Welcome to Sonic Sherpa

Sonic Sherpa is an Australian record store that’s been brightening the Brisbane suburb of Stones Corner since 2015 (although the team has over a decade’s shared music retail experience from owning/running Skinnys in the Brisbane CBD back in the day).

We have a large and eclectic range of new and pre-loved vinyl on hand, as well as stocking turntables, CDs, books, DVDs and music-related t-shirts and paraphernalia. Sonic Sherpa also curates ranges for the region’s larger music festivals such as Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival (Byron Bay), CMC Rocks, Gympie Muster, Tamworth Country Music Festival and many more such gatherings.

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sonic_sherpa

Indie record store in Stones Corner, Brisbane.
⛰️Specialising in music'n'stuff.
⛺️Next live instore: The Mick Medew & Ursula 4 Sat 8 Mar @ 3pm

CATCH O’ THE DAY! Back in 1996 Seattle grunge ma

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
Back in 1996 Seattle grunge mainstays @soundgarden faced down the task of following up their masterpiece fourth album ‘Superunknown’ (1994) and the responded by softening their sound slightly and going down a more melodic-yet-experimental pathway which resulted in the classic ‘Down On The Upside’! The album was a massive commercial success (#2 US, #7 UK, #1 Aus) but was somewhat savaged by critics - Spin gave a positive review saying the album is “as sprawling and generous-spirited as ‘Superunknown’, but… is a looser and live-er-sounding affair, not seeking the same level of aural precision” - and this 2-LP repress is on 180gm heavyweight vinyl for maximum heaviness, making it a great time to revisit the louder end of the ‘90s aural revolution!
#catchotheday #soundgarden #downontheupside #aandmrecords #grungeicons #albumfive #90sclassic #2lp #180gmvinyl #sonicsherpa

EASTER TRADING HOURS! That greatest of long weeken

EASTER TRADING HOURS!
That greatest of long weekends Easter is upon us and we’ll be closing for the big two days but open on the peripheries, namely:

EASTER FRIDAY CLOSED
SATURDAY 9am-4pm
EASTER SUNDAY CLOSED
MONDAY 10am-4pm

So come have a dig if you get the chance, either way we hope you have a great break and find that perfect sweet spot between revelry and relaxation!
#easter #longweekend #tradinghours #comehaveadig #havefun #staysafe #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! Way back in 1969 when Detroit

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
Way back in 1969 when Detroit legends The Stooges (aka @stoogeland) recorded and released their incredible eponymous debut world the world wasn’t quite ready for the innovative racket concocted by Iggy and his boys, despite production by The Velvet Underground legend John Cale (probably under-appreciated at the time as well). Most press derided it at the time (Rolling Stone called it “loud, boring, tasteless, unimaginative and childish”) though they changed their tune as its influence became undeniable, in 2003 ranking it #185 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time - it’s now widely regarded as a proto-punk masterpiece, with AllMusic’s 4 1/2 star review offering, “one listen reveals why they became clarion calls in the punk rock revolution. Part of the fun of ‘The Stooges’ is, then as now, the band managed the difficult feat of sounding ahead of their time and entirely out of their time, all at once” - and this recent reissue is on limited edition whiskey-coloured vinyl, making it the perfect time get buzzed with The Stooges!
#catchotheday #rhestooges #selftitled #debutalbum #elektrarecords #protopunkmasterpiece #60sclassic #limitededition #whiskeycolouredvinyl #sonicsherpa

RSD REMAINDERS ONLINE! We’ve finally gotten the

RSD REMAINDERS ONLINE!
We’ve finally gotten the leftover stock from last weekend’s @recordstoredayaustralia up onto the website, and here’s just a cross-section of the limited edition indie exclusive vinyl which could still be yours! Go to the site and search RSD2025 and let your fingers do the walking!
#rsd25 #remainingstock #adamandtheants #thecure #eurythmics #thedoors #echoandthebunnymen #alexchilton #him #flaminggroovies #icet #thejayhawks #lifewithoutbuildings #lambofgod #mjlenderman #theresidents #pixies #ramones #ratm #frankturner #thinlizzy #throwingmuses #youami #wire #heapsmore #sonicsherpa

