Taang! Records

Taang! Records is both a record label and a San Diego shop, with roots in Boston punk, hardcore, and ska. The store carries Taang! label history through the bins alongside punk, hardcore, jazz, blues, cassettes, CDs, and 8-tracks.

Interview with Taang! Records

Taang! has been a Hillcrest staple for years, with roots as a long-running punk, hardcore, and ska name. How would you tell the shop's story?

We opened the shop to coincide with the label.

If we didn't have so many releases, we would never have had a desire to have a shop.

It was because of our 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th releases on the same day that it was time to open a shop at our first location in Boston. The releases were Moving Targets - Burning In Water, Slapshot - Back On The Map, Gang Green - Another Wasted Night, and The Oysters - Mine Caroline.

There was a line of people outside our headquarters that was down the street, and we didn't have a shop. People just flocked to our location. Hillcrest is our 7th store.

The label history behind the Taang! name is legendary in punk circles. How does that legacy shape the store today?

We are on 220th release, and all titles are represented throughout the store. Our newest release in September 2026 is a split single, Gang Green vs. The Freeze.

Reviewers hunting rare first pressings of classic hardcore call the curation top-tier. How do you go about sourcing that kind of stock?

We deal with collectors all over the world. We are constantly buying collections.

It's small but packed - people mention digging for hours and pulling things like a Mission of Burma album. Is that dense, dig-for-it feel deliberate?

We have stuff that we're surprised we even have.

Beyond the punk backbone, what surprises people about what's in the bins?

We were told by this one jazz and blues collector that he has come every week for 4 years for certain titles that only our store has. As far as punk and hardcore go, that's a given. We've always had original pressings.

You carry cassettes and CDs alongside vinyl. What's been quietly strong lately?

LPs: 70 percent.

CDs: 15, but rising.

Cassettes: 10 percent.

8-tracks: 5 percent.

We just released a series of 8-tracks: Negative Approach, Gang Green, Lemonheads, SSD, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Jerry's Kids, all on 8-track.

When someone wants to sell records, what's the best way to start - and what makes a collection an easy yes?

Alphabetization and condition.

First visit to Taang! - what should someone dig through first?

Depends on what they're looking for.

My favorite section is the albums by one-hit wonders.

The regular customers are always going through the new arrivals of used product. We have 5 full crates at all times.

It seems the young crowd gravitates to the wall items - the fascination of first pressings.

FAQ

What formats does Taang! Records carry?

The shop carries LPs, CDs, cassettes, and 8-tracks, including Taang! label releases and related memorabilia.

What makes a collection easier for the shop to look at?

Alphabetization and condition help most.

What should first-time visitors dig through?

It depends on what they are looking for, but regulars check the used new arrivals, and the wall items draw younger collectors interested in first pressings.

What styles are natural strengths here?

Punk and hardcore are central to Taang!, with jazz and blues also represented in the bins.

Last updated: 2026-08-24

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