Exile On Main St

Exile is a cool little store! They do have a good selection of Metal CDs and vinyl and that works for me-​they are also happy to check on the availability of music they don’t have. You don’t get that at Best Buy! Also some nice tshirts, posters, pins and other collectibles. There is another store within 3 – 4 miles of my house, but I’ll brave the Q bridge and head over to Exile instead!

not cheap
do i want a record store to ever go out of business? hell no! but this place makes me sad, and it seems within reasonable remedy to improve it. less cds. more, better organized records. more genres. then you can even keep the prices as they are. is $ 28 fair for new vinyl? i suppose, but the selection and organization are lacking.

I’m about 10 min from Exile, so it’s my only truly regular record store stop (even though it’s not a bona-​fide «record store» by my definition in that vinyl accounts for about 25% of the merchandise). Anyway, I’m a vinylophobe, and my rating is based on the LP portion of the store, and the experience of shopping for such antiquities.
That said I don’t even bother with the CDs and DVDs that take up the whole front of the store — I jet past the concert tee’s and Beatles mugs (cool) straight to the back where the LP racks lurk, and where, in some twisted version of 1980, I am 14 again (yet bald). As I am usually rushed when I visit, I get down to it and can usually do a quick scan and find something cool in under ½ hour.
Exile has a decent selection of mostly 70s and 80s pop and rock LPs that seems to be slowly multiplying (probably my own sell-​backs!). They also have several somewhat pricey racks of new vinyl. For those who have the time and guile to get low for 20 minutes and squint at the tiny spines that line the floor racks, they may be rewarded for their knee pain (the floor is not carpeted).
Yes, those of you who are astute guessed one of my criticisms: aside from needing more rack space, they could do a better job of organizing the vinyl in that area. That and the fact that they are sometimes less than enthusiastic about buying used records (how do THEY know that I don’t have an original copy of Elvis «Loving You» in near mint condition lurking in my pile???), but that said it’s a good little store that appears to be holding steady in tough financial times, and I will continue to support them as my «Hometown Shop.» The prices are very reasonable on most used LPs, just don’t go in expecting an un-​peeled butcher cover and you’ll be happy.
Exhile is a refreshing respite in an area that sorely needs more of it’s ilk. Oh and there’s a guitar shop, and a great bakery in the same plaza… so you can fill out your 80’s Stones collection and grab a whoopie pie for the road — all for under $ 20. Now that’s satisfaction.

do you like good music? ya, i thought so. check this place out — one of the few remaining record stores around, and there is a bakery next door. win-​win.

I was in the area recently and stopped by, hoping that my old friend Exile would still be there. I was thrilled not only that Exile still exists, in a world where most record stores have been replaced by steaming music and mp3, but on two recent visits, I saw both owners working there. I haven’t been by in at least 15 years, but have many fond memories of spending countless hours here as a music obsessed teenager. It’s so comforting to see that very little has changed; they have a great selection of new and used CDs and vinyl, with special sections for punk, hardcore and local music. They are very helpful and will special order anything you can’t find. The prices are totally reasonable– my boyfriend bought a new release for a mere $ 11.98. I’m so glad when I see indie music stores surviving and thriving, especially one I have such a personal connection to– I hope Exile lives on for many years to come!

I’ve been an avid record store geek for the past several years, and on a whim one day some friends and I decided to go to Exile in Branford. And it was a phenomenal decision.
The place is small but welcoming, I find myself handing over money unnecessarily to indie record stores, and Exile really has all the kind of charm that woos you into forking over a few bucks. They have everything that makes a record store feel like a place you want to go to. A staff that will engage in conversation about new releases as well as classics, and inform you that something new is coming out without sounding like they’re just trying to snag your money. Right in the middle of the store is their discount bin, which is filled with cheap treasures that make weeding through them a fun chore. The back corner is packed with GIANT promo posters, new vinyl and t-​shirts. The store really does take advantage of its size.
There are also a ton of fun music knick knacks too, vinyl dolls and bobbleheads, patches, stickers, pins… necessary items for collectors, and nothing is that ridiculously priced. It’s an easy way to kill an hour on any given day, and I can’t give these guys enough props because they are always so nice to me.
I love Exile. Period.

Named after a legendary album by the Stones, Exile on Main Street has made a pretty good name for themselves over the years as well.
Music shops like this are an extreme rarity now, which is really sad. I love coming here, even if I’m paying a few bucks extra for a CD. As soon as you walk in, it smells like a record store should; old vinyl and incense.
The staff here is really helpful and often give you freebies such as posters on your way out. For instance, I recently purchased the Pearl Jam Twenty soundtrack, and I asked the person behind the counter if they had any extra promo posters for the album laying around. Sure enough, they had a whole stack, so he gave me 3. Little things like that are what keep me coming back.
Not to mentioned they usually sell new released the Friday prior to its release, which, if you’re like me and can’t wait to get your hands on your favorite bands new album, is a huge perk.
They also have a good selection of vinyl here in the back room. They are priced pretty fair on top of it.
Don’t be afraid to ask for any of the promo stuff you see laying around of a band you may like. These guys will help you out. Very cool little spot.

I’ve been heading over to Exile on Main for my music since it opened. It’s one of the few remaining true «record stores» (actually CD/​record/​DVD) in the state, surviving through the pressure exerted by iTunes-​type music buyers who purchase only the hits in mp3 format. Here’s what you’re missing if you’re only buying mp3 singles or buying at the big box retailers.
Selection — Exile offers thousands of titles and artists. The selection may look similar to what’s offered by the big boxes, but is in fact much larger. Exile maintains a small stock of each title so you won’t see 200 copies of a new release filling the shelves. There’s also tons of concert DVD’s — remember, you don’t know an artist until you see them live. And, if you truly like an artist, you’re missing out by not buying their full album to check out the «deeper tracks». Keep in mind that the large retailers are paid to stock certain CD’s, so it doesn’t pay for them to stock the titles that don’t move very quickly. Remember that the country’s largest brick and mortar music retailer, Wal Mart, requires censorship of the music they sell. If you think that «bad words» in music will poison your mind or your child’s mind, I think you need to step back and look at the world we live in.
Cost — I don’t want to disagree with my fellow reviewers, but… Exile’s prices are consistently lower than the larger retailers. Lower overhead may be the reason. The only time this may not be true is when the big stores are offering new releases at low prices to drive impulse buyers to buy. Have you ever checked the prices for CD’s at Best Buy and FYE. If you’re lucky you may find a used copy of what you want and save some $.
Recommendations/​Service — If you’re buying a gift or looking for something new for yourself at one of the big retailers who do you ask for a recommendation? When I stared going to Exile I liked the usual popular rock and progressive artists. I knew there were tons of other artists but didn’t know where to start. Through Paula’s and Al’s recommendations I’ve «discovered» artists hat I never knew existed. How else would I ever have known that Boris, a Japanese experimental/​progressive group, existed? But you do need to ask — they won’t chase you around while you’re browsing asking what you’re looking for. If they don’t have what you want, special orders arrive in 1 – 2 days. And, I recommend getting onto their mailing list to help you keep up-​to-​date on new releases.
mp3 — If you really like mp3’s — they are easy to put onto your player and you can buy just what you want… check out
. The prices are lower than iTunes — closer to Amazon, and it’s really easy to use.
Nutshell — If you’re a big music fan or casual listener do yourself a solid and check out Exile on Main St. It’s all about selection, price and customer service.