Trip #17: Dancing to Electro-Pop Like a Robot from 1984
Trip #17: Dancing to Electro-Pop Like a Robot from 1984
Come on in and see art from Sampha, Home is Where, Grian Chatten, The Japanese House, Arctic Monkeys, Brand New, J Dilla, The Swell Season, and much more!
Welcome to The Wax Museum, where we elevate your vinyl collection through a music discovery time capsule. Enjoy a new trip in your inbox every Wednesday!
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Your Museum Guide for Wednesday, July 5, 2023
The FUTURE Exhibit (Upcoming Vinyl Releases)
The PRESENT Exhibit (2023 Album of the Year Leaderboard)
The PAST Exhibit (Essential Vinyl Records from 2006)
The RABBIT HOLE Exhibit (Wimbledon Hype)
Exit Through The GIFT SHOP (Vinyl Giveaway!)
🎧 Listen to this Trip on Spotify and Apple (26 Songs)
Come on in, guys. Let’s start with the best thing I heard this week, and that was the return of Sampha! Yes, the British musician has graced us with his first single in six years, and if the goosebumps on my arm are any indication, it’s been worth the wait.
Now on to the exhibits…
The FUTURE Exhibit
Highlighting notable new vinyl coming out this Friday, July 7.
New Albums
ANOHNI and the Johnsons - My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross | Anohni and the Johnsons (previously known as Antony and the Johnsons) are back with a sixth album and first in seven years. The record is said to be inspired and a response to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On.
Local Natives - Time Will Wait For No One | The fifth album from Los Angeles indie rock band Local Natives, Time Will Wait For No One is their “mantra of reassurance in response to relentless changes.”
Little Dragon - Slugs of Love (Translucent Blue Vinyl) - Swedish electro poppers Little Dragon, led by vocalist Yukimi Nagano, return with a new album with features from legend Damon Albarn and rapper JID.
PJ Harvey - I Inside the Old Year Dying | PJ Harvey is back with her tenth album, billed as audacious and original, as her mission for this record was to avoid anything reminiscent of her musical past.
Taylor Swift - Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (Orchid Marbled Vinyl) | Speak Now (Taylor's Version) features 22 songs, including six previously unreleased Songs From The Vault, across three orchid marbled colored vinyl. Other vinyl-colored variants include lilac at Target and violet at her online store.
New Vinyl
The Bill Evans Trio - Waltz For Debby (Original Jazz Classics Series) | As a companion to Sunday At The Village Vanguard, the Bill Evans Trio's fourth and final album, originally released in 1962, holds an important place in jazz history. This edition features all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, preserving the rich sound quality from the original tapes.
Justin Hurwitz - Whiplash Soundtrack | The classic 2014 film directed by Damien Chazelle gets a much-needed deluxe double vinyl pressing.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation. | King Gizzard’s 24th album and their second thrash record was released last month to rave reviews, and can now be yours on recycled black double vinyl.
Miles Davis - Sorcerer (Translucent Green Vinyl) | Sorcerer is the third album by the Second Great Miles Davis Quintet featuring an all-star cast of Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. The Music on Vinyl pressing is limited to 2500 individually numbered copies.
Nicki Minaj - Queen Radio: Volume 1 | Get all of Nicki Minaj’s biggest hits on one album across three vinyl. Target has it on violet wax.
RÜFÜS DU SOL - Live from Joshua Tree | RÜFÜS DU SOL’s live album and film shot and recorded in the desert of Joshua Tree, California, is now out on vinyl for the first time.
Waxahatchee - Cerulean Salt (Cerulean Blue Vinyl) | Waxahatchee’s second album receives a new repress on Cerulean Blue wax and is limited to just 700 units.
📋 Full list of vinyl releases, reissues, and compilations.
The PRESENT Exhibit
Behold the 2023 Album of the Year leaderboard. Three new albums get added each week. Standings change throughout the year.
🎧 Full AOTY 2023 Playlist: Spotify | Apple (59 Albums and Counting…)
This week features Grain Chatten, The Japanese House, and Home Is Where.
