Sonic Boom Records

Clean, tidy, well-curated…and now, closed. Despite being dismayed by the «CLOSING SOON» notice on the door, the used section was surprisingly full of decent material. And at 50% off anything used, I scored a few steals for about 2.50 — 3.50 each (Stereolab’s Margerine Eclipse & Switched On, Vol. 2; as well as the re-​mastered soundtrack to Black Orpheus). Even the bargain bin material was not-​too-​terrible; though admittedly, I was equally happy & dismayed to see 4 of my band’s most recent record in here for a buck a piece (thank you, nationwide listening station program); hopefully some lonely soul picked these up for less than manufacturing cost.
Didn’t ask the clerk why they were closing this location (he was tied up in a terrible conversation with an oldster about how awesome Traffic was back in the 70s…), but anytime an independent record store closes, I feel sadness like a yawning pit on my insides. Hope y’all can survive with yer lone last location.

So many records, so little paycheck. They have everything I want, ever, and also things I never want. Isn’t that the mark of a great record store?

There’s a lot of hype to this place, but it’s much deserved. I heard this hype all the way in Kansas, and when my brother and I went through Seattle on a glorious, sunny July day we made a point to stop here.
The selection is fantastic, the CDs are dirt cheap, even the ones by great bands, and the atmosphere was inviting. It’s nice to see places like this still around.

As a music junkie, I love a good music store and this one surely satisfies my musical hunger. It is spacious, packed with auditory goodies, CD’s, Vinyl, even some cassettes and 8-​tracks on the counter!
Prices are great, the guy at the counter was friendly, and they are open until 10pm! Awesome! They have some dope tunes playing in the store, you can snag some music, cables, headphones, and other fun music related items. Their selection is huge! Stop by and spend some time digging and finding musical goodies to rock out to!

Service with a smile is hard to come by at most independent local record stores. More often than not, these visits are punctuated by the glowering stares of surly clerks hell bent on revealing how tragically unhip the rest of us are. Why then, was a grin plastered on the face of the guy situated behind the counter at Sonic Boom Records? More than likely, it’s because he works at the record store Rolling Stone recently rated as one of the top 25 in the United States.
Sonic Boom’s Capitol Hill location, conveniently situated in Melrose Market, rocks a spacious, well-​lit interior, high ceilings and rows of racks neatly crammed with a diplomatic mix of obscure and mainstream music. Vinyl collectors will appreciate the store’s solid record selection and used c.d.‘s abound to tempt even the most frugal budget.
By supporting local record stores like Sonic Boom, the tangible music experience lives on. And the service is undoubtedly friendly. Take notes, aloof hipster music clerks: Nice is the new black.

What I love about Sonic Boom is that they have supported me through a lot of my music phases:
During my riot grrrl phase, I met Le Tigre here, got my CD signed and a polaroid taken.
During my pacific northwest singer songwriter phase, I got to watch an instore with Laura Veirs, meet her and have her sign my CD.
During my indie phase, I got to watch an instore with Feist and have her sign my CD.
During my twee phase, there was also an instore with the Lucksmiths and they also signed my CD.
All of these have been free, all ages and up close and personal.
I haven’t been to any instore performance for a long time, but I still go to Sonic Boom for used CDs from time to time. They have a wide variety, the perfect organization system (alphabetical with used and new mixed — so easy), and decent prices. Sonic Boom also sells a lot of concert tickets at their store so you can avoid paying ticketmaster fees, but show tickets are cash only.

They hit all the prerequisites as a great record store:
Great selection.
Enough space to actually display a true great selection.
Well organized.
Big used section.
Acceptable prices.
Staff that doesn’t seem to be actively praying for your death the entire time you’re there, and knows music.
It’s surprisingly hard to find great record stores, moreso now that the internet is everyone’s first choice as a record store. But SB does the job.

I like Sonic Boom Records. They have cheap cds. They have mildly attractive staff who don’t laugh at me when I buy mildly embarassing cds like Pete Yorn. It is also well organized and well-​lit.
I actually don’t have any complaints. Yesss.

I’m on a vinyl bender that most likely isn’t ending anytime soon. I get lost every evening sampling and sequencing gem moments of old obscure records and making proper beats/​music out of them.
This place has a big enough vinyl selection (old and new) to be considered a ‘contender’ in the record game. However, their prices seem to be exploiting the resurgence of tweens and teens faithfully listening to their Rolling Stone who tells them vinyl is cool. It is cool! But, I am not keen on paying $ 20 – 40 a pop on new records. In fact, I think new records are stupid … isn’t vinyl cool because of the throwback flavor? If so, own it… buy used.
Sooo, with that said, they do have used records. But, they average about double what you would pay at Half Priced Books (which is a gold mine). On the plus, they are VERY well organized. But, their cheapos are not, and lumped on the bottom rack. I like to sift, but not while bending over or on my knees. Those positions are reserved for my bedroom manner only! (jk …kind of)
Long story kind of short. They’re a cool, well organized store, but a bit steep on price.

I found and picked up The Pains of Being Pure at Heart LP and «Young Adult Friction» 7″ single, and the Dead Dog LP. Need I say more?
Ok, I’ll say a bit more. They have a great indie selection, almost bought the Health/​/​Disco LP here. Lots of great stuff. Electronic section could use a bit of beefing up though, i.e. very low Ed Banger releases.
This is a really cool little shop. Wish we had something like this is Palo Alto… somebody…anybody?!

