This might hurt the feelings of those lovely scamps who man the counters at Crash, but Jumbo is…read moreLeeds' finest independent record shop. It's bigger, more spacious and while tucked away on the top floor of the St John's Centre, this means you're only going to find fellow music lovers rooting through the many racks of CDs, vinyls and music DVDs with you. And not your mum, chasing the Duffy album for your dad's birthday. Who doesn't like a bit of Duffy though, really? While the prices of the cross-over records - albums by popular bands who you might find in the big high street sellers of music - are more expensive than the prices you might find in say, your local supermarket, it's not these albums which you should be perusing Jumbo for. Not on my watch, anyway. I go to Jumbo for rare 7" singles of bands you probably haven't even heard of yet. Or for an album from the seventies, that apparently influenced your new favourite band. Or for my gig tickets, without extortionate booking fees you unwittingly discover online. Or, indeed, to fix my decks - as I did most recently. To be fair, I'm probably the customer they dislike the most. I bob in on a lunchtime and steal all the free mags/fanzines I can fit in my bag. And then leave, having bought nothing. Oops. Sorry. Thanks!

Jumbo was like one of those mythical much talked about places when I first moved to Leeds. People…read morewould always mention good music, generally some bands that I hadn't yet heard of, and then the name 'Jumbo' would shortly follow. Once I discovered the locale of Jumbo I could see why. For an indie record store the place is just huge! On the back wall are hundreds of live music posters, of all different kinds, yet another accolade to Jumbo's far reaching audiences and custom. They also, alongside Crash records, happen to sell tickets for most of the live music events that are going on in and around Leeds. Their range and selection of CDs and Vinyl is second to none in Leeds realistically, and the staff are really knowledgeable. Great if you have ideas but no names, or tip of the tongue phenomenon! Jumbo is the business and a total must for any music lover in Leeds. And by that I don't mean anything within the sphere of, say, Britney Spears et al. But that might be fairly obvious once you step inside...

Man this shop is pokey!…read more Big Deal sell a good deal of stuff for such a small space, that is for sure. Their goods range mostly in music items and electrical goods, most especially amplifiers and guitars although there are a number of other items on sale here too. As a lot of the items have been part exchanged/are second hand it means they offer reasonably competetive prices on their goods. The main issue with this, though, is that when searching for musical items money isn't (and shouldn't be) the main factor. I'm not saying one should go crazy, but it doesn't matter how cheap their Takemine might be, that doesn't mean it is a better deal than a full price elsewhere. I'll elaborate. Unfortunately therein lies the problems with musical instruments - line up seven of exactly the same guitar from the same factory from the same day, and one will be miles above the others for sound quality. One will sing and you'll notice it compared to the others. There just aren't two guitars the same - you can test this yourself by annoying the salesmen in any guitar shop in Leeds and ask to play as many of the same brand and issue as they have! (In buying a guitar recently I did just this to weedle out the best one!) What I'm getting at is that Big Deal have a lot of great offers and some very nice prices, but be sure to test the item first and make sure it sings as well as it should. Unless you've naught the patience for all that, in which case, go enjoy a bargain!

Smiling, helpful, knowledgeable staff in a shop that is tiny and jam packed with so much electrical…read morestuff that is all looked like a black haze to me. If you need anything electrical from cables to speakers, turntables to laptops, guitars and lights they are likely to have it for a good price although this value seems to have decreased (i.e. prices have risen) since el crunchio. You get a three month guarantee with most items and part-exchanges are welcome. Many of my friends have happily purchased second-hand laptops from here (after a mass laptop theft) and all are happy with their purchases. Enjoy a tight-squeezed browse or just ask what you are after and the men will be glad to help.

Tribe Records isn't in competition with Jumbo or Crash, the two other big record shops in Leeds…read morecity centre. It doesn't stock the Kaiser Chiefs or The Cribs. It has its own little place in the Leeds music scene, a niche market; a hideaway for Leeds dance music lovers - disc jockeys and dance heads alike. With rare releases and white labels in abundance, Tribe is your one-stop shop for dance music including genres ranging from techno to electro to jungle to dubstep. It's like a melting pot of the Leeds underground music scene in there, well worth a visit.

Tribe Records is about as grimey and authentic as you can get. Selling the very best in dancehall,…read morereggae, dubstep and roots as well as more electro and housey stuff, Tribe is the place to be to find some genuine and sometimes very rare underground urban music. Don't be scared off by the slightly hidden entrance way and the sketchy stairs, it all contributes to a humble, unique shopping experience. This shop specialises in vinyls and also sells tickets to some of the best events in town (including the infamous Subdub at the West Indian Centre) meaning its clientele are usually clued up drum and bass elitists who are the real deal. There are also a whole host of event flyers sprinkled around the place for you to peruse and plan your next months worth of activities with. The staff are friendly and always willing to use their extensive knowledge of this music scene to help you find what you're looking for. Though it may not be as big as Jumbo or as varied, that means that Tribe can afford to specialise and stay underground rather than becoming too mainstream. This is Tribe's secret to success.

