One of my favorite record-store stories: The day before I left Chicago for college, scared and wildly upset about leaving home, I pit-stopped at the Reckless on Broadway to pick up as many records as I could afford to dull the pain. At the time, if I can remember, I was probably seeking rare Pavement singles--I'm sure I found a couple, but, this time, there was a band playing a quiet, simplified in-store live set--Death Cab for Cutie. It was the band's first time in Chicago, then completely unknown and supporting "Something About Airplanes," playing to me, the Reckless staff and maybe two or three others, who simultaneously listened and searched the racks. After they were finished, I expressed my liking--it was basically the exact kind of music I needed to hear at the time--and guitarist Chris Walla offered to sneak me into the band's Schubas show that they were playing that night. I was only seventeen. I couldn't go because I had to leave for school. I asked Ben Gibbard what he thought of his first time in Chicago, and he told me, "People drive like crazy here." Needless to say, I bought their record.

You won't get a memory like that on iTunes. Buying records is an immaculately personal experience--at least it should be. Thumbing through racks of CDs, you find albums you would've never thought you wanted nor needed, treasures otherwise lost forever from your consciousness. Fact: the Internet is killing the record store, big or small. Independent record stores come and go--it's always been that way--but even now, with the rapid growth of music purchased online, the titans are crumbling, evidenced so bluntly by last weekend's announcement that the Tower Records chain, recently acquired by the Great American Group, is officially being liquidated, blaming the boom of Internet downloading (okay, and Wal-Mart--while you're at it, blame MySpace too). Purchasing music has become decidedly impersonal--as easy and accessible as buying groceries. An argument can be made that the Web has done wonders for giving unknown bands unprecedented amounts of exposure, but at what cost? Isn't rock `n' roll supposed to revolt against such a consumerist agenda? Isn't that music's responsibility?

Independent record stores must be kept alive in order to preserve the--forgive the melodrama--soul of the work, the pursuit of the rare record and the incomparable satisfaction of finally finding that, as Rob Gordon put it, rare Smiths' seven-inch. Here is our list of the essential stops on the indie-store tour, from Vintage Vinyl in Evanston to Mr. Peabody's in Beverly. Get out there and prove that Rose Records didn't die in vain. If this list isn't as big when we do this next time, we're gonna be out for blood. (Tom Lynch)

The Indie Record Store Guide was written by Steve Aquino, Dan Bulla, Emerson Dameron, Deena Dasein, Brenna Ehrlich, Julie French, Scoop Jackson, Shelley Jacobs, ELR, Tom Lynch, Lorenzo de Jesus Martinez, Duke Shin, Molly Sullivan, John Thompson, Leah Westfall and David Witter

Rolling Stones Records: A Complete Unknown
On the outside, it is like a rock 'n' roll museum

All That: Jazz Record Mart
Bob Koester's Jazz Record Mart has changed the art of jazz

Gramaphone Frenzy
A house music Chicago architect

Archer Heights

Hot Jams Record Store
4814 S. Pulaski, (773)581-5267
For nearly three decades, Hot Jams and its owner Andres Lopez have been cementing themselves as the South Side's only house wax peddler. Specializing in house, classics, disco and new wave, Hot Jams has become the place to find your heart's vinyl desires. Looking for a copy of a limited pressing, you can find it here. A copy of that out-of-print disco cut, they have it. And the staff has the knowledge--not to mention that friendly quality you want in your music dealer--to match their inventory; nearly no musical query is left unanswered. Domestic and import singles are priced to move, as are the compilations. If you're looking for that lost gem--and you will find it here--expect a loftier price. But if you want it that bad, you'll pay.

Ashburn/Wrightwood

Record Track
2804 E. 87th, (773)375-2104
Mostly R&B, soul and hip-hop CDs and tapes. The space is relatively small and can feel cramped, maybe because of the two shelves of VHS tapes in the middle of the floor and the inexplicable presence of a Rainbow Ice cart in front of the door. The CD collection is off-limits to browsers, which means that if you don't know exactly what you're looking for, the atmosphere might feel uninviting. The store appears to stock a decent collection of mixes, though. There is also a surprisingly large DVD collection--just in case you wanted to pick up "Lawrence of Arabia" to go with your DJ Clue mixtape.

