Let’s be real: the world can seem like a scary place. Thankfully, we have a group of musicians making vital music to make sense of it all. The Linda Lindas are showing us that the next generation might save us all by calling out racism and misogyny with pop-punk hooks that would make Green Day proud. Taking a different approach, Swedish shit-starters Viagra Boys drop an album trolling the alt-right, and London producer Wu-Lu drops a very personal take on the state of the world. Not everything is all doom and gloom. Donald Glover releases a fantastic New Balance collab, Carly Rae Jepsen releases a tenth-anniversary edition of her breakthrough album, and Travis Scott returns with an expensive pair of kicks. Find out which music and music-related releases are the most popular, which are the most expensive, and which are coming your way, plus listen to The Spin Spotify playlist, in this latest installment of The Spin.
Best New Music Releases This Week
The Linda Lindas Growing Up LP Vinyl Opaque Frosted Blue
In 2021, The Linda Lindas went viral with a performance of their anthem “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library. Fast forward to 2022, the teen (and pre-teen) phenoms offer up their full-length debut, Growing Up, filled with pop-punk hooks and attitude. Now available on vinyl in Coke Bottle or Opaque Frosted Blue, this record is a great retort to the spiraling racism and misogyny masquerading as law these days. You know, the kids just might be all right.
Viagra Boys Cave World LP Vinyl Orange
Thank god for the Viagra Boys. One of the best bands in the world is back with their third album, Cave World – available on Orange, Green, and Red vinyl. This time around they lay waste to this century’s rogues’ gallery of conspiracy theorists, neo-fascists, and other troglodytes. Never has the end of the world sounded like so much fun!
Wu-Lu LOGGERHEAD LP Vinyl Light Green
Here comes another album-of-the-moment from South London producer Wu-Lu. Clocking in at just under 45 minutes, LOGGERHEAD is an exhilarating, tension-filled album that captures what Wu-Lu has described as “the breakdown in communication between my inner voice and my external voice.” It’s chaos out here, but LOGGERHEAD gives us a way to make sense of it all.
New Balance RC30 Donald Glover Sea Salt
Multi-talented artist Donald Glover delivers a collaborative take on New Balance’s new sneaker, the RC30. Offered in Sea Salt and Golden Hour, these low-key fire sneakers are a match for whatever mood you find yourself in – from feeling like a Community college student, figuring it out in Atlanta, or making some Childish Gambino-type beats.
Best Music Releases
Soccer Mommy Sometimes, Forever Cassette Pink
On her third album, Sometimes, Forever, Sophie Allison deepens and darkens her ‘90s alt-rock-informed sound. Delivering a brace of songs that tack between success and failure leavened with her deadpan, biting humor, Soccer Mommy delivers another solid album to soundtrack your real – or imagined – suburban trip to the soccer fields.
Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers 2XLP Vinyl Black
Kendrick Lamar has finally released vinyl versions of his newest album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Lamar’s album had the biggest first week of sales of 2022 until Harry Styles released Harry’s House. But his DAMN. follow-up is still one of the biggest, and most talked about, records of the year. Be sure and get the LP to find out why everyone is talking.
J.I.D. DiCaprio 2 Urban Outfitters Exclusive LP Vinyl (Edition of 1500) Clear
J.I.D.’s second album, DiCaprio 2, dropped to critical acclaim in 2018 and sees the full vinyl treatment from Urban Outfitters. DiCaprio 2 serves as the follow-up to his Dreamville Records debut, The Never Story, and the sequel to his DiCaprio EP. In addition to his music, check out his recent Coachella merch collab with Loso.
Carly Rae Jepsen Kiss 10th Anniversary Edition LP Vinyl Opaque White
It’s been 10 years since Carly Rae Jepsen dropped Kiss and solidified her superstar status thanks to her mega-hit single, “Call Me Maybe.” To celebrate this anniversary, Jepsen rereleased her breakthrough album as a standard vinyl pressing on Opaque White – prior to the 10th-anniversary release, Kiss was only available as a limited edition picture disc. Here’s your chance to fall in love with Jepsen all over again.
Ella Mai Heart On My Sleeve Target Exclusive 2XLP Vinyl Olive Green
Ella Mai returns with her second album, Heart on My Sleeve. This time around, the UK singer upgraded her production with the aid of Mustard’s executive production and features from Mary J. Blige and Roddy Ricch. The overall effect is a big step forward for this budding superstar. It’s time we all got “Boo’d Up” with Ella Mai’s second album.
Most Expensive Music Product This Week
Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP Travis Scott Reverse Mocha
This week, we had an early sale of the upcoming Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP Travis Scott Reverse Mocha. The newest Travis Scott x Jordan Brand collab comes with all the standard Travis Scott trappings we’ve come to expect from this partnership: an oversized backward Swoosh, the Cactus Jack logo on the tongue, and the heels featuring the Jordan Wings logo and Scott’s crudely sketched face. The shoe sold for almost $1900, making it the most expensive music-related product of the week.
Most Popular Music Products This Week
Brent Faiyaz Fuck The World Limited Edition LP Vinyl Red & Black Splatter
Brent Faiyaz just released his newest album, Wasteland, a title à propos of the current state of the country and world. Until Wasteland sees a physical release, go ahead and pick up Fuck the World. Faiyaz’s third EP is one of the most popular music products of the week.
Throughout 2022, Beatles’ LEGO sets have been extremely popular, landing on The Spin multiple times. Now the other British Invasion legends, the Rolling Stones, have their own LEGO set to brag about. The LEGO The Rolling Stones Set 31206 renders the Stones’ famous tongue and lips logo into a hangable art piece. This is a must for any music or LEGO collector.