John Scheere & Sons has always, to me at least, come across as the upper class music shop in Leeds…read more If Northern Guitars and Hobgoblin are rootsy working class music shops, Music Ground is middle class then Jon Scheerer is definitely the high brow one on offer. Back when I first moved to Leeds I amused my Dad a great deal by telling him that I thought I might apply for a guitar demonstrator job here. The joke was that I am not even graded and didn't realise that guitar demonstrators are usually virtuoso! (How embarrassing - I'm glad I didn't bother!) John Scheerer is tucked away in the Merrion but not too hard to find and holds a wealth of musical goodness inside. Unlike a lot of the music shops in Leeds this place has a lot of stock related to more classical instruments, rather than your standard band pleasers such as guitars and bass. Obviously, if you are a more discerning musician you might not just pop in and purchase a flute, but certainly it is a good place to start - if not for instruments, advice at least! The staff are particularly knowledgeable! All in all, Scheerer's offers a more refined and classical range of music related items, sheet music, accessories. It's worth the trip.

I just made a purchase here today and as I talked with Chris from Scheerer's I realised that I have…read morebeen a customer of theirs since 1996. And Chris is still there! That is a testament to a great company that they hold on to polite, knowledgeable and friendly staff like Chris. Aside from all that, he does also have an awesome name. There are many aspects of Scheerer's that I am unable to review, as I have always made my purchases over the phone. Nonetheless, I will do my best to pop into the store when I am next in that part of the world. Especially if I am gigging, Chris can have tickets and passes as recompense for putting up with yours truly for all these years!

What has happened to HMV over the years? I can remember a time when they had the best selection at…read morea very good price, just lately they have next to nothing I have been looking for but at least they still have a better selection than most shops, but there selections seem to shrink more and more every time you go in and the prices keep creeping up a lot of the CD's are £15 or more, fair enough if they are a double album or something but a lot of them have about 10 tracks or less I have even seen singles for about £9! or is it just the music I listen to? It is good though for classics such as the munsters as I haven't seen it anywhere else besides the internet and I'm 1 of those people that prefer to buy from shops, although even the selection of films are shrinking and being replaced with stuff that in my opinion should be in a different kind of shop and the music is in 1 little corner when a few years ago it used to occupy the majority of the ground floor. Put bassicaly HMV are not what they used to be which was excellent, now they are about average and seem to be getting worse, it wouldn't surprise me that in a few short years everything will be on 1 floor.

I still love HMV, I'm sorry to all those who are hardcore independent outlet fans, but I really…read morestill do love HMV, I also love places like Jumbo Records and Crash, mainly for local talent content, intimacy and of course staff knowledge, but I still hold a place in my heart for HMV, especially this one, it's huge. I am glad it has survived the music store closure unlike trusty Music Zone and Zavvi, and even Woolworths had a good music selection, especially the bargain section, but I digress. It isn't really the CD and DVD collections that I like about this place, don't get me wrong, as one of the larger HMV stores, both ranges are vast in what they have to offer music connoisseurs, and I've even noticed a small selection somewhere highlighting local signings. All main genre bases are covered, and I appreciate that, despite the lacking of some of my more obscure bands on the shop floor, I have found them on the HMV catalogue lately, which I was told could be ordered in for me. More points for you HMV. But I love the magazine section, I love the accessories department, as I am forever busting my headphones due to excessive use, and frankly, Internet ordering is cheaper, but it's a pain in the backside sending back earphones after six weeks because the cord has bust. In fact it's fruitless to attempt. What else is there to love? The arcade sized XBox 360 available to play on for as long as your heart desires, there's another arcade sized console, but I haven't ventured on that, I prefer the X Box. Setting up small competitions with likeminded games loving bods. Anything else? Yeah, I love love love character and band t shirts, and a large portion of my wardrobe is now made up of HMV t shirts, from Sesame Street, to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Beatles, Chuck Norris, Thundercats, and the list goes on and on. I often laugh when I walk by the far wall and see a nice tidy section dedicated to Leeds' local sports teams. Manchester does the same thing. chortle. I like that you can buy books from here too, and I like that they are often cheaper than buying them from Waterstones, despite the thrill of being in Waterstones with all those delicious texts, budgets are coming first these days. The staff are as helpful as they can be when you approach them, there's always one buzzing off in one direction or another, arms full of CD cases or whatnot, but their music knowledge is a bit lacking, often resorting to the catalogue to see if your band of choice actually does exist. I still really like it, even though it's a bit soul less, it has a lot to offer, all under one roof, at competitive prices.

Relic Records is a grand old place, down to earth and bursting with vinyl. I happened to nip in…read morehere the other day and happily sifted through some of their collections. The store itself isn't necessarily the most 'chic' place to be, it's certainly an old enough building with some "rustic" decor, but that's no indicator of what gems are held within. They've got a whole hoard of stock, in a number of classic genres, so certainly cater for most tastes. Whilst records may speak of a time gone by there's no shortage of people interested in purchasing old Beatles albums and the like so it's a good job that shops such as this carry on strong! I haven't yet had a chance to go back and search out some of my favourite golden oldies, but since I now officially have a record player at home, I will definitely be travelling back here to have a good mooch. The staff are lovely here too and more than willing to offer up a bit of advice! All I can say is go and have a browse for yourself, with new stock turning up each week you never know what you may find!