MAN OF MANY HATS! Even though he only seems to be

MAN OF MANY HATS!
Even though he only seems to be wearing one hat in these photos you can rest assured that Meanjin scene stalwart Branko is indeed a man of many hats!
Photo 1: he’s wearing his @zangrecordsau hat and bringing in the new cool double-cassette release by local lo-fi star @ohonethurman, both in snazzy colours with reversible sleeves
Photo 2: he’s sporting his @tapeoff headwear, bringing in a corflute of their stunning new album ‘Fort Sensible’ (out through @coolinbysoundrecords)!
He’s also found hosting the great Unnecessary Knowledge on @4zzzradio, playing in other bands like Total Pace and Gold Stars, dominating in the Comm Cup for the Brisbane Lines and just being a general modern day renaissance man, one with many hats! What’s your fave Branko incarnation?
#manofmanyhats #branko #zangrecords #doublecassette #01thurman #tapeoff #fortsensible #brisbaneicon #cheersmate #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! A few years back revered UK po

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
A few years back revered UK post-punk outfit @blackcountrynewroad were rocked by the sudden departure of frontman Isaac Wood, but instead of imploding the remaining members pledged to forge onwards and fans have been rewarded with their epic new third album ‘Forever Howlong’ (courtesy @ninjatune)! With three members of BCNR now stepping up to the vocal plate the band’s inherent potency hasn’t been diminished - AllMusic’s 4 1/2 star review reckons it’s ““Just as wily and unpredictable as anything they’ve done before, but with the added bonus of being delivered by three distinctive voices” - so rejoin the journey of Black Country, New Road, change shall not weary them!
#catchotheday #blackcountrynewroad #foreverhowlong #ninjatune #ukpostrock #albumthree #limitededition #indieexclusive #2lp #bluevinyl #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! It was just last month that US

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
It was just last month that US punk behemoth @greenday were here in Oz reminding us of the massive career they’ve enjoyed, the huge ravenous crowds a far cry from the tiny Gilman Street scene which seemed so romantic when viewed from afar in the early-‘90s. Their music understandably changed a lot over the years but a few years back they captured the cream of that 30+ year journey on a 2-LP set they humbly titled ‘Greatest Hits: God’s Favorite Band’ - AllMusic’s 4 1/2 star review reckons, “the real appeal of ‘God’s Favorite Band’ is how it serves as a testament for the longevity of Green Day, which is the opposite argument of [2001 compilation] ‘International Superhits!’. That collection still stands as an excellent distillation of Green Day’s frenetic ‘90s, while this one paints the band as sturdy rock & roll lifers” - so hitch the whole ride with Green Day, you’re guaranteed to have the time of your life!
#catchotheday #greenday #greatesthitsgodsfavoriteband #warnermusicau #2lp #bestof #punklegends #sonicsherpa

DEPLETED BUT UNBOWED! If you compare our crates of

DEPLETED BUT UNBOWED!
If you compare our crates of @recordstoredayaustralia stock this morning compared to yesterday it’s far slimmer pickings but there’s still gold in them thar hills! Thanks to all of the customers - old faces and new - who helped make yesterday such a special day of music and community, hope most of you ticked off your wish lists!
#rsd25 #rsdaustralia #thedayafter #sundaybloodysunday #heapsleft #comehaveadig #sonicsherpa

RSD AWAY! Not even intermittent rain could stop th

RSD AWAY!
Not even intermittent rain could stop the horses from lining up for the@recordstoredayaustralia early open and descending on the crates like locusts, it’s on!!
#rsd25 #rsdaustralia #earlyopen #itson #sonicsherpa

READY TO ROLL! Don’t forget that we’re open to

READY TO ROLL!
Don’t forget that we’re open tomorrow from 8am to kick off another @recordstoredayaustralia, Simon has worked like a Trojan while Belly frolicked in FNQ to process 14 crates of limited edition indie exclusive wax! We missed a few big ticket titles but got the bulk of what we ordered, come on down and have a dig to celebrate the inherent radness of record stores!
#tomorrow #rsd25 #rsdaustralia #openearly #8am #supportyourlocal #brisbanerecordstore #comeondown #sonicsherpa

