Amoeba Music

I’m a movie lover, so obviously I had to check this place out when i heard they had over 25,000 movies. This place is huge! I guess my only negative thing is that sometimes its hard to find a certain movie because there’s sooooo many!

Never gave a dull moment in here! My favorite is to search through all the old VHS movies on the 2^nd floor. I have plenty of gems for my collection ;)

Amoeba is like Vegas. Sometimes you win and leave feeling like you just robbed a bank, sometimes you lose and leave cursing the place and swearing you’re done, never going back again. But even when you leave licking your wounds, it won’t be long until you feel yourself getting pulled back towards the bright shiny lights and loud music, desperate to put yourself through it all over again, thinking maybe this time you’ll get lucky…
OK, so it’s actually way more likely you’ll win. The only ways you can really ‘lose’ are a) when you sell things to their buy counter and realize they raped you just because they can, b) when you really want a Criterion movie but just can’t wait for the next Barnes & Noble 50% sale and pay the label price (not actually their fault, anyway), c) when their listening stations are either broken or just too painful to even navigate, or d) the parking — once you’re in the lot, it’s fine, but add an extra 15 minutes to crawl the 50 feet back up to Sunset Blvd in the rush hour traffic. Don’t attempt a left turn out of there, ever, what are you crazy?!
So, caveats out of the way, I can’t praise this place enough! It’s like a second home. A happy place. After a long day at the office, my buddy and I will sometimes just look at each other and both know without saying a word what the other is thinking — it’s Amoeba O’Clock. Nothing else will cure those blues except hours spent browsing the racks, hunting for used bargains, looking for the next record that will change your life forever. Oh the sights, the sounds, the smell, the way you need to wash your hands for 10 minutes after flipping through the vinyl… It’s a magical experience, and one of the pleasures of my existence. There are many reasons I’d leave Los Angeles some day, but Amoeba will always be one of the things near the very top of the ‘stay’ column.
Thank you for this journey we’re on together. Long may it continue.

Its a dying breed– the record store. Enjoy it while its there. Hope it lasts. So much fun to browse the bins and find rarities!

Went on a little trip to L. A with my boyfriend for my birthday and this place was one of the many that I wanted to stop by & it was so worth the drive! Great selection of everything, I just wish there was more for rap/​hip hop. I was bummed I didn’t get to see the movie section, but we definitely plan on going back. Parking was a bit confusing. But there’s this parking building and we parked there, it was like a 2 minute walking distance from the store.

Has to be the most comprehensive compilation of music in America. The fact that they carry cassettes make this place amazing. Parking below is good.

I go here usually to try to trade in DVDs for credit and buy something but they are supremely arbitrary about what they’ll buy from you and what they wont. It entirely depends on the person you luck out and get. They’ll make it seem like some solid policy but its not. Same goes for use of coupons or interpretation of deals they are honoring. Its either all or nothing cause there is zero uniform standard amongst the trendy staff. But they get four stars cause the place is huge, looks, cool, sells cool stuff, sells great merchandise, and I basically organize my DVD library at home the same way they do because of them. Makes for a good place to take a date as well I’d argue. So if you can whether the suspense as to how you’ll be treated at the register it’s a good experience.

So many options! Out of print cd’s, cassettes and vinyl, all at your fingertips.
Keep your eye out for the special in store concerts here, which seem to happen almost every day. It’s a big store so take your time and hunt! You never know what GOLD you are going to find in here…
Amoeba is SOLID and will always keep me coming back.

This store is much more organized than other stores I have been to (i.e. San Franciso & Berkley). I have found out of print DVDs that would cost a lot more money on eBay. There is validated parking next door at Arclight Theatre with purchase.
Sell/​Trade hours are: Monday — Saturday 10:30 am — 9:00 pm and Sunday 11;00 am — 8:00 pm

Uma loja de discos, livros, dvds, cds, como aquelas que a gente via nos anos 90, gigantesca e acredito que uma das poucas no mundo ainda assim. Você pode passar horas lá entre raridades e os últimos lançamentos, mas o mais legal, fique de olho nos shows, sempre rola algum show de graça, eu acabei vendo o show do Off.

Place is huge but selection did not impress me on classical and jazz. I found no original deep groove made in England Decca first version vinyl, aka Decca ED1, I don’t notice any original Bluenote RGV either, just lots of reissue and pop rock.

Got asked for spare change twice from the parking lot to the entrance. That’s to be expected I guess.
Huge selection of music which is why I went, but was extremely disappointed with the selection. Nothing but mainstream top-​of-​the-​charts artists. For any record store to stay in business these days I guess that’s to be expected as well.

