Loading...
- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Rebel Rebel Records
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Music & DVDs Music & DVDs
319 Bleecker St(between Christopher St & Grove St)
New York, NY 10014
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 989-0770
- Nearest Transit:
-
Christopher St - Sheridan Sq (1, 2)
W 4 St (A, B, C, D, E, F, M)
Houston St (1, 2)
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
21 reviews for Rebel Rebel Records
Review Highlights
21 reviews in English
-
Review from Brad L.
New York, NY
1/17/2012
LOVE the vinyl collection! Hard-to-find goodies, weird imports and everything that keeps a real record shop... well... REAL! If you love the '80s and '90s ('70s too), this place has a pretty amazing collection of memorabilia. Also, any good pop song you can walk in and ask if they have a remix of, and lo-and-behold, they will show you some current mixes you haven't even heard of before (kept behind the counter)! Cool spot!
-
Review from Camille R.
Somerville, MA
1/29/2012
Rebel Rebel's motto is to provide users with good quality records regardless of its print date. That is, you may pay $80 Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends that was released two years ago. The problem with this is that if you travel outside of the city you can probably find this album for $10 (maybe less) with its original release date and in good quality.
Personally, I'm not a fan of remastered vinyls, though I'll admit I have 3 I can think of off the top of my head, or high prices for vinyls. I'm assuming the price for vinyls have sky-rocketed since they've been making a come back in the last 10yrs or so.
Rebel Rebel does have an awesome collection of really good tunes and many of them are truly vintage. If you've been looking for something and have only been able to find it here, then it's probably worth it.
The owner is a pretty cool dude. He knows his music and I don't think he believes he's ripping people off. Maybe he's not. I don't know. -
Review from Brian S.
New York, NY
1/17/2012
Not much to say about this record shop. It's definitely not one of the better record establishments that I've been to in NYC.
The place is super cramped and the selection is pretty limited. The used records are a little overpriced, but I say if people are willing to pay the price to support the store I'm all for it.
I do most of my record shopping in bins around the LES and this was my first venture on the west side. Don't think I'll ever buy here, but I will take a browse or two in the future while I'm looking killing time during my brunch wait. -
Review from Angel H.
Queens, NY
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a collector's shop. A nice place to look for old import music magazines. Pretty much a place for someone who's obsessive about their favorite band/or singer. Good if you're conducting research.
-
Review from sandy c.
New York, NY
6/16/2011 1 photo
ANY Place that still sells Vinyl is good in my book.
Nice to see that old record stores are still around. I love browsing and flipping through old album art.
"Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress...
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess...
Rebel Rebel, How could they know?
Hot Tramp! I love you so...."Listed in: NYC "Eat, Pray, Love", NYC West Village
-
Review from Jason D.
Brooklyn, NY
7/31/2011
So here's the deal with this place:
PROS
1. A fun little store with the latest LP releases, and a small but fairly consistent rotating stock of used vinyl.
2. Although overpriced a pretty good amount of music memorabilia such as magazines and posters.
CONS
1. Too cluttered to walk through - in a weekend the store could be reorganized to sell more merchandise, but record store owners like to stack boxes on top of boxes.
2. Owner/guy behind the counter can be a snob
3. Prices are ok - a little high but not too bad
If you are in the neighborhood jonsing to flip through some LPs go ahead in - if not just walk on by.
Also, all sales final. -
Review from Sami W.
Roslindale, MA
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great record shop that carries hard to find records, but I couldn't believe the mess and clutter this shop is in. I was literally rubbing on someone's ass not because I wanted to, but simply because I had to get to the door and get the hell out.
-
Review from megan c.
New York, NY
11/17/2005 3 photos
Rebel Rebel is alright. I like that it is tiny and full of stuff-- it isn't the easiest store to navigate through, but that gives it the vibe of a geek's personal collection, and since I like geeks I like Rebel Rebel.
However, in my experience, the staff is so snootified that they fulfill the archetype of snooty record clerk as created by network television sitcoms. One time, I went in there looking for this import, and the guy was like "we don't have that, but we have this other really well-distributed record that isn't as good. also, just so you know, I've totally heard that obscure record even though we don't stock it." Whatever, guy.
This other time, I was in there browsing, and this family came in and they were clearly from out of town and the record store guy told them that he was "definitely sure they'd do better at some other music store, like maybe tower records." Then, once he'd chased them away, he smirked at me with this snarky "can you believe those people?!" expression and I wanted to be like "leave me out of your record store snoot mindgames!" but instead I just smiled as vaguely as possible. Whatever, me.
I keep going there, though, because they sometimes have had exactly what I am looking for at a price that I could just barely afford to squeeze out of my change purse, which is sweet.Listed in: Best Record Store Ever
-
Review from Matt E.
5/26/2011
1.5 stars...
