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Mon-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I really stopped buying music in stores around the time iTunes came into my life, but this place has always had exactly what I was looking for, and some stuff I didn't know I wanted.
The staff is very reserved, but always knowledgeable. It's next to one of the oldest bars in America, The Horse You Came In On Saloon, so that's a big bonus. This is one of our small gems. I really can't help myself from stopping in when I'm down in Fells.
I like Soundgarden. Sort of reminds me a bit of the original Plan9 records in Richmond; However, Sound Garden doesn't carry even selective used vinyl (which is a tiny bummer). The collection of reissued vinyl is extremely good, and the prices are comparable if not better to buying the same stuff online (and not paying shipping). The CD collection is pretty eclectic - they have a ton of stuff, including hard to find doom metal and modern electronic (not techno) stuff. I've found some reasonably priced gems in their piles of used CD's too.
Also, can't speak highly enough of how uber-organized Sound Garden is!
The staff is pretty knowledgeable too.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
I love local places and this place is as local as you can get and has been around forever. I love how in recent months they have a whole vinyl section with turntables that you can actually hook up with your current sound systems.
I also like how their online presence remains up to date with a New Releases section that is oh so helpful. The staff is great and I always leave there with more and better music than I intend to! This place always puts me in a great mood! It's nice to go someplace where people are still authentic and helpful!
It's a great spot in the city. It does its job and sometimes it has some hidden gems that you could only pay up to $10 for and that will make you happy. I don't think it's worth the drive or parking if you live more than 15 mins away. It's just a record shop, albeit a cool one, but still a record shop nonetheless. If you're into vinyl or used media, this is definitely a good spot to visit. I like stopping by only if I'm in Fells Point.
As I hear it, this place is pretty much a landmark to locals. They have a lot going on here - well-known artists occasionally come in to sign autographs and perform. There is a nice selection of CDs, vinyl, magazines, and DVDs. It's got a cool vibe.
Only thing is, I'm so into music that I thought it would be a good idea to at least try and apply for a job here. When I picked up an application in person, they were very friendly about it and told me they were hiring. About a week later, I came back to turn it in, only to face a very different, if a bit rude staff member telling me the spot had been filled. I walked out with a 'gee thanks' sort of attitude. :/
I think I might be older than I realize. Yes, downloading music off the Internet has become the new medium for obtaining music, but not all that is revolutionary is truly great. When going to record stores, I love the feeling of walking into a place with a wall of album covers and posters of Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison staring right at me as music by the Replacements blasts over the loudspekaer and I see others who share the same passion I do. I just never feel that way when downloading.
That is the feeling I get when I go to stores like The Sound Garden in Fells Point. True, I've only been here once and it was last summer when I visited my old stomping grounds, but it was a wonderful reminder of how great independent record stores are. And to see such a place in Maryland makes me wish that I patronized this place more often when I lived out here.
I bought Fun House by the Stooges and Veni Vidi Vicious by the Hives and they both came out to be less than 20 dollars. Quite amazing when you consider that I usually pay about 25 for two CD's. The Sound Garden is an excellent store and the reason why you should support your local record stores.
I love them for stocking a very decent vinyl section.
The staff is great, and are more then willing to help you out.
This is one of my favorite spots...I JUST LOVE THIS PLACE. Good bargins, great selection, friendly and knowledgable staff and great location. I can spend many hours in this joint. Best record store on the east coast.
Old school style music store.
This joint is like the awesome neighborhood music shops of the 80s. They have a zillion CDs at great prices, eclectic staff, live shows, tons of music magazines and listening stations.
The staff was super helpful. What was also cool/strange was that there were a ton of staff members on the floor helping everybody out [read: you don' t have to waste time trying to track down people to ask questions.
Don't half step. Don't go here to get music DVDs.
Awesome indie-hipster hangout/music trading store. Brings me back to the days of high school swaping used CDs and finding hidden music gems amongst the rows and rows of CDs. DVDs are available here too.
Best of the best when it comes to funky High Fidelity style music stores. The people who work there are actually attentive, friendly and non-discrimitory. --Meaning yuppies will feel okay walking in there too! :-) -- I really like that you can find lots of video games in there also. They had the wii fit, mario kart, etc when you couldn't find them anywhere else. Sweet!
All the trappings of an independent music store, complete with eclectic rock, hip hop, and underground selections, lots of magazines, and a wall devoted to Criterion movie releases. The lack of painfully aloof hipsters behind the counter is so refreshing. Recommended.
Amazing CD store.
Tons of great used CDs! You can listen to them on the CD player before buying, so you know you're getting the raddest beats. I got three awesome ones for a bit over $20.
Man, this store makes me wish I lived in Baltimore. I'd spend hours here.
The best in Baltimore. Far superior to anything Washington, D.C. has to offer either.
Good sized used section, stock recycles well, carries obscure titles, and wins hands down on staff snarkiness.
The Mecca, maybe the best record store on the east coast. The place oozes coolness but everyone working there is ultra friendly. You will lost 2 hours of your life in this place. Amazing!
Only the best store ever. I went there every week while I lived in Baltimore. Since then I have lived in LA and San Diego and still haven't found a place that can compare. The staff was super helpful, the selection was huge, they had a lot of really hard to find stuff too. It's nice to see an independent CD/DVD store that isn't ruled by hipster douche bags.
Everyone in Baltimore should buy something from SOundgarden at least one or twice a month, just to support such an amazing independent music store.
They let you listen to anything you want before you buy it!
They keep a very impressive record and LP section
They don't screw you on the price of used CD's/DVD's
They have a dog that hangs out in the store!
