Aquarius Records

Vinyl selection is unprecedented and varied. Record reviews are relatable and on point. Recently discovered, purchased, and deeply enjoyed records by Alpine Decline and P.K.14 solely based on reviews written by staff of the store. Love this store.

This place is all about your preference, and it just wasn’t mine. It’s pretty much only indie rock and metal in terms of vinyl, with a selection so random and obscure they have to put a description of what you’re getting yourself into on many albums. I don’t like to leave a record store empty handed, but I couldn’t find one thing that appealed to me, and I consider myself to have a pretty open minded, vast taste in music. I’m pretty sure the girl behind the counter didn’t bother to notice l there were several customers, clearly very occupied with fiddling around with things behind the counter. Overall, I think considering the location, it’s appealing to the crowd for the most part. And don’t get me wrong, it’s a visually appealing place that’s nicely organized. But it felt a little too specialized for my liking.

I was really disappointed with this vinyl store. It mostly sell CDs and its vinyl collection is a very small and mostly super alternative — no real classic finds.
Very friendly atmosphere really helpful staff just a shame about the poor selection of vinyl.

One of the ‘odd gems’ of the record collecting world. Aquarius Records has been deemed one of the 20 record stores you must shop on planet Earth in many columns. If you are a person of very specific tastes this is very true! Fans of Doom, Electronica, Experimental, Metal, and Punk will find a wide array of choices to interest them in the new and used sections. Folk, Classical, and basic Pop/​Rock fans won’t find much. The store is tiny and they have something in every corner to keep you looking!
Worth a visit everytime I’m in SF!

I’ve been buying here forever (though I don’t make it into the store that often anymore due to old age). The first time I walked in to their 24^th Street location, probably in 1991 or 1992, someone, probably Allan, was playing Magma. I freaked out because this was right in the heart of Noe Valley — I had to swim through a sea of strollers to get in the front door. I remember they had a copy of Half Japanese’s «Half Gentlemen/​Not Beasts,» which was impossible to find at the time, and I bought it on the spot. Along with I think a Melt-​Banana record.
Fast forward to yesterday: I walked in to the store and the salesperson was playing some hypnotic drone-​y skipping motorik meisterwerk, by some turntablist sound sculptor I’d never heard of because at this stage of my life I just don’t have the time to keep up on relatively obscure and/​or emerging musicians. It was turned up to just the right volume: loud enough to appreciate the sonic textures viscerally, but not seizure-​inducing loud. I bought that on the spot too.
All along the way, their well-​written, articulate, passionate web site reviews have introduced me to so much great music. I love the fact that the reviews often contain little mini-​essays on music and (pop or underground) culture. And that they are willing to give bands another look after they release a bad record or two. And that they recognize that bands change. And that they support local artists. And that they still love Swans after all these years.

Not much else to say other than this is the best record store on the planet. I’ve discovered some of my favorite bands from their reviews and staff picks. If I can’t think of anything to buy I just go to Aquarius and read reviews in the store or talk to the super friendly staff and will always find something I’ll love. If you want to enhance your quality of life than shop at Aquarius Records!

Absolutely love it, be sure to go through the $ 1 boxes!

There’s no better record store anywhere. They know their music, and their customer service is genuine and friendly. I ALWAYS go to Aquarius before any other record store. Always will.

Ghouls ‘n goblins, tron and an amazing selection of music. I came down to consign my bands new EP and they took 3 copies right away! Check out Bless This Mess by «the skinny guns»

Pretty nice small shop in the Mission District. Notice they carry quite a bit of experimental music and both CDs and LPs. Also, several arcade games are found at the entrance and the back of the store.

A great record store on Valencia on Experimental music and new releases. Always go here for some good recommendations. The staff is very knowledgeable.

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever bought anything here and I’ve been through a lot of different styles of music in my 20 years in SF.
I associate this place with «noise» and «drone» instead of funk, soul, disco, electro, or early 80s NYC rap, or anything else that’s been worth rediscovering. but to each his or her own. This just isn’t my store.

They cater to exactly what I listen to. Good selection on vinyl, super knowledgable staff, and album reviews that cannot be compared to anywhere else. Possibly my favorite record store.

Did you ever have a friend who somehow kept getting really astonishingly great music, with really broad tastes, but uniformly excellent? Aquarius is like that. Actually, it’s better because it’s like having a bunch of friends like that, all working under one roof.
Aquarius Records is one of the greatest music stores in the history of the world. If you love indie, obscure, experimental, unusual, hard-​to-​find, cool, fun music that’s hard to find, this is the place to come. Tons of Finnish stuff, freak folk, metal, world music, kozmigroov stuff, folk, jazz, psychedelic, whatever, just a really great collection that is stocked by people with really great taste who scour the corners of the globe for fun stuff.
Super great people, knowledgeable, really into it, super helpful.

Don’t come here looking for something you want. Instead, let yourself be surprised at what hidden gems you will discover.

I haven’t been here since 2005. Great selection, but I can just download music and save the pretension from some trust fund douchebag.
Spend your money and time elsewhere on Valencia st.

I generally consider my tastes eclectic, compared to 95% of american music listeners. However, the folks who run Aquarius are at the top-​tier of obscure music lovers. If you’re in their stratosphere, you probably aren’t reading this review. If you’re like me, and are quirky but not in the elite, then this is a great shop to take a gamble and hear something new.
I tend to enjoy the used CD and cassette section the most. The staff are usually friendly as long as you don’t reveal your true place as a music lamer. The arcade games are fun and a nice touch.
Getting there is best by bike, or walk a few blocks from BART. I don’t recommend driving here outside of midday during the week.
Overall I really appreciate this store, and how much effort the staff put into write thorough reviews and stay on top of new releases.

If you’re not going to Aquarius to pick up the latest arrivals reviewed on their well written, informative website or searching for the newest, hip, obscure, independent releases, then this store is probably not for you. Inventory at store is a bit sparse, but it does have the aforementioned latest, limited run, independent releases that don’t make it into most record stores. Staff are generally friendly and helpful.
The Aquarius website is required viewing!

A music loving friend had actually told me to check this place out, but I’m bad w/​notes so I was surprised to find this gem. At first I thought it was a plant store because of all the potted plants in the front window, but then my friend who must have better eyesight than me pointed out that it was a record store!
My gawd, this place is a hard-​to-​find, obsessed-​with-​sound kind of store. Meticulous notes labelled each item in the store so that you had a good idea of not only what it would sound like but also be able to place it in time and genre. WOAH. Who does this? It appeared to be all the same tiny, concise handwriting. I could think of a few music nerd friends back home that would be in love with this joint.
I ended up buying a psych funk 101 record of various artists — its set up on the back w/​notes like a class so this was one where the store didn’t have to curate. That’s what its like – a Gallery of Noise.
The guy at the counter commented that the album I chose was a «great collection». Yes. I’m cool. And he was right – its a killer album that I couldn’t have found in my wildest daydreams.

Ya know what one of the pleasures of Record Store Day is? It’s going to a new store you’ve never heard of and being treated with a smile, being completely taken back by their selection that your giddy and finding a new place to pick up a CD.
All this more and took place when the «Lady K» and I hit our second record of the day for RSD 2009!
I love the fact that they have hand written reviews taped to the CDs. I love that I asked about something and was given a real opinion and an answer to my question.
Aquarius Records, you had me from hello! Go buy some CDs! Enjoy!