NEW AUSLAN TOTES! To celebrate tomorrow being @rec

NEW AUSLAN TOTES!
To celebrate tomorrow being @recordstoredayaustralia we’ve unleashed another instalment of our weird and whacky Sonic Sherpa tote bags, this time featuring the shop name spelt out in Auslan sign language! They’ll put ya back $20, otherwise $200 or more and get one of these bad boys for free, what a time to be alive!
#rsdaustralia #auslan #signlanguage #totebag #weirdandwhacky #whatlltheythinkofnext #keepingstonescornerweird #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! It’s hard to overstate how m

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
It’s hard to overstate how much immediate impact LA rap-metal act @rageagainstthemachine made in late-‘92 when they dropped their eponymous debut album almost simultaneously with its visceral lead single ‘Killing In The Name’ and its intoxicating early-‘90s rallying cry of “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me”! The album itself is an absolute belter from go to woah - Rolling Stone ranked it #221 on its 2020 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, while AllMusic’s 4 1/2 star review reckons, “Ultimately, if there’s any disappointment to be had with this near-perfect album, it’s that it still towers above subsequent efforts as the unequivocal climax of Rage Against the Machine’s vision. As such, it remains absolutely essential” - so it’s still the perfect antidote to soothe that inner rage with some Rage!
#catchotheday #rageagainstthemachine #selftitled #debutalbum #larapmetal #killinginthenameof #90sclassic #vinylreissue #sonicsherpa

BEDDY RAYS RETURN! We’re stoked to have awesome

BEDDY RAYS RETURN!
We’re stoked to have awesome Meanjin rockers @beddyrays returning for an acoustic instore set and signing from 4.30pm on Thursday 24 April (pre-Anzac Day long weekend), in celebration of their ripping new album ‘Do What You Wanna’ (out Friday 18 April through through @warnermusicaustralia)! They’re cracking blokes and the band will be on fire (acoustically) as they reach the end of their national record store tour, plus as always it’s free and all ages so we’ll see you in the 4120!
#instore #thursday24april #430pm #beddyrays #brisbanerock #newalbum #dowhatyoywanna #acousticset #signing #free #allages #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! It’s tough to believe it was

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
It’s tough to believe it was way back in 2016 that I caught rad Philly rockers @sheermagofficial tear up The Brightside (with help from a super cool local contingent of Thigh Master and Clever) six months before their awesome debut album ‘Need To Feel Your Love’ was even unleashed upon the world, what an epic night! They obviously played a heap of songs from it that evening and the album itself has stood the test of time wonderfully, I still blast it on the regular - The Guardian’s 5-stat review called it a collection of “soulful, strutting garage rock classics” - so go back to ground zero with Sheer Mag, still ruling the garage underground!
#catchotheday #sheermag #needtofeelyourlove #staticshock #phillygaragerock #debutalbum #undergroundclassic #sonicsherpa

RSD THIS SATURDAY! From 8am this Saturday we’re

RSD THIS SATURDAY!
From 8am this Saturday we’re partaking in another instalment of @recordstoredayaustralia, the annual celebration of bricks and mortar record stores! The limited edition, indie exclusive wax has started to ship in from all over the globe, the rules handed down from RSD HQ being:
* first come first served (ie no holds)
* one copy of each title per customer
* no online sales until Monday
The whole point is to encourage people to check into their local record store, so hit your local this RSD it’s where the action is!
#rsd25 #recordstoredayaustralia #saturday12april #indierecordstores #limitededition #indieexclusive #vinylvinylvinyl #thinklocal #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! You can say many things about

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
You can say many things about revered UK rockers @thepolicebandofficial but Sting and his mates definitely knew how to bow out while on top, with their fifth and final album ‘Synchronicity’ (1983) spawning five hit singles, winning three Grammys and topping the charts in England, America and Australia. In 2009 it was even inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame and in 2021 Rolling Stone ranked it #159 in its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - UK music bible Mojo said last year, “By the end of the ‘Synchronicity’ campaign, The Police were indeed the most successful band in the world, with 10 million sales of the album and another three Grammys in the bag. Which is all the more remarkable really since, listening back to it now, it remains a pretty weird mainstream record, by an altogether underrated group” - all making this one crew of Police you’ll be happy to welcome into your home with open arms!
#catchotheday #thepolice #synchronicity #aandm #albumfive #ukrocklegends #fiveandout #80sclassic #vinylreissue #sonicsherpa

