The Best Vinyl to Spin This February
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February might be the shortest month of the year, but it’s long on great records at Barnes & Noble’s Vinyl Store! This month, we’ve got an exclusive from Alison Krauss, as well as the Hamilton Mixtape (also an exclusive!) and new albums from Train and Elbow. New records find their way to the Vinyl Store every month, so keep checking back to find new vinyl for your collection!
{{ product: 0075678664274 }}Hamilton Mixtape
Available as a Barnes & Noble exclusive record (on clear vinyl, no less!), the Hamilton Mixtape is styled after hip-hop mixtapes, DIY albums given out for free by rappers for self-promotion (and so they don’t get sued for using uncleared beats and samples). With this album, Hamilton pays tribute to that practice, and also pulls together a talented roster of hip-hop artists who record their own versions of Hamilton songs. The Roots, Sia, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Busta Rhymes, Chance the Rapper, Nas, and Usher are just a few of the performers on this record, which is a testament to the artistry of both Hamilton: the Musical and the hip-hop culture that inspired it.
Windy City, by Alison Krauss
Windy City is Alison Krauss’ first proper solo album in 16 years, and she’s making it count. Primarily an album of classic bluegrass and country covers, it’s proof positive of how much Krauss enjoys playing songs older than her. It’s also an extension of her professional and personal admiration for veteran Nashville producer Buddy Cannon, who both produced this album and wrote one of the songs on it (“Dream of Me”). She also covers songs by country music legends including Brenda Lee, Bill Monroe, the Osborne Brothers, and Willie Nelson.
A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat, by Train
A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat is Train’s tenth album, and their first without lead guitarist Jimmy Stafford (who is taking a break and only making select appearances with the band). A lot of bands would suffer a dip in quality from losing a lead player and founding member, but much like their namesake, Train keeps chugging along. This record is more pop-oriented than their previous work, with catchy piano melodies driving songs like “You Better Believe,” “Play That Song,” and “Working Girl,” whose chorus is perfect for singing in the car. If you’re a fan of Maroon 5, you’ll love this album.
Little Fictions, by Elbow
English alternative rock band Elbow claims Genesis (specifically the Peter Gabriel years), Radiohead, and Talk Talk as major influences on their music, and Little Fictions is definitive proof of all of that. Gabriel fans will appreciate the melodies on this record, Genesis fans will dig the drum work and orchestral flourishes, Radiohead fans will recognize the album’s mood, and Talk Talk fans will love the band’s mastery of volume dynamics. Little Fictions‘ two lead singles, “Magnificent (She Says)” and “All Disco,” are great examples of how the band’s sound is developing. As a bonus, “All Disco” was partly inspired by a conversation Elbow’s singer Guy Garvey had with the Pixies’ Frank Black.