Music Millennium: Where the Music and People Still Matter.
While many record stores have similar mantras, almost none have had the level of impact on independent music culture that Music Millennium has had. The oldest record store in the Pacific Northwest, Music Millennium is in an elite group of record stores that have achieved legendary status.
Portland has long been the cultural center of alternative music and this is largely thanks to Music Millennium and owner Terry Currier’s tireless work to promote independent music, physical music, and record stores. Back in the early 2000s when Napster looked set to wipe out the record store industry entirely, it was the work of Terry Currier that slowed down this seemingly certain demise until the industry was able to rebound in the 2010s. Currier’s Coalition of Independent Music Stores can be credited with almost single-handedly saving record stores from extinction. Currier’s Coalition and two others helped launch the first Record Store Day way back in 2007. Ever since then, vinyl record sales have been on the rise, with no sign of slowing.
First opened in 1969 the store has been a staple in the Portland music scene ever since. Despite a brief scare during the pandemic, business is as good as it’s ever been. Pop into the store on a Friday night after hitting the bars in the nearby Kerns neighborhood, and you’re likely to be bumping elbows with other patrons as you flip through rack upon rack of records.
What to Expect from Music Millennium
The store itself is one of the biggest in Portland, featuring 3 entire rooms of physical music. Even the somewhat hidden upstairs area, which houses the store’s jazz selection, is larger than many record stores. While plenty of record shops will pad their shelves with every kind of souvenir imaginable, Music Millennium’s sizable storefront is stocked almost entirely with actual music. The largest of these rooms houses the store’s impressive CD selection as well as books, a few movies, vinyl and CD box sets, and obligatory knick-knacks: shirts, candles, stickers, posters, etc.
Music Millennium is also open later than most record stores are. Instead of shutting off the lights by 6 pm the way many shops do, Music Millennium is usually open until 9 pm. There are tons of great restaurants and bars within walking distance of the store, allowing for some drunken crate-digging between rounds. Live performances are another common occurrence here. Local bands, album release parties, and more are hosted weekly. Over the years the store has seen some real star-power perform here, like Portland darling’s Sleater-Kinney performing earlier this year.
Selection at Music Millennium
As far as what’s available on a given day, few people will be disappointed in the selection at Music Millenium. The main room has one of the largest selections of wax in the city, with a good mix of new and used records. This is the most well-known record store in the city, so you’ll have to be lucky to find anything truly special in the ‘new arrivals’ bin. However with the volume of records this store goes through, there is usually something worthwhile. Rare records undergo a similar fate here, with the very best getting snatched up by one of the store’s many regular customers. Besides that, there are always a few impressive specimens behind the counter that will have you counting your allowance money or considering taking out a second mortgage.
The selection here leans heavily into rock and alternative music but there are special bins for non-rock genres. Metal, Hip-Hop, Rap, Jazz, and Soundtracks all have dedicated areas in the store that are well stocked.
Prices at Music Millenium
On my many visits here I have never had any issue with finding records to be overpriced. New records are priced as normal: $25-45. Used record prices here seem to be slightly cheaper than most places. Perhaps it’s just luck but I’ve found plenty of used records for $10-15 that many stores would price closer to the $20 range. With that being said, if you are interested in flipping through bins filled with records in the $1-10 range than there are better record places in Portland for this kind of shopping.
My take on Music Millenium
There are lots of cool record stores out there and a ton of them are right here in Portland. But for my money, no record store is as cool as the Music Millennium. Inside, outside, selection, decor, vibe, heritage, Music Millennium is the best record store in Portland. Even at my most broke, when I could barely justify the gas spent on driving to the shop, I would cruise on over just browse this store for hours at a time. It’s a place where I felt like I belonged, where I felt comfortable and just enjoyed being surrounded by the music, the smells, and the people that make Music Millennium what it is.
Few record stores better embody what it means to be an independent record store the way Music Millennium does. If you are in Portland, and you only have time for one record store, this should be it.
Records Purchased
3D Country – Geese
Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood – Nancy and Lee
London Calling – The Clash
Sorry Ma I Forgot to Take Out the Trash – The Replacements
Cave World – Viagra Boys
Horses – Patti Smith
And many many more.
Address
3158 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214