After a weekend of partying, its nice to go to the Canterbury, eat some grub, squint out the window at that yellow orb called the sun and realize its time to do something wholesome with your day. Like look through records at sonic boom.
Sonic boom tastes great for something to do on your hangover Sunday. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Great selection and mellow atmosphere makes it one of my favorite spots to hunt for vinyl.

Another great place to shop for Vinyl and CD’s they also have some concert DVDs and they have used Vinyl
plus they sell tickets for local venues, and they are part of Record Store Day which will be April 18^th 2009

Note to local bands and solo artists: if you produce your own album, Sonic Boom will sell them for you. You don’t need to be signed to a major (or minor) label. You must, however, keep track of whether your CDs have sold or not yourself. This Sonic Boom was carrying a few of our CDs (Stay Tuned, a Television Rock Experience) a while back, but last time I was in they didn’t have any out on the shelves. As far as I know we have never collected any money from them, but really it’s on us to keep track of that stuff.
Anyhoo, They’ve got a ton of cool stuff, from wax records to CDs to DVDs, used and new. I found a lot of great stuff in the bargain bins. I like owning the solid-​state CDs of music, as I’ve had my hard drive crash and have lost countless mp3s, and being able to re-​rip my music is really nice. I’m also partial to reading liner notes and looking at the photography and art in the covers.
Mark-​up on new CDs is pretty outrageous ($ 16 in some cases), especially when I can find that stuff used, or get the album on iTunes for $ 10 (and cheaper elsewhere). I was tempted to pick up the new Radiohead CD, but… seriously… $ 16? I just can’t justify it.
However, I still walked out with over $ 50 in used/​bargain stuff. I’m patient. I can wait for that new expensive stuff to wind up in the cheapy bins.

I’m not nearly cool enough to appreciate their vinyl collection.
I can’t exactly recall the last cd I bought that didn’t have a video game on it.
I guess I’m not cut out to buy music at a store anymore. I’m sure that doesn’t slow down the business here at all as I’m suspecting the highly internet people don’t live in cap hill so much. It seems more the organic free-​range late adopters, to me, which makes this place perfect for the area.

Sonic Boom is a nice little music store with great music, DVD’s and a friendly staff.
I haven’t purchased a CD in awhile and it was about time. I really had to restrain myself from going over board, I wanted to buy so many CD’s and DVD’s. Every time I turned around I found something else I wanted to buy and I also got the urge to purchase a vinyl record and I don’t even own a record player!
I ended up getting the new Atmosphere CD «When Life Gives YOu Lemons», complete with a little CD sized 36 page book and the first season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Damn I love me some ATHF! I already had the DVD but it was «stolen» and I’ve been meaning to replace it.
All in all this is a great little record store and I would recommend it to anyone looking to actually purchase physical music. :)

Who’s still buying cds, you ask?
Me. I am. What of it?!
Yes, I know I can buy them off Itunes. Yes, I know I can just order the MP3. YES, I understand they’re free online from a million different torrent sites. YES, okay. I GET IT!
But hey, guess what?
I like my local record shop.
I love going in and talking with the people who know what’s good, who can recommend me something I’ll love. I enjoy chattin’ with bands at in store performances. I really like supporting local independent businesses.
Sonic Boom is Seattle’s best record store as far as I’m concerned. and yes, I’m familiar with the lot of them.
They’re good peeps. They’ll get you what you need if they don’t have it in stock. Oh, and they throw one heck of a party too.
Oh, and they’ve got a wicked vinyl collection as well. Can’t download those off the internet, now can you!??

Going to Sonic Boom is a lesson in restraint for me. I got out of there with my wallet $ 20 bucks lighter and a Flight of the Conchords CD ($ 3.99? Suhweet!) and a Patton Oswalt DVD/​CD set ($ 13.99 for both? Suhweet!) that came highly recommended by one of the employees of the shop.
Thing is, I practically had to physically restrain myself from buying all the awesome vinyl that I kept discovering as I don’t even have a record player. Every time I turned around, I saw a DVD or CD or book or *something* that was screaming «buy me! I’m awesome!»
As for the staff — friendly, helpful, and obviously way cool.
I get most of my music online, but NO MORE! I’m taking my bizz to Sonic Boom.

I like Sonic Boom. It’s easy to find music, the staff is really friendly, it’s on the side of Cap Hill that I like.
However, I usually download music from the internet. Yes, I’m one of THOSE people.
So forgive me if I don’t frequent the Boom as much as I should… plus I’m trying not to buy music b/​c it becomes a v. v. expensive habit!

I dont have a i-pod…or the latest gizmo for music… so i shop for my music. which means getting out of the house, and fingering through the cd and record racks… and sonic boom has got it right!!!
The staff is always helpful. but never overbearing in a gap store type of way… and i like the fact that the store know local stuff, and the stuff you just wont hear on the radio…
prices are right. its in a good hood… parking at times can be difficult… but the selection is top– notch… and i dont have to listen to some terrible kiss fm artist being played in the store… thats a homerun

I must confess my love for music. Must! And the staff at this Sonic Boom location makes it a lot easier to love music. Very friendly, quirky, knowledgeable and cute. There is an abundance of records and they are easy to find. Imagine that!
I wanted to leave the Ballard location out of this review but am finding it extremely hard because it’s impossible to believe these 2 are connected. Ballard is so commercial while the Capitol Hill location makes it a neighborhood experience.
I wish they had punch cards for devoted shoppers. I’d be an honorary member!