Beverly

Beverly Rare Record Shop
11612 S. Western, (773)779-0066
Beverly Records has been around for forty years, which means that it has had forty years to amass a truly enormous collection. Even more amazing than the sheer quantity of records is the fact that they are well-organized. Thousands upon thousands of records from the sixties and seventies comprise the core of the collection, but there is plenty of material from other decades as well. The friendly and knowledgeable staff is more than happy to help customers navigate the collection. The store was made for browsing--rock, big band, soundtracks, polka, jazz, blues and an incomparable karaoke section. You're more likely to find a Johnny Mathis record than a Velvet Underground record here, but the store still has some surprises--like Shaq on vinyl. If you're looking for a copy of John and Yoko's "Double Fantasy," though, time is of the essence--they only have thirty-two copies left.

Mr. Peabody's Records
11832 S. Western, (773)881-9299
Mr. Peabody's Records separates itself from other Chicago record stores in a number of ways. It explores some pretty distinct territory, grounding its mostly vinyl collection in genres like disco, dance and underground club, and by exploring specific periods of other genres, such as pre-1985 hip-hop. The owners, Mike Cole and Marcus Pettigrew (aka DJ Mark Grusane), also approach their business with a very real sense of mission. They're not just out to move their product (even though they move a lot of records)--they're out to make a contribution to the music scene itself. It's no surprise, then, that the store draws local, national and international DJs--some of whom you'll find on "Peabody's Wall of Fame and Personalities." Mike and Mark understand this music and they love their collection--which is why the records here are in better condition than almost anywhere else in the city.

Chatham

The African Hedonist
8501 S. Cottage Grove, (773)651-8511
The African Hedonist offers more than the average music store--it gives the customer a more complete experience. Owner David Kofi's store focuses on world and jazz CDs; but he keeps his business unique by carrying many Afro-centric items like oils and incense. The store has been around for twelve years now and is continually taking on more. Throughout each month they hold listening parties and play host to local musicians--not to mention monthly special sales.

Fletcher's One Stop Records
457 E. 75th, (773)874-4484
The old man was a trip back in the day. One time, because he was out of job applications, he had a kid self-design and fill out an application by hand for a job--and still didn't hire the kid. He was cold-blooded way before Rick James. But that never stopped the hundreds of people per week from copping the hottest of urban music from his 75th Street store. For more than thirty years, Fletcher's has been the hole-in-the-wall record store that you go to first to get whatever is coming out next. He never leaks music, but he's always so ahead of the game other record stores in the city go there to buy their retail. And he probably makes them fill out applications, too--because old man Fletcher is still a trip.

Music Tracks
755 E. 87th, (773)783-8505
Just off Cottage Grove, Music Tracks is stocked largely with R&B, hip-hop and soul CDs and tapes, but they don't carry any vinyl. You're best served if you go in knowing what you're looking for, since you're basically limited to through-the-glass browsing, unless you're going through the boxes of bargain tapes or if you're just there for the locally produced mixes. The walls are lined with artist posters and flyers from old shows and releases, and behind the counter there are a few autographed photos from the likes of Billy Porter and Destiny's Child. You'll also get a sense of the personality of the place from their T-shirts, DVDs and collection of $4 oils.

Edgewater

Dr. Wax
1121 W. Berwyn, (773)784-3333
Sam Greenberg, owner of the Edgewater Dr. Wax, isn't giving up without a fight. Instead of closing shop in the face of music downloads and rising rent, he downsized and moved down a few doors into the Berwyn Red Line stop two weeks ago. Although they're still in the process of unpacking from the store they occupied for five years, the neighborhood niche shop envisioned by the staff is emerging. They pride themselves on their selection ranging from the rock Dr. Wax is known for to underground hip-hop and indie labels that the major stores don't carry. One satisfied customer recalled buying Tupac and gospel discs in the same trip to the old location--the cheap prices made up for the chuckles behind the counter. And if you're looking for a quick browse, the jump off and back onto the El will only set you back a quarter.

