10 year ago there were one hell of a lot of music/records stores. The larger retailers like Tower,…read moreVirgin Music and HMV have all pretty much gone out of business. Tempest was one of the last greatest independent record stores and that has now gone the same way as all the others. Then smaller independent specialist stores went. Polar Bear still stands on a popular back street of King's Heath, like the one building that withstood the core blast at Nagasaki, it is still in business. The reason of course for the demise of music/record stores is due to the online competition, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to work that one out. However keeping a store afloat in these times is an act as difficult as brain surgery. Polar bear offers lots of vinyl, bootlegs and stuff you can't find anywhere else. It stocks music for people that love music and not those who like music as background filler whilst they work. The staff are friendly and competent and if they don't have anything in store then you can get it online......hang on a minute, did I just say that...... Yes, I did. To stay afloat in today's market, Polar Bear can also fill your orders online. Not surprising since there has been such a shock to the industry in recent days.

Places to buy physical copies of music are hard to find these days in Birmingham…read more The Polar Bear is one of the few record/cd shops still going strong. I've been a Polar Bear customer since I was 15 so I know it pretty well, sadly the amount I buy from there has decreased significantly over the years as I'm sure it has for many others. It's easy to download songs online but there is NOTHING like getting a new LP or CD and reading the sleeve notes, admiring the artwork and holding the record/cd in your hand. It's just better. This current culture of downloading odd songs here and there makes me sad, I used to love discovering an album, listening to it from start to finish and having my favourite tracks change over the years, it's a great experience. The Polar Bear is somewhere that carries on that tradition. They have a great selection of CDs and vinyl both new and second hand. A great place to find jazz, folk, blues, rock, punk, metal, noise and much more. The staff (as you would expect) are very knowledgable, and although manager Steve can be a little grumpy at times it's worth getting on his good side as he's a great story teller and really, really, really knows his stuff when it comes to record collecting. When Steve's not in Nathan (formerly of Tempest) is far more chatty and friendly. Even if you're not into rare cds and records there's a great selection of second hand stuff which includes classic pop albums like Michael Jackson and Madonna - it's not as pretentious as you might expect :) Do expect to get openly laughed at if you walk in asking for the new Lady GaGa or Olly Murs cd.... A great independent business that needs our support - get buying ;)

Hmv in Stratford is easy to find and as usual as with all their stores they sell music,games, dvds…read moreand other bits and bobs. This store is very very narrow which is for the size of other stores a bit dissappointing. But never the less it still holds up quite well. Being narrow means if two people want to pas each other you quite literally have to turn sideways to pass its that small. Once past that problem its clear the store requires more room. The tills are set back to aid with room on the left of the store on the way in. Recent releases of cd etc are at the fron of the store. And as you go further back you find more music, dvds and the game section. Right at the back of the store you will find an area which sells headphones and speakers from makes such as Bose, Sony and philips. I pod accessories are also available too. The store gets 4 out of 5 as the staff being helpful and the amazing amount of stock they cram in makes up for the store being stupidly small.

With an unparalleled selection of vinyl and DJ toys, Seismic has grown to become one of the best…read morerecord shops in the whole country - even the Observer says so! Situated sneakily above Kong, a lovely fashion store in its own right, staff are always friendly and extremely knowledgeable. As it is mail order too there is an almost exhaustive selection of DnB, Breaks, House, Hip Hop etc vinyl with loads of rareties and white labels to discover! The shop itself is bright, comfortable and the perfect way to waste away an afternoon. Unmissable for DJ's

Fantastic selection of records, the owner is extremely friendly and helpful. If there is a record…read moreyou want that isn't in stock, he will order it in for you. Pricing is also very competitive.

I recently joined the Privilege Club online after receiving a leaflet at the tills from this store…read moreand I was then emailed some vouchers for money off in store. I was surprised and impressed when last weekend I used one of the vouchers on some childrens books which were already on the offer of buy one get one half price. They came to £12 and I asked about the voucher and the woman informed me that was not a problem so I got a further £5 off the total, thus only paying for one and a half books and getting 4! The staff are friendly and helpful. The store sells books and magazines at the front of the store, further back childrens books and stationery as well as music and dvds.

The Whsmith in redditch is quite spacious and has a relaxed atmosphere to it. There is nearly…read morealways a queue though, they sell newspapers/magazines, books, stationary, cigarettes, scratch cards, cds, dvds, games, etc. Therefore it is quite a popular shop. The staff at the redditch store are very friendly and helpful aswell.

For reasons that elude me entirely, this little gem of a record shop is tucked away in a corner of…read morewhat seems to be the food section of Birmingham's Indoor Market - you have to walk past stalls selling bags of frozen food and piles of chicken feet to find it. The focus here is quite clearly reggae and it's various off shoots, like dub and rocksteady. The sign promises cds, dvds and vinyl - the vinyl selection was looking a bit thin on the ground when I last went in but there's a healthy selection of cds and an intriguing selection of DVDs, some of Jamaican reggae concerts and others of movies with names like "Obdeah Wedding". (I'd love to be able to tell you what "Obdeah Wedding" is about, but all I could fathom from the cover is it's got something to do with a haunted wedding ceremony). The shop also sells tickets to reggae events up and down the country. If you're a reggae enthusiast, you should definitely make a visit as the proprietors really know their stuff and shops of this nature are what help keep the reggae scene going.

My first experience of Summit records happened completely by random. I was out with a friend and we…read moredecided to go for a stroll. Although they seem to specialise in reggae music which isn't my cup of tea, I could really feel the enthusiasm and passion for music from the shop assistants. They really appeared to love being there and sharing their knowledge with potential buyers. I didn't buy anything on this occassion but if your into this kind of music then you should definitely go down and give it a try.

