Sloth Records

Like record stores from the 80s! Love this place! Especially the fact that it is all new vinyl! This will be a regular weekend «go to.»

I come here quite often because it is a block away from work. I give 3 stars because the turntable I bought from there fucking RULES!!! And it was very reasonably priced.
The vinyl selection is pretty. meh. I am stoked if I find something to take home. They do a great job of showcasing up and coming artists as well as local acts, A+ if that is what you’re into. It’s also nice to see some friend’s band on the shelf. When an artist sticks out and engages my curiosity, it is my luck to find only 2 live recordings in their slot. wah. Don’t get me wrong– live recordings are DOPE but it is nice to have more of a selection.
I think Sloth Records does a fantastic job attracting younger crowds & getting the 17^th avenue locales excited about vinyl. I keep very optimistic about this place and find myself flipping through stock on a regular basis. what a great way to pass time.

What can I say its clean its funky and great prices!!! its a great little record shop on 17^th Ave. The staff are very nice and look through Vinyls for a good hour! They also have a great Collection.

It’s a good record store with decent prices. My fav store in the city and a majority of the staff are awesome and always have good recommendations.

great store. i like to pick up 7 and 12 inch records from here. they have a pretty good box of 45s at the front desk. in the past I’ve picked up some Jay Reatard, Fuck Buttons, Defektors, and White fence. the employee doesn’t like you buying «mainstream» sfuff.

I like you Sloth, you are a friend of CJSW, you carry some cool new vinyl, but your used stuff I don’t really peruse.
You carry turntables, maintenance gear, CDs (what are these shiny plastic discs, are they for me to microwave my pizza pop on?).
You tease me with your Shellac selection, 1000 hz is never in and the one time it was in stock I wasn’t allowed to buy it cause of the Sled Island poster show.
I like how you sell concert tickets, I get most of my tickets here, cause SCREW YOU TICKETMASTER.
You also have cool Sloth merchandise. I would wear that American Apparel hoodie with your little sloth on it.
And now that Clive Burger is below you, I am tempted by greasy, delicious smells when I try to get through to your entrance.
I respect you Sloth, but I still like other vinyl shops better.
Can we make out now?
Review #17 of Unilocal’s 30 Day Challenge

I love Sloth. I’ve been shopping here for a while and they always have something I really want.
I recently bought a turntable here, and the guy I was talking to (from here on in referred to as Bobby) was really helpful. Bobby knew everything I asked him about the turntable and helped me make my decision. And I didn’t feel pressured at all to buy a more expensive one.
I’ve bought concert tickets here quite a bit too.
To sum up, go to Sloth, ask for Bobby.

Sloth is one of Calgary’s few solid options for purchasing new vinyl, with a decent selection of records, cds, music related books and paraphernalia.
I also enjoy that one can usually pop into Sloth and purchase tickets to an upcoming show in Calgary, without having to face the wrath of ticketmaster.
I have to admit, that because of higher prices, and limited selections in myyy favourite genres, shopping at actual music stores in Calgary is not always my first choice. I am a huge advocate of purchasing the hell out of vinyl at live shows and music festivals, the websites of record labels, or even Amazon, if I am looking to get a record for a decent price. However, I do find that Sloth has a fairly reasonable selection of music, and I like to go in here when I don’t particularly know what I am seeking, and treat myself to an album or two when I stumble across something I didn’t even realize I wanted on vinyl (don’t you love when that happens?).
The staff are friendly when you have questions, but don’t go out of their way to follow you around the store, which I like. They just kind of let you nerd out, without criticizing your music tastes a la Jack Black in High Fidelity. ;)
One complaint, is that I do not feel as comfortable in their new location. Narrow aisles make it awkward to shuffle around other music nerds with armfuls of records, but it is something I will suffer to enjoy the tangibility of vinyl. I used to visit their 4^th street location whenever I could, but have to admit this new location is a few blocks closer to my apartment, so I can usually pop by if I’m running errands or something anyways. :)

I always have troubles finding Sloth at their new location, as it is in between two shops that stick out pretty far, so if you go past Reid’s, you’ve gone too far east and if you go past the small park, you’ve gone too far west.
Anywho, I have never bought any vinyls or any kind of merchandise from this store, however, this is the prime location I use to buy my concert tickets. I LOVE coming here for them, as you do not pay any crazy service fees you would when you buy through Ticketmaster. I have no idea if they have big ticket events (ie: concert at the dome) as I have never had an opportunity to try and buy them there. All the concerts I have bought tickets for there where either held in bars/​clubs or at the UofC.

