Saturday, April 18 is Record Store Day. "This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store—the staff, the customers, and the artists—to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role they play in their communities," they say online. "Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day."
There are a ton of those special releases, and we can't review them all. However you can find a full list, plus participating stores, at the website. That said, we received some goodies. Read on:
Dijon
How Do You Feel About Getting Married? (R&R/Warner)
Originally a digital release back in 2020, artful rapper/singer Dijon's six-track EP makes its debut on vinyl for Record Store Day. What's more, the 12" EP (play it at 45 rpm) is on brick-colored vinyl, and limited to 4,900 copies for US & Canada. Songs like “rock n roll,” and “do you light up? hint at the greatness that lay ahead, and there package looks great.
Mayday Parade
Tales Told By Dead Friends (Fearless)
Tallahassee-based rockers Mayday Parade are simultaneously celebrating RSD and the 20th anniversary of this, their debut EP. The 10" translucent orange vinyl is super pretty, and the likes of "Just Say You're Not Into It" are bonafide emo anthems.
"Formed in 2005 when members of two local acts joined forces, the band quickly self-released a six-track EP, Tales Told by Dead Friends," a statement reads. "After winning a battle of the bands, they earned a coveted spot at the 2006 Vans Warped Tour." Noice!
Various Artists
Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac (Craft)
From the opening rendition of "Albatross" by the Lee Ranaldo Band featuring J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), it';s clear that this isn't your average, dullard tribute album. Each of the four sides of this gorgeous blue vinyl has its treats. Highlights include Lykke Li's "Silver Springs," The Kills' "Dreams," and MGMT's "Future Games." But there's a lot of fun to be had here.
Violent Femmes
The Blind Leading the Naked (Craft)
Limited to just 3200 copies, this 40th anniversary edition of a Violent Femmes gem is pressed on Candlelight Swirl vinyl for Record Store Day. That's kinda smokey yellow, to the layman. Produced by Talking Heads man Jerry Harrison, he also pops up as a guest on the album as does Stooges sax man Steve MacKay, and guitar icon Leo Kottke.
"Old Mother Reagan" showcases the band at its frantic best, and the album keeps getting better from there.
The Tears
Here Come the Tears (Craft)
Honestly, we didn't even know this album existed. That's our bad, because it's a stunner.
The Tears is/was Suede men Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler, plus Britpop veterans Nathan Fisher (bass) and Will Foster (keyboards), and drummer Makoto “Mako” Sakamoto. We'd love to say that it sounds nothing like Suede, but with Anderson's voice and Butler's riffs, it could easily be a later-era Suede release. Sorry boys. That said, we love Suede and the songs on this clear vinyl are gorgeous slices of indie-glam.
Markolino Dimond
Brujería (Craft/Vaya Records)
According to the press release, "Mark 'Markolino' Dimond (1950–1986) was a virtuosic talent, whose work as a pianist, composer, and arranger can be heard across some of Latin music’s biggest hits of the ’60s and ’70s. Raised in New York’s Lower East Side, Markolino began his career as a teenager, performing alongside the legendary Latin duo of Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe, and even contributing a song ('Te Están Buscando') to their popular 1969 LP, Guisando: Doing a Job."
Dimond is a new name to us, but it's clear why he's so beloved. The vocals of Angel Canales are emotive and expressive, and the songs are a joy.
Billy Strings
Tiny Desk (Reprise/NPR)
NPR's Tiny Desk series is always great, and bluegrass musician Billy Strings and his band recorded one in December 2025. This clear vinyl release is that gig, and the four tracks ("Red Daisy," "My Alice," "Malfunction Junction," and "Gild the Lily") sound exquisite.
Amble
Hand Me Downs (Warner)
In a similar folky vein is Irish modern folk trio amble and an EP of new material recorded shortly after the release of heralded debut album Reverie. It's warm, honest and goosebump-inducing.
Muse
Muse (Warner)
Muscle Museum EP (Warner)
Two RSD rereleases from British alt-proggers Muse, and that's alright with us. The self-titled EP was released back in 1998, when they were initially derided as "metal Radiohead" in the British rock press. And yet the seeds of what they would become can be heard.
Similarly, the Muscle Museum EP, released the following year, is released on vinyl for the first time. The title track in particular sees Muse in full flow.
Blur
Live at Budokan (Parlophone)
According to the press release, Live at Budokan "was initially released in May 1996 as a Japan-exclusive 2CD set. All tracks recorded live on Nov 8, 1995 at the Nippon Budokan, except 'She’s So High' recorded on Nov 9, 1995 at the NK Hall, Tokyo."
So this long-awaited, red vinyl rerelease captures Blur in its '90s Britpop pomp. "Tracy Jacks," "Girls & Boys," "Country House" and "Parklife" never sounded so good.
Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts
Live Album (Warner/Reprise)
"Recorded during Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts’ 2025 Love Earth Tour, The Live Album will be available for purchase on 2LP clear vinyl this Record Store Day," they say. This is Young at his most root sty, as opposed to the rock glory of Crazy Horse. But songs like "Ohio" and "After the Gold Rush" sound gorgeous here. When Young is singing like this, nobody can touch him.
The clear vinyl and lyric sheet poster are nice touches.
Adam Sandler
They're All Gonna Laugh At You (Warner)
Finally, a special RSD-exclusive, deluxe orange vinyl edition of "one of the greatest comedy albums," originally released back in '93.
"It boasts fan favorite skits and songs such as 'Lunchlady Land,' 'At a Medium Pace,' and 'The Thanksgiving Song,'" they say. This is Sandler going skit-crazy, and it's a riot. The likes of Rob Schneider, David Spade and Conan O'Brien make guest appearances, and we get some sweet extras -- a sticker sheet, a magnet sheet, and an air freshener.
