Trip #27: I Won’t Deny It, I'm a Straight Ridah
Trip #27: I Won’t Deny It, I'm a Straight Ridah
This week's new vinyl, three albums join the AOTY leaderboard, the best records from 1996, and a prayers up to Matt Christman.
🎧 Listen along to this week’s trip! Spotify | Apple
This week we have a loaded 32 song playlist, 2 and a half hours of grooves.
Hello and welcome back to The Wax Museum, the vinyl and vibes curation newsletter, where we dig up grooves from the past, present, and future.
As always, let’s start with the best thing I heard this week, which was a live performance in New Orleans of trumpeter Kermit Ruffins at his own venue, Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge.
Kermit’s there every Saturday at 8 PM; $20 cash at the door gets you up close and personal with the modern-day Louis Armstrong. If you can’t make it to Nawlins anytime soon, his album Live at Vaughan’s does a great job capturing the fun energy of his live show.
The FUTURE Exhibit: New Vinyl Releases
Highlighting records out this Friday, September 29th that I’m excited about.
New Albums
Animal Collective - Isn’t It Now? (Orchid Vinyl) | Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist, and Deakin join forces for the second Animal Collective album in as many years.
Armand Hammer - We Buy Diabetic Test Strips (Purple Vinyl) | New York’s Armand Hammer, the hip-hop duo consisting of ELUCID and billy woods, are back with We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, featuring production from JPEGMAFIA, EL-P, Kenny Segal, Black Noi$e, and more.
Blonde Redhead - Sit Down For Dinner (Opaque White Vinyl) | Blonde Redhead returns with their first album in nine years; the singles suggest this could be the strongest record in their 30-year catalog.
Cherry Glazerr - I Don't Want You Anymore (Crystal Clear Vinyl) | Clementine Creevy is back with a follow-up to 2019’s Stuffed & Ready, an underrated gem.
Ed Sheeran - Autumn Variations (White Vinyl) | Ed Sheeran teams up with The National’s Aaron Dessner for their second collaborative album this year.
Jorja Smith - falling or flying | English R&B singer Jorja Smith returns with 16 new soulful tracks.
Molly Burch - Daydreamer (Cotton Candy Vinyl) | Molly Burch hooks up with producer Jack Tatum (Wild Nothing) for her fourth album.
Oliver Tree - Alone in a Crowd (Red, Blue, and Black Vinyl) | Oliver Tree adopts a character for each new album; this time, he transforms into tortured fashion designer Cornelius Cummings.
Oneohtrix Point Never - Again (Blue Vinyl) | Prolific producer Daniel Lopatin is back with OPN’s highly-anticipated tenth album. Hyped about this one.
Slow Pulp - Yard (Translucent Orange Vinyl) | Rockers Slow Pulp release their second album on various vinyl variants: orange, blue, violet, and black still available.
Wilco - Cousin (Floral Ice Vinyl) | Wilco’s thirteen album features Cate Le Bon as producer, the first time an outsider has been actively involved in a Wilco recording session since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot twenty years ago.
New Vinyl
Dan Auberbach - Keep It Hid | The critically acclaimed and long-out-of-print 2009 debut solo album from The Black Keys singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach; the vinyl is reissued with new artwork and pressed from the original master.
Green Day - Dookie (Baby Blue Vinyl) | The iconic punk-rock-pop masterpiece turns 30.
HAIM - Days Are Gone (Green Vinyl) | The first Days are Gone reissue in ten years gets a new package with a slipcase, poster and a gorgeous green double vinyl.
The Jesus Lizard - Goat (White Vinyl) | The second album by noise rockers The Jesus Lizard gets a 180 gram vinyl reissue on white wax, limited to 2,000 units.
SBTRKT - The Rat Road | Wax Museum AOTY candidate The Rat Road is finally out on vinyl.
Silverstein - Discovering the Waterfront (Marbled Blue Vinyl) | Punk stalwarts Silverstein's biggest album to date celebrates 18 years with a colored and black reissue.
Steely Dan - Aja | The 1977 Steely Dan classic and one of my all-time favs gets a new vinyl reissue overseen by Donald Fagen and remastered from the original analog tapes by Bernie Grundman.
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain (Orange Vinyl) | The Brooklyn indie rockers’ acclaimed sophomore album gets a rare colored reissue, limited to 3,000 units.
Usher - My Way | Usher, who will be this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performer, celebrates 25 years of My Way with a reissue that features alternative album art and a second vinyl of three re-imagined tracks.
Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue | A much-needed reissue of the pop-punk cornerstone is finally here. Until this month, a copy of Ocean Avenue on vinyl would have cost you hundreds of dollars.
Various Artists: The Nightmare Before Christmas (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Zoetrope Picture Disc) | Danny Elfman’s score to the classic Tim Burton holiday movie gets a fun zoetrope picture disc double vinyl displaying moving art from the film.
