Beastie Boys have a library filled with hit after hit, with one of the most enduring being “Sabotage.” The track was the lead single from the 1994 album Ill Communication, which turns 30 years old this year. The group is now celebrating the milestone with a limited edition deluxe version on vinyl and cassette.
The tracklist for the vinyl edition is the same as a previous deluxe version that was released as a limited run in 2009 and has long been out of print. It features a third LP containing 12 bonus tracks, including live versions, rarities, B-sides, and more. The cassette features just the original album, but it’s the first time in a long time that the project has gotten a new cassette release.
Check out the full tracklist for both versions below.
Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication Deluxe Edition (3LP) Tracklist
Disc 1, Side A
1. “Sure Shot”
2. “Tough Guy”
3. “B-Boys Makin’ With The Freak Freak”
4. “Bobo On The Corner”
5. “Root Down”
Disc 1, Side A
6. “Sabotage”
7. “Get It Together”
8. “Sabrosa”
9. “The Update”
10. “Futterman’s Rule”
Disc 2, Side C
1. “Alright Hear This”
2. “Eugene’s Lament”
3. “Flute Loop”
4. “Do It”
5. “Ricky’s Theme”
Disc 2, Side D
6. “Heart Attack Man”
7. “The Scoop”
8. “Shambala”
9. “Bodhisattva Vow”
10. “Transitions”
Disc 3, Side E
1. “Root Down (Free Zone Mix)”
2. “Resolution Time”
3. “Get It Together (Buck-Wild Remix)”
4. “Dope Little Song”
5. “Sure Shot (European B-Boy Mix)”
6. “Heart Attack Man (Unplugged)”
Disc 3, Side F
7. “The Vibes”
8. “Atwater Basketball Association File No. 172-C”
9. “Heart Attack Man (Live)”
10. “The Maestro (Live)”
11. “Mullet Head”
12. “Sure Shot (European B-Boy Instrumental)”
Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication Deluxe Edition (Cassette) Tracklist
Side A
1. “Sure Shot”
2. “Tough Guy”
3. “B-Boys Makin’ With The Freak Freak”
4. “Bobo On The Corner”
5. “Root Down”
6. “Sabotage”
7. “Get It Together”
8. “Sabrosa”
9. “The Update”
10. “Futterman’s Rule”
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of the best vinyl releases of May below.
Justice — Hyperdrama
Ed Banger Records/Because Music
Justice had one of the month’s best new albums with Hyperdrama, which includes features from Miguel and Tame Impala. The 2-LP release (a double black 140g vinyl in a gatefold sleeve) bears on the front its striking cover art, an organic spin on their classic cross imagery.
Modest Mouse — Good News For People Who Love Bad News: 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition
Legacy Recordings
Good news: Good News For People Who Love Bad News is 20 years old now and Modest Mouse is celebrating by reissuing the album. The release has new cover art and the vinyl edition specifically is pressed on baby pink and spring green vinyl and five new remixes by folks like Dan The Automator and Jacknife Lee.
DIIV recently told Uproxx of their new album, “For a lot of people, that is part of what they fell in love with with the first two albums — this rich, dreamy atmosphere that is very feelings-forward. Rather than this song has an amazing bridge and an amazing chorus. A lot of times with the earlier songs, sometimes there wasn’t even a chorus, but it didn’t really matter because the song felt so good to listen to. I feel like the new album has an element of that which makes it feel more comprehensive in our catalog.”
The 180 gram red ECO pressing is limited to 500 copies and still available, but we can’t imagine that will be the case for long.
Will we hear from Black Sabbath again? Maybe! Either way, we’ll always have their music, and now their self-titled debut album is on vinyl once again via Rhino’s High Fidelity series, which is limited to 5000 copies of 180-gram vinyl pressing.
Also from the same Rhino series, which boasts Kevin Gray as personally overseeing the pressings, 1980’s Freedom Of Choice is an essential for any collection for two predominant reasons: It’s the album with “Whip It,” and it’s the album that saw Devo introduce their now-iconic energy dome hats. This reissue is a special edition of a special album: it’s a AAA cut from the original stereo master tapes, it comes with exclusive notes from album producer Robert Margouleff, and, like the Sabbath release, only 5,000 numbered copies are being pressed.