This hole in the wall shop is much more reminiscent of a hoarders apartment than a legitimate business. Rebel Rebel is mostly a used/new vinyl record store but also has CDs (mostly used) and a few other music related items (posters, movies, old magazines). The records are mostly alphabetized while the most of the CDs are just in stacked up boxes with no order to them whatsoever. The place is so cluttered that there are some parts you can't even get to over the boxes and I'd estimate 5 customers would probably be the maximum you'd fit in here. I don't listen to records so can't comment on their selection or lack there of but if the CDs they carry are any indication, it's horrible. Prices are also a little higher than you might expect compared to other places.
I bought a new 2003 re-release (vinyl) of ACDC's Back in Black for $25 ($23+tax) where the same album is selling for $15 on Amazon. Why would someone who doesn't listen to records buy one? Because I was going to a Brian Johnson book signing the next day and thought a signed Album would make for a great wall piece. Well Brian Johnson refused to sign anything other than his book so within 24 hours I made it back to Rebel Rebel with the still unopened record and receipt to return it. The guy running the place wouldn't take it back even given the circumstances. There was no sign or mention of their no refund policy which as it turns out is technically illegal in New York (which I didn't know at the time). He decided to change his policy on the fly and offer me $15 for the record (essentially a $10 restocking fee for an opened $25 record I bought the day before). Not willing to take that hit he said I could exchange it for store credit. Not having a record player I spent the next 15 minutes thumbing through boxes of dusty crappy CDs from artists I've never heard of before. I just ended up standing pondering what to do. He finally decided it would be easier to just get rid of me by giving me $20. I took the $5 hit and left.
There are so many better record/music stores in the city (like Bleeker Street Records only a couple blocks away) and unless you've tried every other store and are coming here out of pure desperation to find something no one else has, I'd definitely avoid this shop at all costs. -
Review from Michael U.
Dublin, OH
6/24/2008
Nice vinyl selection, okay prices, cramped as hell, and "hey bro" those are for me, if you need something then ask"
Okay, bro, first of all, if you don't want people looking through your CDs, keep them at home or have a sign. Secondly, they aren't for you as you then indicated that they were indeed for sale but only you could get them. What did getting them entail? Taking them off the shelf and rudely setting them in front of me a mere 10 feet away from where I was originally looking.
Bro, your pretense would be more becoming if you didn't look filthy and your store actually had room to breathe. With so many other record and CD options, I'd not shop here if I was from NYC and I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to stop in as an out of towner. You're not Jack Black and your collection isn't as eclectic and diverse as many options in cities as small as Bowling Green, OH or Ann Arbor, Michigan. -
Review from stephen n.
New York, NY
7/26/2010
Digital age killed the record store...
Some places endure like the proverbial cactus on a parched, desert landscape. But one walk through the cramped aisles of Rebel Rebel is enough to make you wonder how long she's been sitting there, amassing tons of music while quietly aging as others like her pass unnoticed into the night.
Rebel Rebel is a rare breed among the remaining vestages of retail music vendors. With the convenience of itunes and the internet, why would anyone venture into ANY record store, you ask? Well, because there are still some of us who want something tangible to grab onto while searching for that elusive old tune we can't seem to forget about. And nothing conjures up old memories than a peek at your favorite recording artists on vinyl and compact disc. Whether you're searching for an old Erasure cd or an out-of-print eighties compilation, Rebel Rebel seems to have it all, even if gotten second hand and in less-than-desirable shape. Most will agree however, that a treasured find is priceless no matter what condition its in.
While prices for some of its used cds may not cater to everyone's budget, Rebel Rebel is excellent place to shop if your specialty is rare, independent music labels not found elsewhere. In fact, the only other such place that immediately comes to mind is Other Music located in Soho, which is great in its own right, but lacks the vintage appeal that Rebel's dusty bins seems to carry. Unfortunately, without a website to help search through it's extensive inventory, one is forced to spend considerable time rummaging (unless you're inclined to more personal service from the proprietor, David, who possesses a pretty impressive knowledge of modern music). Without him, Rebel Rebel would probably drift along like a ship without a pilot.
Location: 1 train to Christopher street. -
Review from Sara W.
New York, NY
2/15/2008
I dig this small, independent music shop. Knowledgeable staff who leave you alone to dig in the cardboard boxes unless you want to talk music. Then they'll play you things you might like at top decibel, or stick you in the window niche with headphones to do it yourself.
Nice collection of unlabeled current DJ mixes for sale on CD - they're behind the counter. Take a listen if dance or R&B is your thing.
Not for the claustrophobic. -
Review from Greg D.
Denver, CO
2/10/2010
I've been to this store twice. The first time I left with a huge bundle of The Smiths originals. The guy at the counter was very pleasant and helpful. Which is pretty rare for a record shop, as we all know.
On my second trip a few years later I struck out on The Smiths gems. There was a second guys working that was really nice, even went out if his way to find some stuff for me. The guy at the counter as a little short with me when I misread a price on a CD as $2.99 vs $29.99. He says "Yeah maybe when it was originally released." which yeah, $2.99 was too good to be true, but $29.99 no way! It definitely was not worth that much. The prices, on average, are a bit high but they do have hard to find stuff.