Evanston

Dr. Wax
1615 Sherman, Evanston, (847)475-8848
Dr. Wax is an anomaly of downtown Evanston: Located across the street from Barnes & Noble's new, huge storefront and about two blocks from Borders, it's a small slice of indie in a huge pie of corporate music retailers. Racks of new and used CDs take up much of the store's space, but vinyl is given its due. The only problem, manager Jack Kirk points out, is once records hit the shelves, they are bought up quickly. The main theme of the store is indie-rock, which Kirk says is what the store does really well with, but in reality almost any kind of music is here--from Hot Chip to Coltrane. The store has been open for the last fourteen years and has a different owner--Kevin Gimbel--than the other Dr. Wax locations in Edgewater and Hyde Park. The difference between this Dr. Wax and the others is the selection, especially since you can find used DVDs here. As for the big-box retailers in Evanston? "They have all kinds of garbage they can sell," Kirk says.

2nd Hand Tunes
800 Dempster, Evanston, (847)491-1690
Not only does 2nd Hand Tunes provide a wide selection of turntable toppers, it also has an array of used CDs and DVDs. The prices in owner Johnny Balmer's shop are reasonable; most used CDs are under ten dollars. Record enthusiasts can also snag various products by Vinylux, a design company that makes everything from bags to bowls out of old vinyl. You can also purchase wallets and iPod cases by Tiny Meat. If you're just mad about saffron, 2nd Hand Tunes' mellow yellow interior will inject a shot of sunshine into your day.

Vintage Vinyl
925 Davis, Evanston, (847)328-2899
Sick of the digital chill of CDs and MP3s? Well, Vintage Vinyl's Pepto-Bismol-colored walls house the remedy to technological malaise. Owned by Steve Kay, Vintage Vinyl's stock stays true to its moniker. From rock to jazz, it has it all. If you're a collector, be prepared to stretch your wallet; some records, like the Rolling Stones' 1974 "Sticky Fingers" release, will cost you into the triple digits ($100). If you have less in your bank account, you can always pick up a CD or one of Vintage Vinyl's many kitschy movie T-shirts. Tony Montana is a vital addition to any wardrobe.

Garfield Park

George's Music Room
3915 W. Roosevelt, (773)762-8910
Two speakers, with bass that vibrates your brain, flank the entrance to George's Music Room, but once you enter, the music is low enough so you can remember what you came for. With thirty-seven years of business--and appearances by P. Diddy, Biggie Smalls and Destiny's Child--it's no wonder that this store has received several business awards. Owner George Daniels is so popular that he has even appeared in a few music videos by artists such as R. Kelly and the Isley Brothers. Specializing in blues, gospel, jazz, hip-hop and R&B, the store also hosts events such as block parties and back-to-school celebrations.

Gresham

Coop's Discount Records/Coop's Underground
1613 W. 87th, (773)238-2566
One of the prime locations on the South Side, Coop's is one of the city's best jazz and blues retail record stores. Owner Pierre Cooper (husband of WVON owner/general manager Melody Spann, daughter of the great Pervis Spann) knows the music business like he inherited it, like it's in his blood. It is. Pierre's father taught him the game at an early age and, like any great son, Pierre took Pop's knowledge and remixed it.


Hyde Park

Dr. Wax
5225 S. Harper, (773)493-8696
See Edgewater and Evanston.

Hyde Park Records
1377 E. 53rd, (773)288-6588
The storefront on 53rd Street hasn't always been this appealing. "You should have been here two years ago," says owner Boomer Lowe. "It looked like a dungeon." Until October 2004, Hyde Park Records was a dilapidated 2nd Hand Tunes. Then Lowe, along with two friends, John Brearley and Derek Erdman, took over when Tunes abandoned ship. The shop, selling new and used audio wares, is now one of the sleekest fronts on Hyde Park's beautiful main drag. "I like to say that CDs pay the rent and the LPs pay us," Lowe says. Most of the plastic is indie-rock and hip-hop--there to appeal to the nearby University of Chicago student demographic and Hyde Park natives-- but the store's treasures come in vinyl. While the store carries the obligatory, fashionable recent pressings from hipster favorites like the Fiery Furnaces and The Decemberists, Hyde Park Records does not deal in pseudo-nostalgia; this shop's specialty is vintage blues and jazz records, which include first pressings and original releases, ranging in price from ten to a hundred dollars. It's the perfect place for an original Duke Ellington or Howlin' Wolf LP.

