Junction Records

This is, and has been for a long time, a kickarse record shop.
If you like a tactile object to play your music from, this is a great spot to pick one up from. The staff are very knowledgeable about anything released from 1970 onwards (and know enough about the ‘60s to get by), and though their vinyl selection is limited to new releases, they get a lot of stuff in that you won’t find elsewhere in Fremantle.
Though Liberty expresses disappointment in her review, it should be noted that the vinyl section is a new addition over the last year. Whoever is buying records is doing a great job — it’s rare that I go in and don’t buy a platter. I’ve grabbed everything from PJ Harvey, St. Vincent and Pavement here, and they often have very different stock to Mills’ around the corner. If you ask nicely, they’ll let you check out their second hand crates behind the desk, which are rammed with well-​priced obscurities. Personally, I have more than slightly odd tastes but I have picked up a few hard-​to-​find Gary Numan records here, Eurythmics’ relatively obscure soundtrack to 1984 and some Dylan for about a tenner each.
As much as I love Fat Shans, there’s no need to head to Perth for your vinyl shopping, as Fremantle now boasts four great record stores (without mentioning op shops and second hand stores like Old Values with amazing vinyl sections); here, Mills’ Records, The Record Finder and The Record Cellar. If you are so inclined, a stroll around these makes for a nice afternoon of crate-​digging.
Sure, a lot of people might have left CD’s behind, but you would be surprised at how many people still swear by them, and the second hand section here is astounding. The discs here sell for around $ 16 and include everything from the latest hipster crap to back catalogue obscurities. There’s a lot of music in the depths of this store that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, especially by long out-​of-​print Australian bands, which is exciting for people whose teen years might have been spent in the 70’s, 80’s or ‘90s. A lot of this music is either tied up in crappy contracts, rights disagreements or else is not worth the investment a reissue requires. My favourite recent find here was Sidewinder’s Tangerine, which has been out of print (yes, even iTunes) and hard to come by in these parts for years.
If you have any interest in music, I suggest dropping into this store on your next visit to Fremantle. If you can’t find anything you like, you’re not looking hard enough!

I was slightly disappointed by this place really. I hate it when the word ‘record’ is in the title of a shop and they have about a row of actual vinyl RECORDS! 78’s is the same, 78 records, and the sell mostly CDs? Go figure. If you are a true vinyl lover, and looking for modern and older vinyl, Fat Shan Records on Barrack St is where to go.
This place lacked a lot of the more popular records, such as Kasbians new album and a few others. The do have a good array of old school records, the likes of Led Zepplin and the Beatles, but to be honest that is what I would expect.
The service was good and that was really the only good part. A little bit of a let down really.

I think this place actively tries to hide from you.
It is tucked away in a small shop away from the main street. It is not even distinguishable against the background of a kebab shop on one side and generic shopping place on the other one.
How they stay in business is beyond me. This is not a bad business, it is just a redundant one. I want to rate it 0 stars because it just should not exist. Only reason why it does exist are people who indulge in nostalgia. Sure, it has a decent selection and prices, but iTunes has better selection and better prices.
As a member of Internet generation this place seems like a relic of older age. If you are into that, sure, you’ll enjoy yourself. Selection is somewhat decent. Staff is pretty nice too. But I couldn’t get past the point that anything on offer there I can get for less without even leaving my computer.

If Mills Records on Adelaide Street is Fremantle’s indie music royalty, then Junction Records is their older and slightly tougher sibling. The two are both high on the radar for DVD and CD shopping, but cater to different crowds so they’re hardly retail adversaries. Anyways, Junction Records is your traditional music store and one of the last of a dying breed.
Junction Records is set within an industrial looking space, with metal floors and walls painted as black as the metal that spews forth from their stereo system. Rather than countless band tour posters plastered to the walls, they’ve hung a few mounted images featuring the likes of Kiss, The Beatles and Metallica. For some reason the place always smells like fish and chips, and I’m not really sure why because there isn’t one around this area. Curious indeed.
I suppose you want to know about their music. Well, they stock a good range of the usual suspects but they specialise in metal, blues and a special blend of alternative country. So if you’re after Korn, Metallica or similar head banging accompaniments then this is the place to explore. Prices aren’t too shabby either, but I still think JB HiFi has a monopoly on that front.