The temptation is there. You have a computer with a high-speed Internet connection. You're ever so curious about that Blue Oyster Cult band at whose 1976 concert your father finally admitted he smoked marijuana. With just three clicks, you could download all the music you need in order to know about the group. But for the love of your bank account and criminal record, resist the lure of such online enticement. Not because it's immoral, oh no, but because it's illegal.
Flat, Black & Circular
541 E. Grand River Ave.
(517) 351-0838
Overall record rating: 4.5
Specialties: If you know your music, you can find records for $1. Of course, these won't be Alice Cooper or Aerosmith's hit albums. Instead, FBC is the home for rare, old vinyl in the tune of pre-1960s blues and outlaw country.
Vibe: This is a record store that takes pride in its collection. Go on in, take a load off - the staff couldn't care less if you spend all day meticulously searching.
Knowledge of staff: They know their stuff, and if they don't know about it, it's probably not worth listening to.
Organization: There are no big flashing signs that say "heavy metal" or "jazz," thankfully, but the sections are clearly marked, and FBC's staff members know their alphabet.
Variety: You can find everything from Elmore James to Binary Star to The Blanks to the Spinal Tap soundtrack (well, until I bought it a few weeks ago).
Prices: Not bad. Not the cheapest, but not bad. Records average from $.50 to $10, with the extra-fancy costing a wad.
Extras: Plenty of concert DVDs, videos - and you can listen to a record before you buy it. Niiiice.
Thoughts: If you're looking for something specific or rare, check out FBC first. But most of the best finds are when you're just aimlessly searching and happen to pull out, say, the Spinal Tap soundtrack.
CD Warehouse
228 Abbott Road
(517) 351-2636
Overall record rating: 4
Specialty: Wide selection of fantastic used CDs. There are some seriously great albums here you might not expect to find have been given up, mostly by people in need of cash on their way to a night o' drinkin' at Beggar's Banquet.
Vibe: Normal CD store vibe
Knowledge of staff: They know what's up.
Organization: Well-organized.
Variety: Pretty damn good. There's local music, new music and a whole lotta rock 'n' roll.
Prices: Fairly inexpensive used CDs (say, about $5) and average new music prices ($13ish)
Extras: Don't forget to buy your tickets for the Union Ballroom shows here.
Thoughts: CD Warehouse offers a variety of music, new and used, at average prices - and it's all in walking distance from the dorms.
Code of tha Cutz
317 M.A.C. Ave.
(517) 333-4929
Overall record rating: 4.5
Specialty: Vinyl - rap, hip-hop, techno - even the occasional Johnny Cash.
Vibe: Almost too cool to be in East Lansing, but we ain't complainin'. And the murals on the walls are sweet.
Knowledge of staff: Those who own, operate and frequent the store are among the most respected experts of hip-hop in the city.
Organization: The place looks nice and is clean.
Variety: They know what they want to sell and they sell it. This is not the place to go if you're looking for the new Probot release.
Prices: Average
Extras: Lansing's underground rap and hip-hop scene hangs out here - or works here. Check out the free in-store jammy-jams to take advantage of the great talent we have within our city limits.
Thoughts: This is the place to go if you want to experience some hip-hop culture.
Wazoo Records
619 E. Grand River Ave.
(517) 337-0947
Overall record rating: 4.5
Specialty: Really, really, really awesome pictures and posters - some for sale and others just for bragging rights.
Vibe: Very relaxed with a large appreciation for rock memorabilia.
Knowledge of staff: They take pride in their tastes.
Organization: Average.
Variety: You'd probably want to go here in search of great rock music.
Prices: Inexpensive.
Extras: They are selling a Loverboy T-shirt for $10, be the only person on campus with one.
Thoughts: They've got posters to die for, i.e. Jimi Hendrix on a horse. There's also a healthy collection of inexpensive, used VHS tapes and DVDs.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
333 E. Grand River Ave.
(517) 324-3926
Overall record rating: 3.5
Specialty: World music
Vibe: Once you make your way past all of the studious specimens and down to the lower level where the music resides, you can search in peace.
Knowledge of staff: An application for employment at Barnes & Noble does not require one's particular forte to be music, but they can tell you what's in stock or make special orders.
Organization: Nice layout and clear genre markings.
Variety: There's something for everyone, from artsy movie soundtracks to the Buena Vista Social Club.
Prices: A little expensive, but not terrible.
Extras: You also can spend hours and hours and hours in this store looking at books, movies and magazines.
Thoughts: If you're looking for a CD by a Cuban rock group, this is your best bet in town.
Best Buy
2020 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, (517) 347-2741
5216 W. Saginaw Highway in Lansing, (517) 886-6197
Overall record rating: 3
Specialty: New music and unauthorized collections of classic artists' music.
Vibe: Upon stepping foot in the door, you're bound to feel as if you're wanted by the FBI.
Knowledge of staff: Well, they're everywhere making sure you don't steal anything, er, I mean, have any questions about anything. They can tell you what's in stock, what's not and when it might be restocked.
Organization: It's pretty well-organized to begin with, but scavenging customers often move CDs where they don't belong.
Variety: Best Buy definitely offers a wide variety of musical genres.
Prices: Among the best buys around.
Extras: For those whose favorite colors happen to be blue and yellow, your visit to best buy will be quite invigorating to your ocular sense.
