Chicagoist: The Dark Tower

spence

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:46:22 -0600

Dr. Wax didn't close, they moved next store to a shop in the El station. At least it was still open last week when I was there. They shrunk down there stock big-time though. Mostly indie type stuff.

Steve

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 21:26:59 -0600

Tower was a family-owned chain. And as a loyal customer, I can tell you I found their prices to be much better than most of the independents. New stuff was always on sale--first day release at crazy prices and after that often $9.99 - $13.99 for at least a week, sometimes months. Huge selection, so you could generally find a wide range of stuff in one place. The indie places are cool but have shallow stock. Buying used sucks (way to NOT support the artist, for one thing) unless it's all you can afford. And buying from iTunes (which I do, as well) gives you inferior audio quality. I know, I know, people say they can't tell the difference. Well, all you have to do is listen. It's really dramatic, at least sometimes. Try CD and mp3 side by side. Of course, if you're 'sharing' it online, you probably consider it a bargain. And after you've given Apple all your money (now THAT'S a corporation), you've got none left over for the artists. And what's up with Dr. Wax closing on Berwyn. At least we have Virgin for the time being. Come on, people. Pony up and support whatever store you prefer--don't let the album die out as an art form.

Bill V

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:41:52 -0600

Too bad Rolling Stones is made up of best-sellers. It's awfully hard to find any type of independent artists there. The prices are right for their mainstream stuff, many at around 10 bucks.

joe harnish

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:52:22 -0600

val's halla it is in oak park but that is almost chicago

Tony

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:37:09 -0600

ROLLING STONES. Period.

notabbott

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:26:53 -0600

It's all in the timing, Scott. I was there on Saturday and managed to find Mercury Rev, Hard-Fi, Boy Kill Boy, Fountains of Wayne, The Wood Brothers, a pretty killer import comp, and, um, Whitesnake and Def Leppard, among others. Only a couple of potential duds (Butch Walker, for one) and one indulgence of my inner prog geek (John Wetton & Geoff Downes, with a new version of Asia's "Heat of the Moment"!).

Mr. Smith

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:25:53 -0600

Good point, Andy. What I meant was that Tower was a place dedicated to selling music, as opposed to using it to get people in the store to buy a fridge. But having said that, I didn't buy much music there as they were so expensive. When they cut prices to 40 percent off (before the 80 percent cut recently), they were only as reasonably priced as the average store.

spudart

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:11:48 -0600

Favorite place to buy music? iTunes.

spence

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:03:18 -0600

With Tower and Hifi gone, the only reason left to visit Lincoln Park is Pasta Bowl. My fav's: Dr. Wax-Berwyn Red-Line Stop. Having a record store in an el stop is wicked cool. Groovin High, Inc.- Belmont stop.I used to live near there and the owner/operator is a really nice guy.

NSH

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 09:49:56 -0600

South Western Ave, two of the best record shops for R&B in the city live here, Beverly Records and Mr. Peabody Records.

Andy

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 09:47:07 -0600

I'm sad to see Tower go, but they're not really an "independent record store" as you described them. They're a retail chain and a large corporation. Or at least they were.