Welcome to The Wax Museum, where we hit ya with vinyl and streaming recommendations from the future (upcoming releases), present (Album of the Year leaderboard), and past (essential records). Enjoy a new trip in your inbox every Wednesday. Let’s get into it!
🎧 Listen to this week’s Trip! Spotify | Apple (2 Hours of Vibes)
We start with the best thing from this week, and that award goes to Nardwaur’s interview with boygenius! It’s an entertaining way to spend a half hour and features plenty of “How did you know that?" answers to Nardwaur’s unparalleled research.
Speaking of Phoebe Bridgers, Target posted an exclusive new vinyl variant of Punisher in “radioactive swamp” green this morning. While it quickly sold out, expect this beauty to be restocked online and in-store on the September 29 release date.
Now on to the exhibits!
The FUTURE Exhibit: New Vinyl Releases
Highlighting the notable new records coming out this Friday, August 4.
New Albums
Art School Girlfriend - Soft Landing (Blue Vinyl) | I’m predicting it now: North Wales artist Art School Girlfriend will be big. I’m in love with every single she’s put out for her upcoming second album Soft Landing. The vinyl distributes from the UK, and you can get a signed print with your record here.
Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II | In his second album as Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang Van Halen continues to showcase his incredible talent as a one-man band.
Miles Kane - One Man Band | The UK’s Miles Kane drops his fifth solo album One Man Band, which will be heavy on guitar and feature zero piano or brass.
Navy Blue - Ways of Knowing | Navy Blue’s Def Jam debut, released in March, gets a physical release on standard black and Urban Outfitters exclusive dusty denim blue vinyl.
New Vinyl
Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy (Clear Vinyl) | In honor of the 5th anniversary of Invasion of Privacy and the 75th anniversary of Atlantic Records, we get Cardi B’s debut reissued on clear double vinyl.
Duke Pearson - The Right Touch (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) | Duke Pearson's 1967 album The Right Touch stands as a pinnacle of his career, spotlighting his piano prowess with six jams performed by the vibrant 8-piece band featuring Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, and James Spaulding.
Johnny Hammond - Gears (Jazz Dispensary Series) | Johnny Hammond's jazz-funk 1975 opus Gears has ascended to cult status, in part due to sampling by Erykah Badu and Kendrick Lamar. Gears has been reborn thanks to Kevin Gray, who pressed this on audiophile-quality 180-gram vinyl at RTI.
Lee Morgan - Infinity (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) | Lee Morgan's Infinity, which was recorded in 1965 but hidden from the world until 1981, features the stellar talents of saxophonist Jackie McLean, pianist Larry Willis, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Billy Higgins, now available on 180-gram vinyl remastered from the original analog tapes.
Panda Bear - Tomboy | Tomboy is a psych-pop gem of an album by Animal Collective's Panda Bear aka Noah Lennox. Early 2010’s masterpiece that sounds stellar on the turntable.
The PRESENT Exhibit: AOTY Leaderboard
Behold the 2023 Album of the Year Leaderboard. Two tracks from three albums get added each week. Standings change throughout the year.
🎧 Full AOTY 2023 Playlist: Spotify | Apple (71 Albums and Counting…)
This week features George Clanton, Travis Scott, and Durand Jones.
George Clanton - Ooh Rap I Ya
Get Vinyl: Canary Yellow
Ooh Rap I Ya, the first solo album from vaporwave artist George Clanton in nearly five years, is filled with surprises. Right off the bat, the first song tricks you into turning the volume up before coming in hot. Second track and accompanying video “I Been Young” nails the 90s trip-hop and radio pop aesthetic. Clanton proudly admits being stylistically indebted to ‘90s acts like Savage Garden and Seal.
The album sticks the landing with two gorgeous jams, featuring the irresistibly danceable title track and the Hatchie featured closer that I’ve listened to maybe 50 times already.
The last two tracks convinced me to grab the vinyl; the first edition vinyl differentiates itself from all future pressings with an embossed cover and a canary yellow color variant.
Travis Scott - Utopia
Get Vinyl: Five different covers and three different colors.
Travis Scott's newest record Utopia has ignited a whirlwind of opinions, with discourse ranging from hailing it as Album of the Year to labeling it a mere imitation of Kanye and Frank Ocean.
