So I am not a music junkie at all. I have an ipod but it is the least used thing I own. I haven't followed radio in years, and what little knowledge I have is shamelessly confined to Top 40.
That said, I popped into several Indie music stores today just to check out what was on offer beyond HMV.
Underground Solu'shn on Cockburn Street. Avalanche Records is also on the same street, and Ripping Records is just a stone's throw away on South Bridge Road. 
Vinyl Villains, situated on Elm Row along Leith Walk. Some observations I made:
1. Vinyl Villains on Elm Row doesn't just do CDs. It also has a huge selection of old vinyl records featuring artists like ACDC, Metallica, Electric Light Orchestra etc etc...
Closer to the recent past, Vinyl Villains also has a shelf full of second-hand cassette tapes dating back to the days when Prince was still known as Prince! And if that's not enough of a retro-spin for you, they even have a selection of old VHS tapes. Ah the nostalgia!
2. If you want a taste of the local Indie music scene, Avalanche Records on Cockburn Street has a prominently marked out section of Scottish bands. Other activities run by Avalanche include the newly launched 'album club,' whereby the store will send subscribers a specially-picked album each month along with additional material such as record label freebies and news of exclusive offers etc.
I've heard of such a concept before being applied to other areas like magazine subscriptions and even customized t-shirts: it sounds like an interesting idea, and I think it's kind of fun that you won't know what product to expect in your mail!
3. On the other hand, if it's live gigs you're after, make Ripping Records on Southbridge your first stop in town. In addition to CDs, Ripping Records also sells tickets for upcoming acts in Scotland - ie: effectively, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Check out the chalkboard on their counter for upcoming acts in the months to come - it's a pretty extensive list :)
Or view it online at http://www.rippingrecords.com/
Oasis and Coldplay/Jay Z are coming up in the summer months!!
4. Unlike the other record shops I visited, Underground Solu'shn (Cockburn street) seems to cater specifically to DJs. There's a large selection of House and Techno vinyl records, in addition to other DJ accessories like sound mixers which line the walls.
5. And finally, if you're new in town and wondering where are the best places to club or to catch some live music, make any independent record shop your first port-of-call. I've realized that they are one of the best sources of information about music and nightlife in general.
There's Ripping Records' gig list, but all the other record shops I visited also stock flyers and promotional material for some of the hottest clubs in town, and the various gigs and DJs they're hosting.
Some materials I picked up today.Most of these shops would also carry various lifestyle magazines, in addition to publications which deal more specifically with the music scene in Scotland or the United Kingdom. Some of these are also free including The Fly. So you can just grab one to go, and pour over it later if you wish to find out more about up-and-coming artists and live concerts occuring around the UK.
So happy browsin'! :)
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