Lakeview

Deadwax Records
3819 N. Lincoln, (773)529-1932
Deadwax Records has it all, from CDs to vinyl to an unusually large selection of cassette tapes. Owner Wilbur Sutphin offers the quintessential music collection at Deadwax and keeps it in immaculate order. It's like going through your friend's cool dad's music collection that he would never let you touch, but here you finally can. However, if you're looking for something a little more atypical, like a "Mary Tyler Moore" DVD, he has that, too. And feel free to sell your movies or music at Deadwax, because it seems that almost anything can find a home through Sutphin's store.

Discus CD Exchange
2935 N. Broadway, (773)868-0952
Movie and band posters hang on the walls, and with the gray carpet it somewhat resembles a basement, but a basement with a pretty extensive used CD and DVD collection. At fifty cents a movie rental and $2 for new releases, Discus, owned by Chris McCreight, might be the cheapest in the city. No vinyl here (hence CD exchange), but you can get three full-length CDs for $19.95. In the same spot for somewhere between eight and nine years, the shop attracts the locals of Broadway and anyone looking for a good bargain.

Groovin' High Inc
1047 W. Belmont, (773)476-6846
Still at its original location, and coming up on its three-year anniversary, Groovin' High is a smaller record store with a larger selection. Original owner Joe Bruce keeps the store stocked with CDs, DVDs, vinyl, VHS and books about music. Got old stuff you can't stand to listen to anymore? This store will give you cash on the spot, or trade in your old stuff and come out with the new. Groovin' High prides itself on good service, fair prices and an inventory which is made up of a deeper catalogue, offering more that just the greatest hits.

Metal Haven
604 W. Belmont, (773)755-9202
The 7-year-old Metal Haven on Belmont near Broadway is chockablock full of a vast array of real metal in its various modes and moods. An authentic indie store, most of its stock is on indie labels (except for some mainstream bands like Slayer and Iron Maiden), with many imports. In addition to CDs, DVDs and a lot of vinyl (including color discs), there are T-shirts, magazines, patches and pins. You'd be hard-pressed to find much that is here anywhere else in the city--less than ten percent, the owner estimates, could also be found at mainstream music stores. Carrying metal from around the globe, the store sports material from bands like Krisiun ( Brazil), Chthonic (Taiwan), Witchtrap (Columbia) and Behemoth (Poland). You won't find any nü-metal, hair-metal or metalcore in this headbanger's heaven, but there are several large bins helpfully labeled "Brutal Shit."

Reckless Records
3161 N. Broadway, (773)404-5080
The original Chicago location, owner Charles Taylor's spot on Broadway has been serving your new and used needs for years. Along with the immense collection of CDs and vinyl--plus cassettes, don't forget about those--Reckless also takes music off your hands if you're looking for trade. In-store performances by touring bands--mostly in the indie-rock circuit--are a common occurrence. Slightly less of a hipster haven than the sister store in Wicker Park, the Lakeview Reckless often has the more mainstream rarity you can't find on eBay, plus solid dance and IDM collections. And doesn't everyone feel cool when they pick up a new CD from Reckless and the store's description boasts "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"?