With a star-studded lineup featuring Drake, Beyonce, Future, Kid Cudi, SZA, and many more, Utopia certainly qualifies as a blockbuster. Still, among the heavy hitters, the Houston rapper struggles to match their energy, lacking the necessary personality and charisma.
Those searching for deep, conscious lyricism are barking up the wrong tree. Instead, this album thrives in its vibrant soundscapes, expertly crafted by production legends like Ye, Daft Punk's Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, James Blake, and The Alchemist. “MY EYES” is the highlight, featuring a mesmerizing exchange between Bon Iver and Sampha before Travis takes us home with his best verse on the album.
Durand Jones - Wait Til I Get Over
Get Vinyl: Blue Jay | Discogs (colored variants)
Durand Jones's debut solo album, Wait Til I Get Over, is a soulful celebration of Southern Black music, paying homage to his hometown of Hillaryville, Louisiana.
Jones crafts songs that are both raw and precise; take the lead single, "Lord Have Mercy," for example - Jones's live-band recording approach captures the energy and authenticity of his lyrics and mood, making it an irresistible and foot-tapping experience.
It’s hard not to smile ear to ear listening to Jones weave raw Delta grit and soul-stirring spirituals into a mesmerizing sermon-like experience that holds your attention throughout.
The PAST Exhibit: Essential Vinyl of 2002
Each week we look at a year gone by to find ten timeless albums that are must-haves in your vinyl collection. All vinyl are easy to find unless otherwise stated.
Archive: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
🎧 Full Essential Vinyl Playlist: Spotify | Apple (210 Records and Counting…)
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
Get Vinyl: 20th Anniversary Super Deluxe | Discogs (colored variants)
The Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is the band’s best-selling album, certified Gold in the US with over 700,000 albums sold thanks to the band’s most iconic songs “Do You Realize??” and the title track. Wayne Coyne and company are currently on tour playing this album in its entirety.
The 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition box set arrived earlier this year with 56 tracks spread across five vinyl including the original album, B-sides, demos, radio sessions, and other assorted rarities.
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Turn On the Bright Lights is the debut album by New York rockers Interpol. The album's atmospheric soundscapes, propelled by Paul Banks' brooding vocals and the band's haunting instrumentals, influenced many indie rock bands, including The Killers and The xx. The record sounds as fresh today as 20 years ago.
For more on this album’s creation and enduring legacy, I recommend Lizzy Goodman’s exhaustively researched book Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011.
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Get Vinyl: Black | White | Deluxe | Discogs (colored variants)
It may surprise you to learn that Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was not loved by Warner Brothers, the parent company of Wilco’s longtime label, Reprise. Frontman Jeff Tweedy reflects:
They thought it was all wrong. It wasn’t radio-friendly, there were no hits, we’d have to scrap everything and start over or, if we insisted on going with what we’d recorded, be dropped from the label.
Wilco opted for the latter, leaving the label and streaming it for free online. It ended up being the band’s most successful album, selling over 500,000 copies. Whoops.
“Jesus, Etc” became a runaway hit, which became noteworthy for anticipating the imagery of 9/11. Tweedy recounts:
There were a lot of eerie echoes of 9/11 that I heard on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, maybe because some of the focus on that record was being introspective about America. I understood how people could hear that in it. The thing that’s much weirder for me is seeing it referred to as a record written about 9/11, which blows my mind — the album was ready to go by then. I don’t know what else to say about it other than I’m obviously very, very honored if anybody found any kind of consolation in that record, at that time or now.
The Used - The Used
Get Vinyl: Bone / Oxblood Split | Discogs (colored variants)
A month after Wilco left Reprise, the label signed The Used, where they found the radio-friendly hits they were looking for, with three charting singles and a gold certification. The self-titled debut is regarded as a seminal work in the screamo genre, with numerous bands including Escape the Fate, Crown the Empire, and A Static Lullaby crediting it as a significant influence on their music.
Reprise released five variants last year for the 20th anniversary, which are available online and at many local record stores in the $30-$40 range.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
RHCP went for maximum melodies on eighth album By The Way, and created an early 2000s masterpiece that invoked comparisons to Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. The dream team of John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, and producer Rick Rubin concocted a multilayered, textured sound without compromising their trademark energy and passion.
