A fine Frome institution and worth the trip to Frome just to go to the record shop. Tucked away up…read moreone of the small side alleys/street at the bottom of the hill that runs up through the town. The place is a gold mine for lovers of music of all tastes with a wide range of CDs, DVDs and vinyl records. Every nook and cranny is crammed with musical delights and upstairs there is a wealth old vinyl sorted by decades and genre. They cover most bases from 50s and 60s rock through to modern dance music (although its not a dance music shop by any means). It like the record shop from film High Fidelity or how I imagine Wuxtry Records, Athens were Michael Stipe meet Peter Buck and formed R.E.M. You could get lost for hours inside (and I have in the past), if you dig around the website they often have a 10% off code as well.

Raves from the Grave is a very awesome shop which I have used to buy some of my favourite band CDs…read more I usually go there to look at their Goth collection, and I have walked out with a nice collection of CDs. They also offer music-based merchandise which I have walked out with before, many times. Some CDs can be a little pricey but this is due to their rarity, so I'll let that slide. The shop is small, but much like most shops in Frome, they did a good job of trying to organize it in a neat and tidy way which gives more room. They also sell DVDs. I have seen a number of wrestling and anime DVDs. I haven't bought one yet since they didn't have anything to my taste, but it's nice to have the convenience.

This is so strange that it draws people to stand and gawp. I've seen people do it. It's hilarious…read more 'What? I don't understand! A vending machine for cheap new DVDs?' I say. 'Yes!' a little voice in my head confirms. 'Isn't it cool? You should buy one just to try it out!' 'Nay,' I say, 'For that would be dangerous and silly.' Because that's how I think most people's initial reaction will be to these newfangled machines. They're amazing. They're so sleek. They're a very clever idea. But they're not to be trusted. Like Daleks. So I've yet to try one, because I'm scared that it will eat my card or exterminate me. So I'm holding out on that last star......

Always pumping out the latest dark DnB or dubstep, I love coming to this place to while away a…read morepost-payday lunchtime or two. There's so much to take in, the staff really care about the music they sell and it's well worth coming in weekly to have a listen to the latest releases. There's a good range of posters advertising the upcoming dance events in Bath and Bristol, too, and they'll always stick a poster up if you're organising something yourself. They have a fair selection of second hand CD, if you're still caught up in the nostalgic age of music buying, so I can't recommend this place enough, especially for local DJs looking for something new to, er, drop.

I'm writing this review begrudgingly, as I want all of the albums at this brand new shop for…read moremyself. Hot Wax Records has yet to launch officially, so please excuse the austere interior and lack of stock in place (there's not even a sign up, but owner Dave is still trading). Offering a wide selection of 12-inch albums, DVDs, modern collectibles, posters and comics, Hot Wax is one of Cardiff's newest "music and more" shops and soon to become my favourite place to spend money. I stumbled upon this jewel in the alluvial deposit that is Cowbridge Road East just the other day. Oh, but the vinyl, the glorious vinyl, many of which comprise my "dream collection" and most are all priced less than a fiver. If I didn't have somewhere to be, I would have happily spent the entire afternoon here, digging for musical treasure. Please note the store is closed from 1-2 for lunch, and as of last week the card machine system is not in place so only cash is accepted. Won't deter me, though!

The only other shop in Llantwit Major's Pound Plaza alongside the mighty Filco is Rainbow Plaza…read more And what a freaking awesome shop it is. The ground floor is nothing too exciting, just newspapers, magazines, gift cards, stationery, chocolate bars, that kind of thing, but if you head up the stairs to the right, then boy does it get good. Up here you'll find a proper toy shop alongside a DVD rental operation and the only place in Llantwit Major to sell CDs and DVDs. The selection of CDs is a bit rubbish but the toy side of things is frankly brilliant. I've never seen so many box fresh board games. They've got both Cardiff and Swansea editions of Monopoly (surely they're all brown squares in Swansea? Boom! Take that Jacks!). They even have the table top cricket game that I always wanted as a kid. With an impressive array of Lego toys, huge cuddly toys, a Games Workshop section, and some toys for girls (phhmp! Whatever...), Rainbow Bargains is a cracking little shop that is very difficult to leave without whipping your wallet out.

I simply do not know how this place manages to survive in the age of Amazon. It sells, well,…read morecompact discs (or CDs as well know them), but only really in jazz and classical styles, so the name is a bit misleading (and archaic) for a start. With these genres mainly appealing to the old generation, I guess that's where they're still hanging on - to customers who haven't even heard of the internet and still fondly remember the old gramophone in the corner of the living room. It's not even very cheap here, so visit this shop now if have the inclination - I guarantee it won't be here in ten years time.

I think shops like this should be cherished. Not all of us want to live in a 'second life' style…read moreinternet world, some of us have REAL lives and want to browse through actual shops at actual real things. Sure you can save a couple of pounds but on the whole shops like these are staffed by people who know what they are talking about and are passionate about it. Have a look at the bigger picture! For your information I am not of the 'old' generation, I am 30.

A warning to all you ladies out there: if, after dragging your doting boyfriend around the retro…read moreshops of Park Street, you loving ask, 'is there anywhere you want to go?' you may just end up at Forbidden Planet. This comic book and sci-fi mega store is every boys dream and every girl's nightmare. Be prepared to lose several very important shopping hours here. Having said that, it's easy to admire the scale of the store and the quality of the goods they have to offer. Even I, a sci-fi phobic, enjoyed flicking through the comic books and eyeing up the DVDs. It's a great place to shop for presents for boyfriends, friends and little brothers. And, luckily for me, the shop assistants are so helpful so even the clueless can pick the perfect stocking filler.

Comic book nerds and geeks (or those that think Sci Fi is so square that it's hip) from all around…read morewill love forbidden planet. It's not the easiest place to find - it's on the less visited part of triangle, so a little away from the main shopping drag on Park Street, but definitely worth making the effort for. If you're not into comics too much yourself, this is definitely a brilliant place to grab an original gift for someone who is - there's endless amounts of memorabilia. The stuff here is pretty expensive though.