June 19, 2008
Dusty Groove America Makes Best Record Store List
This will come as no surprise to music-savvy Chicagoans, but despite the popularity of big chain stores like Best Buy and Target, independent record stores still actually exist. Earlier this year, we celebrated Record Store Day and now Paste Magazine has named their top 17 record stores in the U.S. of A. We're not surprised by the inclusion of some of the more well known stores (Amoeba Records in L.A., Criminal Records in the ATL, and Waterloo in Austin), but we did raise an eyebrow when we saw the lone Chicago entry on the list: Dusty Groove America (1120 N. Ashland Ave), tabbing it "the best place to buy funk records no one's ever heard of." Don't get us wrong. Dusty Groove is an excellent establishment, especially if you're looking for funk and soul records and national recognition is always good. But we couldn't help wondering: whither Reckless? Or Gramaphone? Or...well, countless other fantastic record stores in the Chicago metro area?
With iTunes, Amazon's new DRM-free mp3 store, and many independent record labels and artists offering music to consumers directly via the web, not to mention the more nefarious means of downloading music (not that we condone this), we're hard pressed to think of a recent occasion when we rushed to a record store to get our grubby hands on a new release, which is kind of sad. Some may ask, "Why leave the house when we can purchase the new Futureheads or Erykah Badu in our pajamas with a single click?" And we have a hard time disagreeing. But we still love wandering the shelves, flipping through racks of CDs and vinyls, looking for something specific or maybe just something new, and the camaraderie of fellow music nerds like us.
What say you, dear readers? What are your picks for Chicago's best record stores?
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Dusty Groove > Reckless.
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I buy all my music at Starbucks.
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Dusty Grooves is spectacular. I also dig Laurie's Planet of Sound on north Lincoln is really great too.
It's always saddened me that the movie location of "Championship Vinyl" stands unused. Like the hipsters in the hood wouldn't go APE for a record store in that spot?
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There are lots of good record stores in Chicago. I actually do most of my buying from Reckless and Permanent, but thats because I buy mostly Rock. Dusty Groove is the only one that is worthy of mention in a national list though. Dusty Groove may not have much rock, but they have so much more that you could never find anywhere else.
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Personally, I like Permanent Records.
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I really like Permanent. The shop isn't afraid to have an identity and consequently doesn't try to be everything to everyone. Liz and Lance seem to genuinely like their customers, and not just the music they're selling. Add in the fact that Permanent frequently hosts free in-stores of considerable quality (Times New Viking, the Warlocks, and many more) and is also a label with two pretty amazing releases under its belt since its inception, and I'm hard pressed to name a store in town I like more.
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Jazz Record Mart. World's largest jazz selection under one roof There's no place like it anywhere...lots of vinyl and CDs at 27 E. Illinois. Mostly jazz, huge blues collection, large on R&B and world music too. Staff here knows their stuff.
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Clearly, the list compilers were trying to be egalitarian by not representing any city (other than NYC, the known center of the universe) more than once and by looking across the musical spectrum. Otherwise, I could name a half dozen local stores (many already mentioned) that top Newbury Comics any day.
And hey, where's the love for Rolling Stones in Norridge? There's no better place for one-stop shopping for mainstream pop, classic metal, geezer rock, and questionable imports.
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Reckless is, without a doubt, the worst record store I've ever been to. Their ridiculous filing system is so needlessly erratic that the staff can't figure it out most of the time. And the staff! What a bunch of jerk offs! I don't need you to roll your eyes at me, I'll be down the street at fucking best buy of Dave's Records and get better treatment, a better selection and better prices. It's rare you see so many people behind a counter doing so little. Reckless Records should be burned to the ground.
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Hooray for Dusty Groove! They have the best Soul Jazz UK stuff as well as the import-only Henry Mancini soundtrack CDs that I crave. It might be a niche store but it's pretty freakin' cool niche.
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While it may not be the first choice of your average "indie rock" or "indie" or "underground rock" fan, it is the only Chicago record store that's worth mentioning on a national (or even worldwide) scale. It's a great store that does most of its business from mail/internet orders from all around the world. It has a fabulous reputation.
Reckless, etc., while very good, are a dime a dozen across the country. Most large cities (and even many college towns) have record stores as good as Reckless. Don't get me wrong, it's a great store, but there's nothing unique about the store. Personally, for "rock" type music, I prefer Permanent because there's much less filler crap to sort through.
I'm also glad Paste magazine recognized Aquarius...it's perhaps my favorite record store in the country.
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I'd have to go with Dave's...but, as stated before, it is more rock-oriented. I've yet to find another place that has a section just for audiophiles called...er...audiophiles.
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Dusty Groove does fit well in that national list, as they have stock in Brazilian, Reggae, Soul and Funk that most don't carry.
Reckless is no Amoeba, but it's good. I'm willing to bet tb's slagging is completely based on hearsay and not a personal experience. Otherwise they were projecting their own massive insecurities. The cliche about "eye-rolling" clerks is completely unfounded. I've shopped there for over 16 years and the staff has always been friendly, courteous, helpful, and completely professional. I don't always buy hipster-approved music, and I've even tested them with stupid questions involving Debbie Gibson, and never got even a hint of a twitch or a hint of a smirk or eye roll.
I still wouldn't mind an Amoeba in Chicago though. Any KMarts or bowling alleys closing soon? That would be a perfect space...