Generation Records

At first we stopped at Bleeker St. Records. When I asked about the Punk record selection, they said we have a huge selection of Punk at our «other» record store.
Well then, we’re waiting… Where is this other store? Its called «Generation Records“on Thompson st.
Hurray!
Walking into the store, there is a really fun vibe. Somehow we’re directed to the basement where all of the Punk, Rock and Jazz records are located. We walk downstairs and immediately see some classic punk rock posters. My teenager looks at me and says, ooh yeah. We spent a solid hour looking thru the bins and found a few punk rock 45s, a Robin Towers album (who the HELL is this yahoo? I just wiki’d him, holy smokes)
Like any record store, they play their own records. This guys are cranking Sonic Youth?! Very very cool.
I highly recommend Generation Records. They have great tee shirts, posters and of course lotsa cool vinyl records.

This place used to be awesome about 10 years ago but my latest visit was a huge letdown. Not a great selection of punk or metal records.

As promised, I’m updating my review after concluding my most recent business with them. They examined my most recent collection, offered me a fair price, which I accepted, and once I have more records to sell, will definitely contact them to offer them another collection for sale. good doing business with you.

Not much of a selection in my opinion and even less selection if you’re looking for something used or preowned.

Cool place and good selection, I can spend hours downstairs. Really love this place. Just wish the staff was nicer. They could at least acknowledge customers and say hi. Or maybe don’t ignore me completely and move slow when you ring me up bc you’re having a chat with a friend. :/

Love this place. So glad the Village is still home to a few spots like it. Great assortment of treasures down in the lower level at reasonable prices. The 2 for 99 cent bargain bins are especially amazeballs. I don’t adore it quite as much as the Bleecker Street Records sister store, mostly due to the fact that Generation’s got no obese cats running around. But if you want a unique browsing experience in the presence of a staff who’s friendly when needed but mostly pleasantly leaves you to your own devices to explore, this is your spot!

LOVE. I could spend hours in this shop looking at the records. I always end up coming out with something awesome. I wish they had more small sized t shirts (most are mens larges it seems) but their vinyl collection is superb.

Been going here for years. Awesome place, friendly staff, great prices. Ill always buy my vinyl here! Thanks!

Great selection of punk and metal music and merch. RSD releases are plentiful too. Employees didn’t talk much but whatever. Worth a visit for sure. Reasonable prices too.

You may not be able to find all the «classics» here, but between its new and used collections, Generation Records carries a wider variety of contemporary metal and punk rock vinyls (among others) compared to other places in the Village. The store also offers an extensive stock of CDs, posters, and t-​shirts – you’ll find things you didn’t even know you needed in the first place.

I love this place, I was able to find a rare pressing of one my favorite bands, as well as cool odds and ends still my favorite place to be by far.

Love this place. There’s no better place with a huge selection of metal and punk music, tshirts, pins, and patches. The staff is friendly and helpful and I generally shop here once every couple of weeks. They have a selection for every price range.

I haven’t been to this place since my high school years. I discovered it through a friend when I told her I’ve been searching for record/​CD stores that sell Black Metal stuff. I was so excited when she told me about this place since I only traveled to Virgin records to buy the stuff I wanted. When I visited, I was not disappointed. I found what I was looking for. I’m an avid collector when it comes to CDs and vinyls.
The first floor is filled with brand new CDs and vinyls. The north wall of the store seems to have music related DVDs. I never really checked it out since that wall seems very uninteresting. They have a vast selection when it comes to metal and punk. So there is no disappointment unless you are looking for items that have a strict limited release. The selection on the vinyls are pretty decent as well. They also have a selection that is not oriented around extreme music I believe, but I never explored it.
The basement floor is half used CDs and half band shirts. I have bought both and haven’t been disappointed with the quality of the clothes or with the playback of the CDs. Both floors always have music playing so it’s quite pleasant and great in getting lost in your little world while looking for some gems. They play metal and punk most of the time so if you’re not into that type of music, be ready when coming in.
While they have a nice selection of items, they really lack in being friendly. Most of the staff members are metalheads I presume. Just because they are metalheads doesn’t mean they have to be angry looking all the time. There are some nice fellows there though. I remember one of them was more social with me when he noticed my vest filled with band patches. Anyway, the customer should never feel unwelcomed or unsafe, right?
I haven’t been to this place in a while so I don’t know how much has changed. The thing about record stores, I feel, is that it is dying out. I’m one of those persons who prefer listening to new music by buying CDs. However, when I started buying my stuff online (ebay or record label websites), I noticed it was much cheaper than buying it in record stores. I miss looking through stacks of CDs or vinyls. Buying online is more convenient for people with busy schedules. But if I had the time to go and search through those stacks, I would definetly be back.

