Tired of Best Buy and Borders being your music options? Not able to find the hard-to-get stuff? Not willing to pay commercial prices? Good. Now that you are in Tucson, here is your chance to get to know some of your other, better music store options.
Zia Records
3370 E. Speedway Blvd. and 3655 N. Oracle Road #107
Chances are, if you are familiar with independent music stores in Arizona, you are familiar with Zia Records. Begun in 1980 as one small Phoenix location, Zia has blossomed into an independent music store dynamo. From its knowledgeable and friendly staff (think the opposite of the High Fidelity guys) to its remarkable selection of all types of music, Zia Records is the store you must love if music is your thing. While you can certainly find the latest new and in-demand indie and mainstream music at decent prices, the best thing about Zia is its seemingly endless bounty of great used CDs at phenomenal prices ($5.99 – $8.99). Plenty of musical hipsters have pawned their stashes for extra cash, so take full advantage.
Pdq Records & Tapes
2342 N. Dodge Blvd.
If you are a real vinyl nut or an aspiring DJ, then PDQ is your new favorite record store. PDQ is the tops when it comes to finding used, rare or out-of-print vinyl and offers a remarkable and expansive (the store is massive) selection of sounds including spoken word, country, jazz, gospel, blues and rock 'n' roll (and that's just the tip of the ol' iceberg). The store also offers used CDs ($8.99), but the selection is sporadic and usually iffy. However, if you love the black circle and spending hours shifting through records, PDQ loves you.
Cd City
2890 N. Campbell Ave.
If you love buying music, but hate the rising prices or often find yourself low on cash, then CD City is your gift from the god of music. The used CDs are plentiful and nicely separated into two price sections. In one section you will find more popular and slightly pricier used CDs (two CDs for $10). The second section is the "bargain bin," which requires effort and sorting but comes with an unbeatable deal (two CDs for $5). Though the "bargain bin" section is unorganized, it is definitely possible to find at least two albums worth spending $5 on.
Toxic Ranch Records
424 E. Sixth St.
This is the stop for all your underground punk and hardcore music needs. The store is an offshoot of the record label of the same name and adheres closely to its punk ethos (for proof, check out one of their anti-theft signs: "Hey, the CD boxes are empty. If you want to steal something, try Zia Records.") The store is home to tons of great underground and out-of-print punk, hardcore and indie music on CD and vinyl. The store's size (roughly the size of your dorm room) allows it to be selective and essential in what it sells, which is a good thing for you as the consumer. It has a great selection of t-shirts, posters and underground rags that will help you to add a punk edge to your Target bed sheets.