You may be out at the mall taking advantage of Black Friday today, you may be one of the new breed who is shopping from the comfort of your home, or perhaps you do a little of both. When shopping this holiday season, please think of buying directly from your favorite artists. Not only will you be getting your recipient something cool and unique instead of mass-produced, you’ll be helping recording artists earn a living by buying direct (more margin for the artist).
Below are a few offers from artists selling via Topspin which:
- Contain something you could wrap/put under a tree
- Are shipping now
- Don’t suck.
Pick one of these up for a spouse, sister, nephew, friend, or anyone who loves music.
Paul McCartney, Good Evening New York City DVD
This summer Paul McCartney played a stunning set including Beatles and Wings songs in addition to McCartney solo numbers at Citi Field in NYC. The deluxe package is (IMHO) under-priced at $24 and includes 2 CDs, 2 DVDs, and hardbook-style special packaging. The perfect gift for any Beatles fan, which is pretty much everyone.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – LIVE
Also in the DVD zone is the new live outing from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The deluxe version comes with limited edition colored vinyl and a DVD, the perfect stocking stuffer for the rock record collector in your family.
Our friends at Artists in Residence make the best box sets in the history of music. You may remember their handiwork from the NIN Ghosts set or the crazy Sigur Ros In A Frozen Sea box. They’ve out-done themselves this time around by creating the definitive Pixies collectors piece. Check this description out:
– All five Pixies’ studio albums in the following formats: 24k gold plated CDs; 180 gram virgin vinyl 12″ LPs cut from the original analog tapes; Blu-ray audio mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/192; DVD mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/96.
– The previously unreleased Pixies 1991 live performance from Brixton, on both Blu-ray and DVD, mastered for 5.1 surround sound at 24/192 and 24/96, respectively.
– A 96-page fine art book, measuring 22″ x 14″, and an additional 54-page book, measuring 7.75″ x 8.25
– A 12″ x 19.5″ giclee print, and two double-sided fold-out posters measuring 48″ x 36.”
– Individually numbered and hand-signed by every member of the Pixies and Vaughan Oliver.
– 25 random sets will include test pressings of the vinyl albums.
– Housed in an oversized clamshell case and limited to 3000 copies.
YIKES. CANHASPLZ?KTHXBAI! Um, yeah. Click here to buy.
We’ve done not one but FOUR Beastie Boys reissues this year, and incredible limited edition vinyl packages of classic albums Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and Hello Nasty are still available. The deluxe Paul’s Boutique packages are sold out, as are the Check Your Head T-Shirts, but you can still buy Paul’s Boutique vinyl and Check Your Head deluxe, and Ill Communication and Hello Nasty with the limited edition t-shirts as well. Get these before they’re all sold out!
Get Busy Committee Uzi-Shaped 2GB Flash Drive
Full disclosure, I’m managing this one personally, but I do believe this is about the most unique stocking stuffer you could buy this year, at a great price ($20). This is a 2GB USB drive shaped like an Uzi submachine gun and containing the brand new Get Busy Committee album, Uzi Does It, in FLAC, Apple Lossless, and MP3 format. These start shipping this week and should make it to you in time for the holidays. Get yours today.
Carly Simon has recorded new versions of her classic hits and is selling not only CD, vinyl, and a Live from Martha’s Vineyard DVD but for superfans a box including one-of-a-kind (literally, only one in existence) heirlooms from her career.
The Golden Filter – “Thunderbird” from The Golden Filter on Vimeo.
Yeasayer “Ambling Alp” Vinyl and T-Shirt
or
The Golden Filter T-Shirt
Maybe you have someone in your family who is always ahead of the curve, always up on the newest sounds. If so, you’re unlikely to go wrong with either this very limited edition Yeasayer 12″ and t-shirt or this shirt from The Golden Filter. Just to increase your odds, buy them both.
For that special someone who is always cold and lazy, the Weezer Snuggie. Need we say more? The zebra-striped safari version comes with a photo book, CD, vinyl, and poster!
Echo and The Bunnymen, T-Shirt, Chance at Signed Sheet Music
For the Bunnymen fan in your cipher, grab the deluxe package and get a t-shirt and sheet music, 50 of the packages are signed by Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant.
A hip hop album devoted to Hawaii? Yup. And an 8-color Angry Woebots-designed panda t-shirt. How’s that for a new and unique gift idea?
These are just a few, I’m sure there are more I’m forgetting, if so, please leave your favorites in the comments.
Thanks and happy consumption season,
ian c rogers
Topspin
