Loveland is an interesting city. To some, it may seem like nothing more than a commuter town. Most of the residents drive to work in nearby Fort Collins or the northern parts of Denver Metro. Many non-residents will know it as the town before the final stretch to Rocky Mountain National Park. But Loveland isn’t just another soulless stopover filled with strip malls and chain restaurants. Downtown Loveland may not have the glitz and glamor of Old Town Fort Collins, but there is a greater sense of authenticity here. Record stores like Downtown Sound play a big part in this.
The large bistro chains that seem to be slowly on the rise in the downtown of every small city are absent here. Instead, local restaurants and breweries dot the historic streets. Almost no changes have occurred to the architecture of downtown Loveland since its founding over 100 years ago. The vibe is a little old-fashioned. Especially compared to the chic vintage vibe of its neighbor to the north. But I would say once again that this is Loveland’s strong suit. No frills, just a place where residents care about what goes on around them, and where people will spend the rest of their lives.
Downtown Sound is the only true record store in the city of Loveland. The city may not be renowned for its music scene, but Downtown Sound seems intent on changing that. This small-town shop should be on every music lover’s itinerary, offering a crate-digging experience that rivals just about any used record store in Denver.
What to expect from Loveland
I favor small-town record stores. Not just because the selection hasn’t been picked clean like the shops found in major cities. But because they feel more “real.” The owner of the shop is the one behind the counter in most cases. Meaning you get to put a face to the personality of the store. And every record store does have it’s own personality.
Maybe things used to be different, but I’ve grown up in a time where it seems that every small town is in the midst of an identity crisis. Commuter towns, nothing towns, retirement towns, etc. Sometimes it feels like any city with a population under 50,000 falls into one of these categories. It can be difficult to really get a feel for a place after big businesses have had their way with it. Casting any sense of community to the side in favor of profit and the comfort of familiarity for those passing through. I’ve been in many a Walmart over the years, and they have taught me very little about what a town values besides bargains on toilet paper.
What to expect from Downtown Sound
Record stores can teach you a lot about a town. What would possess someone to open such a business in a place with minimal tourism and a nearly non-existent music scene? Passion is the only thing that comes to mind. Passion for the ritual of spinning a record, passion for sharing music and art, and passion for the people in town that need a place to explore and to be themselves. Every wax-covered inch of Downtown Sound seems to radiate this passion. Just walking by the store it’s obvious this more than just a business, it is a way of life.
A chalk sandwich board advertises the stores operating hours out front, situated right next to a cardboard box filled with records that are yours for the taking, free of charge. Old-fashioned speakers, Beatles-themed knickknacks, and vinyl sleeves that are peeling at the edges adorn the shop’s glass windows. Gig posters and advertisements for local music are plastered on to the front windows, as they should be. In the alley outside the building, a vibrant mural of jazz musicians covers the entire wall. A humble place of worship for all things music.
Selection at Downtown Sound
Inside, the fun continues. Records cover nearly every inch of the store. Bins upon bins of cardboard sleeves, red and black records stuck directly to the ceiling or hanging from a string. If it skips, it becomes art. Once you’ve walked a few laps around the store to get an idea of all the vintage treasures they have to offer, the selection does not disappoint. Consisting largely of used records at bargain prices, this is the place where collectors go to pad out their collection, grabbing anything with an interesting cover or the forgotten albums of renowned artists. Everything you need to finish your hi-fi setup is also available. There is a solid selection of used speakers, receivers, and turntables available. Instruments are for sale for those interested in transcending out of the consumption phase and into the realm of creation.
Besides the usual accessories, there are a few other things available here that can be frustratingly absent from many shops. Most notably, a section dedicated entirely to record cleaning equipment. A boring but important part of the hobby. The store dedicates a display to showcasing the latest offerings from Vinyl Me Please. A record label known for its subscription service, where users can sign up and receive exclusive repressing of famous albums. This is one of the few stores I have seen to offer these records in-store, which is great for those unwilling to take the plunge into the full subscription service. Besides this display the inventory is about 95% used records.
Services offered
Even when you’re not in the market for records, the shop offers repair services for both audio equipment and instruments, making it a one-stop shop for all things music. Buy, Sell, Repair, Rent, Downtown Sound is a dying breed of locally owned music stores.
My Take on Downtown Sound
Downtown Sound is just a regular ol’ record shop. The selection is mixed in terms of quality, pricing and genre. The owner and employees take care and pride in what they do and the store is also a bit of a general music store. A lit bit of this and that are available for purchase; speakers, turntables, instruments etc. Don’t come in here expecting the find of a lifetime.
Note
Since I have written this review the shop has relocated to Greeley, Colorado.