Amoeba has made a fotune out of me, over 1000 CD’s, 250 LD, about 100 HDVD’s, 100 Blu Rays and much more, I end up broke but I love Amoeba :)
WARNING: DO NOT bring any money you are not willing to spend to this store, you will go broke !!!

Huge selection, not a lot of rarities. Prices are ok.
Kind of a record supermarket but really a must if you’re locking for a bunch of records in LA

Went here with some friends the other night since we had time to kill before Star Wars. I must say, this place is amazing. They pretty much have everything music-​wise so regardless of what music you’re into you’ll find something worthwhile. I bought one of my favorite albums of the year at this location after having it downloaded to my iTunes for the last 6 months. And they had the deluxe version with the bonus tracks included. I’m from Santa Clarita, so if I was buying this same CD at a regular store, I could only get it at Target.
If I’m in Hollywood again I would definitely comeback.

To me, Amoeba Music is like that popular, pretty blonde girl from High School that is kind of a bitch — but everyone likes her because she’s pretty. Amoeba Music gets away with some things because they are legendary and have a notable reputation… Explanation below.
The employees are decent… I went two separate times shopping around for a vinyl turntable.
The first time I went, I had to search for someone for help me out. After finding someone, I explained that I was looking for a basic, «recreational» record player for my girlfriend — nothing serious. The guy told me I was out of luck — he told me I needed to buy $ 500 worth of equipment to get it going. He ended it by interrupting me to tell me the Lakers were up 20 with 2 minutes left. It was the most bizarre customer support interaction I’ve ever had. Even his coworker was looking at me confused with what he was saying. I vowed that I’d never come back.
Luckily for Amoeba, I am a procrastinator and had to return to their store because I needed to get the gift ASAP — couldn’t online. I met a dude from the turntable department who was very knowledgeable. He showed me a table that did NOT require the $ 500 setup the other bum told me I needed. Cool — I bought the table, speakers and two vinyls.
Their return policy is whack — store credit only. They only cover factory defects — for store credit. Kind of lame when you’re dropping all that money.
Another drawback is Amoeba’s price markup. I paid $ 50 more at Amoeba than I would have online, or through other stores.
My 2 star rating reflects my mixed interaction with customer support, their return policy, and their big price mark ups.

There’s a feeling of awe that comes over me when I enter this Amoeba. Maybe it’s thousands of concert adverts and other random fan gear that seems to endlessly accumulate on their sky high halls, but it also could be that I just plain LOVE this place. Bargains galore if you know where to look, and the best spot to pick up new vinyl of all genres. Check out their jazz section. There’s always a couple gems in there somewhere. Get to diggin’…

I’ve never been to a store quite like Amoeba. It’s quite large and mainly sells CD’s, LPs and DVDs. They have some really great deals, especially in the «as is» boxes. You can’t take bags into the store, but they have a bag check. You could easily spend hours browsing.

Even with the powers that be, this place manages to represent a generation of music enthusiasts that still believes in the importance of actual, physical, tangible art. They are the Mecca for music, a juggernaut, the last of the Mohicans, the Egyptian pyramid, King Kong and Godzilla all wrapped up into one. If home is where the heart is then i guess this is my home.
Listen, STOP buying music from the Internet and support your neighborhood record store by all means necessary. «Fight the power»

Amoeba ALWAYS has what I am looking for. Be it music, DVDs, or other various entertainment items.
The upstairs movie selection is always jam packed with new and relevant movies. Lots of them at an extremely reasonable price. Being in LA it is important to brush up on great movies.
The buying area where you can sell your old vinyl, cds, mixtapes, dvds is always helpful when you need some last minute cash. They are always helpful and pretty prompt.
Check out their booklet on their picks and favorites of the month. I always find some good stuff in there.

I absolutely LOVE this place. It’s a shame I didn’t know about it sooner. I come here at least three times a week. For a person like myself who loves Music, Movies and all types of hard to find items this is your Mecca. The selection of music is vast to say the least. Every genre from every decade to every artist. CD’s, Vinyl, Limited Edition Packs. You name it it’s here.
Don’t get me started on movies. Whatever you want or thought you didn’t want is here. I have every movie from my childhood, adulthood and teenhood. I want to stop writing this review and get down there. Make sure you make a list and check it twice. There’s something for everyone naughty or nice.
Like posters? Vintage lunch boxes? Lamps and Accessories? It’s here!
The staff is super friendly and knowledgable. Before you can finish asking it’s in your hands. It’s a super hip environment and I suggest you add this place to your bucket list.
I’m sure I’ll see you there!

