It’s gift-giving season, and we at the record store naturally feel that the gift of music is one of your finest options. But with so much out there, choosing the right record for someone can be daunting, so we’ve come up with some genre-by-genre recommendations from folks that spend far too much time thinking about such things!

Our Roots Department posts look to highlight a broad range of music, from soul to country, jazz to global folk-musics. We’ve always found Ballard to be a hotbed for fans of roots-music. Maybe it’s that we’re home of the Tractor Tavern, maybe its just in the water. Regardless, here are some pointers on records we’ve got that we think the roots-music fan in your life might like to find under the tree:

For Newbies

Tips for those just starting their collections or just getting into a new genre. (Click for our reasons)

For Collectors

Options for the fans of the genre that might just already have the most obvious choices on their record shelves already. (Click for our reasons)

For Experts

Some exotic tips for those that are just in too deep. (Click for our reasons)