Grian Chatten - Chaos for the Fly
Get Vinyl: White Vinyl | Discogs (colored variants)
Grian Chatten swaps out the punk bangers that he’s known for as frontman of Fontaines D.C. for folksy melodies. Helped by hit-making producer Dan Carey, Grain’s debut solo record is a resounding success that brings to mind Leonard Cohen. The timeless “Fairlies” is one of my favorite tracks of the year, and shoutout to the melancholic “Bob’s Casino” about the futility of gambling (don’t I know it), featuring dreamy vocals by Grain’s fiancee. You can get this on Opaque White vinyl.
The Japanese House - In the End It Always Does
Get Vinyl: Cornflower Blue | Discogs (colored variants)
Amber Bain, aka The Japanese House, drops breakout second album about a breakup, with glitchy production from The 1975 drummer and producer George Daniel. The album highlights are the effortlessly catchy “Boyhood” and “Sunshine Baby,” with vocals from The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy. Take in all of Bain’s talents in the live film featuring four songs from the new record, and snag the vinyl on Cornflower Blue wax.
Home Is Where - the whaler
Get Vinyl: Pink | Blue | Discogs (colored variants)
Emo rockers Home Is Where’s second album is a soundtrack for our end times. “The end of the world isn’t some grand event; it’s just another day,” says frontwoman Brandon MacDonald.
the whaler is about getting used to things worsening, and the concept centers around 9/11. MacDonald explains:
“the whaler was built around the idea of simultaneously being bored and afraid. […] the album tells the story of the whole world being stuck in a time loop on 9/11/2001, and like with tape loops, the more it plays out, the more it degrades. People grow older and things change, but the collapse of the World Trade Center happens every morning.
Let’s just say this isn’t an optimistic album but rather an angry scream at the facade of normalcy everyone seems to be putting on during these abnormal times.
Home Is Where is from Palm Coast, Florida (twenty minutes from my hometown), where the phrase “never forget” means either 9/11 or Dale Earnhardt’s death, both prominently featured in the whaler.
Elsewhere, standout single “yes! yes! a thousand times yes!” features a dancey beat found by producer Jack Shirley (Joyce Manor, Deafheaven) that contrasts with the pitch-black comedy lyricism.
If you want a modern emo sound with some folksy, Floridian twang thrown in, give Home Is Where a shot; you won’t be disappointed. The Wax Bodega label shop has the vinyl available on both pink and blue variants.
The PAST Exhibit
Each week we look at a year gone by to find ten timeless albums that are must-haves in your vinyl collection. We started in 2022, we’re in 2006, and we’re going back to the ‘60s!
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | This week is 2006
🎧 Full Essential Vinyl Playlist: Spotify | Apple (170 Records and Counting…)
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
The Arctic Monkeys' Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was the fastest-selling debut album in British music history. The band led by Alex Turner appeared on the scene seemingly fully formed, showcasing their distinctive sound and observational storytelling about the nightlife of British youth. The songs are raw and rough around the edges. On closer “A Certain Romance,” you can hear an engineer say, “Shall I keep rolling?” which was presumably left in to show how unedited the performances were. “A Certain Romance” was recorded live in one take because Turner wanted a warts and all version.
J Dilla - Donuts
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Donuts, the second album by Detroit hip hop producer J Dilla, was released on his 32nd birthday, three days before his death. Composed entirely of sample-based tracks, the 31-song record blends soulful melodies, complex drum patterns, and meticulous layering. It stands as a testament to J Dilla's genius and is celebrated as one of the most important instrumental albums ever.
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants and half speed remasters)
Amy Winehouse's Back to Black bleeds authenticity and vulnerability thanks to Winehouse’s blunt lyrics and her trademark soulful voice. Winehouse's tragic passing a few years later only amplifies the album's poignancy and cements its status as a classic, reminding us of her immense talent and leaving us wondering what could have been.
Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Brand New’s third album The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me is one of the most influential emo albums of all time. You could even say it made liking emo cool again. The album explores themes of existentialism, faith, mental struggles, and inner turmoil with gritty intensity. Musically, the alt rock and post-hardcore mashup provides a haunting and emotionally charged experience. There’s not a skip among the 12 songs, and it will be the defining work of Brand New’s discography.
