genres stretching from soul and jazz to folk, hip-hop and classical. The range makes it a useful starting point when you want to browse broadly instead of heading straight for one specialist section.
If you are looking for a particular album, the shop invites calls about its stock. That is worth doing for a specific pressing or a gift with a deadline. Otherwise, give yourself time to look beyond the first familiar names.
Armageddon Shop
Armageddon Shop is downstairs at 12B Eliot Street in Harvard Square. Punk, hardcore, metal, noise and experimental music are part of its focus, alongside indie rock, jazz and other genres. The Cambridge store opened in 2010 and carries new and used records, CDs and cassettes, plus music-related books, shirts and magazines.
Local music is a stated priority, with consignment available for many local artists and labels. That gives you a reason to browse beyond the established bands. The shop also publishes searchable inventory online, so you can investigate a particular release before making the trip.
GOOD TASTE Records
GOOD TASTE Records at 4 Thacher Street puts a record-shopping stop into a North End afternoon. Its catalog covers new releases across hip-hop, jazz, electronic music, rock and other genres, while the shop also keeps used records, CDs and cassettes available in person.
The store’s listening booth lets you try vinyl and CDs before committing. That is especially useful when the cover has persuaded you but the music is still a mystery. Turntables and speakers are also sold here, and online orders can be collected at the shop. Check the separate buying arrangements before bringing records to trade.
vinyl index.
vinyl index. is at Bow Market in Somerville, where record shopping can sit between lunch and a drink without requiring another trip across town. The shop sells new and used records, has its own releases, and now serves drinks in-store. Its event calendar and storefront information are worth checking when you want to stay beyond a quick browse.
There is an important distinction for anyone shopping online: the storefront inventory and special-order catalog are different. A title available to order from a distributor is not necessarily sitting in the Somerville bins. Confirm before traveling for one particular record.
Village Vinyl & Hi-Fi
Village Vinyl & Hi-Fi combines records with used and vintage audio equipment at 307 Harvard Street in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner. The selection spans jazz, rock, blues, electronic music, classical and more, and the shop identifies record condition on the protective sleeves.
The equipment side includes turntables, amplifiers and speakers, with maintenance and repairs also offered. That makes Village Vinyl useful when the problem is not finding more records but getting your existing ones to sound right. Contact the store first if you want to sell records or components; what it is buying depends on what it needs.
Shopping at indie record stores in Boston
For used records, compare the condition of the disc and sleeve separately. A cover can look excellent while the record inside has seen considerable use. Ask about playback, grading and returns before buying an expensive copy, and confirm the exact edition if that is what matters to you.
Call before carrying a collection across town to sell. The person who buys records may not be available throughout the shop’s opening hours. If you are making an afternoon of it, our street-art guide includes Central Square, where Cheapo is located, and our Boston outings guide offers other stops to pair with your shopping.