LET’S HISS! Thanks heaps to the contingent of lo

LET’S HISS!
Thanks heaps to the contingent of local grungy garage-metal punks @hissmusicau for bringing in copies of their limited edition debut 7” ‘Trace/Cracow’! They’ve been tearing it up on the Brissie scene for a while now, don’t say you weren’t warned!
#hiss #newsingle #teace #cracow #brisbanerock #limitededition #pinkvinyl #thinklocal #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! Back in 2001 atmospheric Buffa

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
Back in 2001 atmospheric Buffalo, NY-bred indie rockers @themercuryrev followed up their acclaimed opus ‘Deserter’s Songs’ (1998) with the equally wonderful ‘All Is Dream’, an equally orchestral but far more personal batch of songs which became the band’s commercial peak. It’s one of those albums that will never really date because it wasn’t in step with fashion in the first place - AllMusic’s 4 1/2 star review reckons, “Moody, majestic, and unpredictable, All Is Dream plays like Deserter’s Songs’ evil twin, polarizing that album’s gently trippy, symphonic pop into paranoid and exuberant extremes that range from the eerie lullaby ‘Lincoln’s Eyes’ to the giddy show-tune-in-search-of-a-musical ‘A Drop in Time’” - and the recent 2-LP reissue isn’t just on translucent coloured vinyl but also includes a treasure trove of b-sides and outtakes, so grab a copy pronto and tell ‘em you’re dreamin’!
#catchotheday #mercuryrev #allisdream #v2 #albumfive #buffaloindierock #noughtiesclassic #limitededition #2lp #colouredvinyl #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! Way back at the tail end of la

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
Way back at the tail end of last Millennium in 1999 indie rock pioneers @pavementband released their fifth and final album ‘Terror Twilight’, and while it was a relatively polished affair by their oft-scrappy standards the album still showcased everything that made the band special and was devoured by fans. As the band’s music continues to resonate through the ages and find new ears ‘Terror Twilight’ remains a more than fitting finale - AllMusic reckoned, “Though it’s hard not to miss the gloriously messy sprawl of Pavement at their peak, this carefully crafted, languid recasting of their signature sound is effective and winds up as a fitting, bittersweet farewell for the best band of the ‘90s” - so hitch a ride on the Pavement bandwagon, great music is never out of style!
#catchotheday #pavement #terrortwilight #matadorrecords #fiveandout #indierocklegends #90sclassic #sonicsherpa

NEW BALL PARK! Today is release day for the new ei

NEW BALL PARK!
Today is release day for the new eighth album ‘Like Love’ by local legends @ballparkmusic, which we have on limited edition saffron vinyl with a bonus indie exclusive BPM puzzle! Straight to the pool room! Meanjin music rules!
#newalbum #outtoday #ballparkmusic #likelove #prawnrecords #albumeight #brisbaneicons #locallegends #limitededition #saffronvinyl #bonuspuzzle #sonicsherpa

CATCH O’ THE DAY! We’re stoked to have nabbed

CATCH O’ THE DAY!
We’re stoked to have nabbed some copies of the killer debut album ‘Up Late With Dumbells’ by Sydney outfit @dumbells.4.u, featuring members of our besties Shrapnel as well as hometown compatriots such as VIPP, TV Repairmann, Satanic Togas and more! I’ve only had the chance for a cursory listen but can’t wait to sink my teeth in - renowned tastemaker Nic from Repressed Records reckons, “a child, or even a Pavement fan could immediately be wooed by the immediacy of the hooks, melodies and charismatic group dynamic expertly, but not too expertly, captured on ‘Up Late With Dumbells’” - so don’t be a dumby and stay ‘Up Late With Dumbells’ asap!
#catchotheday #dumbells #uplatewithdumbells #mindmeldrecords #sydneyindierock #debutalbum #supercool #sonicsherpa

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