The highly anticipated A24 horror film I Saw The TV Glow came out this month, and it has quite the soundtrack, too, featuring Phoebe Bridgers, Caroline Polachek, Bartees Strange, and more. The vinyl edition is even better, as it comes with a vinyl exclusive cover of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight” by Snail Mail (who has an acting role in the movie, by the way). It’s also one of the best movies of the year, so be sure to check it out while it is still in theaters.
The Above The Rim soundtrack was one of the more iconic R&B- and hip-hop-oriented OSTs of the ’90s, and now that it’s 30 years old, it has gotten a fresh reissue. Like the cassette edition before it, this rerelease includes tracks that were from from the CD version, including a pair of Tupac songs.
Sylvan Esso has marked a decade of their self-titled debut album with a deluxe edition. Goodies include a cover of Porches’ “The Cosmos,” “Jamie’s Song” (which debuted in 2015), and new remixes by J Rocc, Rick Wade, Helado Negro, Dntel, Hercules And Love Affair, and Charles Spearin. There are a number of vinyl editions available, including one that’s only available from record stores in North Carolina.
Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1997 album Exodus is iconic and spawned some of the group’s biggest hits, including “Jamming,” “One Love/People Get Ready,” and “Three Little Birds.” In celebration of the recent Bob Marley: One Love biopic, the album has been re-released, including an exclusive 10-inch LP of rare bonus tracks.
Pete Townshend — All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (Reissue) and White City (A Novel) (Reissue)
Atco Records
Pete Townshend followed 1980’s Empty Glass (the “Let My Love Open The Door” album) with a pair of solo albums that have now been reissued. Both projects received a half-speed mastering by longtime The Who engineer Jon Astley.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of April below.
Wilco — The Whole Love Expanded
Legacy Recordings
This past month saw what is essentially the Super Bowl of vinyl: Record Store Day. Artists and labels always come through with great new releases to mark the occasion, many of which you’ll find in this month’s vinyl rundown. First up is The Whole Love Expanded, a 3LP release that includes, along with the base album, alternate mixes, demos, and more.
At The Drive-In’s In/Casino/Out has long been out of print, so leave it to Record Store Day to bring it back. This edition of the band’s second album is available on purple/green smoke vinyl, but only 3,500 copies were pressed.
Fred Again.. “released” USB in 2022, but that’s also not necessarily completely true, in that the project is constantly evolving with new songs being added on a regular basis. Well, the project as it stands right now is getting a vinyl release, and he’s pulling all the stops with a lovely “specialist spot reflective varnish” on the outer sleeve.
The soundtrack for the 1997 superhero movie Spawn is a real ride, featuring songs by everybody from Metallica to Cypress Hill to Moby. It’s quite the mix and it’s stunning on smokey red vinyl, too. The hard rock mixed with electronic concept was novel in its time, and now acts as a bit of a portal to a simpler (better?) time.
The Daylight EP was a high point for Aesop Rock, featuring production from EL-P, Blockhead, and, of course, Aesop Rock. If you’ve wanted the project on vinyl, a new reissue is the first time the full thing has ever been pressed on vinyl, including the hidden bonus track.
Idol was one of the kings of the ’80s, and his second album, Rebel Yell, was monumental, with the title track enduring as one of his signature songs. As for this new expanded edition of the project (released to mark the album’s 40th anniversary), it comes with eight bonus tracks that include previously unreleased music, original demos, and more.
Sunny Day Real Estate — Diary: Remastered And Expanded Edition
Sub Pop
Diary is an undeniable landmark release in emo music, and as the project turns 30 years old, Sunny Day Real Estate has delivered the definitive vinyl edition of it. This “remastered and expanded” version comes with the bonus tracks “8” and “9” (all pressed on pearlescent vinyl), along with newly written liner notes.
UK electronic duo Orbital made their mark with their self-titled 1991 debut album (The Green Album, as it’s also known). Over three decades later, they’ve just dropped the definitive version of it via a 4LP box set. This edition includes two double gatefold LPs featuring remixes and rarities (including unreleased tracks), as well as an exclusive 60-page book documenting the story of the album.
The Eagles’ original stint (ending in 1980, before their 1994 reunion) was one to remember, and it came to an end with The Long Run. The project — led by the Grammy-winning, No. 1 single “Heartache Tonight” — is back in a fancy new run limited to 10,000 copies and pressed on pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl, meaning it’ll sound as good as it ever has.
The zoetrope has been around for well over a century at this point, and yet the visual effect the spinning, seemingly animated images have is still pretty wild to look at today. Blur included one on their new picture disc reissue of Parklife, making it a uncommonly visual way to experience a Britpop classic.
