GuardiansOftheGalaxy-RecordStoreDay-cassette

11 records (and one cassette) you should risk life and limb for this Black Friday Record Store Day

Okay, yeah, Black Friday is kind of gross. People trample over each other to get an HDTV or Beats headphones at a slightly discounted price, and the whole thing just reeks of consumerism sucking our culture into a deep, dark hole from which it’s nearly impossible to emerge. Fear not, however! The happiest places on earth—independent record stores—are offering safe haven this Black Friday with a whole slew of limited-edition collector’s pieces perfect for your turntable (or a frame, if you’re a weirdo who doesn’t listen to the vinyl you buy). And okay, yeah, this is also about consumerism, to an extent, but at least you’re supporting local, independent businesses and getting a potential lifetime’s worth of enjoyment from the tunes within the wax. Here are my picks for the items you should definitely try to pick up.

BLEACHERS
Strange Desire (The Demos) 12-inch


Jack Antonoff took a huge step out of the shadow of his fun. bandmate Nate Ruess with Strange Desire, the debut album from his synth-pop band Bleachers. Considering how good the album is, I’m confident the six demos on this pink-vinyl 12-inch—including early versions of “I Wanna Get Better” and “Reckless Love”—are gonna sound great.

 

GREEN DAY
Tune In, Tokyo 12-inch
Green Day - Tune In, Tokyo

This writer is frequently alone in his opinion that Warning is Green Day’s best album, so when Tune In, Tokyo was announced, I got downright giddy–it’s a live recording from the band’s tour in support of the divisive album, with six of its seven songs coming from Warning. Green Day never disappoint live, so this should be pretty rad.
 

THE DEAD MILKMEN
Big Lizard In My Backyard LP
The Dead Milkmen - Big Lizard In My Backyard

The debut album from Philadelphia oddball punks the Dead Milkmen is back in print for the first time in a very long time, and still has some of the band’s finest songs ever: “Bitchin’ Camaro,” “Takin’ Retards To The Zoo” and “Dean’s Dream” are all classics. Get this record!
 

AGAINST ME!
The Daytrotter Sessions 7-inch
Laura Jane Grace - The Daytrotter Sessions

Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace and Atom Willard perform songs off this year’s Transgender Dysphoria Blues, including the title track, in an intimate, stripped-down environment—the kind AM! were borne out of more than a decade ago.
 

JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts book/7-inch combo
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

The inaugural recipient of this year’s APMAs Icon award, Joan Jett is celebrating a career three decades deep with this awesome book loaded with stories and photos from her history. As a bonus, it comes with a 7-inch containing, among other gems, a live version of “Bad Reputation” with Foo Fighters’ Pat Smear on guitar.
 

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER
5 Seconds Of Summer picture disc LP
5 Seconds Of Summer

Love ’em or hate ’em, you can’t deny that this Australian quartet write some catchy-as-hell pop-punk jams. Pick up this limited edition vinyl version of their debut album (complete with bonus track “Wrapped Around Your Finger”) and watch your younger sister get mondo jealous.
 

CHVRCHES
Under The Tide 12-inch
Chvrches

This 12-inch contains remixes, live-in-studio cuts and the title track, which are all fine and good, but more importantly it contains the first physical release of “Strong Hand,” a killer bonus track from the Scottish trio’s 2013 full-length debut, The Bones Of What You Believe. Expect to hear it in classier DJ sets nationwide starting this weekend.
 

ECHOSMITH
Cool Kids 12-inch picture disc
Echosmith - Cool Kids

The little indie-pop band that could notched their first Platinum single with the effortlessly catchy “Cool Kids” earlier this year. Celebrate by dropping the needle on this two-track picture disc (featuring the song in question plus a remix from RAC).
 

JOEY RAMONE
Christmas Spirit…In My House 10-inch
Joey Ramone Christmas Spirit In My House

This holiday-themed three-song EP from the fallen Ramones frontman has never before existed on vinyl, and what better way to get in the spirit of the season than with this slab o’ bright red wax?
 

MEWITHOUTYOU
East Enders Wives 12-inch
Mewithoutyou

This six-song 12-inch is built solely around “East Enders Wives,” taken from 2012’s Ten Stories: You get the album version, a remix by Dusty Brown, an early demo, an instrumental version and more.
 

FAITH NO MORE
Motherfucker 7-inch
Faith No More

When the AP editorial staff prepares themselves to battle record-collector scum every third Saturday in April, Faith No More’s “Be Aggressive” is our soundtrack. As such, we’d all be fools to not encourage you to buy this 7-inch, featuring the band’s first new music in nearly 20 years. We care a lot!

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 cassette
Guardians Of The Galaxy Awesome Mix

The movie was awesome and the soundtrack is an instant classic (and has been on repeat in the AP art department for months), but who actually needs a cassette tape of said soundtrack? This editor, that’s who—my car still has a functioning tape deck, and if I don’t get to hear “Hooked On A Feeling” and “Escape (The PIna Colada Song)” coming out of my car stereo soon, I’m gonna go nuts.