2016 saw vinyl sales overtake MP3 downloads for the first time ever. That’s probably the most important thing that happened in vinyl this year, but – and this is almost certainly related – 2016 also produced some of the most lust-worthy vinyl of recent years. Here are 17 of the best, which would also make perfect Christmas presents for the vinyl-lover in your life.
1. David Bowie – ‘Blackstar’
Notorious from the beginning of 2016 for being crammed with secrets, Bowie’s ‘Blackstar’ is the vinyl that keeps on giving. The Blackstar secrets began with one discovery: shining a light through the gatefold towards the cover’s black star makes it light up with a starfield. Then it was found out that shining a blacklight on it makes the star and the album’s star ‘letters’ glow blue. Another fan has discovered that shining a torch on the booklet in a dark room, opposite a wall, will spark an array of colourful 3D images on the wall. And recently, the LP’s graphic designer Jonathan Barnbrook revealed there are yet more secrets to be discovered…
You may have heard what happens if you expose it to sunlight. Well, it turns out that if you put the Blackstar LP under a blacklight…. pic.twitter.com/WvDg7xkF8t
— matt (@RobboRobson21) November 13, 2016
2. Aliens OST reissue
This ‘Xenomorph Blood’ vinyl doesn’t look quite as cool or dramatic when it’s playing – the fluid just sort of pools around the sides – but how often do you see a vinyl encasing alien blood?
3. Black Sabbath – ‘The Ultimate Collection’
This four-disc LP contains 31 classics from Black Sabbath and, perhaps more importantly, it also folds out in the shape of a crucifix. It’s being billed as the Crucifold, which is an utterly perfect title. In this week’s Friday Album Club, NME‘s Leonie and Jordan talk about this and some more special vinyl released this year in some more detail.
4. Radiohead – ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’ special edition
Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood recently described vinyl as ‘clothing’ for music. By that reasoning, this double LP would make any Radiohead fan feel underdressed. The beautiful photo album-style case – full of lyrics, embossed paper and Stanley Donwood’s artwork – comes wrapped with a unique clipping of master tape from previous Radiohead sessions, and many Radiohead fans have taken them to be deciphered at local studios. There’s even a Reddit thread dedicated to them all. This is a special edition that actually feels special.
5. Star Wars: the Force Awakens OST
John Williams is brilliant obviously, but also: look at it! This set of holographic vinyl displays a 3D TIE Fighter and a Millennium Falcon hovering above the disc when you shine a torch on it. Magical.
6. The Kills – ‘Ash & Ice’
It’s hard to know what’s better about The Kills’ latest vinyl set: the colour-coded vinyl or the punky lyric zine.
The Kills – Ash & Ice 2×12" (Pink Swirl, Blue Swirl, Signed Lyric Zine limited to 250) @TheKills #nowplaying #vinyl pic.twitter.com/vimZv8et4O
— post-engineering (@postengineered) June 21, 2016
7. DIIV – ‘Is The Is Are’
Totally in line with the homemade-style album cover, this 500-run limited edition of DIIV’s ‘Is The Is Are’ vinyl set contains two marbled, colour-flecked discs, a wraparound alternate cover and a 32-page booklet of hand-written poetry and hand-drawn art. Welcome to the world of Zachary Cole Smith.
Preorder @DIIV’s new LP, ‘Is the Is Are’ on LTD vinyl via @capturedtracks @OmnianTweets https://t.co/ySGxsu8SGG pic.twitter.com/Qbtk8HLpHf
— THE LIMITED PRESS (@THELTDPRESS) January 19, 2016
8. Gremlins OST
Break the rules and get the interior of this vinyl set wet – because doing so reveals some cool extra Gremlin drawings. Cool, right?
https://twitter.com/MoreTritones/status/806287990616035329
9. School of Seven Bells – ‘SVIIB’
Following the death of the band’s Benjamin Curtis from lymphoma in 2013, this last album from School of Seven Bells was finished by Alejandra Deheza from recordings the pair had made together before Curtis’ death. The beautiful vinyl matches the the tone of the music: ‘SVIIB’ is an album about transforming heartache into hope.
https://twitter.com/FAC69Unknown/status/703612162611257345
New lavender vinyl, courtesy of @sviib, to accent a gorgeous Friday. Have a feeling it'll be on repeat all weekend. pic.twitter.com/snY5wakJdf
— Matt Serwe KETV (@MattSerweKETV) February 26, 2016
10. The 1975 – ‘I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It’
Translucent vinyl and an impeccably designed gatefold make The 1975’s second album a possession to cherish.