Now i know this is regarded as a music and vinyl shop, and that's totally correct they have a ton…read moreof vinyls. But my review is going to be about all the other "stuff" they have. So my hunt of a life size penguin outfit had run dry and we needed a new character to star at the end of our music video. My best buddie Andy suggest "Yo lets go to Mr T's" I'm all like what the hell man, the record shop? They wont have anything for us right? I WAS SO WRONG The biggest question is what does Mr T not have? a vacuum and quality control that's what But who cares if this shop is a bomb site, that's half the fun. Anyways so we arrive in Into the shop was my first thought was "is this even a shop?" followed by " People must steal from this place every day". So back to the story, turns out this place has a costume section, behind a curtain No costumes were complete and alot of them were on the floor. We dug about in the mess for awhile and found the most messed up bear costume you've ever seen in your life, like it had been run over and sat on hard. The staff are old school and didn't give a damn about us until we were literally rolling around the floor picking things up. But that's what you expect/want in a place like this. That same suit is now immortalised in a music video, all thanks to Mister Tees.

This review is based on the one and only time I visited this hellhole a few years back so please…read moredisregard if the shop has changed, which i doubt. I have been record shopping since the late 70s and this is far and away the worst record shop I have ever been in. Everything is filthy, nothing is priced and when i took a large pile (couple of hundred LPs) the miserable bloke behind the counter meticulously went through everything (checking online) quoting prices at the highest level they have sold for online. Every now and again he would pull out a record and say "I'm not selling that to you - I can get more online" and put it aside. After he had done this to a dozen records and refusing to haggle on prices (£20 for smiths 12"s in VG+ condition??? I think not!). I just walked out and left him to it with the large pile on his counter. And wiped my feet on the way out. I imagine that pile is still there.

In the age of digital music, internet shopping and supermarkets undercutting everybody there will…read morealways be a place for an independent record store where you can guarantee the staff know there stuff, can make recommendations, get you hard to find Record Store Day vinyl without the need to trek to Rough Trade in London. If you like your Punk, Metal, Emo, Screamo, Hardcore and any other sub-genre of this ilk you can think of then you need to visit this little store tucked away in the Oasis centre. Rich at Ignite has been a long time face on the music scene in Brum. He champions local bands and puts out his own releases through his own indie label Speedowax. As a long time customer from his days working at Tempest before embarking on his own little operation he can soon help you part with your money as he soon gets to know your musical tastes and he caters to his customers. Support your local independent sellers, and sometimes it may cost you a pound more but its a shiny, actual object you can touch and read the lyrics and see pretty artwork and have in your hands there and then, knowing its been stocked with love and attention just for you.

Dropping in to ignite is always a pleasure to have a catch up with Rich and check for any new…read morestock. Having been a regular for many years of both tempest and ignite dealing with Rich is always great, he learns your taste in music and the specific bands you like, from which he will always find a new recommendation for you, specialising in all forms of alternative music. Rich is always happy to try and order those rare to find, limited editions and imports you can't get on the high street. Anything he does have in stock he will happily play for you to get an idea if it's up your street! Vinyl is a speciality at ignite with promising stock for every record day as well, he even recently took part in the first tape day stocking a limited number of new and re-release tape albums and EPs. Rich also runs a local record label Speedowax with which he helps promote and sell new and upcoming talent! I would always recommend shopping here for music over highstreet stores (support your local businesses!) even though some purchases may cost an extra pound or two, you may find some real talent you would otherwise never be exposed to...

Despite being a little premises, the Music Shop can sure pack in a lot of products and instruments…read more The usual, smaller instrument shops that I come across tend to limit themselves to selling mainly guitars, basses and amps. But this store really pushes the boat out and contains woodwind, brass and synthesiser instruments too. I'm not really sure how they fit everything inside, and the shop itself does feel a little cramped if two or more people are browsing. But at least there's tonnes of things to look at at every turn! The shop also sells a wide range of sheet music too. I've seen many customers browsing through pages and pages to find something that catches their eye. (I wish I could read music, *sigh*) the store is suitable for professional musicians, as well as learners. The staff inside are very helpful with beginners, and they've given great advice to many of my friends, who are now flourishing, budding musicians.

Based right in the centre of town Musical Goods and Exchange is a no frills vinyl seller/buyer…read more They are close to nostalgia and comics; however the music store is a little smaller in size. I came in here with a tonne of vinyl that I wanted to sell and they took every item and gave me a fairly decent price on what I had. These were the records that I couldn't manage to sell online so I was happy to get rid of them. The staff are not very friendly or helpful; they just keep an eye out for shoplifters and little else. But if you do have a serious question they will give you a serious answer. This place is a must for all vinyl collectors out there and for those that are looking to offload a few records in exchange for cash.

The Music and Video exchange on Smallbrook Queensway is fantastic for any DJ or Vinyl collector…read more They have a huge range of vinyl and it is categorised very well so it is easy to find what you are looking for. A great place to pick up bargains or find those gems you have always been looking for. I recently bought a very rare DJ Sneak vinyl for £3, probably worth over £20. Very recommended.

Visited this place for the first time last week very impressed. Housed in a beautiful building, it…read morehas been decorated by Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen to a very high standard. Sound quality was excellent, and there was plenty of room for punters. Drink prices were pretty steep over £5 for a pint and a soft drink, a full pound more expensive that the gig I went to in Cambridge 2 days later. One excellent service was provided by the wandering bar staff, collecting empties all evening, so no stray glasses or bottles were ever left on the floor. Plenty of loos in the ladies. Bit of a scrum to try and get out, exit is down a relatively narrow spiral staircase