Top 10 Releases To Seek Out On Record Store Day

How good is the warm, familiar pop and crackle of vinyl? According to a Recording Industry Association of America report, vinyl outsold the CD format for the first time in 35 years in 2022 – the thrill of crate digging just can’t be beat, obviously.

As self-respecting music fans, we recommend you support local independently owned record stores all year ‘round, to help preserve the special role they play within our community, but can you believe Record Store Day is already upon us once more? Go ahead and mark Saturday April 22 on the calendar and if you haven’t kept up with what’s available (and so hot right now) – don’t worry, we’ve got you!

Please find our curated list of 10 of the best albums going ‘round – exclusive Record Store Day 2023 releases* plus brand new albums by your fave artists and also something truly special to pre-order – below:

Underground Lovers – Cold Feeling

Can you believe the Undies’ sixth album, Cold Feeling (1999), is finally being released on vinyl – for the first time ever – as part of Record Store Day this year? Not only that, but Cold Feeling is also being made available on both white and clear vinyl – decision, decisions! In a statement, the founding members of this innovative Australian group – Glenn Bennie and Vincent Giarrusso – said, “We have been releasing a lot of our early albums on vinyl over the last couple of years and Cold Feeling was next in line… this is such a thrill.”

Side note: Philippa Nihill from Underground Lovers has a new album out: Find Her Way dropped on April 14.

Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of The Moon: Live At Wembley, 1974

Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon: Live At Wembley, 1974 has been released as a stand-alone album – on vinyl or CD – for the first time. With snazzy artwork featuring an original 1973 line drawing by George Hardie on the outer sleeve of vinyl copies, this one looks spectacular – frameable, even – and is currently available in all good record stores (gotta love that phrase!). There’s also a deluxe boxset option for those with money to burn.

Cub Sport – Jesus At The Gay Bar

If you haven’t already wrapped your ears around Cub Sport’s brand spanking new album, Jesus At The Gay Bar – their fifth – we recommend you remedy this oversight immediately and just go ahead and buy a physical copy. A collection of shimmering pop moments, piano-house bangers and dreamy ballads, Jesus At The Gay Bar – a joyful celebration of self-acceptance after finally shedding identity-related shame and hangups – is a spiritual listening experience that finds the Brisbane band hitting a creative peak. We’re not alone in obsessing over this album, either, ‘cause it topped the ARIA Albums Chart the week of release.

DMA’s – How Many Dreams?

Euphoric, anthemic, but also containing a coupla nostalgic, crestfallen ballads to soundtrack many future arms-‘round-your-mates screech-alongs, the new album by DMA’s is a must-have. And they’ve dialled up the danceability on How Many Dreams? as well, with a few tracks channelling the likes of Underworld or The Prodigy. Of their latest set, Tommy O’Dell from DMA’s has said: “I really do think it’s the best album we’ve made to date. We’re four albums in and still feeling as fresh as ever.”

Depeche Mode – Memento Mori

Did you even know Depeche Mode had a new album out? Yep, Memento Mori (English translation: remember that you must die) came out last month (March, 2023) and it’s as excellent as ever. In light of the untimely passing of Andy “Fletch” Fletcher last year, aged 60, Depeche Mode’s 15th album is a tribute from the two surviving band members to their co-founder/keyboardist (the title, Memento Mori, eerily predated Fletch’s death). Throughout, the elegant grandeur of Dave Gahan’s vocal delivery dazzles, as per usual, and Depeche Mode’s emo poetry is always welcome.

Everything But The Girl – Fuse

Are you ready to activate a lifetime’s worth of clubbing memories? Nothing Left To Lose, the opening lead single from this British duo’s first album in 24 years, immediately reminded us that the mere sound of Tracey Thorn’s pathos-drenched vocals is capable of teleporting us back to a ‘90s dancefloor’s sweet spot. EBTG have soundtracked many magical moments throughout our lives to date, but their new work on Fuse (scheduled to drop this Friday April 21) proves they’ve definitely still got it. As always, Everything But The Girl create supreme, drum-machine soul music for listeners blessed with discerning ears and sophisticated palates.

Peking Duk – I Want You (feat. Darren Hayes)

If a 7” single is more your style, you’re gonna wanna grab a copy of Peking Duk’s reworking of Savage Garden’s irresistible international chart-topper I Want You – one of 2023’s exclusive Australian Record Store Day releases – featuring newly recorded vocals by the one and only Darren Hayes! And as you skip down to your independently owned record store of choice to make this purchase, don’t be at all surprised if this iconic song’s chorus – “Ooh, I want you, I don’t know if I need you, but/ Ooh, I’d die to find out” – is on high rotation in your internal jukebox. So what’s on the flipside? Another cracking Peking Duk single, Spend It (feat. Circa Waves). A must-have for discerning DJs who prefer vinyl.

Bluey – Dance Mode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA5cE21_7X8

The follow-up to Bluey – The Album, which topped the albums charts both here and in the U.S. (Billboard’s Kid Albums chart), Dance Mode features 17 brand new recordings from Series 2 and Series 3 of this insanely popular Australian animated series about a dog called Bluey and her delightful family. Pressed on 140g orange vinyl, Dance Mode – which includes the banging, EDM-inspired title track – also includes artwork that, when joined together with Bluey – The Album, forms a larger composite image. The kids’ll love your guts if you treat them to this Record Store Day release.

Morgan Wallen – One Thing At A Time

Given this record’s performance on the ARIA Albums Chart (peaking at #1 and remaining in the Top 3 six weeks after its initial release!), we’re pretty sure many households already own a copy of One Thing At A Time by Morgan Wallen. But ICYMI this award-winning country superstar’s 36-track album – yep, you read correctly: that’s a whopping three dozen songs! – is currently available for purchase. Talk about more bang for your buck!

Kate Ceberano – My Life Is A Symphony

My Life Is A Symphony, Kate Ceberano’s 30th album, is a collection of orchestral arrangements of Kate’s own personal favourites (including Brave and Pash) plus a few by other artists that this voice of a generation has made her own over the years (see: I Don’t Know How to Love Him from Jesus Christ Superstar and Randy Crawford’s One Day I’ll Fly Away) – we can’t wait to hear it! Lovingly curated from across her astonishing four-decade recording career, My Life Is A Symphony sees Kate celebrating her extensive back catalogue, and songwriting prowess, with a little help from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

You’ll need to pre-order this one, though: My Life Is A Symphony is scheduled for release on Friday May 12.

*RSD releases are often only available over the counter from participating independent record shops and since not all stores will stock every release, checking in with participating record stores is advisable.

April 22, 2023 is Record Store Day Australia.

Visit the Record Store Day Australia website for all the latest info: https://www.recordstoreday.com.au/

Top 10 Releases To Seek Out On Record Store Day ￼