Holiday Gift Guide: Beatles Legos, Hip-Hop Socks, Turntables and More
Nov. 21, 2016
In the weeks leading up to the holidays, we're going to tip you off to some music-related recordings, books, gadgets, clothing items and more that we've hand-picked from the vast depths of Amazon. We're kicking off our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide with the new Beatles Lego set, the extensive deluxe edition of Metallica's Ride the Lightning, socks featuring A Tribe Called Quest, an upgrade for everyone who got on board the vinyl train in the last five years, and more.
The Beatles Yellow Submarine Lego Set
If there is a kid (of any age) on your shopping list who loves the Beatles, the newly announced LEGO version of the Fab Four in their psychedelic finest is right up their alley. Anyone who doesn't like this gift is a Blue Meanie. ($59.99)
Audio-Technica LP120 Direct Drive Turntable
The latest generation of turntable enthusiasts is probably ready for an upgrade from their standard entry level record players. The LP120 from Audio-Technica is a big step in that direction, shifting to a direct drive motor and boasting features like an adjustable counterweight, several precision settings and USB support. One of the best ways to take care of your records is to play them on a good unit. (Available in black and silver, $249.00)
Your Favorite Band is Killing Me, by Steven Hyden
Author Steven Hyden looks at the rivalries in music, beyond the Biggie/Tupac and Pearl Jam/Nirvana spats down to the lesser-covered Madonna/Cyndi Lauper creative wrestling match. Fans of Chuck Klosterman and Rob Sheffield's music writing will not fight Hyden's book entering their library. (Paperback, $11.25)
Classic Hip-Hop Documentary Style Wars
This documentary that originally aired on PBS in 1983 was one of the first to take a look into the world of graffiti culture and the roots of b-boy culture in New York City. The soundtrack also featured a who's who of early hip-hop, featuring the likes of Grandmaster Flash, The Treacherous Three, Trouble Funk, and others that were crucial to the scene. ($14.99 on Blu-ray)
Blonde Redhead, Masculin Feminin Box Set
New York City's eclectic Blonde Redhead get the Numero Group reissue treatment, which includes the vinyl debut of the band's first two albums, along with bonus material and a booklet. Our Heather Phares gave it four stars back in September, praising the set as "a treat for anyone wanting to acquaint -- or reacquaint -- themselves with Blonde Redhead's formative days." ($27.99 on CD, or $47.49 on vinyl)
Dust & Grooves: Adventures in Record Collecting, by Eilon Paz
This coffee table book contains images of some of the most elaborate record rooms we've ever dreamed of. Paz' book features 250 full-page photos of record collectors in their natural dusty groovy habitats. (Hardcover, $34.00)
Metallica, Ride the Lightning Deluxe Box Set
Whether the metalhead in your life loved or hated the band's latest, you can't go wrong with 1984's Ride the Lightning, which still crackles with electricity and fury today. It was reissued this year in a deluxe box set, featuring demos and live recordings spread across four LPs, 6 CDs and a DVD, plus extensive liner notes and other ephemera. ($123.94, and a deluxe 'Kill 'em All' is also available)
The Prince Blu-Ray Anthology
This Blu-Ray collection contains Prince's movies Purple Rain, Graffiti Bridge and Under the Cherry Moon. Obviously, Purple Rain is the undisputed classic of the three, but you know somebody on Facebook who was totally wrecked when Prince died this year and they would appreciate cry-watching them all. ($17.99)
The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1
Jack White's vanity imprint Third Man Records and archival stalwarts Revenant pulled together this spectacular boxed set of music from Paramount Records from 1917-1927. Hear the earliest recordings of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Ma Rainey, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and more in a lavish box complete with annotations, historical photos, and old-timey phonograph key (in reality a flash drive stocked with 800 tracks of music) and more. ($469.98)
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon launched its own streaming service this fall, and just expanded into the U.K., Germany and Austria. Echo owners and Prime subscribers get deep discounts on the $9.99/month service, which gives you access to tens of millions of songs, whenever you want them. (Monthly subscription)
