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?
Depeche Mode – Memento Mori
Everything But The Girl – Fuse
Peking Duk – I Want You (feat. Darren Hayes)
Bluey – Dance Mode
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
*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/