Trip #25: It's the Return of the Gangster
Trip #25: It's the Return of the Gangster
Slowdive, Jeff Rosenstock, and New Pagans enter the AOTY leaderboard, the Must-Have Vinyl of 1998, and a Romy "Mid Air" vinyl giveaway!
Happy Wax Wednesday to those who celebrate! It’s time for our weekly journey into the Future (Upcoming Releases), Present (AOTY Leaderboard), and Past (The Best Vinyl from Each Year) to upgrade your playlists and vinyl collection.
🎧 Listen along to this week’s Trip! Spotify | Apple
This week we have a loaded 28 song playlist, 2 hours 23 minutes of vibes.
The FUTURE Exhibit: New Vinyl Releases
Highlighting notable records coming out this Friday, September 8th.
New Albums
Anjimile - The King | Anjimile’s new album The King features songs born out of the violent, police brutality-filled summer of 2020. The title track is a grand spectacle and exciting first single.
Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS (Bright Pink Vinyl) | Olivia Rodrigo attempts to recreate the magic of debut SOUR, which became the fastest album in history to have all songs platinum certified.
Romy - Mid Air (Neon Green Vinyl) | Romy Madley Croft, one-third of The xx, drops her long-awaited solo album. This month, we’re giving away a copy of Romy’s Mid Air on exclusive Spotify Fans First Neon Green vinyl. Head to the bottom of this newsletter for more info, or click the subscribe button to enter.
Royal Blood - Back to the Water Below (Gold Vinyl) | English rock duo Royal Blood are back with their self-produced fourth album, receiving critical acclaim for its towering rock riffs.
Sparklehorse - Bird Machine | Here’s a never-before-heard album by Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse (RIP), originally recorded in 2010.
The Chemical Brothers - For That Beautiful Feeling | Acclaimed electro duo The Chemical Brothers will release their tenth album across three 180-gram vinyl cut at 45 RPM.
The Coral - Sea Of Mirrors and Holy Joe’s Coral Island Medicine Show | Prolific UK band The Coral return with not one, but two new albums featuring 30 psychedelic folk-rock jams.
Tyler Childers - Rustin’ in the Rain | Country singer Tyler Childers prepares anticipated new album highlighted by the much-discussed single “In Your Love,” which featured a video of a romance between two male coal miners.
Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music | Drumming prodigy Yussef Dayes’ nineteen-track debut solo album is stuffed with features including Chronixx, Masego, Jamilah Barry, and Tom Misch, to name a few.
Zeus - Credo | Canadian rock outfit Zeus return with a fourth album filled with tracks that they hope will “feel familiar in that 'have always been there' kind of way.”
New Vinyl
Armor for Sleep - Dream to Make Believe | The 2003 debut album by emo-pop band Armor for Sleep, which explored dreaming and time-traveling, finally gets a vinyl release twenty years later.
bar italia - Tracey Demin | One of our AOTY candidates from May arrives on vinyl.
The Flaming Lips - Greatest Hits Vol 1 (Gold Vinyl) | The Flaming Lips compile eleven Warner-era singles from 1993 to 2017.
Ghostface Killah - Bulletproof Wallets (Silver Vinyl) | Ghostface Killah’s reunion with partner-in-rhyme Raekwon is back in print for the first time since 2016 on silver vinyl, limited to 1,000 hand-numbered copies.
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (UHQR Vinyl) | Hear the 1964 masterpiece at its peak of vinyl perfection with the UHQR format on Clarity Vinyl with a double 45 RPM cut.
Linkin Park - Meteora | For those who just wanted Meteora repressed on standard black without all the extra features and high price tag that recent remasters brought, Friday is your lucky day.
moe. - Tin Cans and Car Tires (Sky Blue Vinyl) | The 25th Anniversary of moe.’s fourth album gets a colored upgrade and features live tracks from moe. Sells Out on vinyl for the first time.
The Postal Service - Everything Will Change (Lavender and Blue Vinyl) | The Postal Service's 2013 performance at The Greek Theater, featured in the concert film of the same title, comes to vinyl for the first time on a Sub Pop “Loser” colored variant.
