Vincent Agquiz

Record Store Day is a seventeen-year-long tradition meant to celebrate independent record stores internationally; Record Store Day is also a company based on its namesake holiday. Biannually, RSD produces special vinyl releases of EPs, LPs and albums from every genre. In honor of this tradition, here is a highlight of 5 releases coming out for this year’s RSD.

5. Motörhead – The Löst Tapes, Vol. 6 (Live In Berlin 1992) 

An RSD exclusive release, “The Löst Tapes” stands out among hundreds of other represses. This vinyl release contains demos from what is arguably one of the most influential bands in rock music. Unfortunately, the repressing is underwhelming, with a pretty unoriginal cover art and an uneventful purple-colored disc. Despite the underwhelming appearance, the legendary status of the group is enough to make this release notable and worth a listen.

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4. The Replacements – Tim 

The Replacements’ reissue of “Tim” is the band’s 40th anniversary release, with a transparent purple vinyl. Sheltering the vinyl is the classic “Tim” album art, containing purple and college-rock imagery, perfectly encapsulating the DIY vibe of the album. Though the vinyl’s appearance went through little change and reimagination, its simplicity is a breath of fresh air among the tidal waves of special editions, splatters, marbles and over-the-top reprints common among vinyl releases today.

3. Deicide – Once upon the Cross (30th ANNIVERSARY) 

Deicide’s “Once Upon a Cross” makes its American debut with its 30th Anniversary rerelease, further allowing the States to give these death metal legends the flowers and praise they deserve. Reminiscent of its blood-stained cover art, the “Once Upon a Cross” RSD release features a unique color blend of red, grey and blue. This off-putting mix of hues makes for a distinctive complement to this dark masterpiece of an album.

2. Levitation Room – Minds Of Our Own

Levitation Room is arguably one of the most popular psychedelic rock bands of the 2010s, with their legendary status being undeniable. “The Minds of Our Own” RSD press features the album’s iconic waves of desaturated primary colors, a homage to the era in which psychedelic music was born. The album’s signature colors — featuring a yellow center surrounded by orange and green hues, further complemented by accents of blue – adorn the vinyl repress . This beautiful use of color is the perfect counterpart to the psychedelic and mellow nature of Levitation Room’s music.

1. The Cure – The Head on the Door (Picture Disc)

Of all the legends on this list, The Cure is undoubtedly the most impactful and iconic. This year’s RSD is also marked by the upcoming 40th anniversary of this remarkable album. “The Head on the Door” cover’s artwork mirrors the album’s musical experiences: gossamer and ethereal. The thin waves of pastel, echoing the dark yet heavenly sound of The Cure contrast the black background. This RSD vinyl printing of “Head on the Door” is taken directly from the album’s cover art, which embodies the album’s legendary status while still employing a unique vinyl concept.

Record Store Day is happening on Saturday, April 12 this year. For more information on RSD and the new pressings offered, refer to https://recordstoreday.com/NewsItem/11535. For those wishing to shop in person check out Hogwild Records, located at 1824 N Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212 or Brainwave Records, located at 1914 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201.