There’s a perception among today’s music fans that vinyl is outdated and unnecessary. Indeed, many of us do tend to think of vinyl as something reserved for antiques and collectibles. But really, it’s a mistake to relegate vinyl to the world of antiques.
In fact, vinyl is enjoying something of a comeback in recent years, as there are multiple ways to incorporate it with modern music to enjoy fresh music with vinyl quality. When you buy modern vinyl, it often comes with a digital download included; you can also purchase what’s called a USB Turntable from MySmartBuy to play vinyl while also creating digital copies of the music to store on your iPod and computer. Simply put, you can enjoy the quality of vinyl without sacrificing digital convenience.
The trick, then, becomes finding modern music ideally suited to vinyl. Really, you want an album that’s great to listen to start to finish, with songs flowing naturally into one another to create a whole experience that you can just put on and leave be. Here are 10 modern albums in various genres that fit the bill.
10. Lucky Boys Confusion – Throwing The Game
This little known pop/punk/rock album from Chicago favorite LBC can be tough to find these days, but you can always buy the CD and convert it to vinyl through Custom Records. It’s worth it if you like the genre, as this album is a cohesive blast.
9. Third Eye Blind – Blue
The self-titled debut album may contain hits like “Jumper” and “Semi-Charmed Life,” but for vinyl, “Blue” is the more complete experience beginning to end.
8. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
Can any modern artist tell a story or convey his own emotions like Eminem?
7. The Killers – Hot Fuss
It’s always surprising to look back at this track list and realize just how many hits the album produced. People either love or hate The Killers, but “Hot Fuss” is a great vinyl record to have.
6. John Mayer – Continuum
Again, you love him or hate him – but if you’re a mayer fan, opt for “Continuum” on vinyl.
5. Blink-182 – Take Off Your Pants & Jacket
If you’re nostalgic about the good old “American Pie” days, pick up this Blink classic.
4. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
It’s new, and still hot on the radio, but this album is an outstanding example of building a cohesive experience.
3. Radiohead – Kid A
The famous revolutionary rock album is a must-have for your collection.
2. U2 – All That You Can’t Leave Behind
U2 is one of those “take your pick” bands, because there are just so many classic hits and albums. But this is as good as any of them.
1. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
“College Dropout” and “Late Registration” are also great, but “MBDTF” is an artsy, gutsy, innovative, ridiculous and amazing album all at once. We love listening to this one over and over.
