Sea Level Records

Favorite record store? In LA, my favorite spot is easily Sea Level Records on Sunset in Echo Park. When I first moved here in 1997 I frequented Aron’s Records on La Brea and Rhino Records on Westwood, but neither of them ever had anything I was looking for. Rhino was better because they would at least have something worth buying and the staff was friendly enough, but Aron’s was such a hole. They had so much room, yet nothing worth buying. The staff was surly and hateful and they only ever played reggae. I used to take a list of about 20 albums that I wanted, but was lucky to find 1 or 2.

Then Amoeba Records opened on Sunset. LA seemed to rejoice and you can still hear the crowds cheering in the amount of signature yellow and black bags you can find tucked under pedestrian arms all over the city. Amoeba is definitely an improvement: they have a bigger selection, the used section is easier to navigate, and the overhead music is reggae or The Streets only 2/3rds of the time. However, some find Amoeba to be too overwhelming (I’m sorry I’ve dragged you through there, wifey), the staff is mostly surly, and of my list of 20, I’m lucky to find 3. That’s not much of an improvement.

Happily for me there’s Sea Level. Sea Level’s stock could probably fit in the bargain bin section of Amoeba, yet somehow I can always find up to half of my want-list. Add to that a friendly staff, free in-store performances at least twice a week, Ms. Pac-Man, and I’ve never heard reggae, ska, reggaeton, or anything resembling the previous played over the speakers. Sea Level also promotes and stocks music from local bands (remember: you can find Meho Plaza‘s EP there) and they used to even release music from Kennedy, Esther Lee, and John Vanderslice.

If you’re ever in the LA area, or if you live here, go check them out. They’re around the corner from the Brite Spot, right next to the Echo, beneath a neon bowling sign.

• Listen to Kennedy – Mama Made Me a Pimp
• Listen to John Vanderslice – Amitriptyline

Visit Sea Level Records
1716 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026