Record Store Day 2018: The Skinny's Top Picks

Laura Veirs – Fading of Stars
[Bella Union, 7”]
Previewing her new album The Lookout (released 13 April), US folkie Laura Veirs is releasing album outtake Fading of Stars. Best of all, though, on the B-side she joins the ranks of Wilco, Beck and Spiritualized, to cover Daniel Johnston's True Love Will Find You in the End. Can't wait! [Pete Wild]

Jeff Buckley – Live at Sin-E
[Legacy / Sony Music, 4xLP Vinyl]
This live album captures a New York show he played before Grace's release. It remains the perfect example of his raw talent. No one can hear his delivery of ‘She's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever’ on Lover, You Should Have Come Over without completely welling up. [Jonathan Rimmer]

Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy (Mirror To Mirror)
[Matador, 2xLP]
So this is the first chance to get 2011 album Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror) on vinyl, an album Will Toledo has since rejigged and re-recorded as Twin Fantasy (Face to Face), which itself was released on vinyl about two months ago. Think of this as a ‘de-master’ of that new album, in that it sounds like it was recorded in a bin full of old car parts. And yet it will sit side-by-side on shelves with the vastly superior new version. God bless this ridiculous day. [Peter Simpson] 

Sufjan Stevens – Mystery of Love EP
[MOV, 10” TBA]
Sufjan Stevens’ compositions for the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack are among the most tender and haunting of his career. The song for which this release is named deserves all the praise heaped upon it, but Visions of Gideon stands apart as a truly devastating reflection on love lost. [Alexander Smail]

Brian Eno and Kevin Shields – The Weight of History / Only Once Away My Son
[Opal, 12”]
The only surprise about a collaboration between pioneering polymath Brian Eno and shoegaze perfectionist Kevin Shields is how long it took to become a reality. The first nine-plus minutes shared is an encapsulating universe of sounds, with the treat of a whole other side of vinyl still to come. [Tony Inglis]

The National – Boxer (Live in Brussels)
[4AD, clear LP]
Confusion reigned back in September when, in the thick of a European tour, The National decided to play their seminal 2007 record Boxer in its entirety at the Forest National in Brussels. Why there?  Why them? Why then? Now we know that the show was recorded for this special RSD release limited to 4000 copies, ahead of the band revisiting the front-to-back performance at their Homecoming show in Cincinnati, Ohio this summer. Expect crisp takes on the likes of Fake Empire and Slow Show but also the iconic, explosive live version of Squalor Victoria professionally captured for the first time – this is one live album that promises to be an altogether different beast from its studio iteration. [Joe Goggins]

Various Erased Tapes Artists – 1 x 1 = X
[Erased Tapes, 3xLP Box Set]
Neo-classical label Erased Tapes are celebrating their 10th birthday by putting together an album of new, original material from each of their artists. The likes of Nils Frahm, Rival Consoles and others shared a residency in Berlin, where they recorded 20 songs for this 3xLP box set. Expect keys, strings, and a whole lot of emotive minimalism. [Will Moss]

Rowland S Howard – autoluminescent
[easy action, blue 7”]
It’s nearly a decade since the passing of Rowland S Howard – the grand, gothic guitarist of The Birthday Party – so as an Aussie expat this choice feels appropriate. This track is from his first solo album; plus the vinyl is blue (my favourite colour). RIP, Rowland. [Claire Francis]

Madonna – You Can Dance
[Rhino Warner, red 12"]
Released in 1987 when remixing was still considered a revolutionary concept, this was Madge’s first remix album. Famously not a fan of others remixing her songs, she brought in old friends John “Jellybean” Benitez and Patrick Leonard, and new friends Shep Pettibone and Nile Rodgers, to put the album together and it’s a disco fan’s dream. [Nadia Younes]

Courtney Barnett – City Looks Pretty / Sunday Roast
[Marathon Artists, 12”]
Courtney Barnett’s 12 inch single cover art looks striking as does the marbled vinyl. After a three year wait two great singles have recently been released from her upcoming new solo album, which are crackers. [Peter Johnstone]

Pictish Trail – Future Echoes
[Fire Records, 'cosmic coloured' 2xLP]
Originally released in 2016 via his own Lost Map label, Pictish Trail’s Future Echoes is getting a psychedelic makeover for Record Store Day with a limited run of 1000 pressed up in ‘cosmic coloured’ vinyl. Thanks to the lovely folks at Fire Records, you can now own a copy of Future Echoes that’s as colourful as the main man – Johnny Lynch – is himself.

This RSD is also a great opportunity to get your hands on a record that looks like a fried egg thanks to The Lovely Eggs and their eggy pressing of This is Eggland. You’ll also get the opportunity to own a physical copy of pop princess Sigrid’s Don’t Kill My Vibe EP on heavyweight red vinyl; a pink 7” of The Lemonheads Favourite Spanish Dishes EP which comes complete with a Spanish dishes recipe booklet; and copies of classic reggae hits from days gone by (25 years to be exact) thanks to special releases of Chaka Demus & Pliers’ Tease Me on yellow 7” and Shaggy’s Oh Carolina, also on 7”. It’s a no-brainer really. [Tallah Brash]

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Record Store Day 2018 takes place on Saturday 21 April
Check out what's on at Record Shops across Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee this Record Store Day with our handy guide here