-- RECORD AND TAPE TRADERS --
Record and Tape Tradersis an 11-store chain based in Maryland. Baltimore's Record and Tape Traders serves a great purpose -- it is incredibly close to the Homewood campus (right near Homewood Apartments); therefore, it puts a myriad of CDs and DVDs at the fingertips of Hopkins students. If you're looking for the most obscure of bands, however, you might not find them at Record and Tape Traders -- pick up that local band's new album at Reptilian Records (below) or on the Internet. All things aside, Record and Tape Traders is a great resource for Hopkins students; with used cds, hip-hop and oldies vinyl, DVDs, posters, stickers and anything else you can think of, Record and Tape Traders is the perfect store for the typical music-listening, movie-watching Hopkins student. Record and Tape Traders is an official Ticketmaster outlet as well.
3003 North Charles St. (410) 662-9610
-- REPTILIAN RECORDS --
Reptilian Recordsis located near Fell's Point and will be your personal Mecca if you listen to anything from punk to hardcore to noise or live for vinyl. Reptilian Records is one more step into obscurity, and its collection spans from old classics like The Adolescents' self-titled album all the way to newer releases by bands like Strike Anywhere and H2O. In addition, Reptilian has plenty of local releases from bands like Ruiner and The Spark. The store's employees, though they may look intimidating, are incredibly helpful and will gladly talk music with you. Reptilian's used section is on the cheap side, but it is not as vast as the used section at Sound Garden. Reptilian Records sells advance tickets for events at The Ottobar.
403 South Broadway (888) 909-6853
-- THE SOUND GARDEN --
The Sound Garden is located in Fells Point and is mainly known for its expansive and well-priced used DVD section; however, it also has a vast CD collection and a decent-sized corner devoted solely to vinyl (from Jawbreaker to Kanye West). Sound Garden has more obscure releases than Record and Tape Traders -- it's definitely second place to check if Record and Tape Traders doesn't have it. In fact, Baltimore City Paper has voted Sound Garden "Best CD Store" nine years running. The store is also known for its late hours: it is open until 10 p.m. from Sundayt to Wednesday and until midnight from Thursday to Saturday. The Sound Garden is an official Ticketmaster outlet.
1616 Thames St. (410) 563-9011