The PRESENT Exhibit: AOTY 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 (89 Albums and Counting…)
The National - Laugh Track
Get Vinyl: Clear Pink | Black
Debuts at #22 on Leaderboard
If you missed last week’s newsletter, I wrote exclusively about a recent personal tragedy and how The National’s Laugh Track provided me with some catharsis. I’m officially adding the album to the leaderboard this week; my favorite songs are the title track featuring Phoebe Bridgers, “Space Invader” (especially the climactic back half), and the wild departure of a closer “Smoke Detector,” featuring Matt Berninger spitting bar after bar over the trademark dueling guitars of the Dessner brothers.
Alan Palomo - World of Hassle
Get Vinyl: Black
Debuts at #30 on Leaderboard
Alan Palomo, shedding his Neon Indian moniker, returns from an eight-year hiatus with World of Hassle. While he detours from the chillwave aesthetics of his past, this album is a vibrant plunge into Italo disco, where Palomo's vocals shine brightly alongside absurdist narratives and eccentric characters reminiscent of Thomas Pynchon.
With tracks like "Nudista Mundial '89" featuring Mac DeMarco and "The Return of Mickey Milan," featuring the album’s catchiest chorus, World of Hassle exudes infectious energy and marks an exciting evolution in Palomo's musical journey.
jaimie branch - Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants including a cool peacock color)
Debuts at #68 on Leaderboard
In July 2022, trumpet player jaimie branch was putting the finishing touches on her third album when she unexpectedly died at the age of 39. In the months following, her family, her band, and her collaborators banded together to put this out into the world.
It’s a blast taking a odyseey through branch’s punk-jazz world, packed with lush, grand grooves and melodies. The nine-minute single “baba louie” is the album’s centerpiece, and it’s one of those tracks you could live in forever, exploring every nook and cranny of its free-jazz freakiness.
The PAST Exhibit: 1996’s Must-Have Vinyl
Each week we look at a year gone by to find ten timeless albums that are must-haves in your record 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 | 1998 | 1997
🎧 Full Essential Vinyl Playlist: Spotify | Apple (270 Records and Counting…)
2Pac - All Eyez on Me
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
1996 was an unbelievable year for hip hop. Jay Z’s Reasonable Doubt, OutKast’s ATLiens, Nas’ It Was Written, Ghostface Killah’s Ironman, The Roots’ Illadelph Halflife, UGK’s Ridin’ Dirty, Mobb Deep’s Hell on Earth, and Fugees’ The Score just to name a few, but none had the lasting impact as 2Pac’s All Eyez on Me.
All Eyez On Me encapsulates the passion and confrontational spirit that defined Pac’s illustrious career. Serving as the first double-disc album in hip-hop history, it offers a 130-minute sprawling canvas of tracks that delve into the complex tapestry of 2Pac’s life. With iconic hits like “Ambitionz Az a Ridah,” “California Love,” and “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” solidifying its legendary status, the album also carries the weighty significance of being his last release before his untimely assassination.
Fiona Apple - Tidal
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
Fiona Apple's Tidal introduced a voice that was profoundly raw, sultry, and refreshingly honest. As a testament to her prodigious talent, Apple penned the evocative single "Criminal" in under an hour, a feat made all the more remarkable considering she was just a teenager at the time. The album’s confessional lyricism and innovative melding of jazz, pop, and rock demonstrated a maturity and depth that belied Apple's years.
Tidal was hard to find on vinyl for many years and cost a pretty penny. Luckily Vinyl Me, Please has recently repressed this for members in the $35 range.
Sublime - Sublime
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Sublime's self-titled third and final album serves as a poignant culmination of the band's fusion of ska, punk, reggae, and hip-hop, delivering a sound that was unique and emblematic of Southern California's sun-soaked, laid-back ethos. Characterized by its infectious melodies and eclectic influences, the album showcased the band's ability to craft anthems that resonated deeply with fans, notably through hits like "What I Got" and "Doin' Time." Tragically, the album also stands as a bittersweet testament to the prodigious talent of frontman Bradley Nowell, as he succumbed to a heroin overdose just months before its release.
Matchbox 20 - Yourself or Someone Like You
Get Vinyl: Red | Discogs (colored variant)
I feel like Matchbox 20's Yourself or Someone Like You best encapsulates the sound and sentiment of mainstream American rock in the mid-90s. With Rob Thomas's distinct voice and the band's catchy melodies, tracks like "Push" and "3 A.M." dominated the airwaves. For me, the ubiquitous presence of Matchbox 20 on pop radio evokes vivid memories of a specific time and place, like the nostalgia of driving in my parents' car, with the world outside blurring past and the band's songs providing a comforting, familiar soundtrack.
