The Sound Library
sabadabada
5,966 Posts
Just saw this place last night. http://www.complex.com/CITY-GUIDE/USA/New-York/THE-SOUND-LIBRARY
sabadabada
5,966 Posts
Comments
you are on the cutting edge
sad
i am truly
Is "Golden Age" Hip Hop the new Classic Rock.
The OG was good.
Never been to Groove Merchant (yet) but TSL got libraries.
Hi Dave.
peace, stein. . .
Big City is really cool, mostly because Jared is a good dude and the selections are still strong.
Between the two, the latter is more like the Groove Merchant...GM doesn't do the same volume as TSL so their stock can't really compete but real headz know that Chris always stocks some killer stuff and price-wise, GM (from my experience) is more reasonable than TSL. Besides, GM's customer service is >>>>> than places like TSL and A-1. (Good Records excepted, of course).
But if you like the kind of joints you'd find at GM, then yeah, you'd probably like TSL or Big City. A-1 is just depressing to me. Has been for years. It's like they really don't give a fuck but apparently, business is still good enough that they're around.
Jared is good peoples!
the new sound library is not as good as the old one-it has half the buying power
now that the og crew has split up
the parking in that area is not as good-[important esp as a seller lugging crates]
the two guys that run it were the least hospitable of the original crew-and are a bit stand off ish/know it all types who make you feel less than comfortable when dealing with them.
Also dudes there have insulted my intelligence by offering me what I consider unreasonable sums for rare records-so they don't get my overstock anymore -and haven't for 3 years[10 dollars for mint queen constance,20 dollars for donna mcghee-no thanks]
I find TSL to have a clinical,unfunky,and sterile vibe with not much improvement on floor space/ergonomics or stock selection over the old location.
And they don't stock that many library records nor specialize in them as the name would imply.
Academy records consistently has more library records than any record store in NYC.
They have permanent hook ups with radio stations and other ongoing sources for libs.
They are cheaper than TSL on all things[20-40%] but carry different stock[more jazz/psych/rock less rare hip hop]and the grading is not as strict as TSL-but by no means are they selling rinked crap!!!
Academy,Big City records,and Good records are where its at for me as a buyer and seller.I think these stores have more vibe and personality and are more fun to deal with.
A-1's new arrivals bins are usually ok and the store is indeed funky if not in need of a paintjob/makeover.
But A-1 NEVER has any money to buy stuff and the wall at A-1 is[usually] lacklustre
in comparison to their competitors.
i actually haven't been to Big City yet. it's at 12th and what?
hi mike.
get your butt to groove merchant dude. hate to plug chris' store ad nauseum but it's the best store in terms of diversity of selection (quality not quantity). i have a very easy time spending money there unfortunatly for my wallet.
tsl sounds, cool i should get to ny sometime in the future.
SHHHH! DUDE STOP BLOWING UP THE SPOTz.
JUST FOR THAT I AM GONNA HIT YOU WHERE IT HURTS!
ALEIT COPPS ALL HIS HEAT AT "HARRY & KARL'S COME FLEA WITH ME". STRAIGHT HEAT FOR $20 A BOX STORAGE UNIT STYLEE.
THERE YOU HAVE IT. REAL WORLD MOVES UNMASKED.
peace.
Cosmos is a more European/Japanese styled record store.
is that the spot on ave A across from the park?
has anyone ever found anything in there?
gotta be something.jeeez
i was pretty shocked by their outrageous prices and on top of that the old couple that run it are bugged out and not too friendly. dude was muttering under his breath the whole time i was in there. 30-40 bucks for mad common late 70's jazz turds.
imho it that oplace is
I was impressed by Cosmos, but TSL has records in better condition. Cosmos was
VG + records that aren't that rare at extremely high end prices.
The idea that Cosmos has only VG+ records, or TSL has only M- records, or A-1's records are all hammered... is ridiculous. All of these stores are better than 99.999999% of what is out there and you have to be either ridiculously picky or just straight up ignorant if you can't find decent records in them.
NYC is like the only place on earth besides Japan and maybe London with a half dozen or more SERIOUS shops... it's quite a luxury and worthwhile checking them all.
I agree with most of this but assuming you don't have the time to hit up every store, if I were going to prioritize, I'd do Big City, Good and Academy. The last two times I've gotten out to New York, I had relatively little time to go record shopping and given that, I'd rather hit up places that I find 1) worth the time and 2) pleasant. Most of the stores mentioned in this thread fall into category 1. Can't say that about #2 save for the three stores I just named. I've never been to Cosmos though.
Hells yeah. There is no good shops where i live for about 100 miles. So going to NYC is like traveling to the mecca. I haven't had really any bad experiences with any stores in NYC. Its always 50 times better finds then what im used to. I used to go into the old TSL and just be overwhelmed not even knowing where to start. And where else could you be shopping shooting the shit with Q-tip and Rob Swift? Just such a cool vibe digging out there even if it costs an arm and a leg. I gotta hit Good,the new TSL and jareds shop next time i roll out there.
seems to me that nyc is much more of an LP/12" market than a 45 market. this could be a rather reductive statement, i know, but when i go to nyc for records i always feel like i come across more quality and quantity LPs as compared to 45s. like i buy 45s i don't really need or come to want, but don't feel the same about the LPs.
then again, maybe i'm just spoiled by detroit.