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
Muse’s fourth album Black Holes and Revelations is the band’s undisputed high point, with songs like “Starlight” and “Supermassive Black Hole” still staples of Muse's live performances. Best of all, you can usually snag the vinyl in the $15 range.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
Get Vinyl: Discogs
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Stadium Arcadium, produced by the god Rick Rubin, is an expansive double album that allows for diverse sounds and emotions, featuring energetic anthems and infectious grooves. The opening one-two punch of “Dani California” and the cocaine banger “Snow (Hey Oh)” continue to endure almost two decades later.
The 4 LP album comes in a beautiful package and sounds flawless on the turntable. While it currently goes for $120+ on Discogs, the album gets reissued every few years, so it’s wise to wait to purchase around the $40-$50 MSRP.
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová - The Swell Season
Get Vinyl: Discogs (colored variant)
The Swell Season is a folk rock duo formed by Irish musician Glen Hansard and Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová, who rose to prominence with their 2007 romantic film Once. The film would top many Best Movie of the Year lists, and the track "Falling Slowly" from the film won the Oscar for Best Song at the 80th Academy Awards.
While we wait for a Once reissue, which goes for big money, The Swell Season was recently reissued on gorgeous white and green splatter, which can be had for around $50.
The Kooks - Inside In / Inside Out
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variant)
Britpop band The Kooks knocked it out of the park with their catchy, guitar-driven debut album Inside In / Inside Out, though they had the misfortunate of releasing it on the same day as Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Luckily audiences caught on quick thanks to the infectious melodies and catchy hooks of songs like “Naive” and “She Moves in Her Own Way.”
The Roots - Game Theory
Get Vinyl: Discogs
Game Theory is the seventh album by Philly collective The Roots, who blend hip-hop, jazz, and soul to deliver a politically charged work of art. Here they are performing “Here I Come” off Game Theory on Letterman; they would go on to be Jimmy Fallon’s house band for NBC’s late-night talk show, with “Here I Come” serving as the opening song.
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Grandiose and theatrical are a few words to describe My Chemical Romance’s glam rock epic The Black Parade. The concept album centers around a dying character called The Patient, who’s confronted by Death and thinks of his fondest memory, that of his father bringing him to see a marching band. The last live performance of The Black Parade was recorded in a 2007 concert film in Mexico City, which you can watch in its entirety for free on YouTube. Go down to the Wax Museum Gift Shop at the end of this newsletter to win this vinyl!
The RABBIT HOLE Exhibit
Welcome to the non-music wing of the Museum. Take a trip down the pop culture rabbit hole with new recommendations each week.
📺 Videos from all trips can be found here.
Wimbledon | For the next two weeks, Wimbledon, the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, will be taking place in London and on ESPN. The men’s side is likely to come down to a final of 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz vs 36-year-old Novak Djokovic, but the women’s side is wide open.
To get you hyped, I’ve included one of the greatest tennis matches of all time, the 2019 Wimbledon final between Djokovic and Roger Federer, the longest final in Wimbledon history. Skip ahead to the start of the fifth set at 3:00:39 to witness brilliance.
The barrage of powerful shots, impressive winners, delicate drop shots, skillful volleys, defensive prowess, exceptional serving, and the overall drama and excitement combined to create an unforgettable masterpiece.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Thanks for visiting! If you want to support this newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber for $5 a month (or $40 a year) so I can keep making these. As a bonus, paid subs are entered into this month’s vinyl giveaway (contest ends July 19).
The winner will choose one of four sealed vinyl. Since we will be focusing on the mid-2000s in the Essential Vinyl exhibit, we will be giving away the following:
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III (VMP Black & Red Galaxy Double Vinyl)
Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This To Memory (Bandbox Pink & Blue Vinyl)
Amy Winehouse - Frank (The Sound of Vinyl Pink Vinyl)
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (Walmart Grey Vinyl)
Additional paid benefits will be coming soon, including a sub-only DJ room, discord, WhatNot auctions, and perhaps a handpicked vinyl club. Stay tuned!
Leave a comment card on your way out, and we’ll see ya next Wax Wednesday!
Best part: https://youtu.be/iPfLrL9A734