Montréal spins you round at these vinyl stores
Put simply, Montréal’s music scene is unrivalled, its indie stars like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Patrick Watson, Arcade Fire, Kaytranada and Grimes capturing the world stage. And that local love of music brings with it a collectors paradise of record shops, each stuffed to the brim with stacks of wax to suit any taste. Here’s some of the best – de rigueur spots to visit for any music aficionado.
L’Oblique
Tucked away on Rivard Street lined with charming apartments, L’Oblique has represented the particular tastes of its founder Luc Bérard, showcasing Montréal bands – a rack of releases by the legendary Constellation Records takes pride of place at the centre of the shop floor – and offering vintage stereo equipment and repairs since 1987. The carefully-curated selection always offers up a long sought-for surprise, so it’s well worth digging through the racks.
4333 Rivard Street
Sound Central
A veritable history of DIY punk, metal and indie rock lines the shelves of this local stalwart, with selections available on vinyl, CD and cassette. The small café provides caffeine recharges to keep fingers flipping, and the selection of fanzines and books is always worth a look.
4486 Coloniale Avenue
Aux 33 Tours
A collector’s paradise, typically first with the latest weekly releases and limited editions on release day. The well-stocked used selection turns over quickly and is consistently full of low-priced surprises, with over 70,000 sold there every 365 days. Their annual warehouse sales (check website for details and location) are lined-up around the block, with untold thousands of records at unbeatable low prices and happy collectors carting armloads of finds back home to their turntables. And if your turntable needs a tune-up, their expert repair team has got you covered.
1373 Mont-Royal Avenue East
Sonorama
With a carefully-picked selection of classics on offer, Sonorama’s shelves are the perfect place to fill the holes in your collection. From special edition re-presses to hard to find originals, there’s always sweet finds to be had. The shop’s Discogs page is worth a look at some of the rarer pieces in-stock too.
260 Bernard Avenue West
Phonopolis
Founded and run by local musicians, Phonopolis is the definition of a neighbourhood record shop, and its prime location just down the street from Sonorama makes the Mile End a definite hotspot for vinyl lovers. And the shop’s links to the local scene—check Never Apart’s series on Montréal record shop histories’ entry on Phonopolis—makes it no surprise to see up-and-comers and established musicians browsing the racks. The shop’s video series The Phonopolist sees acts like Cœur de Pirate, SUUNS and Yamantaka // Sonic Titan bigging up their favourite records off the walls, and the staff picks chalkboard should always be trusted for its esoteric lists of records you need in your life now.
207 Bernard Avenue West
Death of Vinyl
The new arrivals bins at this Saint-Laurent mainstay are consistently surprising, and the occasional lists of records on hand published on their website show off pleasant discoveries and old favourites from German synth soundtracks to jazz classics. Pop and hip-hop fans will love the wall of 12” singles, priced dirt cheap and full of big hits and undiscovered gems.
6442 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Cheap Thrills
Established in 1971, Cheap Thrills is Montréal’s oldest running record shop and their online mail order catalogue offers over 10,000 titles. It’s easy to lose an afternoon browsing the crates of new and used records and books—what the shop lacks in size, it makes up for in selection. The staff behind the counter are also some of the city’s friendliest and most knowledgeable.
2044 Metcalfe Street
Atom Heart
The best record shops are those where those working there are just as excited about music as the customers, and Atom Heart’s Soundcloud page shows off a love of music both old and new. Focusing on electronic music and indie rock, Atom Heart’s physical location and mail order operations have been bringing music to Montrealers and beyond for over 25 years.
364 Sherbrooke Street East
Paul’s Boutique
A brightly-painted yellow and green house on the eastern end of Mont-Royal Avenue, Paul’s Boutique takes its name from the classic Beastie Boys album, and like that record’s dizzying mix of samples and sound collage, the wealth of choice records here is worth dedicating some time to. Check the shop’s live in-store videos for some great performances.
112 Mont-Royal Avenue East
180g
180g’s tagline “Come for the coffee… stay for the records,” sums up what they do so well. Combining a hip minimalist, well-stocked café with a great selection of electronic, hip-hop, classic and new indie vinyl creates a perfect union of two of Montréal’s favourite activities—coffee and records.
5866 de Lorimier Avenue
Sonik Records
Specializing in punk and alternative (along with so much else), Sonik Records is a go-to local favourite for rare finds, some of which take pride of place on the wall racks. Ask the staff for recommendations and take home your new favourite record.
4050 Berri Street
Le Vacarme
Housed in the Plaza Saint-Hubert shopping district, Le Vacarme is one of those expertly curated and arranged vinyl shops that’s impossible to leave without an armful of records. Their website also lists their regularly updated sale prices, including new releases.
6250 Saint-Hubert Street
La Rama Records
Electronic and hip-hop music fans are sure to find what they’re after at La Rama, with an extensive 7” singles section, the latest dancefloor fillers on 12” and white label pressings and local and Canadiana selections on-hand.
77 Bernard Street West
Le Pick Up
Buying and selling used records on a variety of formats—even 8-track—Le Pick Up is a neighbourhood record shop with heart and soul. A selection of books make for the perfect accompaniment to your newest addition to your vinyl, CD or cassette collection.
169 Pins Avenue East
L’Échange
Alongside a large used book collection, L’Échange’s used vinyl and CD sections are stuffed with popular favourites and hard-to-find rarities. And when you’re ready to bring in some of your collection, L’Échange always offers a fair price.
713 Mont-Royal Avenue East
Disques Beatnick
Disques Beatnick’s selection of vinyl, CDs and cassettes—both new and used—carry a particular focus on classic rock and must-haves across multiple genres and eras. It’s the perfect spot for a beginner collector or a more experienced crate-digger looking to fill in some gaps.
3770 Saint-Denis Street
OSMO X MARUSAN Café-Terrasse
More than a Japanese-inspired café and workspace, OSMO X MARUSAN’s vinyl selection rests on the cutting-edge. Bonus points for the regularly-scheduled DJs who fill the room with music after workday hours end. It’s the perfect place to discover the latest trendsetter, along with a tasty snack and beverage.
51 Sherbrooke Street West
Mark Hamilton
Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.