Benjamin Boles
CERRONE Super Disco Sound (Because)
Four classic tracks by French disco legend Cerrone get the modern remix treatment by Dimitri from Paris, Alan Braxe, the Reflex and l’Impératrice on this 2 x 12-inch release.
OTIS REDDING Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (Rhino)
One of those essential soul records, well worth shelling out the dough for a pristine vinyl copy. Both the mono and stereo versions are pressed on separate LPs, with a bonus 7-inch single.
THE STOOGES Have Some Fun: Live At Ungano’s (Rhino)
Never before available on wax, this raw audience recording captures the Stooges at the height of their powers in 1970. Pressed on grey-and-white splattered vinyl, with a glossy poster insert.
Samantha Edwards
THE FLAMING LIPS Bad Days (Warner)
For the 20th anniversary of Clouds Taste Metallic, the Lips have pressed three archival 10-inches, including album closer Bad Days – aka my high school anthem: “You’re kind of stuck where you are / but in your dreams you can buy expensive cars / or live on Mars and have it your way.”
FATHER JOHN MISTY I Loved You, Honeybee single (Sub Pop)
Ever the romantic-in-denial, Josh Tillman presents an alternate version of I Love You, Honeybear’s title track, along with an exclusive B-side on a red, heart-shaped 7-inch. Swoon.
NICK THORBURN Original Music From Serial (Manque)
Is Jay lying? What about the Nisha call? Did Best Buy even have a pay phone? Debate Adnan’s innocence with your friends as you listen to the eerie plunky soundtrack for the podcast Serial by Nick Thorburn of Islands, released for the first time ever on vinyl.
Jordan Sowunmi
N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (Priority/Universal)
Still as vital (and tragically prescient) today as when it debuted nearly 30 years ago, this picture-disc vinyl release is strategically timed: this summer Universal Pictures presents N.W.A.’s biopic at multiplexes near you.
A$AP ROCKY LPFJ2 (Sony)
This 7-inch single from Rocky’s forthcoming album, At. Long. Last. A$AP, reintroduces the jiggy one to the music world after time away focusing on fashion and film. The cut carries the same Three Six Mafia-indebted thump that coloured much of his early work. A powerful return statement.
RICK ROSS The Maybach Edition (Def Jam)
This compilation collects Rozay’s Maybach Music singles and spans his evolution from rising Miami talent to international superstar, labelhead and alcohol pitchman. Guests: Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West, Erykah Badu, Jadakiss, T-Pain, T.I. and Ne-Yo.
Sarah Greene
STEVE EARLE/ROBERT JOHNSON Terraplane Blues (New West)
While making his recent Texas blues album, Terraplane, Earle set aside a cover of the Robert Johnson song that inspired his record’s title. This 10-inch vinyl, with Earle’s cover on side A, has been mastered to match Johnson’s original on side B.
DOC & MERLE WATSON Ballads From The Gap (Vanguard)
The bright green cover is an exact replica of the 1967 fan favourite, Ballads From Deep Gap. This 23-inch vinyl record was Doc & Merle Watson’s second album and a good example of their early playing.
NEKO CASE Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (Anti-)
It’s about time. Anti-‘s reissue of this almost-Canadian classic (the Sadies, Paul Rigby and Garth Hudson all appear) on red vinyl comes with a slipmat featuring the record’s memorable fairy-tale-inspired artwork.
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