CAITLIN PRARAT | SUMMER KENT STATER

Credit: DKS Editors

From 25 cent records to $5 DVDs to $1 CDs, Kent’s music stores have it all. Within walking distance from any residence hall are three stores that will cater to all musical tastes.

Turnup Underground Records

Located on South Water Street near Guy’s Pizza, Turnup is the place to find indie-label music.

“We have a focus on more left-field, underground music,” co-owner Charlie Loudin said.

Turnup opened in 2005 to accommodate people looking for different musical experiences – including local music.

Loudin said any band looking to get its music out to the community can solicit it through Turnup for free, and the Kent music community is particularly strong.

“It’s really good right now,” he said. “A lot of people are making a lot of diverse music.”

Turnup sells CDs, cassettes and vinyl and has a small collection of books, DVDs and merchandise.

Best deal? 25 cent Journey records.

The Exchange

The Exchange, next to the Starbucks on South Lincoln Street, offers a wide musical selection at discounted prices.

The Exchange sells music, low-priced video games and consoles, DVDs, merchandise and T-shirts.

The store, which has a seven-year presence in Kent, lets customers turn in their old music and other multimedia for cash or store credit.

Store manager John Semonin said the store pays $4 or $5 cash and upwards of $6 or $7 of store credit for newer releases in good shape. Older CDs in bad shape can earn you as little as ten cents.

“When you need book money or beer money, you can come here,” Semonin said.

The shop also sells some quirky merchandise, such as lunchboxes, bobbleheads and pins.

“It’s a pop-culture pawn shop,” Semonin said.

Best deal? “Budget DVDs.”

Spin More Records

Spin More Records is the oldest music store in Kent. It’s been in its downtown Main Street location 28 years and has everything from dusty records of the Byrds and the Who to U2 and Jay-Z.

Assistant manager Brando Andexler said the store’s main audience is the baby boomer generation.

“We’ve got mostly oldies,” he said. “We have a ton of vinyl.”

Customers may be turned off by Spin More’s high prices on collectable items, especially with lower-priced stores such as The Exchange nearby, but Spin More also accepts customer exchanges for cash or store credit.

Also, the personal attention customers receive while in Spin More makes up for the high prices.

“We do a lot of special orders,” Andrexler said. “We’re good at tracking down stuff.”

What makes the store unique, Andrexler said, is its large collection, including rare albums, posters, buttons and apparel.

Best deal? $3 cassettes and dollar CDs.

Contact news correspondent Christopher Hook at [email protected].