The Album a Day Club | October 2024 Playlist
Where we listen to a record a day, every day.
Happy Tuesday, friends. It’s election day in America. Let’s take a break from doomscrolling to enjoy the sights and sounds of today’s exhibit—where I chronicle my album-a-day habit with liner notes and a playlist for both vinyl junkies and new music seekers.
Think of this as your monthly roundup of fresh releases, vinyl reissues, milestone anniversaries, and a few random rabbit holes I fell into. This month was a good one—I finally got my hands on some records I've been eyeing forever.
With 31 albums spanning from 1969 to just last week, there's something for everyone, whether you're rediscovering old favorites or sampling 2024’s finest.
I send out this newsletter once a week, but for up-to-the-second vinyl deals and drops, join over 16,000 record collectors and follow Vinyl on Sale, the Internet’s #1 vinyl resource! Expect about 5-10 posts a day. Your collection will thank you.
The Album a Day Club | October 2024 Playlist
Stream: Spotify | Apple
To listen along to the Album a Day Club, follow the daily master playlist, or join the November playlist already in progress.
October 1: Stars - Set Yourself on Fire (2004)
Get Vinyl: Red
“When there’s nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire.”
We’re kicking off the month in a blaze of glory with Stars’ Set Yourself on Fire, their third album and arguably the crown jewel of their discography. If you haven’t let Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan’s harmonies wash over you, then you’re missing out on some of Canada’s finest musical exports.
Today, they announced a 20th Anniversary red vinyl reissue, complete with a die-cut jacket and even a temporary tattoo of that iconic flame on the album cover.
October 2: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz! (2009)
Get Vinyl: Yellow Splatter
I mentioned this record (and the next few days’ albums) in recent newsletters so I’ll be brief. I gave a relisten to Karen O and crew’s third album, It's Blitz!, and it’s even more experimental than I remembered—likely thanks to TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek working his production magic behind the scenes.
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, It’s Blitz! is getting its first-ever colored vinyl release, fittingly on egg-splatter wax.
October 3: Geordie Greep - The New Sound (2024)
Get Vinyl: Black
A day before its official release, former black midi frontman Geordie Greep treated fans to a live YouTube stream of his solo debut, and it was a blast watching the rapid-fire comments of awe roll in. Hearing it for the first time felt like stepping into something completely new. My full review is here, but let me say this: even if black midi wasn’t your scene, give this a shot.
Check out Greep ripping through two standouts, “Holy, Holy” and the sprawling “The Magician,” live in the video below—he’s in rare form, and it’s fun to witness.
October 4: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - No Title As Of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead (2024)
Get Vinyl: Black
Montreal's Godspeed You! Black Emperor return with No Title As Of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead, their eighth full-length album over a 27-year career of shaping post-rock. It’s typical Godspeed—swelling crescendos that make you feel something deep in your bones.
The album’s title leaves no ambiguity—a response to the staggering death toll and human devastation from the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Here’s a link to donate directly and safely to the Palestinian people.
October 5: Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever (1989)
Get Vinyl: Blue | Black
I’m in Gainesville today as my UCF Knights take on the Florida Gators, so it’s only right to blast some Tom Petty to get in the local spirit.
The 2021 remaster on blue wax is one of the best sounding records in my collection; if you ever need to test out a new turntable, this is the album for it.
October 6: Animal Collective - Sung Tongs (2004)
Get Vinyl: Canary Yellow and Ruby Red
Animal Collective’s fifth album, Sung Tongs, is turning 20 and celebrating with a gorgeous first-ever colored vinyl release on canary yellow and ruby red wax. Sung Tongs was the start of a bananas five year period where the Maryland band went on to release Feels, Strawberry Jam, and Merriweather Post Pavilion.
October 7: Spanish Love Songs - No Joy (2023)
Get Vinyl: Lavender
Today I was in the mood for aural depression and threw on No Joy by Spanish Love Songs—#28 on my 100 Best Records of 2023 list. This album dives deep into life's fleeting nature, with Dylan Slocum’s raw vocals steering the band from punk roots to a more anthemic sound.
