07/19/08

fantastico

by hired

I can find scandanavian import black metal, and lost vinyl free jazz, in a matter of minutes, just a few feet away from each other. Upstairs, the movies are a little more chaotic, but, who cares with such a selection, and laser discs to boot, I mean, this place has everything. And then some

• Pros: movies, music, live shows, lots of staff, lots of everything
• Cons: parking isn't so great

02/29/08

HUGE!!!

by Friendo

THEE best and biggest record store I've EVER been in. Helpful and cheerful staff, who KNOW THEIR STUFF might I add. This store has anything, ANYTHING, I say!!!! You name it and more than likely, they've got it: Music from Senegal: Fatou Guewel, Orchestra Baobab, Fatou Laobe, Youssou N'Dour, Vivian N'Dour, underground hip hop: Mos Def/K-os/Common/Dilla, mainstream hip hop: JayZ/Kanye/Busta. World music of any kind: Enya, Feist, Portishead, Buena Vista Social Club. The biggest reggae selection I've seen, it's almost intimidating. Comedy albums (bought my deluxe Richard Pryor comedy album set there for a brilliant price). I mean I could go on and on and on. I love it and I feel so fortunate to be living in one of only 3 cities where this store calls home (SanFran & Berkeley). Awesome used cd's as well for excellent prices (bought my Van Hunt cd there for a cool $6.99!!! NOW BEAT THAT!) I stay buying their used cd's and I buy w/out testing it out to see if they'll skip because THEY NEVER DO. They guarantee their merchandise. I SIMPLY LOVE IT! I will forever be a loyal customer!

• Pros: Everything but parking
• Cons: Parking can sometimes be a drag, but then again, this is Hollywood

11/22/07

only place i'll buy music

by famousblueraincoat

love this store. love everything about it. i had been to the SF one before it opened, so i was really looking forward to it being here. i don't buy as much music as i used to, but when i do, i do it here. used selections is great, as are old records, rock posters, etc. staff knows their stuff. they do in-store live performances sometimes too. parking is a hassle. that lot is full a lot.

• Pros: great used cds, call sell your old stuff
• Cons: parking stinks

10/09/07

best...music store... ever...

by cariemhunter

ruuuuuuul-ing.

hurray for selling used CDs to buy more CDS!

hurray for dollar videos!

hurray for katrina auctions!

hurray for nice sales people!

hurray for parking!

the decor is great, too.

• Pros: dirt cheap, a wonderland for music and movie lovers

09/14/07

love/hate, mostly love though.

by darrenrocks

For first-timers who think they've seen it all as far as CD stores go, your jaw will drop when you first enter Amoeba. I've been going there for years and I still get a chill when I look down upon the expansive CD floor from the second floor DVD section.

Their awesome, although sometimes pricey used section is the best in L.A. for harder to find titles. Sure, there's Second Spin for more accessible titles, but where else can you pick up the entire collection of Professionals (Steve Jones' and Paul Cook's post-Sex Pistols band) re-issues...in used condition no less?

Sure, there seems to be a tattoo and piercing requirement for all staffers, but when you finally tackle them, they can be pretty friendly. Saturdays are a complete madhouse, too.

Despite those minor drawbacks, Amoeba is a place I continue to visit on a weekly basis.

• Pros: incredible selection, seriously, wow.
• Cons: limited and metered parking, sometimes overly crowded, high prices on some used titles

06/14/07

Great music selection

by leschnei

I like Amoeba becuase they have a great selection of music (something for everyone) at a great price. It is also a funky and fun place that makes you feel like part of the LA in crowd. If you like music and haven't been here yet, you need to pay it a visit. (P.S. Sometimes bands come in and play in the store. Who knew shopping could become such a party?)

• Pros: Great selection, cool vibe
• Cons: Parking is sometimes problematic and the traffic in the area can be a little chaotic

05/14/07

Wonderful!

by sha_rosen2

There is no other place in LA with this sort of variety in music, dvds, everything! I love classical music and this is the only place I can find the specific kinds that I enjoy. Even retail music stores dont provide that. I think its because people from around the world that live in LA sell their collections to this place and it makes it so diverse. I'm glad you're here!!!

04/07/07

Dont sell anything to these creeps! Scam artists. What a joke!

by 2ruthhurts

Brought in 300+ Lps in VG condition alot of Blues, Jazz, Soul, 60's, 70's Rock. After trading my licence 4 a dolly, and lugging up 6 boxes full w/o any help. 2Some jackars thumbed through them picked out about a hundred of the ones that were worth the most to them. I watched as he took out each selected lp checked both sides and replaced. No problem. He then started into his scripted routine about how they really didn't want the lps and how they weren't even worth buying? While he was examining the lps he told me this was gonna take a while hitting he didn't want me watchin him, I should've stayed. I wonder know how many of my records accidentally found their way onto another shelf. So while I was browsing through the lps for sale in the back I saw at least 2 dozen of the same lps he picked out which were priced more than 8.99 each! Mostly the rarer blues, Elvis and 1940's albums. After he offered me what amounted to about 15 cents for each record he had choosen, I laughed in his face told him to put them all back in the boxes. He then tried to pretend he was ignorant of the prices those exact same lps were selling for in his store! This after telling me he had worked there since before thay had opened! You should've seen the look on his face when I told him to put them back in their boxes, like a deer caught in headlights! HAHAHA He was so sure I was gonna just be like OK, whats the best you can do? The website states that if they are going to sell an LP for $5.00 they will pay you half that in cash? My math isn't that great, but 15 sents for an album they are selling for 9 dollars is not half! Fuqing Scam Artists, Avoid! They are nothin but crooks makin all their monry on the assumed ignorance of their clientel. I spiit on em! Hock! Pttt! Since then i had my little cousin list them as lots on ebay. I have made over $325 and counting! Simply by paying an honest person to do the legwork. Lesson Learned.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Yes they are!

04/05/07

best record store in LA

by juju13es

I can literally stay in here for hours, browsing through cd's, old records, and dvd's. There's so much variety in there that the place can appeal to the indie junkie to the hip hop listener... Also the store workers are extremely knowledgable about music- they really know their stuff! They also have some in-store performances that are pretty awesome... I remember seeing Jenny Lewis there a few years back~

• Pros: great selection, smart staff

11/21/06

Come here for the vinyl, not the CDs or DVDs

by dmenkes

With the advent of online purchasing of music, I really don't see much point in buying CDs here anymore. My DJ friend comes here alot to parouse their selection of vintage vinyl, and sometimes I'll spot something in their DVD section that I'd just buy online later, but I think Amoeba has seen better days. I've never been able to park underground and have had to use a metered street parking spot a couple blocks away on a side street.

• Pros: good used CDs
• Cons: expensive DVDs