Includes favorite new releases, reissues and compilations

Reissues that make this list are usually of good pressing/mastering quality

Purchased LP or EP unless otherwise stated BD, SACD, DVD-A or CD (*don't own)

2025 List (So Far)

Favorite New Releases

• 16 - Guides for the Misguided (2025,Opaque Green w/Black Splatter LEx204 LP)
• Gin Lady - Before the Dawn of Time (2025, "Green Day Rising" LEx300 LP)
• Matt Berry - Heard Noises (2025,Blue Swirl LP)

Favorite Reissues

• The Harold Wheeler Consort - Black Cream (1975,2025 Splatter LEx100 LP)

Not sure yet...

• moe. - Circle of Giants (2025,Opaque Blue/Purple + Orange Swirl 2xLP)
• Warlung - The Poison Touch (2025,Opaque 3-Color Green/Yellow/Blue Splatter LEx100 LP)

Top 10 2025 Favorite New Releases TBD

Top 10 2025 Favorite Reissues TBD

Best Sound (Nice Pressing + Great Mastering = Sublime Sound)

Special note: 2025 Blue Note Tone Poet and Classic Vinyl series of vintage jazz recordings mastered by Kevin Gray. These all-analog pressings are manufactured at RTI and are reliably flat and quiet.

Favorite 4.0 / 5.1 Multichannel

Favorite Color Vinyl

• Phish – LP05: 4/2/98 (2025,Green w/Bronze Gold Swirl [Fishmarket Stew] LP)

Favorite Cover Art

Worst Cover Art

Presentation Standouts

Special note: All of the 2025 Blue Note Tone Poet Series of vintage jazz recordings.

Presented on high-quality laminated Stoughton "Tip-On" gatefold jackets printed on heavy card stock.

Disappointments

Bad Pressings and Other Annoyances

• Phish – LP05: 4/2/98 (2025,Green w/Bronze Gold Swirl [Fishmarket Stew] LP) - worst sibilance I have heard on any LP in my entire collection. Especially bad on Side A. Jemp should be ashamed of this pressing, considering the mastering is by Chris Bellman. Sounds like shit. Glad I got it on a Target deal.

Best Sale of the Year

In Memorium 2025

• Garth Hudson (The Band)
• John Sykes (Whitesnake)
• Marianne Faithfull
• Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary)
• Sam Moore (Sam & Dave)
• Wayne Osmond (The Osmonds)