Singles Going Steady

 

3

9

Matthew R.

Seattle, WA

I'm not really punk in the way that most of this store's audience is, I'm more of the post-punk from day one type, but that doesn't mean this isn't a 5-star establishment.  For one, they have enough etc for me to have walked away with a Teardrop Explodes album replacement which was cheaper than the original.  Two, they have a thoughtful breadth of microgenres that shows that they're truly about the music, even if it's music I don't like.  Three, it's in Belltown, the quickest seedy-to-yuppie neighborhood that looks like it has soul but is entirely hollow. I feel like this shop and me are the only two normal things in the hood.

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12

437

willamina c.

Seattle, WA

Singles is great when i need to find some wacko obscure punk/hardcore album from, like, 1972.

I am paranoid about this place being potentially doomed because of the location, and it's not the place to go when you're looking for the single release of Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos ("I got a letter from the government, the other day / I opened and read it, it said they were suckers!") this isn't the place to look for it. It's punk/hardcore and some crust but it's not gonna have Debbie Gibson, though if you're buying Debbie Gibson, chances are you cross the street screaming if you see me coming...but what Singles does it does well and I like that.

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0

3

Brian E.

Seattle, WA

Hard not to love.

Even a change in ownership didn't really stop this place.

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Elite '08

91

293

Peter W.

Seattle, WA

EVER FALLEN IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE YOU SHOULDN'T?  That's what this store is like, but it's a store not a person.  I DON'T MIND that it's a limited selection.  WHAT DO I GET?  Punk, Industrial, Metal, and more.  WHATEVER HAPPENED TO buying music you don't hear on the radio?  I can give you PROMISES of finding things you might not have heard, or gone "OH SHIT, I remember that song".  It feels like EVERYBODY'S HAPPY NOWADAYS and I feel this store is part of the reason.  

I even found the Black Box here, and while to some people it was JUST LUST for my ears.  And I was just full of HARMONY IN MY HEAD.  I LOVE YOU MORE Singles Going Steady.  

Of course, if you think that NOISE ANNOYS you might want to go elsewhere.  Because otherwhise you'll just feel that SOMETHING'S GONE WRONG AGAIN when you go inside.  But yeah, in the end, this little punk store with records and patches and hidden gems is as good and fun as an ORGASM ADDICT.

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Elite '08

9

159

Matt C.

Chicago, IL

Killer punk/hardcore selection, should have spent another day picking through it. Nice staff although there's lots of mangey knick-knacks and patches on the wall, likely due to their vicinity to the true burning spirits homeland.

100th Yelp review!

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5

28

Avalon W.

Seattle, WA

Man, I really love singles.
I haven't been there in so long, but it's so hard to find!
I always forget exactly where it is or what street it's on- but I'm a wanderer, so whatever.
Anyways, if you're looking for hardcore, punk, crust, or anything else, this is definitely worth a look.

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1

16

Nick M.

WA

Nowhere else in Seattle will you find a crust section. That is worth 5 stars alone. Fairly small place but filled to the gills with punk, hardcore, indie rock and even a little metal. They also carry  zines, patches, t-shirts, spiked armbands, collars and even a few videos. If your not into punk or the many sub-genres you may not find what you want here. They carry music form around the world. For me.. it is perfect. I can easily spend more than my budget's worth in less than a half hour without sifting through crap.

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Elite '08

16

33

Dylan A.

Seattle, WA

Singles Going Steady is one of those ultra specialized record stores. They might have sections that pay lip service to, say, jazz or electronic music, but they have separate sections for every punk rock subgenre ever devised. Crust punk? Right next to grindcore, one row over from hardcore. When you find the gutterpunk, you've gone too far.

Although their niche is pretty obvious upon entering (the punk rock patches along the back wall help), they do have a pretty good selection of non-punk rock as well, including some rare and collectible items. It's definitely worth digging through the bins for some buried treasure, even if you don't classify yourself as a straightedge anarcho-marxist old school street punk, or some such thing.

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13

269

singlespeed inga r.

Berkeley, CA

Visiting Singles going Steady was by far the best part of visiting Seattle. And I'm not Seattle sucks either, the store is a truly spiritual experience for audiophiles.

I found it by accident after having dinner at the noodle ranch across the street, and then, like a keen radar, honed int on the signal that was beckoning me to go to the promise land on 2nd Avenue.

Upon entering you are barraged by the typical street punk patch foo foo crap. Don't worry about the 14 year old kid in yellow hair and spikes, his parents probably have a 4 bedroom condo in Belltown and he is just expressing his individuality.

There is so much music its just overwhelming. Dedicate a good hour or two and work in a concentric circle through the stacks of skate-punk, grindcore, metal... stop... check out the Johnny cash album on the wall.... then on to rockabilly, local music.... and on and on. And finally, if you can manage the 75 albums you have just picked out, drool at the back wall which includes rarities from The Clash, Ramones, Cash, DOA... its just audio Ecstasy.

I thought I would be able to find some Gits albums or garb but unfortunately, and the musical sage manager agreed, there was none... the quest continues...

I did score a rare Italian album with full graphic of Johnny Cash doing train songs.

For those of you into indie/punk and generally non top40 music, you know this place is calling you. Don't judge the patrons by their spikes, safety pins and Docs (actually a few well known punk musicians have some hilarious opinions on dress, including members of the Sex Pistols and the Clash) its a form of Do-It-Yourself, the fundamental rule of punk philosophy. It cracks me up when people ask what I do. They see a singlespeeder chick on a bike with tattoos and pig-tails who happens to be an Architect.

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3

10

Dan T.

Seattle, WA

For punk record and CD shopping in Seattle, you can't beat Singles Going Steady. Seattle has a bunch of great record stores, but Singles is the best at what it does--feature a wide variety and depth of catalog with new and used punk records and CDs. Into hardcore, doom, pop punk, crust, screamo, Oi!, power pop, UK82, '77, noise, black metal, garage punk and more? This is the only store for you. Also a decent collection of punk zines and gear.

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24

62

Akiva S.

Seattle, WA

I love this store.  It has the best and biggest selection of indie and punk vinyl in all of Seattle and a knowledgeable staff of unpretentious music freaks.  Some of the best music conversations I've ever overheard have happened here.  They'll also order just about anything you want if it isn't in stock.  Only complaint?  Street parking only.

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