Best Record / CD Store

Waterloo Records & Video

Waterloo Records & Video is more than an independent music retailer; it’s a modern mecca of music – the Amoeba of the South – that’s inextricably woven into the legacy and notoriety of our local music scene. That much is evident not just in the depth of the store’s selection – CDs, vinyl, box sets, DVDs, books, clothing – but in its bounteous treasure chest of used arrivals and its range of in-store performers (Steve Earle, Bill Callahan, the Belleville Outfit). First opened in 1982 in the now-defunct Soccer World building on South Lamar, Waterloo moved three times before settling into its current Sixth Street location in 1989, which has become a local landmark worthy of historical status. Even as the rest of the music industry has crashed and burned with the rise of the iPod and illegal downloading, Waterloo has found ways to not only adapt and survive but to continue giving back to the community. The store sponsors countless local events, is an active participant in the notable nonprofit Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, and has made a habit of employing local artists, most notably Alejandro Escovedo (which is one of the reasons why it boasts some of the best staff recommendations in town). Waterloo is nothing if not a store of its times. A few years back, the local landmark began acquiring exclusive indie releases to counter the national big boxes. Recognizing the relative resurgence in popularity of vinyl, Waterloo has amped up its selection of both new and used vinyl to levels not seen since the mid-Nineties. The store offers a weekly vinyl happy hour and has been a very vocal participant and champion of the annual Record Store Day. More recently, Waterloo has been actively involved in the creation of Think Indie, a digital distribution network that puts independent record shops on the same playing field as iTunes.

Waterloo Records
600-A N. Lamar, 512/474-2500
waterloorecords.com