Vinyl — Home — What’s Cool?

What’s old is new again. The cyclical nature of pop culture, style, and social trends tends to occasionally repopularize relics of the past as new shiny objects of the future. Whether it’s chunky dad sneakers, polaroid cameras, or in my case record players and vinyl, anything which was once “in” is subject to come back in full force in due time. Before moving back into my downtown Atlanta apartment last month, I was given the early birthday gift I had been pining after for a very long time by my parents, which is a stellar bluetooth record player and accompanying booming speakers. My propensity and tendency to collect things has predictably bled into this new area, as I’ve been playing catch-up by purchasing my favorite albums on vinyl over the past few weeks. In this series, similar to my “Best Foot Forward” series, I will be highlighting and discussing various selections from my collection in each installment. Who doesn’t like a little bit of show-and-tell? Let’s get into it.

Record 1 (Upper Left): Fetch The Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple

It feels appropriate to feature this album first on this series because it was the first record in my collection. Fiona Apple rightfully received huge critical acclaim after the release of this project in April. Since then, it has slowly become my favorite album of the year so far. Sonically and thematically, Apple is able to capture the essence of tension associated with the unstable state of affairs in the country. This two-sided double LP sounds fantastic on vinyl, as the multi-instrumental tracks allow each layer to shine, all while being complemented by Apple’s haunting vocals. Great album, and one I’m glad to have in my record collection.

Record 2 (Upper Right): To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 magnum opus To Pimp A Butterfly is one of my favorite albums of all-time. This project is able to tackle immensely complicated topics such as self love, systemic racism, generational inequality, and Black identity simultaneously, all while fitting into a genius narrative and providing hit after hit. This project has a vintage and nostalgic feel even when not on vinyl, but this sense is amplified (quite literally) when the record is spinning under the needle. This was a must to add to my collection.

Record 3 (Lower Left): The Money Store - Death Grips

One of the most experimental and trend-setting albums of the 2010s, The Money Store influenced countless artists after its release. Abrasive, aggressive, but catchy at the same time, Death Grips provide an aesthetic here so unique that I can’t accurately compare it to any other album I’ve ever listened to. My Edifier speakers handle the sometimes obnoxious and sound-heavy moments on this record beautifully. I’m happy to have this album in my collection, and will likely be picking up Bottomless Pit soon, too.

Record 4 (Lower Right): Pure Comedy - Father John Misty

It wouldn’t be right to own a record player and not have my favorite album of all-time on vinyl to spin on it. This limited-edition and exclusive red marble pressing looks absolutely stunning, and the sound quality is fantastic, adding another dimension to an album which I never imagined could become deeper and more meaningful to me. This is likely going to be the album I play the most on vinyl since it’s the one I played most on streaming. If you haven’t listened to this project yet, stop reading. Go now. Listen. Do it!

I think I’m a collector by nature. Whether it’s clothes, sneakers, video games, or records, when I start getting into something, I’m quick down the rabbit hole. It has been fun exploring record stores like Criminal Records in downtown Atlanta as I learn more about vinyl and continue to add my favorite albums to the collection. Have you ever owned a record player? Thanks for reading.