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Permanent Records
Categories: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Music & DVDs Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Vinyl Records Music & DVDs, Vinyl Records [Edit]
8126 Gateway Blvd NWEdmonton, AB T6E 1X2
(780) 988-2112
- Price Range:
-
$$
3 reviews for Permanent Records
3 reviews in English
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Review from Alex P.
11/7/2011
I wandered in here the other day and quite liked it.
Even though the store is small, it has a sort of empty / cold feeling, which is unfortunate. Warmth is not necessary for CD browsing, but still.
Despite the size of the store, they actually had albums by many artists that I have not been able to find in other music stores (chain or independent) and I found myself splurging on a couple things. Based on the artists that I did recognize, I felt that I could pick up pretty much anything and enjoy it for one reason or another.
The man working there at the time greeted me but did seem distant. I could not hold a conversation with him but he was helpful when I wanted to listen to one of the CDs I had picked out.
Prices are reasonable to high, some things were overpriced in my opinion. -
Review from Jeff G.
4/29/2012
Permanent Records completes the Holy Trinity of Whyte Ave area Record Shops. The other two being Blackbyrd and Sound Connection.
You can tell a lot about a Record Store by the music that they're playing when you walk in to the place. When I went into Permanent Records recently they were spinning the old country standard, "Now and Then There's a Fool Such As I." It was a live recording from, I think, a contemporary 'alt-country' band. Good move playing a live album in-store - it makes customers feel more... in the moment or something. I would have asked the counter guy what it was but the staff at Permanent Records are unfortunately all mute.
Permanent seems to specialize in folk, blues, and metal, but they have some rock and pop too. They sell about half-and-half CDs and vinyl. I honestly don't give a rat's ass about CDs anymore so I went straight to the albums. All of their stuff is new so you don't have to worry about removing the records to check for scratches. I saw mostly punk, metal, and country albums there. By country, I'm talking about the old-school, shotgun-in-the-mouth, beer-soaked floor, coke-snorting, cheatin', stealin', and lyin' country. Not Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks. I wouldn't be surprised if Hank III and members of Social Distortion have cots in the back of the store to pass out on.
Permanent's prices are a little higher than some of their Record Store brethren. They wanted about $12 more than Sound Connection for the same Tom Petty title. It was the same limited blue vinyl copy of "You're Gonna Get It" from last year's Record Store Day. Some of these titles I've also seen at big box stores cheaper. They want almost $30 for a vinyl copy of Megadeth's "Rust in Peace" when I've seen it at HMV in West Ed for 2 for $25. I know that it's infinitely cooler to support local stores than the corporate machine but c'mon...
The decor at Permanent is pretty cool. The walls are decorated with vintage concert posters and flyers of shows that happened in the Edmonton area over the past decades. I don't know if the posters are originals or if they're repros. Either way it's a nice touch. -
Review from Paula K.
9/3/2011
With its very cheeky name (given the current consumer climate) and huge selection of vinyl, Permanent Records is an old school music store with attitude. CD fans will not be disappointed in the large variety of music to be found here. Everything is new - this is not a second-hand shop - and there really is something for all musical tastes. Staff are knowledgable but aloof (no one said anything to me from the moment I walked to the moment I left - empty handed). Still, this is a very cool little store and I wish them all the best in this digital age.