Geiler Laden. Die Größe ist beeindruckend aber in der USA nicht der Einzige von dieser Art. Bei Amoeba findet man sichere Sachen und Klassiker sowie neue Erscheinungen. Es gibt die berühmten Grabbelkisten unter den Tischen, die hier wirklich so gut durchsucht sind, dass man nichts darin findet. Es gibt Merch jeder Art und sehr freundliches Staff daher lohnt der Besuch nicht nur für Vinyl sonder auch für CDs. Egal warum man rein geht… es dauert immer min. eine Stunde da man immer was neues findet.
Contra: Amoeba ist mega bekannt… daher sind die Preise etwas höher und die Auswahl Hit geprägter. Es gibt in der Gegend noch andere Perlen.
Tipp: Der Laden hat laaange auf, daher lohnt ein Besuch ab 20 Uhr da das Parken dann möglich ist und man in Ruhe stöbern kann.

Wow. Prepare to lose your breath, you don’t see places like this often. You can get lost in the albums and movies. They have a huge selection and everything is so nicely labeled and organized!
Some albums are cheaper than others, even if they’re the same. Condition may vary.
Albums, posters, records, CDS, dvds, blu ray, t-​shirts, mugs, collectibles. EVERYTHING!
Oh they also have a dedicated parking lot so you dont have to deal with Hollywood Street parking. unless its full of course.

One of my favorite places to be in ALL of Los Angeles. Outside of Soundstations in Westchester, one of the best record stores in existence.
If its not the massive collection of music and vinyls, its the awesome live and free shows, staff and great deals. Very easy for me to walk in here and drop a few hundred (yes, I am horrible) dollars expanding my record collection.
If you are visiting LA, and you are a fan of music, make sure you stop here (and soundstations right by LAX on your way out). You will not regret.

I had some friends visiting from NYC, so I decided to give them their first Amoeba experience. Needless to say, they were wowed. As they should be. Amoeba Music is Disneyland for fans of music and pop culture ephemera alike. They have everything from vinyl, CDs, cassette tapes, 8-​tracks, DVDs, posters etc etc etc. In print, out of print, rarities, one-​offs. You name it, you can probably find it. And if you can’t find it, try next weekend.
For years Amoeba has been a mecca to record collectors from all over and it’s a deserved adulation. In this expansive location, their vast collection is immaculately organized, with clearly marked areas delineating each aspect and offering. You want a 70s Blacksploitation poster? Check. Limited Edition Punk Rock album? Check. Banned Hip Hop Records. You bet. 8-​track memories of yesteryear? Right this way. My TV remote that I lost three weeks ago? It’s in the back room. They have EVERYTHING. And a staff who is knowledgeable and generous with their time and willingness to help you out sans attitude. That alone is worth the price of admission. Which is of course free. But honestly, being that it’s one of the last remaining institutions of it’s kind… one day they might even charge for entry to their wonderland. Go check it out before they get any bright ideas.
Right in the heart of Hollywood with underground parking to boot. Get some.

The Best Record Store in LA!
There is not much I can say, that hasn’t already been said about Amoeba music. They have the best selection of vinyl, old releases, new releases, CD’s and even cassettes! I was surprised that they even carried posters and cool memorabilia from previous decades. They even have a cool selection of international music as well! As a young teenager who graduated high school in the very late 90’s, I remember buying cassettes, CD’s and posters. I was really into alternative type music in my teens and I loved listening to bands such as Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Tori Amos, and the Nine Inch Nails.
I thought that I would come to Amoeba music and just find a few hidden gems, but my trip to Amoeba was very special. I ended up meeting another shopper who really changed the way I viewed vintage CD’s, tapes and vinyl records.
Let me explain…
It was my first time to this store, and I was going through some of the CD’s when I saw a younger woman overloading herself with CD’s and Cassettes. She was a frustrated woman flipping through the CD’s. She was probably in her late 30s and I saw she also had the same taste in music as me. I asked her about other musicians from the grunge era in the early 90’s and punk music in the mid to late 90’s. It was crazy meeting another shopper who had almost the exact same taste in music as me. She told me she was a single mother and brought along her teenage son with her whenever she shopped for music. She said her son felt that vintage music was a waste of time and that she should just download music through her ITunes. She told me that she refuses to ever download music.
I thought she was a bit crazy, but then she told me something that changed the way I view vintage music. She shook her head and said «It’s just not the same! I miss buying CD’s and cassettes. I remember buying a CD for one or two songs and then just letting the CD play throughout the house. I would eventually find great new songs that I never knew existed. It’s just not the same with downloading music. There is no more suspense, no more mystery, you shouldn’t always find the music, but rather the music should find you.»
A ha!
This is something I always remembered and missed about buying cassettes and CD’s. I ended up looking through the international section and walked around the store. After a few minutes, I came back to the CD’s, but that same customer was gone. Shame, I really wish I could have talked to her more. I am very thankful for the insightful conversation and all the wonderful music I found in this store. I ended up buying several CD’s and I can’t wait to let them play throughout my home and hopefully discover new music.
Amoeba music is a great record store to find vintage music, posters and music memorabilia. I recommend you come here to find some interesting records, both old and new.
If you get lucky like me, you may even bring back some of the suspense and mystery that has been missing in your life.