A good selection of used and new vinyl, all for decent prices. Their rock section is extensive, but mostly meat and potatoes kind of bands. Couldn’t necessarily find all the names I was looking for, but I still walked out with some good stuff.
Ps. If you like 50’s singers like Brenda Lee, Bobby Darin, and Perry Como, you’ll have a field day in their sale bin.

A superb selection of records. Their prices are a wee bit on the high end but a great location and knowledgable staff must be paid for. If you’re having trouble finding a specific record, go here

Really good new selection, big new arrivals bin… Make sure to check downstairs too for a good selection of used, t-​shirts and 45s.
I buy used primarily, ⁴⁄₅ stars because the selection of used titles isn’t quite as strong as the new selections.
It’s too bad because as a punk/​metal buyer, I’d hoped that the used selection would match the depth of new titles.
Still worth a visit.

Went here with no expectations, they didn’t have more than my record store back home except some noise/​avant-​garde records. Get rid of the shirt section and add more records.

Selection is unparalleled… if you’re into metal, hardcore, punk, doom, space rock, etc.
Used CD section is bigger than the new CD section. A lot of good stuff there. Found some old Coalesce and some other good stuff.
People complain about prices for a CD, but think about it, most people don’t consume their music that way anymore. They have to pay the rent, y’know. I’m in favor of keeping them there as long as possible. Take my money.

With the ever shrinking used record selection at their cousin store, Bleecker Records, I had to start coming here more. They do have more used records especially in the basement and the prices are reasonable. Asides from the used records they also have used CDs which to me are a bit overpriced at $ 7 each. But its the used records that keeps me checking back every once in awhile.
The upstairs also have lots of new records, though I’m not a big fan of new records there were a few instances I had saw something interesting. On a side not, they tend to blast heavy metal music here and sometimes death metal, so be prepared.
And to the people thats complaining about the staff. Yeah they may not smile, or they’re not that friendly, but when was the last time you saw a rocker or heavy metal dude smile?

Their used CDs were a little overpriced compared to other stores I’ve been to, but I figured they would be good quality. The used stuff was downstairs and it was a large basement. I went to purchase 2 used CDs and brought the cases to the young, unpleasant dude at the counter. He went to go fetch the CDs and came back shortly. Since I was going to pay with a credit card he said I had to go to the register upstairs on the main floor. No problem at all.
I go upstairs and the guy at the main register saw me holding cases and asked if the dude downstairs got me the CDs. I said yes. I paid, he might have said thank you or bye, but all I know is he wasn’t really friendly. Both employees there looked like they thought they were Gods gifts to the record store biz. Get over yourselves… Hire someone who is at least friendly or cracks a smile. I GUARANTEE you would sell more records…
But it gets worse. On the way home we pop in a cd and a few songs in it starts skipping like crazy. This is kinda expected since it is used. I eject the cd and expect to see some scratches. The thing has GASHES on it. Granted I probably should’ve checked before I bought it, but that’s their job! I can’t believe they accepted the GASHED cd in the first place and would sell it. Waste of money and time. Won’t be back.