The 2019 AllMusic Gift Guide: 'Let It Bleed' Box Set, Turntable Stand, Grateful Dead Socks, and More
Dec. 17, 2019
There's still a week left to get your holiday gifts sorted out, and we've got your back with the final installment of this year's guide. From a music-making electronic board game to life advice from iconic music figures to a deluxe box set of one of the most-beloved albums of the '60s, there's a nice range of options for the music fans in your life.
The Rolling Stones, Let It Bleed Box Set
The Rolling Stones‘ 1969 album Let It Bleed shows the band at a remarkable crossroads, embracing both their dramatic elaborate song construction and their down-and-dirty blues roots. This year, ABKCO reissued the album as a 50th anniversary box set featuring remastered stereo and mono mixes, lithographs, a 7" single and a beautiful hardcover book.
DropMix
This electronic board game from Harmonix (the company behind Rock Band) encourages users to put cards downs to create song mixes. Different modes allow for multiple ways to play, and tracks from actual musicians you've heard of (Bruno Mars, Childish Gambino, Disturbed, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Sam Hunt, Sia, The Weeknd) are represented in the building blocks of the game.
Janis: Her Life and Music, by Holly George-Warren
Holly George-Warren is one of the best rock writers working today, and her latest is a deep dive into the story Janis Joplin. She delves into Joplin's contradictions and history in a way that gets past the dorm room posters and images that have come to define her in modern times and reveals the flesh and blood artist beneath.
Novogratz Brittany turntable stand
This walnut turntable stand designed by Novogratz is a simple but elegant solution to replace the cement blocks and wood planks in the apartment your cousin just moved into. The cabinet looks like it could hold about 100 records, it comes with a drawer to hold any spare cables or record cleaning supplies, and the mid-century modern-inspired design looks sharp.
Grateful Dead socks
There's a not insignificant chance that you have a Deadhead in your family, and they'd doubtless love this three-pack of ankle socks commemorating their favorite band. Featuring three different patterns, these unisex socks fit most average foot sizes.
Music Oracles: Creative and Life Inspiration from 50 Musical Icons
This set of handsomely decorated cards act as sort of a life coach-slash-tarot card deck-replacement for astrology. If someone on your shopping list has questions about their love life, why not ask Prince what to do? If they need direction in life, see what Amy Winehouse has to say. For almost any question, the answer very well may be "What Would Miles Davis Do?" The only way to find out is to get these cards and instruct your loved ones to do exactly what they say.
Mac DeMarco/Alfred E. Neuman shirt
For the gap-toothed scoundrels in all of us, two true icons of diastema unite for a shirt celebrating both goofball indie musician Mac DeMarco and Mad Magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman.
AllMusic Subscription
If you're reading this, you're likely already a regular AllMusic reader. AllMusic has always been a free resource, but it's not free to maintain. If you'd like to help directly beyond loaning us your eyeballs and time, you can chip in for an annual subscription to AllMusic. In turn, we'll remove advertisements for you, making it easier to zip around the site.
The Rolling Stones, Let It Bleed Box Set
The Rolling Stones‘ 1969 album Let It Bleed shows the band at a remarkable crossroads, embracing both their dramatic elaborate song construction and their down-and-dirty blues roots. This year, ABKCO reissued the album as a 50th anniversary box set featuring remastered stereo and mono mixes, lithographs, a 7" single and a beautiful hardcover book.
DropMix
This electronic board game from Harmonix (the company behind Rock Band) encourages users to put cards downs to create song mixes. Different modes allow for multiple ways to play, and tracks from actual musicians you've heard of (Bruno Mars, Childish Gambino, Disturbed, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Sam Hunt, Sia, The Weeknd) are represented in the building blocks of the game.
Janis: Her Life and Music, by Holly George-Warren
Holly George-Warren is one of the best rock writers working today, and her latest is a deep dive into the story Janis Joplin. She delves into Joplin's contradictions and history in a way that gets past the dorm room posters and images that have come to define her in modern times and reveals the flesh and blood artist beneath.
Novogratz Brittany turntable stand
This walnut turntable stand designed by Novogratz is a simple but elegant solution to replace the cement blocks and wood planks in the apartment your cousin just moved into. The cabinet looks like it could hold about 100 records, it comes with a drawer to hold any spare cables or record cleaning supplies, and the mid-century modern-inspired design looks sharp.
Grateful Dead socks
There's a not insignificant chance that you have a Deadhead in your family, and they'd doubtless love this three-pack of ankle socks commemorating their favorite band. Featuring three different patterns, these unisex socks fit most average foot sizes.
Music Oracles: Creative and Life Inspiration from 50 Musical Icons
This set of handsomely decorated cards act as sort of a life coach-slash-tarot card deck-replacement for astrology. If someone on your shopping list has questions about their love life, why not ask Prince what to do? If they need direction in life, see what Amy Winehouse has to say. For almost any question, the answer very well may be "What Would Miles Davis Do?" The only way to find out is to get these cards and instruct your loved ones to do exactly what they say.
Mac DeMarco/Alfred E. Neuman shirt
For the gap-toothed scoundrels in all of us, two true icons of diastema unite for a shirt celebrating both goofball indie musician Mac DeMarco and Mad Magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman.
AllMusic Subscription
If you're reading this, you're likely already a regular AllMusic reader. AllMusic has always been a free resource, but it's not free to maintain. If you'd like to help directly beyond loaning us your eyeballs and time, you can chip in for an annual subscription to AllMusic. In turn, we'll remove advertisements for you, making it easier to zip around the site.