Despite the hole-in-the-wall locale, the inside is meticulously polished to give a ~vibe~: a painted mural that is vaguely punky, a whole wall with skateboards and sneakers for sale, and hip hop-esque (Mac Miller and the like) background music. For the adventurous reader, there is also an entrance on the alleyway off Race Street by the Courier Café. I was frequenting Cafeteria & Company for an embarrassingly long time before I realized there was a hallway leading to our town’s youngest record store in the back corner. See You CD & Vinyl: 208 W Main St, Urbana In terms of both selection and vibe, I think Parasol is the closest Champbana has to a music hub right now. I could have easily spent a few hours just making my way through everything and browsing the backlog of music magazines they keep-another unique feature. Once inside and browsing, though, I got lost in the nooks and crannies of the shelves and the quiet background music. They share a space with IttyBittyBikeShop, which made me think I was in the wrong place when I walked in the door. Parasol’s most endearing quality is the ambiance.

The classical and jazz sections weren’t too shabby either: I walked out with two records from their one-bin classical collection! The new record collection, self-described as modest, is actually pretty wide. They certainly have the largest selection of 45s in town (which is how singles were released back in the day), but their LPs were broader in taste than I expected. I was fortunate that I did not have any cash in my wallet!Īnother name that pops up in local music lore, Parasol is usually discussed as a complement to Record Swap: instead of trying to carry everything, they specialize to “underground” groups. Records not just covering the usual pops program but also lesser known and modern composers. Bookcases filled with boxed sets of complete opera recordings. However, what won my heart was their vast classical section. The new releases section was the most comprehensive I had seen in town: while Adele and Taylor Swift vinyls are fairly common, this was the only place I saw Sam Smith’s Love Goes. The vast rows of records are comprehensive (even overwhelming) and are likely hiding whatever you’re looking for. They have everything-and I mean EVERYTHING-you could possibly be looking for. What it lacks it in style, it makes up for in substance tenfold. I had hoped there would be more atmosphere and character to accompany the mythos. The long rows of bins and white walls postered with the likenesses of Queen, Nirvana, Kiss, and Bruce Springsteen reminded me more of a big box entertainment store more than a local record swap (despite the truly awesome portrait of Johnny Cash giving the bird). I must admit I was underwhelmed when I walked in for the first time. Reading through the hype, though, I could not help but wonder how much of it is rumination on the good old days. So many people have stories (and opinions) going all the way back. Its long and colorful history spans the “golden age” of underground music, the takeover of digital streaming, and the vinyl renaissance. This landmark of Champaign-Urbana has been in continuous operation for over forty years. Still, I have tried to be as holistic as possible in my descriptions.

My tastes are eclectic, but I do have an affinity for classical and older rock and pop. A small disclaimer: I do not count myself as an aficionado of alt, punk, or indie music (the styles most strongly associated with small record stores …). I’ve put together my novice’s impressions to help fellow and would-be newcomers to the world. In our digital music world Champbana is fortunate to have multiple stores which sell new and used records.

Then to take it home and put it on without the ability to pause and skip tracks, I can only sit back and enjoy the experience. Walking into a store without knowing what I want, flipping through the bins guided only by genre and alphabetical ordering, and making a discovery-an old favorite, someone I’ve been meaning to try, a name I had forgotten, even a so-bad-it’s-good guilty pleasure-is a joy and a rush. As a millennial who came of age as music went digital, I find it delightfully analog. Despite being a newcomer, I have grown to thoroughly enjoy vinyl collecting. I acquired my first record player this past winter.

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