I just returned from my brief vacation in San Francisco and thought I'd give
a brief report of my record shopping. My companion and I bought more than
20cd's. We didn't go to any clubs. Thanks to the several individuals who sent
advice about where to go. All recordings were bought on CD with the notable
exception being AFX HAB2.
Amoeba ( in Berkeley, on Telegraph ) - This is the West Coast's used CD
mecca. Great new selection too. The store is huge and not focused on any
particular types of tunes so It may be a bit overwhelming. Go directly to the
back of the store for decent Techno/Idm & Ambient area and a great Reggae
section. I would've spent hours here had it not been for the parking meter.
The staff was busy refiling everything continuously. Recommended
I Bought - Wibbly Wobbly Music Archive Vol. 1, Akabu
She Bought - used Axiom Ambient $16, used Banco De Gaia "Last Train to
Lhasa" $9 & used Transmissions from Planet Dog $8
Mod Lang ( Berkeley, on University near Shattuck ) - a very good store with a
better selection of new vinyl than most. Very nice IDM selection. Recomended.
Staff was haughty yet helpful.
I Bought - Aphex Twin "Hangable Autobulb 2" 12"
She Bought - FSOL "Lifeforms" EP
We Bought - Woob 2 for my Aunt Ruth
Soundworks - 228 Valencia (at Clinton Park) - comfortable store with a large
Vinyl selection and a somewhat disappointing CD selection. The staff seemed
nice but preoccupied. Recommended
I Bought - Jungle Renegades 2, Zion Train "Siren"
Tweekin Records - 593 Haight (at Steiner) - tiny hole on Haight nowhere near
much anything else. Vast tracts of vinyl and a small, decent CD selection.
Staff was at first missing and then uninterested yet british.
Bought - nothing
Tempted by - Irdial CD "There are too many fools...."
Reckless Records - 1401 Haight (at Masonic) - Good store to check every once
in a while, espescially for used stuff.
Bought - Wagon Christ Redone EP, used Ben Neill "Green Machine",
& Em:t - International Peoples Gang
Tower Records - Market at Noe - Good Techno & industrial sections with some
ambient. Lots of Coil. Bonus points for having many copies of Aphex Twin
Classics @ $20.99 ( I usually see it for more than $30 )
Bought - nothing
Tempted by - Psychick Warriors of Gaia - Record of Breaks
Virgin Megastore - 37 O'Farrell (at Market) - Big Big store ( 3 floors ) that
should give Tower records a real run for their money. Lots of cheesy import
UK Pop. Big Acid Jazz section. Decent IDM+Ambient section. Bonus points for
having lots of the double disc version of Goldies "Timeless"
I Bought - Woob 2, S.U. Corporation Presents Dub Plate Selection
Recycled Records - 1377 Haight - Not good for IDM or Ambient. But I found
some cheap reggae I thought I wanted.
Bought - used Beenie Man "Blessed" $6 and Bim Sherman Century 100
Streetlight - 2350 Market (between Noe and Castro) - Go upstairs & you might
find something you want - but probably not.
Bought - nothing
Worth a mention
Amoeba - the Clothes store on Haight also had a small but good selection of
CD's ( mostly ambient/FAX ) & mix tapes
Didn't Make it to :
Borders Books and Music - 400 post (at Powell)
BPM - 1141 Polk
Rough Trade Records - 695 3rd (at Townsend)
Star Alley - 322 Linden (at Gough I think)
Record Finder - 258 Noe (at Market)
Record Rack - 3798 18th st (at Sanchez)
- Paul T23