Speaking of Damon Albarn: Last year, Gorillaz brought us all to Cracker Island, and now we have a chance to go back. For Record Store Day, the group shared a deluxe, limited-run vinyl edition of Cracker Island that comes with six tracks that previously weren’t available on physical releases. There’s also a striking new album cover by Jamie Hewlett.
Dwight Yoakam — The Beginnings And Then Some: The Albums Of The ’80s
Rhino
Closing out with yet another Record Store Day release, Yoakam compiled his first three albums onto this new box set. This limited-edition release includes thirteen rarities and demos from the era, enough fresh material to justify its own disc.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of March below.
Rosalía — Motomami + (Reissue)
Columbia
It’s been two years since Rosalía came through with her beloved third album, Motomami. She followed it up with a deluxe edition called Motomami + not long after, and now that version of the album is on vinyl for the first time ever. This pressing comes on clear-colored vinyl and comes with a poster.
On December 31, 1973 at Chequers Nightclub in Sydney, Australia, AC/DC played their first concert. That was over 50 years ago now, and the band has marked the occasion with a gorgeous series of gold vinyl reissues. Among the projects included, of course, is the iconic Back In Black, which, like the rest of the reissues, are available in the US exclusively through Walmart.
Musgraves graced March with the release of her sixth album, Deeper Well. It’s an often-gentle album, which goes great with the gorgeous “quilted picture disc” vinyl pressing of the album that you can snag (for now, anyway, as it’s a limited collector’s edition). The color and texture on the vinyl make it a truly special album, and you get to listen to a strong offering from one of our favorite contemporary country voices, to boot.
Indiecast host Steven Hyden and Ian Cohen went over Adrianne Lenker’s new solo album in a recent episode, and indeed, it’s a project worth picking up, especially on vinyl. This pressing comes on recycled vinyl, meaning that each individual copy will have a unique look to it and it may not look quite like the image above, making the unboxing a fun surprise.
The Cure is an exemplary live band and has been for a long time. If you want proof of that in your vinyl library, the group just reissued their 1992 live album Paris. The 2LP set marks the release’s first time on vinyl in 30 years and it was remastered by Robert Smith himself (along with Miles Showell) at Abbey Road Studios. If you missed out on seeing the band’s acclaimed live run last year, this might provide some temporary solace.
Alice In Chains — Jar Of Flies (30th Anniversary Reissue)
Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings
30 years ago now, Alice was in chains and flies were in jars. To mark this momentous occasion, Alice In Chains has delivered a reissue of Jar Of Flies. It has perhaps the most perfect vinyl coloration ever, too, which makes it look like actual flies are trapped in the record. Classics like “Nutshell” and the hit “No Excuses” have never sounded so good.
Rhino has been dropping off a series of high-fidelity vinyl reissues throughout 2024, and the latest classic release to get this treatment is a Grateful Dead favorite: American Beauty. This is truly a premium edition, as it is a AAA cut from the original stereo master tapes, pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl, and features an insert with notes by Grateful Dead historian David Gans.
After establishing their legacy with Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Wu-Tang Forever, Wu-Tang Clan further cemented themselves (and showed they hadn’t run out of ways to name an album after themselves) with their third LP, 2000’s The W. This Vinyl Me, Please reissue is pressed on striking gold and black galaxy vinyl and comes with brand new listening notes.
For Dry Cleaning, it began with two EPs: Boundary Road Snacks And Drinks and Sweet Princess. Now they’ve remastered the EPs and smushed them together for a new reissue that combines the two releases. The reissues also serve as an excuse for the band to hit the road, so learn more about their upcoming tour dates on their website.
Sometimes, a vinyl pressing is just *chef’s kiss*, and such is the case with that of Faye Webster’s latest, Underdressed At The Symphony. Playing off the album cover’s bold use of blue, the vinyl includes a ring of blue in the middle, bordered by a semi-translucent white vinyl, playing off the bright accents on the cover.
Mac Miller is one of the most celebrated rappers of this generation. His creativity and eccentricity separated himself from the pack and his legacy will always be remembered. Part of the reason for that is because his discography is loaded with fantastic projects, with one of them being Watching Movies with the Sound Off. His team gave us a 10th anniversary edition during the summer and last year with four bonus cuts. However, Mac Miller and his estate have one more surprise for us up their sleeve with “The Quest.”