Overall a great shop. Next time I'm in town I'll definitely visit again.Listed in: Record stores
-
Review from Mickey M.
2/10/2009
With Itunes, and the advent of MP3s, mom & pop record stores are going the way of the Dodo bird. Rebel Records is one of the remaining true record stores. The kind of place that has the most obscure record on hand, but not the most widely distributed one of the same band. The kind of place that plays whatever the clerks working want to play, and not necessarily what they're trying to sell.
I'm a giant fan of the british band James. Before their recent release, they hadn't had a US release in over a decade. I couldn't wait for the US release, and sought out the import at Rebel Records. They had it, and I was pumped! The clerk mentioned he was a big fan of the lead singer's solo stuff, which I thought was cool. The lead singer's solo stuff is even more random than James.
I could see how someone might find this place 'snooty', but man, I miss these record stores. The kind of place you walk in looking for one thing, get lost in the mess and walk out with much more than you thought you would. I hope Rebel Records is around for a long time; it's refreshing to actually buy music and browse other stuff, rather than just click and download. -
Review from Evan M.
Arlington, MA
8/5/2009
I stopped by this place in April and encountered wall to wall cds and records, mostly piled up on top of each other. As the exceptionally friendly guy at the counter mentioned, one has to like to 'dig' to find what they want. Given that I'm used to trudging through boxes of records and comic books from years past, I could appreciate that.
There was a discount bin of discs outside as well as just inside that were somewhat cheap but still gave you pause if you wanted to take a chance on them (know what I mean?). The cds and records that were in waist-high bins had some name labels, but as I mentioned earlier, one usually had to move stacks of stuff of them to truly comb through. Rebel Rebel also had many new releases as well as old dusty ones, so there's a good range of stuff for anyone interested. You just have to find it.
The store also has a great assortment of old magazines (Mojo, Q, etc) that, despite their age, still have great articles and mix cds included. I would warn people to be wary of some of the new releases as they could be promotional discs, so if you're a stickler for that kind of stuff, perhaps take a look at the disc and artwork carefully before you buy it.
Great store, would go back again just to dig around.
Edit 2/10: Still a great store, yet be sure to check the condition of some of the discs before purchasing. A few discs I had considered were not worth the price on the sticker given the condition they were in. Also, if you can't find a certain artist definitely ask the guy at the counter. He will take the opportunity to check in the back and probably find something.Listed in: Best New York City Record…
-
Review from Nick K.
6/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
This review is based solely on Rebel Rebel as a ticker vendor. I went in to buy a few tickets to Electric Zoo. Contrary to most other reviews, the guy behind the "counter", who I assume was the owner, was a serious butt hole. He chatted with his friend instead of helping me and, when he finally turned to me, said "cash only" and didn't offer any other words. I went to the ATM and returned to the store. He handed me the tickets but refused to give me a receipt. Um what? This man is not only rude but super sketchy. Please, please do not buy tickets for Electric Zoo, or any other event, from Rebel Rebel.
-
Review from brian d.
San Anselmo, CA
3/16/2009
I hit several record shops in the village this past weekend, and Rebel Rebel was by far the favorite.
This shop is small in size, but big on music. The owner was incredibly nice. He managed to recommend interesting stuff to people who were looking for R&B, Punk and House all at the same time. They had great music playing while we were there, and offered to play a few albums for people to check out.
This is exactly what I want out of a music store. -
Review from Jim C.
Yonkers, NY
2/21/2010
The store was to small and imposable to find anything.
-
Review from Shan C.
Boston, MA
10/7/2007
I think Megan may have something to the Snoot factor, (see comment below) but being a collector of music this place seems to fit my exact musical tastes. From Laurie Anderson to of course Bowie. This is one place I always stop when I am in NY. I love the small place and having a look around reminds me of the myriad of artists I love.
Listed in: Born to Shop
-
Review from Pavol S.
New York, NY
4/19/2010
By far my favorite record store in the Greenwich Village area. Good selection of vintage twelves, new reissues and used CDs. Also, the owner is totally cool and always up for a conversation about music and stuff...
-
Review from Starlight M.
San Diego, CA
1/1/2010
I stopped into Rebel Rebel to see if I could find something new, and ended up leaving with a SLEW of new music. This shop is so dope. It's hard to navigate, and if more than 2 or 3 people are in there, it gets downright difficult to even move. There are stacks of albums everywhere - but in some kind of order, because homeboy there was able to direct me whatever stack I was looking for to find treasures in. There are unmarked releases from DJ's, mainstream album releases, obscure artists and some really great collections. When I took up a stack of records to the man working there, he played all of them for me with just as much curiosity as I had about their contents. He wasn't snooty at all, but I would agree that this shop is for nerds and vinyl junkies. LOVED this place.
Listed in: New Yawk Citay!