I had a little photo shoot with my the 1975 vinyl Xx ? pic.twitter.com/plK4gxT56X
— mak (@paulnplants) March 7, 2016
11. Stranger Things OST Vol. 1 & 2
The best thing about the Stranger Things soundtrack – by the guys from S U R V I V E – is that there are loads of vinyl editions, all of them cool. Check a few of them out below:
Stranger Things – Volume 2 #vinyl pic.twitter.com/eeugoxY7Vo
— Derek Meister (@agent3012) November 24, 2016
STRANGER THINGS VOL.2 #Vinyl @NetflixUK @LakeshoreLoves @LakeshoreRecs Big thanks guys for always bringing me the finer things ??@invadauk pic.twitter.com/XX7mvkUYKX
— theblackestwax (@blackestwax) December 3, 2016
Up Next: Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things Volume.1 by @invadauk and @NetflixUK #LoveSunday #vinyl #records pic.twitter.com/TvFOHXjPo3
— Kieran Hunt ™ (@kee77kee) November 20, 2016
12. Jessica Jones & Daredevil OSTs
Your favourite Netflix/Marvel shows get colour-coded with these soundtrack vinyls.
Sean Callery – Jessica Jones Season One 2×12" (Purple, 3000pr.) & John Paesano – Daredevil Season One 12" (Red, 3000pr.) #vinyl #nowplaying pic.twitter.com/Jhw95lX056
— post-engineering (@postengineered) December 13, 2016
13. Trainspotting OST reissue
Trainspotting‘s classic soundtrack defined 1996, and with this reissue you can have it in the film’s trademark orange.
When you need cheering up and find a great purchase. 20th anniversary limited edition orange vinyl ? #trainspotting pic.twitter.com/j0DU9fIZDX
— Clairebear (@minimadclaire) December 10, 2016
14. Bastille – ‘Wild World’
You’ll only dislike the cool lenticular effect on Bastille’s latest if you have really bad vertigo.
New #Bastille OUT TODAY!
Come buy #WildWorld on Lenticular Vinyl in store now!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/h1vo04Zb0Z— hmv Coventry (@hmv_Coventry) September 9, 2016
15. Solange – ‘A Seat At The Table’
‘A Seat At The Table’ has a beautifully designed vinyl set, complete with a booklet of photography and lyrics, and a creative tracklisting that might change the way you process Solange’s latest album.
Why we chose Solange's A Seat At The Table as our top vinyl release of 2016: https://t.co/M0ewxvrOX7 pic.twitter.com/9EVvT3aZFc
— The Vinyl Factory (@TheVinylFactory) December 20, 2016
16. Drive OST reissue
The brilliant soundtrack to Nicholas Winding Refn’s 2011 film got a 5th anniversary reissue this year and it looks amazing.
5th Anniversary reissue of #Drive OST on split purple&clear vinyl is simply stunning! @invadauk #NWRefn #CliffMartinez #RyanGosling pic.twitter.com/7U1YXUP2J4
— Matic Majcen (@maticmajcen) October 12, 2016
17. Duran Duran – ‘Paper Gods’ box set reissue
If you don’t mind shelling out the money for this, it’s a beautiful collection – just check out the GIF below for proof.
A detailed look at Duran Duran’s Paper Gods magnetic box set: https://t.co/LQ7ZxznyGa pic.twitter.com/YJBSvzmsf3
— The Vinyl Factory (@TheVinylFactory) December 17, 2016