've always been baffled by independent music shops that stock a certain band's CDs yet look at you…read moreas if you've just asked them for Britney's back catalogue should you attempt to buy them. Happily, Relics Records suffers from no such crisis of coolness, and the cheery staff will happily direct you to anything you ask for, no matter how terrible they might think it is. They'll even recommend other bands you might like. There's a decent selection of vinyl, which is increasingly rare these days, and all the CDs are fairly priced, many similar to what you'd pay in the large chain stores. This shop is easily on a par with its better known contemporaries Crash and Jumbo, and due to its bright and airy feel and easy to navigate shelves some might even prefer it.

TradeMeIn is one of the few, independent stores which buy and sell games, mobile phones and tech…read moreitems, it's most similar rivals include CeX and Game, both of which have stores nearby, for me this store is much more modern and vibrant than other trade-in retailers with a blue theme, it just felt clean and modern inside which you generally don't get with CeX. The location is in Leeds centre, although being in St John's it is a little isolated and doesn't get the footfall which the main city centre and the likes of The Trinity does. The quotes here for trading in items seems rather generous, although for my phone I had been quoted higher from both Mazuma Mobile and Music Magpie, the quote I was given was much higher than any mobile phone networks recycle scheme and their nearest competitors, Game and CEX. The store was a little small, so the selection could have been better. There was a large selection of more older games and DVD's compared too new-ones. I don't like their website, it makes it rather difficult to set up an order and the database just doesn't work online, for example, if you searched for an iPhone it would come up starting with 3GS first, with around 20+ pages, and if you search the iPhone name and model exactly, it doesn't come up so this filtering system just isn't working and needs work, to improve the customer experience before coming into the store. With trade-in prices on average better than its closest rivals, yet not the best overall and a good store feel which is how a trade-in store should be, of course, it can improve based on making sure it is easier to get a quote, and perhaps the size of the store and location to a certain extent, it still is a slightly above average store in general and anything less than a three-star rating would surely be an insult for a store which I see high potential in to be upgraded in the future.

This is a real beauty of a record shop only recently opened up in Headingley. It is only small but…read moreI reckon its going to become a central part of the Leeds music scene. Leeds answer to High Fidelity you could say. I imagine this place becoming a meeting ground for local musicians and fans alike. There is an exhaustive collection of records spanning several genres and the collection is updated weekly. Where this shop really comes into its own it's the owner who also works in the shop everyday. His passion for music and especially local musicians is really quite commendable. I only popped in to have a quick look around and after a few minutes the guy was chatting to me like an old friend. Showing me the latest releases and special editions, not in a pushy sales way just out of genuine excitement. They also sell tickets for gig nights and local festivals, making it the perfect place to go down for a chat and find out what is happening in Leeds on the music front. http://beautytruthsnotuglylies.blogspot.com/

Hello to another genre specific independent music store in Leeds. There is no sarcasm intended as I…read moresay that, I am genuinely delight to realise just how many music outlets there still are, having been a Music Zone, HMV, Zavvi/Virgin person for a long time and then realising what else there was to offer outside of these commercial listings, I still am always delighted to see music stores remaining and thriving. As the shop title suggests Muzic Asia is, in it's simplest description, an Asian music store. Within this, there are the sub-genres of Bhangra, Hindi, Pakistani, Punjabi, religious music and Bollywood music and DVDs, with the odd magazine thrown in for good measure. I will admit I am completely hapless with my Asian subset genre music, and I drive a friend of mine nuts by humming and tapping something I've heard but don't quite know. She has more patience with me than most, and it's also the reason I didn't go into Muzic Asia on me todd. I can be frustrating at times, this I know. Walking into the shop you can't help but notice how jammed it is from floor to ceiling, counter top and cabinet, all full of either perspex CD sleeves or DVD sleeves. Truly gawpable. There doesn't seem to be any labels anywhere, and there's no distinction between genres, it's like it's expected you are supposed to know where you're looking. I didn't. Lucky for me, she had a better idea, and she acted as hum translator, between me and the slightly irate shop dude. Three CD's for £14 I thought was pretty decent, as there's a tendancy to up the price tag on specialist music and such.

If you are into Asian music and film, you will LOVE this place. Shelves circle the shop stacked to…read morethe highs with CD's and DVD's. Music genres include the likes of Bhangra, Asian film music and compilations, Qawwalis, Hindi, Pakistani, pop, and religious. Plus a huge selection of Bollywood DVD's and music. I really like the intense theatrical nature of a lot of Asian music, especially Bollywood, and as you walk in this feeling is quite infectious. You'll probably find yourself walking and browsing CD's in rhythm to music. I just hope this gem survives the ever increasing development of media technology and the increasing use of MP3.