Record Emporium
3346 N. Paulina, (773)248-1821
If you have ever dreamt about owning a record store, Record Emporium may be the store that's been haunting your dreams. Around since 1979 and jam-packed with CDs and vinyl, at Record Emporium you'll find classic rock, folk and, oddly enough, Shania Twain. Mike Felten, owner of Record Emporium, also gives people a chance to buy from home through the store's Web site, www.recordemporium.com.
Lincoln Park

Dave's Records
2604 N. Clark, (773)929-6325
One side of the window display contains the new releases, the other side a quirky theme, as Dave, of Dave's Records, explains. As of now, the theme for the left side: polka. Going on its fifth year in this location, it was formerly the vinyl half of 2nd Hand Tunes, dating back to 1976. The store reeks of vinyl, literally. Dave's prides itself on being one of the few all-vinyl record stores in the city--"vinyl only," says Dave, "that's all we do"--and it is not narrowcast in its selection. The store is almost floor-to-ceiling records, including a cheapo 99-cent wall, and a bin of 10-cent 45s. A Pharell record sits near the cash register. Behind that, a Small Faces album--a bit of everything. Dave understands it is about the collection, and encourages those who shop vinyl to shop around, admitting they can't possibly have everything all at once, but they do have a little bit of it all.

Gramaphone Records
2843 N. Clark, (773)472-3683
See sidebar.

Hi-Fi Records
2568 N. Clark, (773)880-1002
At the same location for the past ten years, Hi-Fi, owned by Joe Lasurdo and Tim Peterson, sees its share of regulars and the frequent drop-in from a neighborhood shopper. The store itself consists of half vinyl and half CDs and DVDs, including a $1.99 bin. Record label and band T-shirts hang on gold-yellow walls, above the stacks of records made up of a unique selection, including some seemingly rare finds--and marked at a reasonable price.

Logan Square

Disco City Records
2630 N. Milwaukee, (773)486-1495
Don't expect to find any mirror balls or leisure suits here. Disco City Records has been providing Chicago with hard-to-find Latin music for twenty-two years, thanks to owner Felix Cardona, whose store was voted Best Latin Music Store by Newcity back in '97. Minimal in decor, except for the posters advertising CD releases, the store also sells DVDs of Latin music videos.


Loop

Rock Records
175 W. Washington, (312)346-3489
Why support big-box corporations when there's Rock Records? You can still get the latest releases from popular artists, but you also get the vibe of being in a vintage-y hip record store. Kicking and screaming for thirty-four years, Rock Records has gracefully withstood the MP3 era. And really, who can resist those cute orange price tags? The store is filled with memorabilia and there's a wall covered in band autographs--one reads, "Stay mentally slim." They also sell accessories for collectors and they fix CDs and DVDs. Check out the back wall for great deals on jazz CDs with prices starting at six bucks.

Lincoln Square

Evil Clown
4314 N. Lincoln, (773)509-0708
After a flood a couple of winters ago, Evil Clown has found a new home in Lincoln Square, but still offers the same eclectic music as usual. Only carrying CDs, Evil Clown's selection ranges from rarely released European singles to indie-rock. There is plenty to look through, most of which you've probably never heard of, but if you're not ready to go out on a limb, Evil Clown also carries the more radio-friendly bands. The store feels spacious, but is succeeding in making its way through transition, with a small listening station, along with music magazines for customers to skim through.

Laurie's Planet of Sound
4639 N. Lincoln, (773)271-3569
Arguably the best rock record store in the city, John Laurie's Lincoln Square spot, for the past ten years, has focused on indie- and alt-rock, offering both the more popular new releases (See: Beck's "The Information") and the more elusive (see: Nina Nastasia's "On Leaving") in the same breath. With probably the most helpful and non-judgmental staff in all of Chicago, Laurie's delivers even the most cerebral of indie-rock without the slightest bit of pretension. See the staff "picks" on the store's Web site at lauriesplanetofsound.com.

Midway

Record Dugout Used Records
6055 W. 63rd, (773)586-1206
Located several blocks west of Midway airport, Record Dugout sells itself as a kind of collector's shop, which means that the focus of the store is divided between comic books, records and sports cards. Standing in this store, you can't help but think of the apocryphal tales of fathers everywhere--how their teenage treasure troves were either thrown away by their mothers or destroyed by water damage in the basements of their childhood homes. The store makes you think that if your dad's legendary stash ever actually materialized, this is what it would look and smell like. There is a respectable collection of rock, "pre-Beatles rock," easy listening and jazz vinyls, not to mention an assortment of 8-tracks. If you're looking to buy "Spectacular Spider-Man #43," a Gale Sayers football card and a Kingston Trio album in one stop, then this is your best bet.