Produced by the band with Collin Pastore (Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker) and mixed by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, M83), No Joy flies by with massive hooks and head-nodding grooves wrapped in bleak, shocking lyrics.
October 8: MF DOOM - MM.. FOOD (2004)
Get Vinyl: Sweet Tart | Beer | Black Cherry | Evergreen | Violet
Rhymesayers is celebrating the 20th anniversary of MF DOOM’s MM.. FOOD, his concept album centered around the things you’d find on a picnic table. Mostly self-produced, with one iconic Madlib track (“One Beer”), MM..FOOD is packed with DOOM’s signature wit and inventive beats.
To mark the occasion, the MF DOOM estate has updated the album with fresh artwork and a selection of vibrant colorways. And heads up, DOOM fans: the 25th anniversary of Operation: Doomsday is dropping for Record Store Day in November, so there’s plenty of DOOM to feast on this fall.
October 9: Fred Again - ten days (2024)
Get Vinyl: White
Last month, British producer Fred Again dropped his fourth album, ten days, featuring a stacked guest list that includes Sampha, Anderson .Paak, Four Tet, Skrillex, and Emmylou Harris to name a few. While the album is a bit of a mixed bag, the highs are very high. My favorite track is the closer, “backseat,” which beautifully samples The Japanese House’s “Sunshine Baby” and has quickly become my favorite of the bunch.
October 10: Laura Nyro - New York Tendaberry (1969)
Get Vinyl: Discogs
Music writer
recently reminded me to revisit Laura Nyro’s stunning third album, New York Tendaberry. Nyro’s voice is a force here—beautiful and raw, balancing sweetness with sorrow and comfort with despair. Nowhere is this more evident than on single “Save the Country,” a response to the chaotic events of 1968, including the assassinations of MLK and RFK. For a deeper dive into this album, I highly recommend Gilbert’s excellent piece from last year.
October 11: Goat - Goat (2024)
Get Vinyl: Goatbrain Splatter
Goat’s self-titled sixth album is everything you’d hope for—a sludgy, psychedelic journey that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. Opener “One More Death” sets the tone with its heavy, trippy guitar riffs, launching you straight into Goat’s singular sound. No one else is making music quite like this right now.
October 12: Charli XCX - brat and it’s completely different but also brat (2024)
Get Vinyl: Milky Clear
Charli XCX continues her 2024 domination with a 17-track remix album—a brat summer victory lap if there ever was one. Honestly, I think this companion piece outshines the original, with standout remixes from The 1975, Caroline Polachek, Lorde, and a personal favorite from Bon Iver.
October 13: Dananananaykroyd - Hey Everyone! (2009)
Get Vinyl: Pink Sabbath + Black Wax Splatter
Oxford’s Alcopop! Records just pulled off a true labor of love, pressing one of their favorite albums on vinyl for the very first time: Dananananaykroyd’s indie pop/post-hardcore debut, Hey Everyone! It’s been a 15-year wait for this vinyl release and a huge thanks to Alcopop! for making this a reality.
October 14: Ka - The Thief Next to Jesus (2024)
Get Vinyl: Discogs
The music world mourns the loss of New York rapper Ka, who passed away at 52. A former FDNY captain turned underground legend, Ka had just released his ninth album, The Thief Next to Jesus, in September—a hauntingly poetic swan song.
Though nearly a decade had passed since he last gave an interview or performed live, Ka’s occasional pop-up events around Manhattan were the stuff of legend. These gatherings were the only places fans could buy his vinyl, with lines winding around the block and fans traveling from hundreds of miles away. With such scarcity, it’s no surprise that albums like The Thief Next to Jesus are now going for $1,200 on Discogs.
October 15: Mos Def - Black on Both Sides (1999)
Get Vinyl: Black Ice with Clear Stripe
October’s Interscope Vinyl Collective pick is a gem: Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides. Celebrating 25 years since its release, this Brooklyn native’s solo debut was a groundbreaking moment in underground hip hop, achieving certified gold status—an impressive feat for the genre at the time. The anniversary reissue pulls out all the stops with colored vinyl, a sleek matte finish cover, and a double-sided lithograph, limited to just 3,000 copies.