For those who like getting their hands on physical copies of records, vinyl buyers were treated to an additional song. “The Quest” is sort of an aspirational and celebratory track for Mac Miller. He raps with tons of happiness and confidence, reassuring himself throughout. “Once (Once) upon (Upon) a time (A time) / The world (The world) is soon (Is soon) to be mine (To be mine).”
What also makes “The Quest” a standout is the production from Mac Miller. This is just one a few cuts that the multi-hyphenate showcased his craft on. However, while streaming fans are certainly enjoying that they have a chance to hear it, it does beg this question. How do the fans who paid money for vinyl feel that a wider audience has the chance to get it on it? This has been a trending topic over the past couple of weeks, especially after Kanye and James Blake’s recent comments.
What are your thoughts on this “brand-new” song, “The Quest,” by Mac Miller? Is this the strongest Watching Movies with the Sound Off (10th Anniversary) cut, why or why not? Do you think it was a smart idea to give everyone a chance to hear it, why or why not? Is this album still in your rotation? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Mac Miller. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
As we get higher, f*** work, girl, let’s get fired (Girl, let’s get fired) In the making (In the making), I’m doin’ great things Ran around the motherf****n’ streets like a psycho Hard to keep your balance when you’re jumpin’ on a tightrope (Tightrope) Jumpin’ on a tightrope (Rope) If I fall, would you love me at all?
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of February below.
Paul McCartney & Wings — Band On The Run (50th Anniversary Edition)
UMe
The end of The Beatles was a sad moment for music, but the silver lining was that it led to Paul McCartney forming Wings, a band that enjoyed a beloved run of its own. The group’s defining third album, 1973’s Band On The Run, turned 50 recently, so now we have a new vinyl reissue of the album. The 2LP edition includes a treat for fans: an “Underdubbed” Mixes Edition of the album, of which McCartney himself explains, “This is Band On The Run in a way you’ve never heard before. When you are making a song and putting on additional parts, like an extra guitar, that’s an overdub. Well, this version of the album is the opposite, underdubbed.”
We lost Amy Winehouse far too soon, but the pair of albums she left behind is special. It all started with Frank in 2003 and the album turned 20 years old recently. To celebrate, we now have the coolest-looking version of the album, a lovely new picture disc vinyl pressing.
The Who — Quadrophenia (Reissue) and The Who By Numbers (Reissue)
UMe
The Who were masters when it came to making music that rewards close listening. Now, the sonic details of two of the group’s finest albums, Quadrophenia and The Who By Numbers, can be enjoyed better than ever with these new vinyl reissues, which got a half-speed mastering for the occasion.
As part of their Small Batch vinyl series, Craft Recordings has come through with an audiophile-friendly version of an Isaac Hayes classic, which features lacquers cut from the original tapes. Ultimately, Craft proclaims this release to be “as close as the listener can get to the original recording.” As the name of the reissue series suggests, this isn’t one to take your time with, as it’s limited to only 3,000 copies. The overall packaging of the reissue is also stunning.
Uproxx’s Grant Sharples wrote of the latest album from UK rockers Idles, “The Bristol post-punk band Idles used to operate in one mode: loud, abrasive, and often furious. Their sheer volume was their main signifier, but now they’ve partially softened up, adding more subtlety to their anthemic tunes. On Tangk, their fifth record, the intensity remains, but rather than going in a purely punk direction, they make their noisy guitars and unrelenting drums a bit more rhythmic.”
If that sounds good to you, the band is selling the LP in a number of neat-colored vinyl editions.
Reissue kings Vinyl Me, Please have an impressive new edition of the John Coltrane classic A Love Supreme. It’s one for completionists: The 8LP box set features the album itself, as well as “every live and alternate take.” If you wanted the ultimate experience of one of jazz’s most iconic recordings, this is it.
After some time away, Grandaddy has been back at it over the past few years. February yielded the indie favorites’ sixth album, Blu Wav, and the blue marble vinyl pressing is a gorgeous way to enjoy it.
Similarly, MGMT also pressed their latest LP on some vibrant vinyl colors, like the tangerine version seen above. In her review of the project, Uproxx’s Carolyn Droke wrote, “As a whole, Loss Of Life shows MGMT have gone full circle and come back to their foundations as an indie band, both sonically by shedding the dark melodies of 2018’s Little Dark Age in favor of a more buoyant sound, and literally by signing to an independent record label.”
Usher had a bigger February than anybody with his Super Bowl Halftime Show and his new album, Coming Home. The performance was the headline news, but if you’re not sleeping on the new LP, Usher has it available on slick clear vinyl.