Norridge

Rolling Stones Records
7300 W. Irving Park, (708)456-0861
See sidebar.

Oak Park

Val's halla Records
239 Harrison, Oak Park, (708)524-1004
Val's halla Records continues to expand after almost four decades in business with a recent move to its new location in Oak Park's Arts District. Val Camilletti closed her store at the end of July and reopened, with its famous Elvis shrine intact, on August 15th. Specializing in new and used LPs, cassettes and CDs ranging in everything from rock to opera to hip-hop, Val's offers the same great quality and knowledge with a few special additions. Scratch repair, DVDs and video games are now available, but what they are really looking forward to is the possibility of in-store performances. And if you can't find what you are looking for here, they will do their best to get it for you within two days.


Pilsen

Revolver Records
1524 W. 18th, (312)226-4211
This store is fresh. Owner Marlon Hernandez opened Revolver just four months ago, specializing in hip-hop, house, funk, jazz and soul. They also offer a collection of electronica, jungle, reggae, ska, punk and rock. They even carry video games, and T-shirts designed by local Pilsen artists. If you are not feeling those, the store can custom make T-shirts, as they offer in-store screen-printing. No more debating about a risky purchase--they have a listening station and turntables where you can hear it before you buy it. Check out Revolver on weekends for live in-store performances by both local and international DJs and artists.

River North

Jazz Record Mart
27 E. Illinois, (312)222-1467
See sidebar.


Rogers Park

Bassment
6057 N. California, (773)764-2277
Walking into Bassment is like walking into your cousin's basement in high school, with the low-key attitude, but none of the unidentifiable smells or potato-chip crumbs. Bassment is owned by Anwer Shabazz, a DJ, and tends to an audience looking for all forms of rap and hip-hop. Bassment mixes it up by supplying what Shabazz explains as the "illest" and "freshest" popular and local undiscovered artists to listen to in a casual area. If you aren't looking for something new, you can always check out the vinyls, where you might find a classic Janet Jackson. And while Shabazz keeps busy with his expanding empire (he's the president of The Music Spot and the marketing director of Bassline Inc), on Sundays you can check out up-and-comers at Bassment's open mic, scheduled from 4pm-6pm.


Roscoe Village

Hard Boiled Records and Video
2010 W. Roscoe, (773)755-2619
No local record canteen has a more distinctive personality than Hard Boiled, formerly of Hyde Park, now firmly established on Roscoe Village's main drag. That personality is owner Mark Ferguson, a pop-culture savant and a man of focused tastes. If you hit Hard Boiled with a shopping list, you might not find what you want, and if you don't, it might mean Mark doesn't like it. But if you pull a disc at random, you run abnormally high odds of pulling gold, whether it's electro-pop, dirge-metal, underground hip-hop or a psychedelic freakout. Hard Boiled is that rare record store that expands and redefines its customers' preferences. Although he's quick with a solid recommendation or a rich anecdote, Mark never cops a `tude, making Hard Boiled one of the least-pretentious shops of its caliber anywhere. It also boasts an equally rewarding film selection specializing in rare Hong Kong punchouts.

South Shore

The Music Experience
1959 1/2 E. 73rd, (773)493-0154
It's one of those stores that brings you back--and you don't know why. Is it the music, the store's presentation of home when you walk in, the charm and good-nature store owner Dedry Jones gives you when you're there, the diversity of music found in the store that is unavailable in other regional record spots, or the fact that you could accidentally walk in and accidentally happen to see a major rep in the store who accidentally happens to be playing Janet's or Beyonce's or Jill's or Christina's full CD in-store two months before the release date to get Dedry's approval? Who knows? But for whatever reason if not all, The Music Experience is just that--an experience. And although the small shop has moved around a lot in the last decade or so--all in different locations in the South Shore area--the 73rd Street locale might be the best.