Eminem - The Eminem Show
Get Vinyl: Black | Expanded 4 LP | Discogs (colored variants)
The Eminem Show sees Eminem at the height of his powers, and the packed 20-song album is likely his best and most personal work.
Fun fact: “Till I Collapse" is the most streamed non-single in Spotify history, with over 1.7 billion plays.
The newly released 4 LP expanded edition features instrumentals and live audio from a 1999 New York show and the 2001 Fuji Rock Festival.
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf
Get Vinyl: Discogs (colored variants)
Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf is probably the best concept album about driving in your car and listening to the radio. Led by the frontman Josh Homme, the record’s ferocious and dynamic sound, combined with guest appearances from Dave Grohl and Mark Lanegan, catapulted Queens of the Stone Age into rock royalty.
The blistering riffs, thunderous drumming, and Homme's distinct vocals sound fantastic on the turntable. Unfortunately, this one has recently gone out of print and is going for a pretty penny on Discogs. VMP has the best looking and sounding variant with their beautiful red marbled vinyl.
Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends
Get Vinyl: Black | 20th Anniversary | Discogs (colored variants)
Taking Back Sunday blended punk, hardcore, and pop to create the quintessential emo record Tell All Your Friends. Tracks like "Cute Without the 'E' (Cut from the Team)" and "You're So Last Summer" became anthems for young adults experiencing the ups and downs of first love and heartbreak.
The 20th-anniversary vinyl comes in eight different colors with a new 10-inch containing four demos.
RJD2 - Deadringer
Get Vinyl: Discogs (colored variants)
Deadringer is the debut album by Ohio producer RJD2. With its innovative sampling and seamless fusion of different genres, Deadringer became a defining work in the instrumental hip-hop genre. A great one to throw on your sound system and crank to 11.
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
You Forgot It in People marks the second album by Canadian rock collective Broken Social Scene. The album proved to be their breakthrough success; with its intricate and experimental production and zero filler, the record showcases the band's expanded lineup of 11 pieces and a plethora of instruments. With its lush and expansive soundscapes, the record became a defining moment for Canadian indie music. Basically every song on here kicks ass.
The vinyl was reissued during this year’s Record Store Day; the record featured a new cover and cobalt blue wax.
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.
How To with John Wilson | The most delightfully strange show on television right now is How To with John Wilson, currently airing its third and final season on HBO.
The series is created, directed, and narrated by John Wilson, who sets out to explore daily life in New York City. Armed with his camera, John captures seemingly mundane and ordinary situations, from street performers to pigeons, and everything in between. The show combines observational humor with poignant moments to celebrate the randomness and diverse tapestry of life in the city that never sleeps.
Think of it as a mix between the sweetness of Joe Pera and the wizardry and boldness of Nathan Fielder, the latter of who produces the show.
Each episode sets out with a designated topic, but the journey takes unexpected turns as Wilson engages with passersby and sparks impromptu conversations. These chance encounters take us down some strange roads, creating delightful and sometimes shocking moments.
Perhaps this is no better illustrated than the promotion for the show; this behind-the-scenes vignette starts as a typical interview and eventually morphs into Nathan’s dark relationship with Tik Tok kids he’s sharing a home with.
The third season premiere aired last Friday and asked the question “where can someone use a bathroom in New York?” This question led to Wilson hopping on a party bus to an Odesza concert, visiting a local Masonic Temple, and finally ending up at Burning Man.
How To with John Wilson is a truly original gem for those seeking something different on their screens. Catch it Friday nights on HBO and streaming on MAX.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Thanks for visiting! If you want to support this newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber for $5 a month so I can keep making these. Paid subs are entered into a monthly vinyl giveaway. Details for August’s giveaway will drop next week.
Lastly, if you collect vinyl, and I would hope you do making it this far, you must follow Twitter’s #1 vinyl deal finder. Expect about five to ten tweets a day. Be sure to turn on notifications because some deals go fast.
Leave a comment card on your way out, and we’ll see ya next Wax Wednesday!