DJ Shadow: Endtroducing
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variant)
Constructed entirely of samples, DJ Shadow’s debut album is celebrated as a monumental achievement in instrumental hip-hop and electronic music. Endtroducing’s audacious exploration of atmosphere and rhythm pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved using turntables and a sampler. DJ Shadow intricately wove snippets from obscure records to create a cohesive piece that was sometimes ethereal, sometimes scary, but always groovy.
Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Nothing gets the adrenaline rushing like Rage Against the Machine, and the one-two opening punch of “People of the Sun” and “Bulls on Parade” are charged with relentless energy and acts as a rousing call to arms against systemic power structures, political corruption, and capitalist exploitation.
Weezer - Pinkerton
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Weezer's sophomore effort Pinkerton is an example of art's true value being recognized only with the passage of time. The album faced mixed reviews from critics and disappointed commercially, failing to replicate the sales success of their debut. The confessional lyricism of Cuomo’s insecurities and disillusionment and the rougher, unfiltered sound marked a stark departure from their more accessible pop-rock tunes. However, the very elements that were initially criticized became celebrated. The album has amassed a cult following and is generally lauded as a quintessential '90s classic.
Fugees - The Score
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs (colored variants)
Fugees' 1996 masterpiece The Score is a hip hop landmark, which addressed socio-political themes with gravitas and was bolstered by its hit tracks — the hard-hitting "Ready or Not" and their soul-stirring cover of "Killing Me Softly with His Song."
With over 22 million copies sold worldwide, it remains the best-selling album by a hip-hop group in history. Lauryn Hill's haunting vocals, intertwined with Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel's adept lyricism, elevated The Score beyond just commercial success; it became a cultural zeitgeist.
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
Get Vinyl: Discogs
Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt marked the auspicious debut of one of the genre's most influential and enduring icons. The album paints a vivid picture of Jay-Z's early life and the gritty streets of Brooklyn, offering us a candid window into the complexities of ambition, wealth, crime, and survival. Over time, as Jay-Z's stature in the industry grew, many fans and critics, including Hova himself, have pointed to Reasonable Doubt as his magnum opus.
For many a vinyl collector, this has become a white whale, as you will have to shell out hundreds of dollars for even a used copy. Roc Nation needs to repress this one ASAP.
Nirvana - From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
Get Vinyl: Black | Discogs
Nirvana's live album From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah is a visceral testament to the band's electrifying stage presence and the frenetic energy they harnessed during live performances. Unlike their introspective and somber MTV Unplugged, which showcased the band's softer, more acoustic side, Wishkah captures the ferocity and chaos that epitomized the grunge movement and Nirvana's place at its vanguard. The two albums provide a comprehensive view of Nirvana's multifaceted identity: Unplugged as a contemplative exploration of their softer, more melodic aspects, and Wishkah as a thunderous roar of power and emotion.
The Rabbit Hole Exhibit
Welcome to the non-music wing of the Wax Museum. Take a trip down the Internet rabbit hole to see what I found interesting this week.
I want to dedicate this space to wishing Matt Christman of the political podcast Chapo Trap House a speedy recovery; he is currently in the hospital due to a terrible medical emergency, and missed the birth of his first child. It’s been a week, and no word yet if he’s conscious.
At the start of the pandemic, Christman would do these CushVlogs, giving Bill Burr-style rants with a witty and sardonic spin on the current events of the day. His last CushVlog is eerie, as he predicts his current situation with prescience starting around the 01:02:15 mark, and especially in the last minute, where he anticipates the throbbing in his head is something serious.
Christman is literate on a shocking amount of subjects; he’s like a jukebox: throw in a quarter, request knowledge on some random history event, and receive both a philosophy sermon and comedy routine.
Here’s a great example, where he discusses Dr. John Brinkley, a quack who transplanted goat testicles into humans, ran for governor, and ended up creating the most powerful radio station on the planet. The cherry on top is Christman’s neighbor interrupting him to please stop yelling about goat balls. So good. Prayers up for this one-of-a-kind dude.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
We did it, another issue in the books. If you would like to support The Wax Museum, become a paid subscriber for just $3.33 a month and be entered into our monthly vinyl giveaway. Winner will be announced early next week; there’s less than 25 paid subs so your odds will never be better!
This month, we are giving away Romy’s Mid Air on exclusive Spotify Fans First Neon Green vinyl! You need this vinyl in your life.
Lastly, if you collect vinyl, you would be foolish not to follow the Internet’s #1 vinyl deal finder. I put out about five to ten deal 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 week!
Tomorrow should be a pretty big release day! Between Animal Collective, Armand Hammer, Molly Burch, Cherry Glazer, Slow Pulp, and Wilco, it's going to be a busy weekend.
Appreciate the write up!