Thoughts: If you're on a tight budget, which of course you are, this is always a good place to start when looking for new releases.
Circuit City
2655 E. Grand River Ave.
(517) 336-6795
Overall record rating: 3
Specialty: New releases and imports
Vibe: You won't be quite as hounded as at Best Buy, but you'll definitely catch some eyes.
Knowledge of staff: Tell 'em what you're looking for and they can type it in their computers.
Organization: Like Best Buy, it all starts with good intent, but those damn patrons seem to mess everything up. Especially when there's a sale - all hell breaks loose as music lovers storm the store for those $9.99 deals.
Variety: Not a fantastic variety, but you'll probably find at least one of the CDs on your list to buy.
Prices: Also among the best buy around.
Extras: If they don't have the CD you want, you can watch TRL on the big screen TVs - like, totally!
Thoughts: If you don't feel like being preyed upon while shopping, Circuit City is a good alternative to Best Buy.
Meijer
1350 W. Lake Lansing Road, (517) 333-3041
2055 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, (517) 349-2930
Overall record rating: 2.5
Specialty: Meijer gets an extra full point for putting new releases out on the floor at 12 a.m. on Tuesdays.
Vibe: Meijer is the store of stores and actually makes a great date spot.
Knowledge of staff: You'll probably have to head to the feminine hygiene aisle to find someone to tell you that what you see is what they have.
Organization: Poor, but with the number of people that swarm through the store hourly, it's understandable.
Variety: A wide variety of contemporary country, pop music and essential classic rock discs abound, for one aisle.
Prices: Average
Extras: A good place to find an extra-large AC/DC T-shirt.
Thoughts: Meijer is the store of stores: Buy your home furnishings, cheese, CDs and hair coloring - in one trip.
Sam Goody
1982 W. Grand River Ave. in Meridian Mall in Okemos
(517) 349-6581
Overall record rating: 2
Specialty: Butt rock and crotch pop
Vibe: If you're a college student, you'll likely be the oldest customer in the store and possibly the oldest person within 25 feet of the store.
Knowledge of staff: They like music and someone working there probably knows something about what you're looking for. Probably.
Organization: Good
Variety: A good variety if you're looking for crappy, annoying new music.
Prices: Obscenely overpriced.
Extras: Make sure to bring your mom with you just in case the CD you want has a parental advisory sticker on it. Don't bring your mom with you if you're going to buy one of those posters of a busty blonde in a third of a shirt that reads, "Got Cookies?"
Thoughts: You'll probably find what you're looking for here, as long as it's not ultra rare and you don't mind spending $18-plus for a CD.
Valueland
5400 S. Cedar St. in Lansing
(517) 393-8507
Overall record rating: 3
Specialty: Well-used and abused classic records, tapes and 8-tracks
Vibe: These people are humanitarians, through and through.
Knowledge of staff: Again, these people are humanitarians, they're not required to know anything about that crappy Eagles record you want to buy.
Organization: N/A
Variety: Not fantastic, but you're bound to find some great records you forgot all about.
Prices: Cheap-o-la
Extras: You can be sure whatever you find was, at one point, very new.
Thoughts: The records, tapes and eight-tracks at Valueland are just icing on the cake to that $5 olive green lamp you bought.
Elderly Instruments
1100 N. Washington Ave. in Lansing
(517) 372-7880
Overall record rating: 4.5
Specialty: Roots music, including local and obscure bluegrass, honky-tonk and folk.
Vibe: These people are humanitarians, through and through.
Knowledge of staff: Unlike many recorded music stores, the people who work at Elderly are required to have music as their specialty.
Organization: Well-organized
Variety: Roots music is what they sell; if that's what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed.
Prices: Average
Extras: Definitely the most attractive of all of the stores on this list.
Thoughts: Just a suggestion, stop in the showroom and drool for a little bit before heading to the recording selection.
Goldenrod Distribution
1310 Turner St. in Lansing's Old Town
(517) 484-1712
Overall record rating: 4 (it's not your average record store, hence the word "Distribution" in the name.)
Specialty: Music made by women. Goldenrod is a CD warehouse that distributes to area stores as well as all around the country.
Vibe: Welcoming and independent.
Knowledge of staff: These women know their female rock, pop, world, etc. music.
Organization: Average
Variety: Everything from The Breeders to Native American recordings to children's music.
Prices: Average
Extras: Feel free to listen to the music before you buy it. Check out Goldenrod's Web site to see all they've got at www.goldenrod.com.
Thoughts: There's some very, very obscure music here. Folk, Celtic, punk - it's all there and most of it is created by independent artists.
Other places to go in search of music recordings:
- Schuler Books & Music, Eastwood Towne Center, (517) 316-7495; Meridian Mall in Okemos, (517) 349-8840 (variety)
- Record Town, 5430 W. Saginaw Highway in Lansing, (517) 323-8060 (variety)
- Gift & Bible Center, 2143 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, (517) 347-5500 (Christian)
- God's Music & Specialty Shoppe, 4023 W. Michigan Ave. in Lansing, (517) 327-6440 (Christian)
- Mark of the Beast Productions, 3105 S. Martin Luther King Blvd. in Lansing, (517) 394-6912 (Rap, hip-hop)
- Hot Topic, Meridian Mall in Okemos, (517) 349-3560 (butt metal, metal, electronic, heavy rock, industrial, pop rock)
