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)
• Aesop Rock - Black Hole Superette (2025,"Black Ice" Translucent 2xLP)
• Alison Krauss + Union Station - Arcadia (2025, B&N Exclusive Purple LP)
• Clipping. - Dead Channel Sky (2025,Trans. Cloudy Green 2xLP)
• Dream Theater - Parasomnia (2025,Clear 2xLP)
• Envy of None - Stygian Waves (2025,LP)
• Ghost - Skeleta (2025, Target Exclusive Neon Violet LP w/Silver Foil Jacket)
• Gin Lady - Before the Dawn of Time (2025, "Green Day Rising" LEx300 LP)
• Katatonia - Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State (2025,LP)
• L.A. Guns - Leopard Skin (2025,Gold LP)
• Matt Berry - Heard Noises (2025,Blue Swirl LP)
• Mdou Moctar - Tears of Injustice (2025, "Sky" Blue LP)
• Stereolab - Instant Holograms on Metal Film (2025,2xLP)
• Warlung - The Poison Touch (2025,Striped Clear Green/Yellow/Blue/Black Splatter LP LEx100)

Favorite Reissues

• Acid King - Busse Woods (1998, Black w/Green Swirl LP)
• Aimee Mann - Lost in Space (2002,2025 Blue/White Splatter LP w/GITD Cover)
• Archie Shepp - The Magic of Ju-Ju (1968,2025 Verve By Request LP)
• Atomic Bitchwax - Local Fuzz (2011,2025 Crimson Red RM LP)
• B-52's - B-52's (1979,2025 RSD Picture Disc LP)
• Cracker - Gentlemen's Blues (1998,2025 MOV 2xLP)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - CCR (1968,2025 Opaque Blue RM LP)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River (1969,2025 Opaque Olive Green RM LP)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country (1969,2025 Opaque Tangerine RM LP)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - Willie and the Poor Boys (1969,2025 Opaque Yellow RM LP)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmos Factory (1970,2025 Opaque Red RM LP)
• Dada - Puzzle (2008,2025 Strawberry Swirl 2xLP RSD 2025)
• Dead Meadow - Old Growth (2008,2025 Ultra Limited LEx100 Tri-Color Splatter LP)
• Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses (1987,2025 RM LP)
• Depeche Mode - Violator (1990,2025 RM LP)
• Dream Theater - Awake (1994,2024 MOV Clear 2xLP)
• Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999,2025 MOV Clear 2xLP)
• Great White - Hooked (1991,2025 LP w/original cover)
• Harold Wheeler Consort - Black Cream (1975,2025 Splatter LEx100 LP)
• Harvey Mandel - The Snake (1972,2025 RSD Turquoise LP)
• Horace Silver - Serenade to a Soul Sister (1968,BN Classic Vinyl Series LP)
• Israel Vibration - Forever (1991,2025 RM LP)
• Israel Vibration - Praises (1990,2025 RM LP)
• Judas Priest - Rocka Rolla (1974,2025 50th Anniv. Red/Clear Splatter RM LEx750 LP)
• Lee Hazlewood - Love and Other Crimes (1968, "Sea" Blue LP LEx1000 LP)
• Lou Donaldson - Say It Loud! (1969,BN Classic Vinyl Series LP)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live on Air 1973 (1973,2025 LP)
• Miranda Lambert - Kerosene (2005, 2025 LP)
• Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood (1989,2025 Walmart Exclusive White/Red Splatter LP)
• Motorhead - Overkill (1979,2025 Green Swirl LP)
• Motorhead - Bomber (1979,2025 Blue Splatter LP)
• Motorhead - Ace of Spades (1980,Blue/Orange Swirl LP)
• Nightstalker - Use (1996,2025 Red/Black Splatter LEx100 2xLP)
• Ozzy Osbourne - Scream (2010,2025 Amazon Exclusive Teal 2xLP)
• Peter Broggs - Rastafari Liveth (1982,2025 RE LP)
• Phish - LP on LP 05: "Twist" / "Stash" 04.02.98 (2005,2025 Green Swirl LP)
• Phish - LP on LP 06: "Simple" / "Blaze On" 08.06.21 (2021,2025 Orange Swirl LP)
• Pinback - Information Retrieved (2012,2025 Blue LP)
• Primus - Frizzle Fry (1990,2025 Clear/Purple Split LP)
• Seven Mary Three - American Standard (1995, 2025 LP)
• Sister Nancy - One Two (1982,2025 RSD Opaque Blue LP)
• Slightly Stoopid - Closer to the Sun (2005,2025 "Sun Colored" Orange Marble LEx500 2xLP)
• Talking Heads - Live on Tour '78 (1979,2025 RSD 2xLP)
• Talk Talk - The Very Best of Talk Talk (1997,2025 2xLP)
• Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (1988,2025 Walmart Exclusive Red LP)
• Warlung - The Poison Touch (2025,Opaque 3-Color Green/Yellow/Blue Splatter LEx100 LP)
• Witch - Witch (2006, 2025 Translucent Green/Blue Splatter LP)

Not sure yet...

• Dope Lemon - Golden Wolf (2025, Marble Gold/Zoetrope LP)
• Fvzz Popvli - Melting Pop (2025,Red/Yellow/Purple Swirl LEx100 LP)
• Israel Vibration - Reggae Music Never Dies (2025,LP)
• Japanese Breakfast - For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) (2025,Green Marble LP)
• moe. - Circle of Giants (2025,Opaque Blue/Purple + Orange Swirl 2xLP)
• Ringo Starr - Look Up (2025,LP)
• Steven Wilson - The Overview (2025, Mint Green LP)

Top 10 2025 Favorite New Releases TBD

Top 10 2025 Favorite Reissues TBD

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

• Dada - Puzzle (2008,2025 Strawberry Swirl 2xLP RSD 2025)
• Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses (1987,2025 RM LP)
• Depeche Mode - Violator (1990,2025 RM LP)
• Mdou Moctar - Tears of Injustice (2025, "Sky" Blue LP)
• Ozzy Osbourne - Scream (2010,2025 Amazon Exclusive Teal 2xLP)
• Slightly Stoopid - Closer to the Sun (2005,2025 "Sun Colored" Orange Marble LEx500 2xLP)
• Talking Heads - Live on Tour '78 (1979,2025 RSD 2xLP)
• Talk Talk - The Very Best of Talk Talk (1997,2025 2xLP)

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

• Envy of None - Stygian Waves (2025,LP)
• Katatonia - Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State (2025,LP)
• Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood (1989,2025 Walmart Exclusive Lenticular Cover Art)
• Soft Ffog - Focus (2025,Opaque Blue Swirl LP LEx500)

Worst Cover Art

• Steven Wilson - Overview (2025, Mint Green LP)

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

• Target Buy Two, Get One Sale (March 21-29) or 33% off (18 orders of 3xLP**)
• **several were cancelled by Target with no apology or explanation

In Memorium 2025

• Bob Rivers (Parodies musician)
• Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
• Clem Burke (Blondie)
• Garth Hudson (The Band)
• John Sykes (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy)
• Les Binks (Judas Priest)
• Marianne Faithfull
• Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary)
• Rick Derringer
• Roberta Flack
• Sam Moore (Sam & Dave)
• Sly Stone
• Wayne Osmond (The Osmonds)