Vinyl Picks #002
tmrw is passionate about a return to analog form. Whether that’s shooting on film or designing a bold print layout. The expert curators at 3hive love analog, too – especially vinyl.
Words By Todd Simmons
From the golden age of MP3 blogs to the modern age of streaming and the vinyl resurgence, 3hive has been harvesting the finest music from around the world wide internet. Founded in 2003, 3hive is a longtime music blog, an online radio station, and a brick and mortar store in the Western United States. Few groups out there that know music the way they do. Below are 3 albums you need to own on vinyl. For more music finds and analog recommendations, follow @3hive and @radio3hive on Instagram.
1. Forever After by Christina’s Trip | Cherub Dream Records
Oakland's Christina’s Trip describes their sound as “distortion pop,” and it's a fitting label. Their single “My Friend” exemplifies this with its fuzzy, bedroom-pop style, reminiscent of tracks you'd find on an Elephant 6 compilation (a comparison I borrowed). This single perfectly captures the essence of "distortion pop." Their album, Forever After, is released through Cherub Dream Records.
2. Fully Beat by Aluminum | Felte
San Francisco band Aluminum unleashed their debut LP, Fully Beat, and it's definitely making a strong impression. This album is poised for success! Fully Beat is filled with fuzz, dynamic male-female vocal harmonies, and an irresistible groove driven by Gonsalves on bass and Natividad on drums, along with plenty of bold guitar riffs. For a preview, check out singles “Behind My Mouth” and “Everything.” Available through Felte, Fully Beat is a must-have addition to your collection.
3. Happy Days by Seasonal Falls | Self-released
Seasonal Falls is a project led by Switzerland-based songwriter Roman Gabriel, with vocal and production contributions from Andrew Pelletier of Fur Trader. Their debut album, Happy Days, features nine tracks of warm, occasionally jangly, and sometimes twangy guitar melodies paired with Pelletier’s mellow vocals. Joe notes a resemblance to Ultimate Painting, which I also find accurate. Happy Days is self-released and available on their Bandcamp page. I highly recommend checking out the singles “Used To Be Fun” and “Girlfriend.” This album is perfect for setting the mood during spring and summer evenings as you relax outside with a drink and watch the sky darken.