The Explorist International Records

If I ever open a record shop (and I’ve dreamed of it forever), this is the shop I would be inspired by. Everything about this shop (Pyramid Records and Explorist International share the space) is exceptional. Quality over quantity is the focus here. Highly curated selections with thoughtful categorization. Bobby couldn’t have been nicer while my wife and I hung around for an hour or so, listening to several LP’s, asking lots of questions. Can’t wait to go back.

Thumbs up! Yes, it’s expensive, but the selection is so well curated, you’ll find more amazing stuff here in an hour than you will in a day of digging through the bins at Amoeba. If you’re looking for krautrock, 70’s minimalist stuff, 90’s alternative rock, new wave, or «local styles,» this is your spot. There’s a listening station so you can try before you buy, and the owners know pretty much everything in the store and provide great recommendations if you let them know what you’re looking for. If I let myself go here every week, I would be broke.

I’m stoked to have stumbled upon this special little record shop in the Mission. Excellent selection of dub, roots and global (my faves). Amoeba used to be my spot in SF and it’s still the mecca, but here you can flip through a diverse, quality offering in an hour or two — and sample it – while chatting with an expert behind the counter. (Bonus: Wise Sons, the deli on the corner, is awesome.)

Well curated selection and super knowledgable staff. This is my favorite record store in the city.

Great neighborhood record store, I found one of my favorite albums here – finally can hear all the detail missing from lossy mp3. Great resource for recommendations from knowledgeable staff.

As a vinyl enthusiast I was psyched to find this cute little store down in the mission. I found something for my collection and went to the register. It was honestly one of the most rude customer service experiences I have ever encountered He would not accept my credit card because the total was to low, raised his voice and told me to come back with cash because he was «not about to do that“for me. I under stand merchant fees are high and you need a minimum, but it doesn’t mean you have to me rude about it. I felt was personally victimized, luckily I was with a friend that had cash and covered me but the way he handled such a minor discrepancy was so off putting me nor my friend will be going back any time soon.

Rare Japanese Noise, Tons of Jazz, Funk, Soul, even Destinys Child remix 12“s. Very Friendly staff and extreme care is taken in curating this gem.

Visited the shop during a trip down the West-​Coast. The record collection might seem small at first sight, but once i started browsing the crates, I was impressed with the quality of the collection, especially in the 80 – 00 indie/​soul, with all records in good shape, do ended up buying a couple of records

My new favorite record store in SF. I thought I had to go to Wombleton in LA to get such a well-​curated selection of records in such a small place, but not so with Pyramid Records/​The Explorist being conveniently located in the Mission.
Even just a quick browse through the top tier LPs and 7“s on the counter provides ample choices to add to your record collection. Browse through the records on the back left and back center and you’ll find even more. If you’re daring, take a look at the walls and you’ll be sure to spot an LP you’ve been dying to get your hands on. If I didn’t recently buy the Unrest 7″ re-​issue box set, I would have grabbed the original Perfect Teeth LP in a second.
The right side of the store had some more obscure genres, in addition to Jazz and International offerings. While I don’t tend to buy too much in the latter genres, I know good stuff when I see it and these sections were just as well-​stocked.
Top it all off with a super nice guy running the joint. Clearly, he knows his shit when it comes to music but he’s not a snob about it at all. In fact, he gave me and the guy before me a few bucks off for buying a few records. That’s the way to a record collector’s heart.

— listening station (even one for tapes!?)
— friendly unintimidating staff (offered to play a record I was holding while the station was occupied)
— unintimidating prices
— lots of international recordings, very different selection from what I’ve seen at Amoeba/​Rasputin
— lots of new music /​new pressings (incl. 45s)
— some clearance and other genres too, but their niche seems to be international and new material.
I wish the mission had more places like this!

They have an excellent selection of international records (hence the name). i got a few records today, Jazz and Electronic music from the 70’s. They have some really known rare stuff and some unknown rare stuff. Got a few today walked out with 3 records from 30 bucks, looked inline and they sell for more. Feel like i got my money worth.
Only reason for the minus 1 is because the selection was a tad small compared to records stores around elsewhere. 4 and a half.

This place is amazing. If you like vinyl and/​or international music, you have to visit this record store.

Overwhelmed by Amoeba, overpriced by Aquarius, and wondering why neither has a record player to actually hear something before you lay down dozens of bucks on it? Explorist, though limited and tidy, is one the best curated vinyl haunts in the city, and reasonably priced too. Out-​of-​Prints for $ 6, and Rare Soul 45s starting at $ 2? Worth a gander.