Bent Crayon

I visited the bent crayon over the weekend. I met the owner John and was completely floored by the vast collection vinyl records. He has just about anything you can imagine and is almost overwhelming. I asked him to give me some suggestions and dub and Afrobeat. the two records that he suggested suggested I couldn’t be more happy with. the owner was fun to talk to and he really knows how to connect you with the music you’re looking for. I don’t think I’ve seen such a wide selection of music from around the world. In his knowledge of Music the spot on just tell him what you like if you could point you in the right direction. I highly highly recommend visiting his website are giving him a call. You will not be disappointed.

The Bent Crayon is a perfect shop for music lovers and critical listeners.
The selection of exotic, harder to find and unique recordings is unparalleled compared to anything else in Ohio, hands down. If you need to be told what to listen to or if you’re looking for Pitchforks hott new record, you might as well skidattle, you won’t find any bullshit here — only critical, forward thinking, important music. Many of which are imported in small quantities to serve those who don’t want to have to order everything online and have to pay international shipping rates.
Located in the W. 78^th st arts building, it’s a fine location for a place that’s artful and progressive. A spacious, relaxed atmosphere that applies no pressure or pretense. Check out records and get into the zone, or leave — there’s no time for anything else.
A place like this can sculpt and shape your taste in music infinitely, and to the true music lover that is an invaluable service.

YES

Do not order from them online. Totally unresponsive to a simple request for return authorization, all email correspondence ignored, no one answers the phone and no answering machine.

The best hour you could spend looking for music in Cleveland. Especially convenient if you are in the Lakewood, Battery Park, or Gordon Square district. John is a walking wiktionary of all types of music… but Bent Crayon carries niche and subgenre music primarily. Like an old krautrock band but dont want to buy from a german ebay freak? Love dubstep but dont know too many artists to try? From Stoner Rock and Noise Drone to IDM and classic techno, you will most likely find it here. Ask him if he has the new (insert your favorite electronic artist here) release and he will usually have it, but you’ll also be directed towards 2 or 3 other sick new releases you did not even know that you liked! If you are respectful you will get that back i’ve never received anything but great customer service here. Too bad Arabica closed next door as that was part of my saturday ritual. Bent Crayon, simply stated, is the bomb.

I lived in Cleveland for a year and this was one of my absolute favorite record stores anywhere in the country… There are some experiences you can only get at a record store – bouncing around «similar artists» on the internet is different from digging up the kinds of deep, deep tracks you’re likely to find here.

Already been stated, Bent Crayon is your home for electronic music and its subgenres in the Cleveland area. I haven’t found anything else with this selection of electronic in the area yet.
During my only visit there, its stock was nearly all electronic and its forms: acid, house, dubstep, drone, blip-​hop, ambient, idm, techno [detroit], trip-​hop, etc.
Their collection looked to be split between vinyl and CD. Most CDs were new, all priced at least $ 13, not cheap [and probably cheaper online], but some of these were imports to be sure and this stuff does have a relatively limited audience. [It was difficult for me to walk out of there empty-​handed.] Alas, there wasn’t a bargain bin either.
Although since I’ve looked on the website and found it, I didn’t find any hip-​hop in the store during my only visit [however, I browsed only about half of their CD section].
The guy behind the counter was nice. He spoke up to a regular customer of something that they may like, he and some customers were having spirited conversations about some shows, same that I’d imagine High Fidelity had, both with a tad slice of pretension. If you’re looking for something you heard on the radio, move along: you won’t find here at Bent Crayon [unless you heard it on college radio].
Otherwise, come here and find something with the perfect beat.

If I was still 22, I would say that this place is «the shit.» Now that I’m 30, I’ve moved on to more sophisticated ways of voicing my pleasure with businesses. This place is fucking awesome. The selection for both CDs and vinyl is fantastic. The places in this world that help feed my Guided By Voices/​Robert Pollard addiction are few and far between, and this is one of them.

When I want to impress an indie loving, hipster dude I just mention that I buy stuff here.
Mwahahahaha.

Selection and personal service. The owner, John, seems to have listened to every single CD in the store and he has a great selection of non-​mainstream stuff and will lead you to exactly what you want.

From what everyone’s said, I would have to imagine that the store (if you live in Cleveland) is amazing. If you can walk in there and buy something, more power to you. HOWEVER, if you are an internet shopper, try again. I placed a very large order only to get absolutely no response, not even a simple cancellation. They haven’t charged me, but they also will not answer my email (and I’ve tried 4 different bent crayon email addresses) nor even answer the phone. Their answering machine is even full! Their online inventory lead me to believe they were the greatest store ever… but really… how hard is it to just write me back and say «Sorry, we don’t have anything in that order of yours.» Oh, and it’s been about a month and a half.

Not the world’s largest record shop– but the selection in absolutely phenomenal. Specializing but by no means limited to electronic music, I can always find what I was looking for, plus 5 albums I didn’t even know I wanted. Stop shopping online for records. Go to Bent Crayon. The guy who runs the place is knowledgeable, super helpful, and will get it for you if he doesn’t have it. I typically walk out with at least one of his recommendations. I’ve bought so many little gems and records in this neighborhood shop over the years, and will continue to do so. Entire catalog is visible at
.
They have a big bowl of candy, too.