Visiting Madrid for a few hours? A quick glance at Recordstores.love shows that the city center boasts one of the highest densities of record stores among European capitals. So, here's an itinerary that will allow you to fill your bag with new and used vinyl records in just 3 hours flat!
Comfortable Bag
Gran Via - Madrid's Champs-Élysées - broadly serves as a dividing line between two distinct groups of stores: to the north, trendy boutiques reminiscent of Paris's 10th/11th arrondissements; to the south, a more touristy vibe akin to Chatelet/Rue St-Denis. Once you've factored in opening hours (not before 11 am, and - Spain obliges - closing between 2 pm and 4 or even 5 pm), you can begin your migration from north to south, a tour that requires decisiveness and a comfortable bag, as the records quickly accumulate on your shoulder! Finally, pay attention to the signs; Madrid's record stores don't stand out with their storefronts, which are often reduced to the bare minimum and generously tagged.
We are ugly but we have the music
We start off strong at Cuervo Store, a clever mix of new records, rock clothes, and vintage decor. On the facade, a quote from Leonard Cohen sets the tone: "We are ugly but we have the music"! Personally, I didn't find the saleswoman "ugly" but rather charming and not intrusive. The offering is distinctly rock, from classic to indie to hard rock, with a nice Spanish section whose album cover quality is worth highlighting. Elliott Smith's rarities album "Heaven Adores You" is the first to find its way into my bag. A little further on, in a more classic second-hand record store setting, Jordi welcomes you to the aptly named Lost Things (follow on Instagram here) in a particularly friendly atmosphere. Digging is comfortable, the sound system impeccable, and a Spanish pressing of Starshooter's Pas Fatigué for €8 quickly joins the Elliott Smith. For Spanish speakers, there are also a few books.
Multi-talented
For electronic music, there are 3 essential addresses: Recycled, the most discerning with its vast selection of new and used records, El Almacen, and Riverette. The latter two reflect the economic reality of today's music industry: multi-talented. At El Almacen, with a Williamsburg vibe, there's a superb electro/soul selection and more, along with t-shirts and a recording studio. And you'll receive a very friendly welcome even if you don't have a beard! At Riverette, you're right at the heart of the label of the same name, with the store/recording studio serving as its flagship. Carlos will share his pride and also his concerns after just two months of opening.
Bargains to be had
On the edge of Gran Via, don't overlook the large retailers like Fnac and El Corte Ingles. The sections are particularly well-stocked, and even if you find the same old reissues from major labels' back catalogs, there are still bargains to be had between €10 and €15, and new releases are plentiful (and just like that, the latest Jesus & Mary Chain is mine). For a passionate discussion about music, however, it's more complicated.
Aladdin's Cave
Let's be clear, we had the most fun at Escri Discos! Not just because it's Madrid's oldest record store, opened in 1977, or for its varied selection complemented by t-shirts and posters, but primarily for sharing the enthusiasm and encyclopedic knowledge of Alberto, the young new owner, in punk/rock/garage/ska. As a result, money slipped through our fingers once again, benefiting the Skinhead Reggae 1969 ska compilation and Temples' sumptuous new album. Two streets away, don't miss Aladdin's cave, Bangla Desh: the welcome is more discreet, the store darker, but you immediately feel like you could spend entire days there. Between a never-before-seen New Order maxi-single and a superb series of Sugarcubes maxi-singles, the motto is "rare and expensive"! Worth noting for enthusiasts: a huge 45T section.
Tourist Record Stores
If you have a few euros left and your legs can still carry you, you can finish up at Killers, La Gramola, or even La Metralleta, in the most touristy part of this journey. The first two mentioned are cramped, packed like an egg, and you quickly want to leave. As for La Metralleta, it's a Madrid institution, whose entrance - which looks more like an underground parking lot - you first have to find before exploring the three large rooms of this peculiar gallery. With the budget exhausted, we couldn't dedicate the necessary time to it, so we'll have to come back!