The only downside is that they watch you like a hawk to prevent shoplifting, that makes me feel a little weird at first but I guess I understand.
I miss The Sound Garden. I live in Los Angeles, and we have cool places like Amoeba in Hollywood, but there's something about Sound Garden that feels good.
TSG has a great selection, nice staff and fair prices... not to mention the great location in Fells Point.
The only thing I miss are the days when they carried bootlegs.... I know bootlegs are "illegal" but as a kid it was what I drove all the way from Annapolis for.
I just love to come in here and browse. You can find pretty much anything you want here for decent prices. Just stop by, browse, listen to some music, it's overall a great experience.
This is my favorite place in Baltimore to buy CDs.
They almost always have what I am looking for and they have a great diverse selection. The staff is friendly and helpful. They have great prices on new CDs with many priced at $10.00.
I would say the only downside is that the selection of used CDs is not that great. Also, the used CDs are rather overpriced.
I love this place for a number of reasons, not least of which is it is one of the few small businesses with roots in two cities I have roots in, Baltimore and Syracuse NY. I will often buy gift certificates at their Syracuse store over Christmas, and my brother and I will either go shopping together in Syracuse, or back in Baltimore. Great prices, knowledgeable staff, and great selection. I always meander through the used section first to see what's hot. My brother is a vinyl snob, so he'll peak through that section. And I'll always pick up a few of their stickers to show off what a music snob I am.
There is nothing I don't love about the great deals or the fantastic finds of used and new CDs, movies and vinyl here. It's like a rewarding scavenger hunt. Having lived in Portland, OR and Boston, veritable Meccas of used music stores, the Sound Garden stands up to almost all scrutiny. I always load up with more than I planned and never regret the decision. Too bad the staff there on almost every encounter (and I'm talking over a dozen times now) has made that approach to the counter unbearable. I literally will shop for a few more minutes just to avoid the anxiety. Every time. I can't stress this enough, the staff is either: on the phone having personal conversations behind the register, having a bizzarely snarky and overt conversation for the benefit of me and my lowbrow companions (it's like watching High Fidelity outtakes!), or making certain to avoid all eye contact until absolutely unavoidable. Instead of leaving happy with my purchase, I walk out every single time insulted and annoyed. Look, I can be snarky, nasty and sarcastic with the best, but I am out of my element with this bunch. I kind of hate myself for continuing to go back.
I saw Regina Spektor here a while ago. The place was packed. A surprisingly functional venue for live acts.
I totally agree with john w. this place is right up there with Amoeba. Excellent selection, decent staff. I almost always find something I want to buy here and it's a great place to browse and listen. My only problem is I enter a time warp when I walk in the front door and end up staying in way too long.
This might be my favorite record store (actually CD store) next to Amoeba (both the SF and Berkely stores). They have a great selection, new and used (the used selection is actually really good), knowledgeable, helpful staff and a cool environment. This is a "must visit" every time i am in Charm City.
Hands down the best music store in the Baltimore area and beyond. New, used, hard to find, it's all here. Very easy to drop a lot of cash because you'll find so much you've been looking for at other places but were unable to find.
Great selection for a medium-sized store. New CD & DVD prices are reasonable although used prices seldom fall below $8. They're always a great selection of new CDs for $9.99. The staff is helpful and the music playing in-store is interesting.
This may be my favorite record store EVER. Fantastic selection of most anything you could ever want, and lots of hard to find titles. (I found some Betty Davis stuff I didn't even know was ON cd.) I go here without fail every time i come to baltimore. Prices are decent too.
Awesome record store. They have pretty much everything! Really good used cd and DVD selection and records too. You can also listen to stuff before you buy it which is nice. Staff is laid back and helpful. Love this place.
This is the only place I'd go to buy cds or LPs. They have pretty much everything you can think of, and they got a pretty nice selection of imports.
Definitely one of the best independent music stores in Baltimore. As a San Franciscan I'm used to the large independent music stores of Amoeba and Rasputin but so far The Sound Garden come closest in the Washington-Baltimore area. I agree that the selection of used music is somewhat limited but the selection is definitely better than the other used music stores I've been to in DC. Also, the used DVD section has a lot of bargains. In fact, I got some seasons of the Simpsons for $20--way cheaper than what you can get used on Amazon.
Don't buy a single CD or DVD from Best Buy, Circuit City, Walmart, Target, or any other Big Box store, because Sound Garden is CHEAPER or at worst the same price. And you know you feel horrible buying crap from Best Buy, admit it! Support the best music store in the Mid-Atlantic area, and dare I say East Coast?
Best music store I've been to. It's a small business with a sister store in Syracuse, and the best place for indie music and for used CDs. Over the past few years, they've also become a great place for used DVDs too (good return policy if they don't play). You can listen to whatever you want first, so carve out a few hours and spend a rainy afternoon listening to music, then head over to one of the many bars around for a drink and you'll have yourself a pretty good day. I also sold all my CDs here after I went digital and they give you a good rate, better than the competing stores and more if you take store credit instead of cash. They'll also buy your DVDs too. Good selection and they have a nice vinyl collection. While it's mostly indie rock and such, they have everything. Even found some old Tina Brooks jazz CDs I needed for my collection! They have a small parking lot (which you might need since parking at Fells is tricky at times). Beware of Friday/Saturday nights because their parking lot become a valet lot for the restaurant next door!
Baltimore, MD
Category: Music & DVD's
Baltimore, MD
Category: Comic Books
Baltimore, MD
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
Baltimore, MD
Category: Antiques
Baltimore, MD
Category: Museums
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