October 16: Fleetwood Mac - Tusk (1979)
Get Vinyl: Clear | Black
Another anniversary worth celebrating: Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk turns 45. The legendary follow-up to Rumours was the most expensive rock album ever recorded at the time, costing $1.4 million (about $6 million today) and taking 13 months to finish.
The sprawling, experimental double album mirrors the band’s extravagance—drugs, financial recklessness, and romantic entanglements. Tusk is a fascinating, uneven journey, packed with memorable moments, including the beautiful “Sara,” which might just be my favorite Fleetwood Mac song.
October 17: Drop Nineteens - Delaware (1992)
Get Vinyl: Barbershop | Daffodil Bent Edge
Boston shoegaze outfit Drop Nineteens are back in the spotlight. After an unexpected return with an album last year— their first in 20 years—they’ve just dropped “Daymom,” and no, it’s not a prequel to “Dayman.” Instead, it’s the first taste of a newly unearthed demo collection from 1991, set for release in February.
“Daymom” is a nostalgic rush, capturing the same magic as their classic debut Delaware, with rolling basslines, jangly guitars, and a shimmering sound that brings to mind The Cure with the etherealness of Slowdive.
October 18: Christopher Owens - I Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair (2024)
Get Vinyl: Clear
I listened to a lot of new releases today but I’m most excited for the return of Christopher Owens. Read my positive review here.
October 19: Touché Amoré - Spiral in a Straight Line (2024)
Get Vinyl: Torrential | Rose | Black
Touché Amoré is back with a fun, hook-filled sixth album that keeps the energy high and the surprises coming. This time, they’ve brought in some unexpected guest stars: Dinosaur Jr.’s Lou Barlow and Boygenius’ Julien Baker, both of whom deliver exactly the kind of brilliance you’d expect. It’s a left-field screamo delight that shows the L.A. band still knows how to keep things fresh.
October 20: Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic (1974)
Get Vinyl: Black
Sundays are for Steely Dan, and today I’m out on the patio spinning Pretzel Logic, which turns a cool 50 years old today. There’s something timeless about these grooves that still hits just right. Last year, Bernie Grundman remastered this classic (and most of the Dan catalog) on lush 180-gram vinyl, making it sound better than ever.
October 21: Incubus - A Crow Left Of The Murder… (2004)
Get Vinyl: Red | Black
Music on Vinyl just announced a red, 180-gram audiophile reissue of Incubus’ A Crow Left of the Murder…, limited to 2,000 numbered copies. Perhaps considered the band’s last great album, Crow followed the massive successes of Make Yourself and Morning View with a harder-edged, politically charged vibe, with singles like “Megalomaniac,” a blistering diatribe of George W. Bush, and the Orwellian “Talk Shows on Mute.”
October 22: George Benson - Give Me the Night (1980)
Get Vinyl: Black
I went digging through their picks to find a record I hadn’t fully listened to aside from the singles and found it at #27 with George Benson’s Give Me The Night. Smooth, mid-tempo R&B at its finest!
Editor’s note from the future: Quincy Jones, who produced Give Me The Night and left an indelible mark on music, passed away on November 3rd at the age of 91. Quincy’s legacy will live on, with his incredible catalog continuing to inspire.
October 23: Being Dead - EELS (2024)
Get Vinyl: Speckled Dragon Egg
Being Dead's sophomore album EELS hijacked my day in the best possible way. My full positive review here.
October 25: Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2 (2014)
Get Vinyl: Black
Time’s flying way too fast—I feel ancient realizing Run the Jewels 2 is already a decade old! This limited edition vinyl reissue comes with a slick custom swappable hands design and, for the first time outside Japan, the elusive “Blockbuster Night Part 2” featuring verses from underground rappers Despot and Wiki.
October 25: Jay Z and Linkin Park - Collision Course (2004)
Get Vinyl: Black
Long out of print, Collision Course—Jay Z and Linkin Park’s 2004 mashup album—is finally back on vinyl for the first time in over a decade. Bootlegs have been going for over $150, so this $25 reissue is a steal.