Ukrainian Village

Dusty Groove America
1120 N. Ashland, (773)342-5800
Dusty Groove doesn't carry Fall Out Boy, the latest Stephen Malkmus solo album or anything in between, but fans of soul, R&B, hip-hop, vintage psychedelic pop, out-jazz and tropicalia, particularly those who are aspiring DJs, will spend hour after hour and paycheck after paycheck digging this mother of all crates. CDs and vinyl are organized by loosely defined genres, a system that rewards open-ended rummaging. If you're new to this stuff, the compilations are a good intro, ranging from seventies "blaxploitation" themes to French girl groups. The clerks could run a damn fine radio station--the stuff they play in the store is often unfamiliar and uniformly intriguing. DGA also sells DJ gear and an assortment of reading material (a collection of Sun Ra's writing retails for about eighty bones). The retail space itself is bright, clean and oddly sterile, an unlikely chunk of real estate for a world-famous funk emporium.

Permanent Records
1914 W. Chicago, (773)278-1744
The paint is still wet on the walls of Permanent Records on Chicago Avenue, so it's forgivable that some sections of the store are more fleshed out than others (as of press, the hip-hop section holds just one lonely Sugarhill Gang record). There aren't a lot of deep cuts right now. Rather, the selection reads like some clandestinely sifted thrift store. Lots of Bowie, lots of Floyd, lots of Police. Mott the Hoople. Devo. The setup works to the advantage of those of us who get overwhelmed at bigger stores, or are willing to pay an extra couple of bucks not to spend countless hours at Village Discount Outlet searching for a copy of "Thriller." While the used stuff leans heavily towards classic rock, the newer disks, like a copy of "No New York" with the Contortions and Lydia Lunch, and a new album by Columbus' Warhammer 48k, show a lot of promise.

Wax Addict Records
1014 N. Ashland, (773)772-9930
Incense wafts through the air, the lights are low, plush velvet couches beg you to touch them. Wax Addict Records feels more like a low-key lounge than a record store. And it makes perfect sense because they specialize in electronic, dance and house music, primarily on vinyl, but with a small section of CDs. There are four listening stations in this unpretentious space and a smattering of artwork by local artists adorns the walls. Every so often the owner Brian Cullen's spot hosts an event on Saturdays called "Beat Shop," in which DJs spin until midnight or so while customers peruse the aisles. And don't worry, Wax Addict hasn't forgotten the necessary pick-me-up for DJs spinning until 4am--ice-cold Red Bull sits by the entrance.


Wicker Park

Crazy Man Records
1657 W. Division, (773)489-9848
You might wonder what you're walking into when you approach the weathered wooden sign leaning against the fence that reads "Crazy Man Records." But this record store isn't crazy; it's just a little bit like walking into your grandparents' basement--albeit their small
basement--and stumbling upon all their old records. Owner Edward Francis' large collection of vinyl is sort of random--there's a section of Hawaiian albums--but rock is still the store's most popular genre. Along the south wall is a collection of books for sale, including music biographies, and there are some VHS music tapes, but Francis doesn't think those will be going anywhere soon.

Reckless Records
1532 N. Milwaukee, (773)235-3727
Since the store landed in Chicago from the UK in the early nineties, hipsters and crate-diggers alike have enjoyed combing rack-after-rack of Reckless Records' new and used CDs, vinyl and DVDs. The Wicker Park location exudes a particularly strong likeness to the fictional Championship Vinyl store featured in "High Fidelity," and being a stone's throw from Championship's Honore/Milwaukee spot doesn't hurt. The parallels don't stop there. John Cusack's Rob Gordon imagined going berserk and throwing the Country A-K rack out into the street before going to work at a Virgin Megastore. James Magas (better known as electro-rocker Magas) actually lived through a similar incident, being forced to work at Virgin Megastore after the unfortunate demise of his excellent and sorely missed Weekend Records and Soap. Thankfully, Magas did return to an independent store in Reckless, joining a knowledgeable staff that maintains a venerable list of recommendations online at reckless.com. If you look hard enough, you'll locate the records in that top-five list you've been searching for.

(2006-10-10)

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