On first stepping inside Hot Poop, Washington's oldest independently owned record store, one is immediately overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff compacted into the small shop. Shelves upon shelves covered with semi-organized CDs and DVDs line the thin walkways. Band posters, banners and guitars of all shapes, sizes, colors and designs cram the walls. Elvis and Johnny Cash echo from the store's speakers, and old music videos from various bands play on an assortment of television sets scattered throughout the crammed space. A giant bowl of Doritos sits on the counter, and the entire store smells of incense.

With only two weeks left before the end of the first semester, it's time for students to start thinking about gifts for the holidays. Below, The Pioneer provides a list of the top eight local shops to...