I love vinyl. In addition to having possession of the music I love, seeing the large artwork and the seemingly limitless colour effects that artists can use to extend the album's universe are things that I find supremely satisfying about the enduring format. Crafting every aspect of a fine LP takes many skilled hands, and thus, you get the sense that what you are holding is a true 'labour of love.' Having collected for nearly twenty years now, I take great pride in my collection, and few things bring me more joy than adding new items. To share my joy, I present to you the inaugural, quarterly vinyl update; where I go over my recent additions to the collection. Every LP has a story, so feel free to learn about each one as you browse some gallery images.

Prior to this Perfect Saviors expansion, I would say I was a casual fan of the noisy and chaotic hardcore band. There were a handful of songs I really enjoyed but I wasn't super in love with their albums as a whole. That started to change when I heard the new material from this EP. New! Christianity and Martyr Song were their two best written and most exciting tracks thanks to a perfect balance between violence and euphoria; a feat I don't think they achieved as successfully on previous outings. They would carry this momentum onto their next full-length, THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED, an album that finally captured me from start to finish. After adding that to my vinyl collection, I figured I should probably add the release that initially opened my eyes to the band's true potential. This edition is pressed on a dark green vinyl with silver glitter; an effect they are dubbing 'bowling ball.'

Fortress was an incredibly formative album from my youth that continues to amaze me with its astounding musicianship and potent songwriting. This record is packed with virtuosic guitar playing, agile basslines, busy drumming, and winding song structures that many could write off as unnecessarily excessive or self-indulgent. However, where other progressive rock or metal albums can feel impenetrable or soulless, Protest the Hero's punk spirit, their ability to string together memorable segments, and the undeniably monolithic presentation makes for a truly captivating experience. I've seen many pressings of this album come and go, but when I saw this beautiful new 'Snapdragon' set, I knew it was time to finally own it on vinyl. This edition features a striking alternate cover, and the double LP set is pressed on pink and purple vinyl respectively. For added flare, both discs also have a white swirl.

One of the most exciting new additions to my collection is the most recent album from Baths. Not just because it is a beautiful, sensual, and sometimes heartbreaking listen that impressed me enough to land in the top three of my favourite albums of 2025, but also because I initially missed out on the album's first pressing. The anticipation mounted as the wait for a restock spanned multiple months (can we please end the egregious practice of vinyl variants so that independent artists can restock faster?). Receiving my copy was well worth the weight as the packaging is stellar! The art from Heyshiro Matsuoka is breathtaking, and perhaps a little steamy, especially on the inside of the gatefold jacket. This double LP set is pressed on standard black vinyl, and it also comes with a neat lyric sheet that is in Will Wiesenfeld's own handwriting.

Nicole Dollanganger is a singer/songwriter from Scarborough, Ontario, who found a very dedicated online audience with her stark blend of dreamy soundscapes, and macabre, occultist imagery. Her album Natural Born Losers happens to be a very special addition to my collection because my good friend Ryan Goodman produced it. And when they needed drums on a couple tracks, they graciously thought of me. It's always surreal seeing your name in the credits. I remember feeling very much out of my element when I recorded the drums. I was used to playing hard and fast and this album required a softer touch. I'm not sure I did the best job, but I tried my best. Thanks to Vertigo Vinyl, I now have this beautiful 10th Anniversary double LP set in my collection. The vinyl pressings themselves also emulate the sadistic elegance I was talking about as the first disc is pressed on pink with white and black splatter ('flower bed splatter'), while the other is pressed on a bloodstained clear vinyl.

This may seem like a novelty purchase, but I find myself fascinated with the story of this project. Born from a desire to digitally preserve a series of brief tape loops, the initial concept of the project was formed when William Basinski noticed the tapes beginning to deteriorate as they looped over extended periods of time; the physical destruction of the media was very much captured in his recordings. “I'm recording the life and death of a melody,” he was quoted. The project took on even more meaning when the finalization of the music coincided with the September 11th attacks on The World Trade Centre. From the roof of his apartment, he watched the towers collapse, and the havoc it wreaked on the New York skyline became the project's visual component. The meaning behind The Disintegration Loops evolved from just being about the death of a sound, to reflecting the fragility, and temporariness of life itself. It is such a unique project that I feel holds a great deal of musical, as well as historical significance. Therefore, I'm thrilled to finally own the entire project on this massive eight LP set. They're all pressed on standard black vinyl, and for those curious, mine is numbered 749 (the numbering for this edition is open ended).

Motion City Soundtrack's Commit This to Memory is easily one of the best emo/pop-punk records of the 2000s. Aesthetically, the album is quite sunny thanks to peppy melodies, very energetic drumming, campy Moog synthesizers and Justin Pierre's very unique vocal. Although, digging into Pierre's lyrics reveals the record's troubled side. A portion of this record was written while Pierre was seeking treatment for alcohol abuse, and those struggles are very much reflected on the album. More than addiction, songs depict the toll the psychological battle can have on your relationships and the low sense of self-worth that comes as a by-product. The stark contrast creates an uncanny dynamic; an interesting depth that emo and pop-punk records aren't typically known for. This awesome 2022 edition is pressed on vibrant blue vinyl with a pink swirl.

I got really into Charli with her 2019 eponymously titled pop opus. It was such a fun and futuristic album that amplified tried and true pop songwriting tropes while also embracing the harsh, digital aesthetics pioneered by the PC Music collective. However, this wasn't the beginning of Charli's hyperpop era. In fact, Charli built up to this with the SOPHIE-produced EP Vroom Vroom, and these two mixtapes. While I've been very enamoured with her output since 2019, I hadn't yet gone back and listened to these two precursor projects. So when I stumbled on a used copy of each, I decided now was the perfect time to get acquainted. Number 1 Angel is housed in a sleek red jacket with a Spot UV title, and the vinyl is pressed on a ruby red colour. Pop 2's packaging is similarly minimal with a reflective, metallic jacket. It's pressed on a fancy bubblegum pink in clear vinyl.

The last two Sleigh Bells records have been fantastic, especially Texis which was given the honour of being YCBMW's first album of the year back in 2021. Despite really enjoying their newer material, I never really went back and listened to the stuff they put out back when the duo were really buzzing. After seeing a copy of Sleigh Bells' sophomore record, Reign of Terror, I decided to take a chance on it in the hopes that I find it just as rewarding as the more recent output. If the rest of the record is anything like Comeback Kid, a really fun track with bombastic drum loops, candied metal guitars, and Alexis Krauss' cutesy whispers, then it should be received well. This LP is pressed on standard black vinyl, but it also includes nine different art prints which is a really neat bonus.

Lastly, we have these two live sets from Otoboke Beaver! I'm not usually interested in live albums but I've seen the wild Japanese hardcore punk/riot grrrl band twice and somehow, their energy is even more chaotic than it is on record. Furthermore, it was recently revealed that drummer Kahokiss would be leaving the band; a bitter pill to swallow considering how much of a force she was behind the kit. Therefore, to have a document of the band's live presence, especially with the inclusion of Kahokiss, I splurged on the pair of live sets that were released last year. I love the packaging on these sets; silver and gold covers with illustrations that personify the band as some sort of punk Gods. Keeping the design consistent, they're pressed on matching silver and gold vinyl.

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