2004 was a peak year for both artists, with Jay Z’s The Black Album and Linkin Park’s Meteora tearing up the charts. Props to MTV for bringing them together for this six-song mashup EP that surprisingly holds up. The single “Numb/Encore” even snagged a Grammy for Best Collaboration.
The DVD, linked below, dives into the making of the album and captures all six tracks performed live at The Roxy Theatre—very entertaining watch!
October 26: OFF! - Free LSD (2022)
Get Vinyl: Blood Orange | Red | Electric Blue
Free LSD is the third and final album from hardcore punk legends Off!, and somehow I missed it when it dropped in 2022. Better late than never, because this is easily one of the best punk albums I’ve heard in ages. With 20 blistering tracks, it's an intense ride—I had to use serious restraint not to drum along at my desk and drive my coworkers nuts.
And it doesn’t stop there: Free LSD is now also a movie, featuring the entire band with singer Keith Morris in the lead and written/directed by guitarist Dimitri Coats; it sounds like the perfect midnight movie vibe.
October 27: Wild Pink - Dulling The Horns (2024)
Get Vinyl: Mustard, Signed Cover | Black
Today was the first of sure to be many listens of Wild Pink’s new album Dulling The Horns. The fuzzed-out, guitar-driven journey that stands as their most compelling work to date. See John Ross and his band on the road now opening for Wax Museum favorite MJ Lenderman.
Also if you act fast, you can grab a signed copy of this record at his Bandcamp; there’s six copies left as of this writing.
October 28: Tyler the Creator - CHROMAKOPIA (2024)
Get Vinyl: Discogs
I love it when artists break the Friday new music mold and release whenever they feel like it—like Tyler did today with a rare 6 a.m. Monday drop for his eighth album, Chromakopia. Talk about starting the week off right.
The vinyl rollout for this one has been a ride in itself. Billed as a "test pressing," it ended up with a hefty run of at least 100,000 copies, each with its own numbered hype sticker. It still sold out in a flash. Mine clocks in around the 85,000 range, and despite the high volume, these vinyl are already fetching hundreds on Discogs—just a week post-release.
October 29: The Temper Trap - Conditions (2009)
Get Vinyl: Black in Red Vinyl
A long-awaited vinyl grail has finally landed! The Temper Trap’s debut album Conditions, featuring the timeless “Sweet Disposition,” is back in print at last. Currently, it’s only available in Australia, but don’t let that stop you—shipping to the U.S. is an option, bringing the total damage to around $46. If you’ve been hunting for this one, I wouldn’t hold your breath for a U.S. pressing. Grab it while you can!
October 30: CHVRCHES - Screen Violence (2021)
Get Vinyl: Red | Green | Black
When it comes to spooky Halloween records, CHVRCHES’ Screen Violence is a top contender. This horror-inspired concept album nails an unsettling aesthetic from start to finish. The crown jewel is “How Not To Drown,” where none other than Robert Smith trades lines with Lauren Mayberry.
In other news, Mayberry is gearing up for her solo debut, Vicious Creature, dropping December 6 via Island Records,
October 31: The Cure - Songs of a Lost World (2024)
Get Vinyl: Marbled Grey | White | Half Speed 2 LP | Black
Speaking of Robert Smith—Happy Halloween from The Cure, who just dropped their first album in 16 years! Today, fans got a first taste at early listening events in record stores, and let me tell you, this album is no nostalgia act.
I mean, where did this come from?! I can’t overstate how surprisingly great this album is. After some less-than-stellar releases in the late ’90s and 2000s, The Cure has returned in top form, reaching back to that Disintegration-era magic from 35 years ago.
The album’s bookends steal the show: the dreamy lead single “Alone” opens things up with vintage Cure atmosphere, while the ten-minute closer “Endsong” is a hypnotic farewell. If this really is The Cure’s swan song (and there’s no hint it is), it’s a stunning one. It debuts in the top 20 of my Album of the Year Leaderboard.
Another monthly roundup in the books! Thanks for reading, reply to this email or comment on Substack if you want to chat, and I’ll catch you next week!
Thank you for the kind words and signal boost! I really appreciate it. And I love that you're enjoying "Give me the Night!" Such a great record.
Digging Stars "Your Ex Lover is Dead." Beautiful!