boston record stores

[kyacrash]

I think there was another thread recently about record stores in boston, but i couldn't find it...

I'm a Boston native originally, but the past few years I've been living in Delaware. This last week I went home to visit for the first time since I've become a record collector. As you can imagine Delaware is not much of a state, and they definitely don't have any good record stores (they have two total that I know of, and they're mediocre at best). Most of my collection has come via the internet one way or the other, so I was pretty stoked to wander a great city like Boston and hopefully shop in some good record stores.

I started my venture early Saturday afternoon near Fenway, as I had tickets for the red sox/orioles night cap. I made my way all the way to Harvard Square, stopping at Looney Tunes, Cheapo Records, Weirdo Records, and Planet Records and all I had to show for it was an impulse buy of Straight Edge Kegger - Fuck Fresno. Mildly disappointed I decided to find one more store and call it a day. That last store was Inner Ear Records. Finally I found a place to waste some money! Though I didn't find any true gems, I easily managed to set aside a stack of records that I was at least interested in. Inner Ear was by far the best store of the day, though the place was an amazingly chaotic disarray of records, they were the only place I went to that separated "indie rock" from the rest of the rock section. They also had good local pickings, where I found a copy of "Boston's Infested" on red/black marble. The chick who worked there was very hesitant to sell it to me, as she was planning on buying that as well as a used (original?) Black Flag - TV Party. I generally don't like upsetting cute chicks, especially ones that like good music, but it had to be done!

Overall I was satisfied to leave with something (managed to spend almost $100), but my general conclusion of shopping in record stores is that it's great for buying things you weren't planning on buying, but if you're looking for something specific it's probably easier/cheaper buying online. I do enjoy supporting local independent businesses, especially record stores, which is precisely why I neglected to visit Newbury Comics. Anything they have I can buy online (although I am curious to see what I missed in their used section).

So what do you guys think? Did I miss any good stores? I'm also going to visit Philly pretty soon, it's only like an hour and a half north of me, so I'll see how they compare.

[tanukichu]

I always hit up Newbury and Loony Tunes. I'm usually super broke when I go up and it's mostly to spend time with my bestie. So I don't do too much intensive record shopping.

In Philly, hit up Long In the Tooth, Beautiful World Syndicate, Repo, Noise Pollution, Philly Record Exchange, and Digital Ferret

[timwt]

Boston record stores suck. Drive to Providence and hit up Armageddon. It's always worth it.

[controlthebleeding]

Boston record stores suck. Drive to Providence and hit up Armageddon. It's always worth it.

i second this.

[shenanigans]

My dad went to Newbury in Newton and got me all the RSD releases I was looking for.

[jcamps]

Boston record stores suck. Drive to Providence and hit up Armageddon. It's always worth it.

i second this.

thirded.

i can back in your ear a little bit though, i've scrounged a few decent things out of the comm ave one.