A Tribe Called Quest Socks
Can you kick it? Yes you can, but first put on these Tribe Called Quest socks. They will let you take a walk on the wild side while keeping your feet nice and warm. ($16.26)
The Beatles Yellow Submarine Lego Set
If there is a kid (of any age) on your shopping list who loves the Beatles, the newly announced LEGO version of the Fab Four in their psychedelic finest is right up their alley. Anyone who doesn't like this gift is a Blue Meanie. ($59.99)
Audio-Technica LP120 Direct Drive Turntable
The latest generation of turntable enthusiasts is probably ready for an upgrade from their standard entry level record players. The LP120 from Audio-Technica is a big step in that direction, shifting to a direct drive motor and boasting features like an adjustable counterweight, several precision settings and USB support. One of the best ways to take care of your records is to play them on a good unit. (Available in black and silver, $249.00)
Your Favorite Band is Killing Me, by Steven Hyden
Author Steven Hyden looks at the rivalries in music, beyond the Biggie/Tupac and Pearl Jam/Nirvana spats down to the lesser-covered Madonna/Cyndi Lauper creative wrestling match. Fans of Chuck Klosterman and Rob Sheffield's music writing will not fight Hyden's book entering their library. (Paperback, $11.25)
Classic Hip-Hop Documentary Style Wars
This documentary that originally aired on PBS in 1983 was one of the first to take a look into the world of graffiti culture and the roots of b-boy culture in New York City. The soundtrack also featured a who's who of early hip-hop, featuring the likes of Grandmaster Flash, The Treacherous Three, Trouble Funk, and others that were crucial to the scene. ($14.99 on Blu-ray)
Blonde Redhead, Masculin Feminin Box Set
New York City's eclectic Blonde Redhead get the Numero Group reissue treatment, which includes the vinyl debut of the band's first two albums, along with bonus material and a booklet. Our Heather Phares gave it four stars back in September, praising the set as "a treat for anyone wanting to acquaint -- or reacquaint -- themselves with Blonde Redhead's formative days." ($27.99 on CD, or $47.49 on vinyl)
Dust & Grooves: Adventures in Record Collecting, by Eilon Paz
This coffee table book contains images of some of the most elaborate record rooms we've ever dreamed of. Paz' book features 250 full-page photos of record collectors in their natural dusty groovy habitats. (Hardcover, $34.00)
Metallica, Ride the Lightning Deluxe Box Set
Whether the metalhead in your life loved or hated the band's latest, you can't go wrong with 1984's Ride the Lightning, which still crackles with electricity and fury today. It was reissued this year in a deluxe box set, featuring demos and live recordings spread across four LPs, 6 CDs and a DVD, plus extensive liner notes and other ephemera. ($123.94, and a deluxe 'Kill 'em All' is also available)
The Prince Blu-Ray Anthology
This Blu-Ray collection contains Prince's movies Purple Rain, Graffiti Bridge and Under the Cherry Moon. Obviously, Purple Rain is the undisputed classic of the three, but you know somebody on Facebook who was totally wrecked when Prince died this year and they would appreciate cry-watching them all. ($17.99)
The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1
Jack White's vanity imprint Third Man Records and archival stalwarts Revenant pulled together this spectacular boxed set of music from Paramount Records from 1917-1927. Hear the earliest recordings of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Ma Rainey, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and more in a lavish box complete with annotations, historical photos, and old-timey phonograph key (in reality a flash drive stocked with 800 tracks of music) and more. ($469.98)
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon launched its own streaming service this fall, and just expanded into the U.K., Germany and Austria. Echo owners and Prime subscribers get deep discounts on the $9.99/month service, which gives you access to tens of millions of songs, whenever you want them. (Monthly subscription)
A Tribe Called Quest Socks
Can you kick it? Yes you can, but first put on these Tribe Called Quest socks. They will let you take a walk on the wild side while keeping your feet nice and warm. ($16.26)