Hard times have fallen on many small, independent music stores in D.C., as one legend of the scene, Capitol City Records, closed doors on July 30. As a result, buying music in D.C. is a little bit of a treasure hunt. Seeking out the best places to buy good music is like looking for a needle in a haystack. It's a big city, but every fantastic music store is quaint and small, each one more different (and more hidden) than the last. What D.C. lacks in huge mega-hip record shops (along the lines of, say, Amoeba or Virgin), it makes up for with smaller stores that have a good selection and even better personality.
CD/Game Exchange
Tenleytown 4533 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. (202) 966-8307
Adams Morgan 2475 18th St. N.W. Metro: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan (red line) (202) 588-5070
A short shuttle ride from AU's main campus, CD/Game Exchange is a good place to start while in search of D.C.'s best music selection. They offer a wide array of used CDs and records, as well as offering new CDs and video games. The store in Adams Morgan is quite the same as the Tenleytown location; each have walls that are crammed full of CDs in the otherwise tiny space. Sometimes it's hard to browse, but you'll never go away empty-handed, sometimes for as cheap as $2.50 a pop.
Melody Records 1623 Connecticut Avenue NW Metro: Dupont Circle (red line) www.melodyrecords.com
Melody is one of the largest small record shops in D.C. with a fairly broad selection. According to its Web site, they offer over 200,000 titles and will order any they do not have in stock. Melody has a convenient location, just two blocks from the Q Street exit of the Dupont Circle Metro stop. While the selection is good, you may get wide-eyed at prices; Melody does not deep-discount much of anything. They also offer DVDs and a small used section. The friendly, helpful staff is a plus.
Revolution Records 4215 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Metro: Van Ness/UDC (202) 237-2480
This tiny music store a few steps from the Van Ness/UDC Metro stop is a gem among the otherwise unexciting Van Ness area of Connecticut Avenue. Located above other businesses on the second floor, it offers a small vinyl section but a more extensive new and used CD collection. Boasting fairly regular musical performances, its music collection is varied and goes largely uncategorized. The hip-hop section is mixed with classic indie rock. A very friendly staff helps to accommodate the varying tastes of Revolution's customers.
CD Warehouse 3001 M St. N.W. www.thinkinground.com
A small store on the edge of Georgetown, this store is best when you are strolling through the neighborhood. In other words, it's not a destination, but a cozy spot that is a nice change from the glossy Georgetown image. It offers a pretty decent collection and has a nice array of used CDs that won't always break the bank. It's on the corner of M and 30th streets, a short walk from Wisconsin Avenue. Besides CD/Game Exchange, this is probably the best place to sell old CDs.
Crooked Beat Records 2318 18th St. N.W. Metro: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan www.crookedbeat.com
The premier D.C. record shop, this gem is located at the end of the 18th Street in the heart of Adams Morgan. It boasts a substantial vinyl selection and an incredibly knowledgeable staff. While the CD collection is limited, it still is worth browsing. Its Web site offers an extensive database of its inventory, and the store is a great place to discover and build up your collection of local legends like Fugazi, Minor Threat and Q and not U. They have a special section just for D.C. bands, which adds to Crooked Beat's unique Washington flair.
