The Merge Records Companion

Celebrating 20 years of music is North Carolina’s Merge Records, home to artists like Lambchop, She & Him, Arcade Fire, Spoon, and dozens of others. As part of its ongoing anniversary celebration, the label has compiled this little volume, a visual look at its last two decades of releases. The covers of each and every album, EP, single, and DVD ever released by Merge are featured in the book, which also includes introductory essays by label founders Mac and Laura. Note that this is a limited edition item, so if you haven’t snapped it up by now, get thee to the Merge Records site.

Cost: $15.98
Buy

Bright Eyes – A Christmas Album

Back in the days when Bright Eyes was Conor Oberst plus a very large and ever-rotating cast of musicians, Saddle Creek released A Christmas Album, which saw the crew putting an indie-folk twist on traditional Christmas jams. The album, which originally dropped in 2002, has only ever been available on CD, but this year, the label repackaged it on 180 gram vinyl (that’s white, apparently) and is selling the record exclusively through its online store. Purchase includes the album and code for a high-quality MP3 version. All proceeds will benefit the Nebraska AIDS Project.

Cost: $15
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Vinyl is Forever Apparel

Vinyl has undergone resurgence in the last 10 years, and whether you’re a longtime crate-digger that owns a battered copy of Hoyt Axton’s Road Songs or a newbie who simply knows that Arcade Fire sounds better on 180g, you’re hardly alone in your fetish. Soundscreen Deisgn—avid enthusiasts of the medium—have created an entire apparel line dedicated to the love of vinyl that features bright, bold designs on series of t-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags. Currently there are three editions to choose from. All garments are 100% Organic Alternative Apparel and limited edition.

Cost: $18 – $40
Buy

Wilco (the tote)

There are many tote bags in the world. None manages the affordable/efficient/hilarious combination quite as well as this one. I bought mine at a show this past summer and it’s been everything from a grocery bag to a piece of carry-on luggage to a conversation sparker. The tote is available as an individual item, or as part of Wilco (the bundle), which includes the bag, a vinyl copy of Wilco (the album), and a sticker. It’s worth noting that the entirety of Wilco’s online store right now is a music fan’s holiday shopping paradise, so take a look at some of the other fantastic packages up for sale.

Cost: $8 (bag only), $25 (bundle)
Buy

Portrait of a Young Man Trying to Draw

William Schaff is probably best known for creating the album art for bands like Okkervil River (The Stage Names) and Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven). Recently, he gathered 10 scratchboard images on linen paper and compiled them into a hand-bound book that’s signed and limited to a mere 500 copies. Needless to say, this one won’t last long in stores.

Cost: $34.99
Buy

Check Your Head Pillowcases

Most music-themed home decor is, admittedly, a cheesefest, but we wouldn’t be true enthusiasts without one or two items in the apartment. Tacky up the throw cushions with a set of these DJ-friendly pillowcases. (though if you’re out of college, you might want to relegate these to the man den.)

Cost: $24.99
Buy

OrgiAudio Speakers

This item grabbed Time Magazine‘s award for Best Invention of 2009. The eco-friendly folding speakers are made entirely from recycled material, require no batteries, are compatible with any device (so long as it has a headphone jack), and are nicely designed to boot. Available themes right now include Cityscape, Daydream, Lake, Flowers, Surf Break, and Canvas. Or go the extra step and create your own at the OrgiAudio website.

Cost: From $16
Buy

Many of us south of that particular border never had a chance to see the reportedly awesome film, but that fact is set to change in March 2010, when it gets a wide release as part of the Under the Great White Northern Lights limited edition box set.

Needless to say, the package sounds awesome. In addition to a DVD of the film, the box set includes a 16-track live album (on both 180 gram vinyl and CD), another DVD, of the Stripes’ 10th anniversary show, a live 7″, and a 208-page book with photos from the famous Canadian trek.

Pre-order (and why wouldn’t you?) the whole bundle before January 1 and you’ll get live MP3s of “Hotel Yorba”, “Hello Operator”, and “A Martyr for My Love for You”, along with a special holiday card.

The Under the Great White Northern Lights box set is out March 16, 2010.

Aaron “ABX” Brink and Steve “STV SLV” Reidell just dropped The Mixtape Volume Four via their website. I hereby challenge someone to name another place in reality (actual or virtual) where one can find Public Enemy going head-to-head with HEALTH, Bon Iver’s “Lump Sum” laid over something akin to the current H&M soundtrack, and Michael Jackson doing “Billie Jean” to a chorus of Ratatat beats. A little blasphemous, if you’re a purist, but there’s no denying the mix kick-starts the afternoon faster than a six-pack of Frappucinos.

It’s here, for the price of free.

The Mixtape Volume Four
01 Intro
02 David Banner vs Fujiya & Miyagi - “Get Like Pterodactyls”
03 The Beastie Boys vs Matt And Kim – “Good Ol’ Fashion Rump Shaker”
04 Kanye West vs Cage & Aviary – “Touch The Television”
05 Lil Wayne (feat. Babyface) vs Royksopp – “Comfortable Up Here”
06 Passion Pit vs Juvenile – “Back That Sleepyhead Up”
07 DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince vs Daft Punk – “Summer Circuit”
08 Public Enemy vs HEALTH vs Nosaj Thing – “Bring The Tabloid Sores”
09 AZ (feat. Ghostface) vs The Golden Filter – “Solid Gold From New York”
10 Modest Mouse vs Kanye West – “Floating Paranoia”
11 Clipse vs Yuksek – “Kinda Like A Big Break”
12 Weezer vs Glass Candy – “Buddy Holly’s Imagination”
13 Bangers & Cash vs Bag Raiders – “Bang Raiders”
14 Amanda Blank vs VEGA – “No Reasons To Like You Better”
15 Michael Jackson vs Ratatat – “Billie “Wildcat” Jean”
16 Kid Sister (feat. Pitbull) vs Phonat – “Free Control Ocho”
17 Twista (feat. Erika Shevon) vs Boys Noize – “Wetter And Jeffer”
18 Flo Rida (feat. Ke$ha) vs MSTRKRFT – “1000 Times Right Round”
19 R. Kelly (feat. Keri Hilson) vs Sally Shapiro – “Number One Christmas”
20 Drake vs The Rapture – “Best Jealous Lover I Ever Had”
21 Bon Iver vs Friendly Fires vs Aeroplane – “Lump Sum Of Paris”
22 Jeremih vs Handsome Furs – “Birthday Furs”
23 Yung LA vs Solid Gold – “Who Ain’t I Gonna Run To?”
24 Major Lazer (feat. Santigold) vs Dirty Projectors – “Hold The Stillness”
25 Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear – “Two Weeks Of Hip Hop”
26 Soulja Boy vs Joe Jackson – “Swaggin’ Out”
27 OJ Da Juiceman (feat. Gucci Mane) vs Discovery – “Make The Loop Aye”
28 Glasses Malone vs Chromatics – “A Moment To Remember Haterz”
29 Paper Route Gangstaz vs Animal Collective – “Animals Collecting Money”
30 B-Hamp vs Little Boots – “Ricky Bobby Boots”
31 Ghostface Killah vs Beirut – “Save Me Concubine”
32 Keri Hilson vs The Glitch Mob/TVOTR – “Red Dress Turnin Me On”
33 Dorrough vs Bibio – “Fire Ant Paint Job”
34 Outro