I’m addicted to What’s In My Bag? I wish they’d call me to do one of those. I’ve been more than once to the holy trinity of their locations in the Haight, here in San Francisco, Berkeley and on Sunset in Hollywood. Each one is a totally different animal with a different but connecting identity, stringing them together. A central vein of purpose.
Amoeba is a California institution, an iconic oasis of musical delights and wonders spanning decades, continents and price points. If it sings, beats, breaks, or thumps, it’s at Amoeba. If it’s on vinyl, CD, tape cassette, 8-​track, DVD, LP, in print or other variant thereof, you’ll likely find her hidden amongst the crates and bins, displays and shelves.
As soon as I enter Amoeba, happy adrenaline hits me as I wonder about all of the music carefully tucked away waiting for me to discover it. I get the same feeling I did when I was a little girl, presented with beachy sand for castle-​making or piles of toys or postcards or stamps. I just can’t wait to DIG IN! Sometimes head first. This reminds me of when I was a wee one, I was fascinated by my grandmother’s house plant, and was determined to find out how the plant was growing from the soil, so I dove right on in. A little baby booty in diaper up in the air, legs flailing! You won’t see my booty up in the air at Amoeba, but you’ll catch me eye-​ing and flipping through massive amounts of delicious music, posters, books and more.
Another great thing about Amoeba are their free live in-​store performances. I’ve seen a number of shows at their various locations, and encourage you to do the same. Even though Amoeba is a Berkeley native, the Hollywood location has far more activities on a regular basis.
My favorite parts of Amoeba:
1. Anything from the Middle Eastern, Brazilian and ‘60s Soul sections.
2. The random tape cassettes and underground indie rock issues.
3. Gear and accoutrements for creative pursuits.
4. Throwback LPs, rare vinyl, and any girls from the 1960s.
5. Pop culture toys and gadgetry.
6. Film classics like 1970s Italian cult classic, THE BOSS by Fernando Di Leo (the film that made Quentin Tarantino want to be a film maker).
7. There are clearance and rare singles, vinyl and more under each display taking advantage of space and allowing you more to look through.
8. The walls worth of original issue concert posters.
9. The sticker slam /​graffiti art going on outside at the bike chain up area.
10. The crazy, amazing vintage Turkish and re-​issued vinyl and CDs.
11. Russian classics.
Upcoming 2015 free live in-​store performances /​signings @ Amoeba Hollywood:
1. Thursday, May 28, 6pm ORGONE — w/​new album Beyond The Sun (funk & soul)
2. Monday, June 1, 6pm JD McPherson — w/​new album Let The Good Times Roll
3. Tuesday, June 2, 6pm Girlpool — w/​debut album Before The World Was Big
Other important Amoeba dates for summer 2015 on Sunset Boulevard:
1. Amoeba Charity Auction on Saturday, June 7 @ 4pm (see
for deets)
2. First Free Entry Fridays @ the Natural History Museum, where Amoeba has a booth
Go for a musical education. Make pilgrimage for your soul. Experience nostalgia. xo

Maybe my fave record store ever! It’s so huge, it’s so beautiful, they have all the hardest to find stuff in the world! If you are a music collector or film buff this is the spot for you! This store almost seems overwelming compared to the San Fran store. I might prefer the San Fran store just because its a bit smaller. This one… I don’t even know where to begin… Ok I do, weird psych records from the other countries!
They have it all, they even carry my bands records, which I dig. So Thanks to Amoeba for carry the King all the way down to the swing and a miss records.

Un bloc entier dédié à la musique et aux films, et avec la plus grande collection jamais vue, du neuf et de l’ancien. Il y a du son et de la couleur de partout, et des vendeurs vraiment très calés et qui sont eux même des artistes, DJ, auteurs…
L’ambiance est indescriptible et on y perd la notion du temps. Mention spéciale pour la superbe jazz room.

Super Plattenladen; sowas gibt’s in Germany nicht; riesengroß; super Auswahl; viele Raritäten; Vinyl, EP’s
CD, DVD aus allen Bereichen!
Freundliches und überaus kompetentes
Personal !
Der kapitalistische Konsumapparat hatte
mich voll im Griff ;-)