VINYL VIEWS: WEEK OF 8/23/21
Vinyl Views is our weekly blog where we feature album recommendations from our store team (Shayne and Jaxon) and reveal picks from guest contributors. This week has been especially hectic so it’s just the two of us.
Scroll down to read this week’s album picks or start shopping! Sign up now to be a part of our Vinyl Views family and be the first to hear about new releases, store events, and exclusive promotions. Looking for a prior week of Vinyl Views? If so, CLICK HERE
Don’t worry, we’re not moving!! But two-thirds of the staff just did! We themed this weeks VV in honor of that and Shayne’s rare vacation.
BTW we’re running low on contributors at the moment so if you’d like to be a part of Vinyl Views, hit us up!
Shayne is switching it up in 2021 and bringing us his custom playlists each week. Check out here or come into the store and listen to them in our Sounderator (tricked out 1940’s refrigerator that you sit in while enjoying a tasty selection of tunes).
Shayne’s playlist this week is titled Home Again
From: Shayne:
This week’s playlist serves multiple purposes given the timing. The whole Toppen clan is getting ready to move into their new home, I just got back home from visiting my childhood home (just in time for the Spider-Man No Way Home trailer to drop!) Synchronicity!
Access the Spotify Playlist Here => 
Artist: Amnesty
Album: Free Your Mind
I am finally moving into my house after 3 weeks of living in limbo. So for this weeks Vinyl Views, I will be discussing what albums have been on frequent rotation during that time.
This album has been a wonderful discovery I made during the beginning of the 3 weeks, and I have been playing it a lot whenever I need to chill out and relax. While it was recorded in 1973, it took until 2007 for it to get released to the public. It has really nice vocal harmonies, that just make your soul smile. This album is truly a gem, and if you enjoy soul, you need to check this out. Check out the 7 minute monster of an opening track, Can I Help You?
.Check out the track Can I Help You?
Artist: Playboi Carti
Album: Die Lit
I probably make fun of Playboi Carti more than any other music artist. This isn’t out of me hating him or anything, I actually love his music to bits. It’s just his vocals are so high pitched and so hard to understand, it makes him sound like he is speaking an alien language at times. But weirdly that may make me like him even more. I have listened to this album a ridiculous amount of times over the past couple weeks. The repetitive high pitched lyrics and hypnotic trap instrumentals are just so fun. This albums biggest strength is its simplicity, as everything here is super minimalist, but it still is able to create an extremely infectious sound.
Check out the track Old Money
Artist: Underscores
Album: Fishmonger
If someone were to ask me, on the spot, what my favorite record that was released this year was, I would probably say this one. This album is a sugary blend of hyperpop and modern indie rock, that will have you coming back for more. There isn’t much that sounds like this, and I am really excited to see what Underscores will create next. I truly believe the album when it says “It’s the new wave of the future!”
Check out the track Second Hand Embarrassment
How Do I Order Music (Or Other Things)?
Val’s is now open again (safely)! Bring a face mask and we will sanitize your hands on the way in. Social distancing, of course. Val’s halla has worked hard over this quarantine period to launch its Online Store which has thousands of titles for you to choose from. We will continue to add inventory everyday, but just let us know what you are looking for! We are happy to look through our off-line inventory of over 50,000 titles to see what we have for you. Also, we place orders with our distributor every Monday which means we see them in our store by Tuesday (most of the time). We sell records (as well as turntables), CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks, DVDs and more. To get started, you can Click Here to access the Online Store, or fill out the form below to let us know what you are looking for.
What About Delivery?
Val’s is offering Curbside Pickup and No-Contact Delivery Service to customers who live within a 5-mile radius of the Oak Park Arts District. Orders can also be shipped to customers outside that radius for a flat fee of $5. Order as much as you want – still $5 shipping! Stay safe and be well!