When you picture a record store in your mind, there’s a good chance that it looks a hell of a lot like Wax Trax Records.
Two record stores stand out as elite in the Mile High City. The gargantuan Twist and Shout and the undeniably cool Wax Trax. I have spent many hours browsing through Twist and Shout’s endless bins, but my Denver is Wax Trax.
Protruding from the corner of 13th Ave in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, Wax Trax Records is vinyl culture incarnate. Music paraphernalia covers every square inch of the store’s walls. The entrance marquee displays upcoming shows and events. The interior is mismatched gig posters overlapping each other on every piece of wall not covered in shelves filled with CDs, tapes, and records.
Wax Trax Records exudes a quaintness at first glance. Even with the addition of the small back room containing the jazz selection. And it is quaint, this is by no means a superstore the way its main competitor is. Still, I discovered some of the dearest records in my collection while meandering through the store’s narrow aisles.
Selection
With a huge emphasis on quality, you will find very very few if any “junk records,” when browsing here. Those on the hunt for hidden treasure, you are fairly unlikely to find it here. This might be disappointing to some, but I found it refreshing to not have to flip my way past 20 copies of “Whipped Cream and Other Delights”.
As you might expect, rock and adjacent music is this store’s strong suit. However, there is still a significant amount of quality records in the store’s jazz, hip-hop, and international sections. I found it to lean slightly toward used records as far as inventory is concerned. But there were plenty of new records to be found as well.
What sets Wax Trax Records apart from its arguably more famous competitor is that Wax Trax simply feels more like a record store. Twist and Shout is a playground for music enthusiasts. The immense selection of records, t-shirts, books, and other knick-knacks reminds me of a more corporate shop. Wax Trax is nearly the opposite. Low-ceilings, dark corners, and nothing but records. The employees are cooler than you and there musical knowledge is intimidatingly large.
Pricing at Wax Trax Records
With the current state of the vinyl market, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the prices in this store. It seems like the more popular the store, the more likely you are to pay double or triple the value for used records. Thankfully, this isn’t the case at Wax Trax Records. In my experience, the shop prices used records reasonably, while pricing new records at their MSRP.
The selection is fantastic, prices are reasonable, the staff is friendly, and the mural of Lemmy Kilmister is a neighborhood icon. Wax Trax is a Denver and Capitol Hill staple. It is, in my opinion, the state’s quintessential record store. Twist and Shout is probably the better choice if you need one very specific record. If you are just looking to browse or soak in the vibes of people cooler than you, I’m picking Wax Trax.
My Thoughts on Wax Trax
Wax Trax, simply put, is a great record store. It has the feel of a small neighborhood shop but I assure you this is place is worth the trip. Pretty much every major city has that record store that is more or less “premier” store that everyone is familiar with. Denver happens to have two. Sometimes these stores can get a little bit too famous and end up stocking their shelves with t-shirts and Jimi Hendrix funko pops or some other knick-knacks, Wax Trax is not one of them. This is the musical center of Denver. This is a rare record store that deserves to call itself and institution.
Records Purchased
Meliora – Ghost
Ants from Up There – Black Country New Road
Is This It? – The Strokes (Europe Cover)
Address
638 E 13th Ave, Denver, CO 80203