Helado Negro has been consistently rock-solid for over a decade now, busting out a new album usually at least every couple years since 2009. His eighth LP, Phasor, arrived earlier this month, and you have options in terms of vinyl aesthetics. There’s the “coke bottle translucent green” pressing pictured above, or a standard black if you’re more of a tried-and-true traditionalist.
Last week, French Montanareleased his new album Mac & Cheese 5. He was clearly hoping for the album to do big sales numbers as it got numerous different versions on streaming. The album was released with an acapella version, an instrumental version, a sped-up version, a slowed-down version, and a deluxe version that featured just one new track. All of the versions were also collected into one massive 126-song version of the project on streaming platforms. Montana himself had to defend the massive “Versions” album against criticism from fans.
Now, sales projections for the album are in and it initially seemed to pay off. The album is set to push 55k in first week sales, which Chart Data projects could land it as high as #3 on the Billboard 200. But surprisingly, most of that isn’t coming from the numerous versions of the album uploaded to streaming platforms. Only around 11k sales came from streaming while the rest were pure sales. 44k in pure sales is extremely impressive for a rap album and represents even more numbers than artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have done in recent years. But some users online are starting to suspect that the sales of the album aren’t what they seem. Some have even gone as far as to accuse French Montana of straight up fraud.
French Montana sold Vinyl Records on his site for $5 preorders back in January. With all the albums needing to be shipped on release date to count towards sales, it seems almost everyone that purchased it has had it “delivered” to a random address.… https://t.co/tCParbIBJZpic.twitter.com/xW7UDulcB6
Last month, French Montana sold vinyl pre-orders of the new project on his website. The twist is that they were being sold for just $5, far less than most artists sell their vinyls, or even CDs for. But in the wake of his new sales numbers, fans aren’t receiving what they ordered. Twitter user @99Vinyl_ claims that their order was “delivered” to a random address multiple states away. They also claim to have proof of others with similar experiences.
Shortly after they made the claim while tagging French Montana publicly, he blocked the account. What do you think of the accusations that French Montana could be committing sales fraud? Do you think his new album is capable of pulling 44k in pure sales authentically? Let us know in the comment section below.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of January below.
Kali Uchis — Orquídeas
Geffen
Kali Uchis had a huge January: Not only did she reveal that she’s pregnant, but she also dropped a terrific new album, Orquídeas. She’s released it in a few vinyl variants, too, including standard black, milky clear vinyl (pictured above), and a picture disc.
Scottish ethereal rockers Cocteau Twins wrapped up their esteemed run with two final albums, Four-Calendar Café in 1993 and Milk & Kisses in 1996. Now, these two albums have gotten a new vinyl release that’s significant for American fans of the group, as this is the first time these two albums have been released on vinyl in the US.
Coleman is literally the father of free jazz: the term itself comes from his 1961 album Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation. A year before that project, though, he dropped Change Of The Century, which is the subject of a new Rhino Hi-Fi reissue. This edition was given a detailed manufacturing treatment, so the album sounds as good as it ever has, and most relevantly, it’s limited to just 5,000 individually number copies.
Uproxx’s Steven Hyden wrote of the new album from the Radiohead offshoot, “Thom and Jonny’s forthcoming sophomore effort isn’t as groovy as the first. On A Light For Attracting Attention, they strutted like a British art-rock redux of Booker T. And The MG’s, with Thom and Jonny clearly vibing on Tom Skinner’s relentless syncopations. Wall Of Eyes is rockier and, well, more Radiohead-esque.”
Tune-Yards — I’m A Virgo — Prime Video Original Series Soundtrack
Lakeshore Records
If you watched the Prime Video series I’m A Virgo from the great Boots Riley and found yourself liking the music, that’s not surprising since it came courtesy of Tune-Yards. A vinyl release of the soundtrack was announced today and will be available on April 5 via Lakeshore Records. It comes pressed on lovely limited-edition yellow vinyl and accompanied by a color insert.
It’s been five years since Maggie Rogers broke out with her well-received debut album, Heart It In A Past Life. To mark the occasion, this new anniversary reissue comes with the album pressed on cobalt vinyl, a “Love You For A Long Time” 7-inch, and a 12-inch by 20-inch poster.
M. Ward — Duet for Guitars #2 (Reissue) and Transfiguration Of Vincent (Reissue)
Merge
Duet For Guitars No. 2 was M. Ward’s first album, while Transfiguration Of Vincent was his first with Merge Records. Now, the label has pressed both of those albums onto vinyl for the first time, making these editions must-haves for Ward completionists.
