chubbler108 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Where are your favorite places to shop in Toronto. The only places I really go to are Rotate This and Sonic Boom, but thats because they are the only places I know of. I've HEARD of Criminal Records (is it good?), and a place called hit and miss or something (metal and punk I think?). But yeah, where can I go to find sick vinyl in Toronto? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brammyg Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Criminal Records is super friendly and amazing prices. Their selection isn't as big as Sonic Boom's but they have alot of other things to make up for it (shirts, cd's, posters). I always make a stop there when I'm downtown. I only go to Rotate for concert tickets haha and I want to check out this hit and miss place. Where is it? Edit: By selection at Criminal, I mean used vinyl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patron Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Criminal Records is just alright, it's on Queen St. as well, just down the street (East) from Rotate This, it's got a big huge silver record on the sidewalk. I say that it's just alright because they only have more mainstream stuff. When I say that, I mean that the most indie stuff they get is Fat, and that's about it. Stuff you'd find there: AC/DC Rage Against The Machine Bob Marley Against Me! NOFX The Beatles Tegan & Sara ect. Hits and Misses is my absolutely favourite record store in Toronto. It's on Bloor St., West of Sonic Boom. The address is 860 Bloor St. W., it's got a huge Punk/Pop-Punk section, a decent sized Garage, and a pretty decent sized hardcore/crust section. They stock new/used LPs/7"s. Stuff you'd find there: Anything on my trade list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrews Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Hits & Misses is great for hardcore/punk. I usually hit that place up every weekend. Rotate has a good selection of everything else (indie rock, some hip hop, electronic, and a bunch of everything else). Just like Hits & Misses, the prices are reasonable and the guys that work there are generally cool. For some reason I hate going into Criminal. Small selection, not that great prices and.... I don't know... I just really don't like the vibe of that place. I need to check out sonic boom. They have a ton of stuff from what I saw when Fucked Up played there. Maybe I'll check it out this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brammyg Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Haha maybe I just like Criminal because it's so bright and clean. That and the American Apparel next to it could light up the whole street (ever walked by an american apparel at night? it's blinding). Sonic Boom did have a sealed copy of The Zombies "Odessey and Oracle" that I've been looking for. Should have picked it up, oh well. I'll hopefully stop by Hit and Misses this weekend or the next Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatlinemole Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 i think i need to make a trip to toronto, and check out some of these places... brantford has nothing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brentoage Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 sonic boom, rotate this, + hits and misses. that's all you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patron Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Honestly, Sonic Boom doesn't have a whole lot of good stuff for me, and the stuff they do have is a little overpriced. Rotate This has some good stuff sometimes, since they usually stock some Dirtnap/Deranged bands, but the guys who work there are assholes and the music they play in the store is terrible. If I go into the city, the only store I HAVE to visit is Hits and Misses, but I usually go to Rotate anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravitylovesdrunks Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 criminal records is good with good pricing, but it lacks a used section. rotate this is good. hits and misses is my favourite record shop. sonic boom lacks good vinyl and has high prices. those are the 4 major ones i'd say, but we have more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swank Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Rotate This used to be really cool, but nowadays they don't seem to have anything worth while and you have to be prepared to have the staff REALLY look down their nose at you. Super snobby. Sonic Boom is cool in that they'll buy anything from you. But their selection of Vinyl is decent, but pricey. Hit or Miss has a great atmosphere and tons of selection, but it seems to cater mostly towards hardcore and crust. Criminal Records sort of makes you feel like you're at Hot Topic. The people are nice enough, if not a little hard-sell. The selection is on par with sonic boom, and cheaper. But if you need a neon green studded belt with your vinyl, this is your place. Slinky Music (across from Criminal) is pretty on point for Hip Hop vinyl, if thats your thing. Always on-top of new releases and very competitive prices. Decent indie section too. Kops (next to Condom Shack on Queen) has alot of Hip Hop, R&B and Soul, as well as quite a large selection of old 45s. aaaaand I think thats it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patron Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I'm going to have to disagree with you on the Hits and Misses being a hardcore/crust store. That's where I buy most of my vinyl and I can honestly say that they have a huge selection of Pop Punk/Power Pop/Garage/Punk stuff. Plus the owner, Pete, really knows his stuff. You can talk to that guy about anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vito Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 how hard are these places to find? i'm going to toronto in july would love to check out some record shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chubbler108 Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 Awesome, that really helped a lot. Thanks guys. I'm going downtown next Friday, so I will DEFINITELY be going to Hits and Misses, and if I get the chance Criminal Records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decibel120 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Hits & Misses is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patron Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 how hard are these places to find? i'm going to toronto in july would love to check out some record shops. Very easy to find. Rotate This and Criminal are both on Queen st., which is where everyone goes to shop. And Hits and Misses and Sonic Boom are on Bloor St. (A 5 or so minute street car ride north of Queen) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruins4ever Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 So say I wanted to find Thursday, Thrice, Saves the Day, Texas Is the Reason... etc. Where would I go for that? Which one of those stores? I'm going to a Leafs/Bruins game with the girlfriend on Feb. 16th, it's my bday present, so I'm thinking of hitting up a record store as well for my bday (even though it was just after Christmas). Sometimes you gotta treat yourself to a bday present. So ya, where would I go to find stuff like the aforementioned bands? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruins4ever Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 *Bump* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patron Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I would say all have a standing chance of having at least one of each... Not sure if any would have all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brammyg Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Don't go to Rotate This past sundown. The people scare me there past Spadina. No offence to anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brentoage Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Don't go to Rotate This past sundown. The people scare me there past Spadina. No offence to anyone. it's not that bad! parkdale isn't even that bad anymore. the only people that scare me are those on the northwest corner of queen and bathurst at about 4am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrews Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 go to the following blog that I contribute to to read a story that most likely happened on that corner atleastitsthursday.blogspot.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patron Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Aha, it used to be street punks and natives, but now that the Q bar closed down, it's just the natives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brammyg Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Haha you're right it's not that bad. I think Queen and Bathurst is where I mean, around the Reverb area. I come from Thornhill so I guess I'm just not used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patron Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Yeah, Q&B is pretty much where Rotate is. It's just like a two minute walk West. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinylguytoronto Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Just updated my blog on this topic, Where to Buy Vinyl Records in Toronto and the GTA; latest post about Pandemonium: https://tovinyl.wordpress.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.