Holiday shopping for the music lover in your life can be hard—but we’re here to help! First, shop local when you can, not just for Black Friday Record Store Day, but anytime this season. Here’s a list of great stores to choose from. Second, you might not know their specific wishlist, but there’s a chance their record-loving type might be on our list.
Starting with those who love to support local! You can double your support for Nashville by buying one of these locally-affiliated releases at a local store:
Sun Records What’s This World Coming To: Garage Rock From The Sun Records Vault
The Memphis label made a move to Nashville in 1969 but that didn’t mean a turn towards country, instead they dug into some garage and psych rock. This comp captures the era including an easter egg track for classic wresting fans from WWF personality Jimmy Hart and his band The Gentrys.
Heatmiser Mic City Sons (30th Anniversary Edition)
Elliott Smith’s pre-fame band tends to be a footnote in the 90’s icon’s story but Third Man’s reissue brings a deserving spotlight to his rock side with a ton of bonus tracks.
Jesus & Mary Chain Psychocandy (40th Anniversary edition)
It’s hard to overstate the influence Psychocandy had on what would become sturdy branches of the alt/indie tree from noise rock to shoegaze. The folks at Nashville/Detroit-based Third Man Records know that and gave it a deluxe treatment.
Cage the Elephant Live From The Vic In Chicago
Nashville-by-way-of Bowling Green’s alt-rock hit machine originally released this blistering 2011 recorded over two nights at Chicago’s famed Vic Theatre as a DVD and bonus audio CD. It finally gets the full vinyl treatment.
Here are some other recommendations for…
Friends who are deep in their fall feelings
Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell (10th Anniversary Edition)
Nick Drake The Making of Five Leaves Left
Those who appreciate when Minneapolis ruled the music world
Husker Du 1985: The Miracle Year
The Replacements Let It Be (40th Anniversary Edition)
Prince & the Revolution Around the World In a Day (40th Anniversary Remaster)
Dedicated hip hop fans
Little Brother The Minstrel Show (20th Anniversary Edition)
Beatles completists
The Beatles Anthology Collection (2025)
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Power to the People
Biopic fans
Bruce Springsteen Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition
Bob Dylan Through the Open Window