Thrice - The Artist in the Ambulance (Cream Vinyl) | Thrice rerecorded their 20-year-old album, and you can snag it on cream-colored wax.
The PRESENT Exhibit: Album of the Year Leaderboard
Behold the 2023 Album of the Year Leaderboard. Standings change frequently; three new albums are added each Wednesday.
🎧 Full AOTY 2023 Playlist: Spotify | Apple (80+ Albums and Counting…)
Slowdive - everything is alive
Get Vinyl: Mint Green | Black
Debuts at #12 on Leaderboard
Shoegaze kings and queen Slowdive are back to bless us with their first album since their eponymous release six years ago, and it's certainly worth the wait.
everything is alive sees the quintet of Rachel Goswell, Neil Halstead, Christian Savill, Nick Chaplin, and Simon Scott explore new dimensions of their reverb-soaked guitar-driven sound.
There are frequent goosebumps moments throughout the album’s eight-song journey; if you are already familiar with opening singles “kisses” and “skin in the game,” opener “shanty” and the dreamy “alife” are the other showstoppers.
In a music landscape where evolution over 30+ years is rare, Slowdive effortlessly reaffirm their prowess, delivering pure immersive bliss that demands to be cranked up.
Jeff Rosenstock - HELLMODE
Get Vinyl: Crazy Ass Multicolor | Neon Pink
Debuts at #17 on Leaderboard
Jeff Rosenstock, an artist consistently deserving of more recognition, delivers his fifth album in a decade with HELLMODE, solidifying his status as a punk maestro.
In an era where punk rock's vitality is often questioned, Rosenstock proves the naysayers wrong with an album brimming with energy and charisma. Throughout HELLMODE, Rosenstock taps into our current cultural anxiety; while that sounds like a bummer, the music is so damn catchy that it’s impossible not to sing along.
The album's pinnacle lies in its opening quartet; tracks like "HEAD" evoke the spirit of his former band Bomb the Music Industry!, while the closing seven-minute epic "3 SUMMERS" is among his greatest songs yet.
New Pagans - Making Circles of Our Own
Get Vinyl: Blue/Black Mix | Ecomix | Discogs (colored variant)
Debuts at #55 on Leaderboard
Belfast quintet New Pagans second album, released in February, picks up right where their debut left off with infectious hooks and electrifying riffs, propelled by Lyndsey McDougall's commanding vocals that bring to mind Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
The beauty of Making Circles of Our Own lies in its layers; with every spin, you'll uncover new intricacies that keep you hungry for more. It’s unfair that New Pagans aren’t a household name yet, as they've dropped two anthem-filled albums that certainly deserve more love and recognition.
The PAST Exhibit: 1998’s Must-Have Vinyl
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 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999
🎧 Full Essential Vinyl Playlist: Spotify | Apple (250 Records and Counting…)
Air - Moon Safari
Get Vinyl: Sea of Tranquility | Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Let’s start the 1998 Must-Have Vinyl Playlist off hot with the one-two punch of classics “La femme d’argent” and “Sexy Boy” off Air’s debut album. Moon Safari showcases the versatility of the Versailles duo’s lounge-jazz aesthetics and oozes charm and easy-listening.
This year, Vinyl Me, Please reissued Moon Safari on gorgeous “Sea of Tranquility” colored wax and it’s still available for retail.
Outkast - Aquemini
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (one very expensive colored variant)
OutKast's third album Aquemini was nothing short of a State of the Union address for hip-hop. The genre-defying triumph seamlessly weaves Southern rap, funk, soul, and psychedelia, punctuated by the unparalleled chemistry between André 3000 and Big Boi.
What sets this album apart from the rest of OutKast’s sprawling albums is its impeccable sequencing; it's an experience best enjoyed as a whole, with each track thoughtfully placed to maintain a distinct mood throughout. While lacking the monster singles that came before and after Aquemini, this is the complete package, and I’ll go as far to say it’s not only OutKast’s best album, but the greatest Southern rap album in history.
