12 New Records I Added to My Collection
This month's haul includes grails, remasters, signed vinyl, and blind buys.
Hello crate diggers and music lovers, I’m fresh off a weekend in Chicago, soaking up live music, baseball, and maybe one too many Half Acres. Highlights included a triple bill at The Salt Shed (Father John Misty, Lucinda Williams, Hamilton Leithauser!), two games at Wrigley, and Eddington at the beloved Music Box.
Somewhere between the sax solos and seven inning stretches, I updated The Upcoming Vinyl Repress Calendar — now loaded with 60+ reissues, remasters, and anniversary editions hitting shelves through November. That got me thinking… why not share what I’ve got coming through the U.S. Mail?
This roundup includes six reissues and six upcoming albums (including two out this week!) that I’m taking a chance on. So whether you're building out your vinyl stash or just padding your playlist, here’s what I’m excited to spin next.
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Frank Ocean - channel ORANGE (First Pressing)
Get Vinyl: Black (going in and out of stock), Shipping Now
At long last… after 13 years, countless bootlegs, and a drawn-out standoff with Def Jam, channel ORANGE is finally getting an official vinyl release. Frank Ocean’s debut is one of the best albums of the century, a genre-defying masterwork I can’t wait to hear the right way.
LSD and the Search for God - s/t
Get Vinyl: Orange Sunshine, Release Date: August 22
San Francisco’s LSD and the Search for God have repressed their cult-classic 2007 self-titled EP, a shoegaze gem that goes for hundreds on the resale market. I’m a sucker for swirling, fuzzed-out psych guitars, and this one delivers in spades. Elusive and mysterious, the band has only released ten tracks in 20 years, but what they’ve made is pure, concentrated shoegaze gold. If you love My Bloody Valentine or Slowdive, this one’s essential.
Clairo - Charm (One Year Anniversary)
Get Vinyl: Neapolitan (sold out), Release Date: September 12
I held off on grabbing Charm, Clairo’s groovy third album, and that was a mistake, as first pressings flew and now go for a mint on the resale market. I usually roll my eyes at one-year anniversary pressings, but I’m happy to scoop this one up on tasty Neapolitan wax. With time, Charm has only gotten better — a breezy, confident record that already feels like a classic.
Air - The Virgin Suicides Redux (25th Anniversary Vinyl)
Get Vinyl: Black, Release Date: September 26
It’s been 25 years since Air scored Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, and their dreamy blend of lounge grooves and ‘70s space-pop still hits like a foggy memory. This anniversary edition features a new analog mix that refreshes the mood without losing the melancholy magic. It remains one of the most evocative and haunting records of its era.
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (20th Anniversary Vinyl)
Get Vinyl: White, Release Date: September 26
Time for another round of “Damn, I’m old” as Silent Alarm turns 20 this year. Bloc Party’s debut remains a razor-sharp snapshot of 2000’s indie rock, packed with anthems that still hit just as hard today. I’ve worn out my old copy, which has been out of print for years and never sounded great to begin with. This new double white vinyl edition finally gives it the room it deserves, and I’m hoping it sounds as massive as it felt in 2005.
Casiopea - Mint Jams
Get Vinyl: Clear Green, Release Date: October 3
Casiopea is Japanese jazz fusion at its peak, and Mint Jams might be their crown jewel. I’ve been waiting on a proper repress of this and their 1979 self-titled debut, and the vinyl gods finally delivered. Recorded live but mixed so flawlessly you’d swear it was a studio session, this set rips through seven tracks with energy and precision. The basslines are outrageous and the city-pop vibes are immaculate.
Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist - Alfredo II
Get Vinyl: Laser Disc Cover | Black, Release Date: This Friday
Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist just announced Alfredo II, the surprise follow-up to their 2020 classic — still one of the best hip-hop albums of the decade. I jumped on the pre-order instantly. The lush, piano-laced single “1995” suggests the duo haven’t missed a step. With features from Anderson .Paak, H.E.R., Larry June, and J.I.D., plus a short film shot in Japan, all signs point to a worthy sequel when it drops this Friday.
Indigo De Souza - Precipice
Get Vinyl: Blue/Orange Splatter, Signed Poster | Blue and White Crush | Pink | Black, Release Date: This Friday
“I feel constantly on the precipice, of something horrible, or something beautiful… something that will change my life for better or for worse. This is about change, and how we can accept it, or push it away, but it is always there, carrying us in some direction, and cannot be stopped.” — Indigo De Souza
I haven’t heard Precipice yet, but Indigo De Souza’s track record makes this an easy blind buy. With each release, the Asheville artist feels less like indie’s best-kept secret and more like a generational voice. If this fourth album builds on her past work, I’m expecting big melodies, bigger feelings, and zero skips. Grab the vinyl and signed poster while you can.
Wolf Alice - The Clearing
Get Vinyl: Coke Bottle, Signed Insert | Picture Disc | Black, Release Date: August 22
Wolf Alice’s Blue Weekend was an instant classic for me, so I’ve had The Clearing circled since it was announced. Their anticipated fourth album has been described by the band as “something close to if Fleetwood Mac wrote an album today in North London.”
Maybe the vinyl I’m most excited to see show up is this flower filled vinyl from the UK’s Bad World —an off shoot of Blood Records — who specialize in liquid filled vinyl. Take a look at this beauty, which sold out within minutes.
Wednesday - Bleeds
Get Vinyl: At least six colorways, Release Date: September 19
Carolina rockers Wednesday have dominated my year-end lists both years I’ve sent out this newsletter — Rat Saw God took the top spot in 2023, and MJ Lenderman’s solo record landed in the top five in 2024. Judging by the first two singles, that streak’s not ending anytime soon. Bleeds looks to be their most fully realized album yet, sharpening their signature blend of Southern-fried sludge.
Geese - Getting Killed
Get Vinyl: Blue with Signed Insert | Clear, Release Date: September 26
Speaking of Best Of lists, the decision to put Geese’s 3D Country in my top 10 of 2023 has aged like fine wine. The band is on a tear, riding the momentum of Cameron Winter’s excellent solo album Heavy Metal (my review here) and sounding more creatively locked-in than ever. Their upcoming third album, Getting Killed, looks to push things even further — just listen to lead single “Taxes,” one of my favorite tracks of the year and a surprisingly seamless collab with trap producer Kenny Beats.
Spiritual Cramp - RUDE
Get Vinyl: Blue/White/Red | Blue/Black Split | Blue Marble, Release Date: October 24
San Francisco makes the list again thanks to punk rockers Spiritual Cramp. Their 2023 self-titled LP was one of my favorite debuts in recent memory, so blind buying their sophomore effort RUDE was a no-brainer. This time around, they sound ready to level up, with production from John Congleton (who’s made some of my all-time faves like A Black Mile to the Surface and Antisocialites) and even a Sharon Van Etten feature. A fun, scrappy band reviving the 2000s post-punk sound with swagger and heart.
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Happy collecting, and catch you all next week!
I saw LSD & The Search For God around the time of that first album. It was on a tiny stage in the basement of a SE Portland bar. If I remember correctly, they were playing a bill with Spectrum (Pete Kember of Spacemen 3), and Asteroid #4 were also on the bill. They were very loud. The layers of guitars were discordant, pulsating, swirly, and full of textures.
This is great!