VNYL is a pretty interesting subscription service for record collectors. When you sign up for this service, you fill out a lengthy profile that includes not only your likes and dislikes but also links to all of your profiles on digital audio services such as Spotify and Sound Cloud. They then ask you to choose a "#VIBE," which is an activity that you would like them to select the music for, such as studying or pool party. They then select 3 new albums and send to you based on all these criteria.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: VNYL
The Cost: $36 per month
The Products: Three BRAND NEW records chosen by a curator specifically for you, based on your profile, other digital audio services profiles, and selected "#VIBE" for that month
Ships to: US (free), and UK, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Australia, France, Canada at an additional cost
Check out all our VNYL reviews and the Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
VNYL often sends a flyer advertising their new releases. One of the perks of membership is access to the member store, where they have a variety of albums for sale at a discount. Records purchased in the member store are shipped free with your next month's regular shipment.
I chose #sweaterweather as my "#VIBE" for this month. My curator for this month was Jay (pictured above). He writes:
Hey Anna, For the Ty Segall fan in you here's some fuzzy punk records! This Parquet Courts spinoff record is scrappy, messy, and oozes coolness, while this Wavves side project Spirit Club has got your psych rock tastes covered. And I'm rounding it with Los Angele's stadium-ready rockers Francisco The Man. Enjoy! Jay
Content Nausea by Parkay Quarts - $12.99 on Amazon
I'm not a big fan of Parkay Quarts (a.k.a. Parquet Courts), to be honest. It's an interesting blend of punk-ish music, but it's just not my thing. The song above is probably the best on the album, although it's not punk at all, and was the big single they played on heavy rotation on XMU. I will most likely be taking this to the record swap, which is a good way to make the most of my VNYL membership when I get a miss.
Spirit Club (self-titled) - $23.63 on Amazon
Hooray for gold spattered vinyl! And hooray for this album, it's fantastic. I might call it dream pop rather than psych, but it's delicious either way. It sounds a bit like Wavves, but I think it sounds a lot like Air, Fruit Bats, and a lot of the indie sound from about a decade ago, but with a fresh take. My husband thinks it sounds like DIIV, but I'm not so sure. In any case, it's a big hit! Thanks, Jay!
Loose Ends by Francisco the Man - $9.20 on Amazon
This album is full of straight ahead rock, and I love it! My husband really likes it, too. This is a fun discovery for us.
Verdict: The day I get my VNYL in the mail is one of my favorite mail days all month! This month had one miss, but that happens from time to time with most any vinyl subscription, or any subscription really. I do think I'm going to make a note in my profile about punk, I think I'm just tired of punk at the moment. The value this month totals about $46, which is great for a $36 box. I'm a huge VNYL fan, and I've discovered tons of great new music because of them.
What do you think of VNYL? What did you get this month?
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