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
Neutral Milk Hotel's second and final album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea received mixed reviews upon release but later acquired a fervent cult following. Jeff Mangum, the band's frontman, found it challenging to handle the newfound attention, leading to his withdrawal from public life. Since then, the album's reputation has soared, earning its place as one of the 90s’ finest and most influential indie rock records.
While the title track gets all the love, my favorite re-listen is the eight-plus-minute “Oh Comely,” which legend has it was recorded perfectly the first time. It was supposed to be just a sound check for the song, but Jeff went for it. At the very end, you can hear someone in the studio scream, “Holy Shit!”
This vinyl retails for under $15 so there’s no excuse not to have this in the collection.
UNKLE - Psyence Fiction
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
UNKLE’s debut Psyence Fiction, also greeted to some unkind reviews upon release, now stands as a cult favorite, a pioneering work in the trip-hop and electronic music genre.
Crafted by Mo Wax visionary James Lavelle and sampler wizard DJ Shadow, the feature list is truly bonkers: Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Beastie Boys’ Mike D, The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft, Kool G Rap, The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown, Metallica’s Jason Newsted, and Talk Talk’s Mark Hollis.
The penultimate track, "Rabbit in Your Headlights," features a haunting piano melody over Thom Yorke's distinctive falsetto vocals. The bizarre music video is definitely worth a watch, directed by Under the Skin’s Jonathan Glazer.
Mercury Rev - Deserter’s Songs
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
Mercury Rev's album Deserter's Songs should not exist. Following the disappointment of their previous album and a series of internal challenges, including financial troubles, depression among band members, and heavy drug use, they decided to make one last album purely for themselves, disregarding commercial considerations and expecting an imminent breakup. To their astonishment, Deserter's Songs became their most successful record, defying their earlier struggles and capturing the essence of their emotional rollercoaster during that period.
Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
The debut album from Scottish electro duo Boards of Canada marries ambient textures with downtempo beats and intricate sampling to create a warm yet haunting atmosphere that seeps and stays in your skull. The album's brilliance lies in its ability to evoke vivid memories and emotions, as if it were the soundtrack to some forgotten dream.
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Everything about Lauryn Hill’s debut is timeless. The samples: Bob Marley, Wu-Tang, The Doors. The features: Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige, D’Angelo. The themes: love, identity, empowerment. The album's raw authenticity and unapologetic honesty from Hill’s passionate vocals create a connection that transcends the era of its release.
The Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy up the Girl
Get Vinyl: Silver | Discogs (colored variants)
Sure, The Goo Goo Dolls may be a one-album wonder, but what an album it is, with “Iris,” “Slide,” and “Black Balloon” all legendary pop gems.
If you are looking to add this to your collection, now is the perfect time, as Dizzy up the Girl is receiving a 25th anniversary remaster on silver vinyl, out next week, September 15th. Previous colored variants are going for well over $100.
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
Massive Attack veered away from their jazzy roots, embracing the world of trip-hop with their third album and career pinnacle Mezzanine. Opener “Angel,” with its slow, druggy beat and captivating vocals from Jamaican reggae star Andy Horace is a clear signal that something inspired is in the works.
Third track “Teardrop” is another home run, helmed by the ethereal vocals of Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser. Interestingly, this track was originally meant for Madonna, but the band went with Fraser, who better complemented the mournful melody, leaving us forever pondering this fun "what-if.”
Tortoise - TNT
Get Vinyl: Clear with Black and Blue | Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Taking us home is the seven-minute opening title track “TNT” from post rock masters Tortoise. This sublime slice of cool jazz suitably captures the energy of their live performances, with meticulously layered compositions, where each instrument conveys a wide range of emotions without a single word. A great record to throw on the turntable that gives you more with each listen.
You can order a beautiful clear, black, and blue mixed variant direct from Tortoise’s label Thrill Jockey for $25.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
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1998 was a good year! I would have liked to see Car Wheels On A Gravel Road by Lucinda Williams on your list, too...