You need to have two different expectations when visiting Sloth Records: as buyer and as trader. As a buyer, it is a mecca. Tons of records, usually at reasonable prices (often quite lower than Melodiya down the road), with a fairly decent selection of used records, and an extensive local selection. Their CDs are overpriced, most often higher than even HMV, and they are kept out of the cases — not my ideal way to purchase them, and I still haven’t done so.
As trader, they play hardball: brought in two, brand-​new DJ Kicks albums on virgin vinyl, and got 10 bucks credit… for both! Not the best value for those gems, but what can you do I guess. A good location upstairs, good music on the speakers, but almost zero customer service, you need to seek that out yourself. Good for the new vinyl, mediocre for everything else.

As an avid record collector (for over 40 years), this place is far from anything special. Ridiculously overly priced items… why bother with opened CD’s by 80s/90s/00’s Shoogaze/​Alternative & Metal bands @ $ 25+ each, when you can find the same stuff online or HMV for half that (or less)?
As for the vinyl? Well… used run of the mill 80s Hair Metal albums in sub par condition for $ 20+ …What’s up with that? These are not rare LP’s despite what the dude with the pierced lip tells you. This stuff sells for $ 6 each at Recorland in Inglewood Calgary, and is going to be in far better condition too. Same goes for the majority of used vinyl of other genres within the upper racks. Garage sale items at Holt Renfrew prices.
The used vinyl on the bottom racks is great if you’re into Donna Summer, Valdy, Ray Conniff, and Lawrence Welk… otherwise don’t strain yourself crawling around down there. Some of the newer re-​issued vinyl in the upper racks is OK I suppose, but again, much of it is waay over priced. Why pay $ 35 for a reissued Black Sabbath, MC5, or Deadboys LP when you get get the original at Recordland for $ 8.or the exact same re-​issue for $ 20 online?
Don’t go to this store unless you live a block away and have nothing else to do but kill time and waste money… or, if your mission is finding a local indie release that you’re unable to find anywhere else. These are the only logical reasons I’d give for venturing inside the store.
The only reason I gave Sloth Records a generous 2 star out of 5 is because at times it’s proven a convenient place to purchase concert tickets… even though they’ll charge a service fee… unless you spend 35 $ on a $ 15 record, then there’s no fee… hehehe.

With the upcoming and unfortunate closure of Megatunes this leaves those of us who actually *buy* music with few options.
Thank goodness for a stellar record store like Sloth. I’ve been an avid shopper here since it was a teeny shop on 16^th Ave, to their 4^th Street location and their now current (and best) incarnation.
Sloth is clean, organized and has a friendly, knowledgeable staff who are usually as overly enthused about music as you are (or could be).
CDs and vinyl (lots and lots of vinyl) are well represented and the city’s local music scene gets a solid section as well. If you missed out on your fav local band last weekend, rest assured you can grab a copy here.
Or if you want to have the ultra-​rare limited edition pressing of whatever band, they probably have that too.
Outside of records there’s books (on everything from the visual history of album art to punk rock to black metal), tshirts, and other assorted accessories (if you need that Misfits bar stool to tie the rec room together, this is the place).
Finally, Sloth will have tickets to each and every upcoming show you’ll want to see (unless you stupidly try to buy at the last minute, good luck to you then) and doesn’t charge a service fee if you make another purchase.

This is a great little vinyl shop. Not as big as some of the record stores in the states, but the selection is solid. They have a bunch of new releases and also some harder to find stuff. The prices are reasonable too. Check it out.

Unilocalers this new location is stellar! Calgary must be doing something right; I have been to three different businesses just this week that have moved to much improved bigger locations. Congrads Calgary! You are doing well!
Let Sloth not be an exception to this rule, Sloth proves ambitious in its upstairs location on 17^th Ave right across from the Bank of Montréal. It’s sleek and it’s new and it’s high ceilinged and its true. View fresh artworks of canvassed paintings on the walls, three CD listening stations with floor to ceiling window views on 17^th.
Staff guy/​owner not cocky at all in his new establishment, still warm, personable and friendly. Store looks F*&^%$&%$ awesome, clean vinyl and CDs in fresh plastic, nicely lined up and well labelled. A glassy tiered jewellery case, t-​shirt merch hanging on industrial rack over head and even a home grown music wall as you enter the store featuring CD talents of yours truly! Yep CALGARIANS eh!
Black Mole, Extra Happy Ghost, Hot Little Rocket, Rum Runner, The Get Down, Stab Twist Pole… just to name a few.
Sloth does not sloth off in providing Calgary time and time again with the best Indie music selection in the city.