Now that Tower is out of business and iTunes is putting the squeeze on even Wal-Mart, it’s survival of the fittest for indie record stores.

Fortunately, there are still some incredible record stores standing.

The ones that JUST WON’T DIE.

The ones that Wal-Mart couldn’t kill.

The ones that iTunes hasn’t killed.

Paste magazine has done a rundown of its take on the coolest record stores in America:

• Amoeba Records, Los Angeles, CA
• Criminal Records, Atlanta, GA
• Other Music, New York City
• Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, Clarksdale, MS
• Waterloo Records, Austin, TX
• Aquarius Records, San Francisco, CA
• Dusty Groove America, Chicago, IL
• Ernest Tubb Record Shop, Nashville, TN
• Shangri-La Records, Memphis, TN
• Music Millennium, Portland, OR
• Ear X-Tacy, Louisville, KY
• Louisiana Music Factory, New Orleans, LA
• Newbury Comics, Boston, MA
• Grimey’s New + Pre-Loved Music, Nashville, TN
• Turntable Lab, New York City
• The Electric Fetus, Minneapolis, MN
• Jerry’s Records, Pittsburgh, PA

I’ll vouch for Amoeba, Waterloo Records, Music Millenium & The Electric Fetus. And I’ll lament the passing of KC’s Music Exchange. And I’ve got a few places to visit on my next trip.

Let me know if you think they missed a great record store in your area!

Image: chelseagirl