Get Duet for Guitars #2here. Get Transfiguration Of Vincenthere.
Spiritualized — Amazing Grace (20 Year Anniversary Edition)
Fat Possum
As the title suggests, Spiritualized folded a profound gospel influence into the mix of Amazing Grace. Now, it’s the latest album to get remastered as part of The Spaceman Reissue Program: Curated by J Spaceman. This edition comes in a standard black vinyl pressing and a limited dove grey vinyl.
Fleetwood Mac — Fleetwood Mac (Vinyl Me, Please Reissue)
Vinyl Me, Please
Fleetwood Mac has been consistently popular for decades, but they had a big revival in 2020 when “Dreams” went viral online. Well, for new fans who listened to Rumours and dug it, the album that preceded it, 1975’s Fleetwood Mac, is one of the Vinyl Me, Please albums of the month, pressed on 180g Black & White Quad vinyl.
Kid Cudi had one of the year’s first major hip-hop releases with Insano. Just like he went hard on the album, he also went all in on the vinyl, as he has a few different cover art options for different editions. (He even had some signed LPs, but those are currently sold out.)
For big fans of billy woods and Elucid, there’s a chance to get some new music soon. The duo, who rap together as Armand Hammer, just announced a quick follow-up album to last year’s We Buy Diabetic Test Strips. The critically acclaimed project will be succeeded by a new album called BLK LBL. The project has some impressive collaborators with features from Dreamcrusher and Zeroh. It also has production credits from JPEGMAFIA, Aesop Rock, and DJ Haram. The album was announced by the Twitter account of their label Backwoodz Studioz, but there’s a catch.
Fans looking to hear BLK LBL will only have one way to get their hands on the songs. The album is exclusively available on vinyl and it’s only being sold at upcoming Armand Hammer shows. The duo’s label confirmed that the record won’t appear on streaming and that there are no plans to make it available for purchase on Bandcamp. While they did suggest that it would be made available at select pop-ups for fans who can’t make a show, that still makes it a pretty rare find. The record doesn’t have a specific release date but fans are expecting it to start popping up at live shows soon. Check out the tracklist and announcement post below.
billy woods is one of the most prolific rappers around. In addition to the new Armand Hammer album he also released his second collaboration with producer Kenny Segal last year. They originally collaborated on the album Hiding Places in 2019 before following up with Maps last year. The album had features from Danny Brown, Quelle Chris, Elucid, Aesop Rock, and more.
What do you think of Armand Hammer dropping a new album exclusively on vinyl and only available at their shows? Do you think you’ll attend one of their shows and buy a copy? Let us know in the comment section below.
While the large majority of music listeners use streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music as their primary source for listening to music new and old, there are alternatives. For big music fans out there they can own physical copies of their favorite albums on CD or vinyl. This week, Chart Data shared some numbers about how many Vinyl copies of their music artists sold in 2023. As you’d expect one of the most popular artists in the world, Taylor Swift, led the way. She led by quite a large margin with other reports claiming that one in every 15 vinyl records purchased in 2023 was of Swift’s music.
Coming in second place is Lana Del Rey, who dropped her new album Did you know that there’s a tunnel under ocean blvd early last year. Coming in at third as both the highest selling rapper and highest selling male artist on vinyl in 2023 is Tyler, The Creator. Much of that likely comes from CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale a deluxe edition of his 2021 album that dropped last year. Vinyl sales and streams of the deluxe version when it dropped caused the album to skyrocket back up to the top of the Billboard 200. Tyler is doubling down on his vinyl success after also leading the way among all rappers in 2022.
Tyler, The Creator wasn’t the only rapper to churn out a ton of vinyl sales in 2023 thought. Travis Scott turns up at number four on the list largely on the back of his new record UTOPIA. Both Kendrick Lamar and Mac Miller also cracked the top 10 for total vinyl sales in 2023. Elsewhere in the top 10 are artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, and more.
Tyler, The Creator was recently confirmed to be part of one of the biggest music festivals around. Earlier this week Coachella announced the lineup for their 2024 edition and Tyler isn’t just performing there, he’s headlining. What do you think of Tyler, The Creator leading all other rappers in vinyl sales for the second year in a row? Let us know in the comment section below.
Boosted Sales Fraud? 
Vinyl Collection (@99Vinyl_) 
