As the music itself is also full-tilt experimental psych, the production dizzying technique can actually make things a touch muddy, perhaps a little confusing to the unexpectant ear – hence the warning to from my Deadhead pals about potentially turning newbies off. It’s also profoundly effective at evoking a legit sonic psychedelic experience, with songs ebbing, flowing, and flipping in ways that will leave your head positively swimming.

The resulting sound collage is every bit as dramatic as you might expect. Rather, Anthem finds the band using a mix of studio recordings, and cuts from their legendary live shows throughout … sometimes even fading between those versions within the space of the same song. And if you’re wondering what the big deal is, you should know that Anthem is one of the most singularly experimental albums released in the psychedelic era as it’s neither a studio album, nor a live recording. Specifically, you’d be hard pressed to find an album quite as unabashedly out there as the original cut of Anthem, which is exactly what the gang at Vinyl Me, Please have delivered. And if you want to get weird with the Grateful Dead gang, you’ll find no finer album than 1968’s Anthem of the Sun. So if you’re looking to jump, you may as well get weird with it. Nonetheless, my personal thoughts on the band is that their recorded output is so vast, and varied in style, there really isn’t a perfect place to jump in. To that point, I’ll simply add that, as a longtime casual fan of the Grateful Dead, I’d never listened to Anthem myself, so there may be something to their logic. More to the point, the Deadhead or two I talked to about it were quick to point it’s not really the best entry point to the band for folks unfamiliar with their work… which may well include a large segment of the Vinyl Me, Please subscription base. And the gang is starting the new year by continuing that roll with a sexy new pressing of Grateful Dead’s sophomore release Anthem of the Sun.Īs it’s been brought to my attention, that pick may prove a little divisive among the Deadhead set as Anthem is not the most universally adored album in the band’s oeuvre. It’s been a classic rock heavy few months on the Essentials track after recent Vinyl Me, Please offerings from Thin Lizzy, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. For the Love of Music, Please Do Not Bend Do your turntable a favor and sign up today.Īs for this month, the VMP crew is kicking off 2023 with stone cold classic from rock & roll’s O.G. That means you can flip any VMP pick you’re not interested in for a past featured album from any track (including Essentials, Country, Classics, and Rap/Hip Hop). If you’re peckish about relinquishing control of your record collection to complete strangers, know that VMP’s Swaps Program is in full effect. Members are privy to reduced “Members Pricing” as well, so joining the club definitely has its rewards. Word to the wise, while the store is open to the public, most of the more covet-worthy stock is only available to subscribers. The store is open, and Team VMP are dropping fresh new selections to their stock every single week. You’ll have membership privileges in the VMP store too, which means you can grab a copy of previous VMP selections from the archives – including that AAA stunner of Blonde on Blonde that dropped last month – or choose from a slate of super-limited releases pressed exclusively for Vinyl Me, Please. Each custom pressing (often on colored vinyl!) also comes with killer extras like original artwork and informative listening companion booklet.

You send Vinyl Me, Please some of your hard-earned money (a 3-month membership will set you back about $128) and they send you one carefully selected album they feel is Essential to any record collection. Delivering limited edition vinyl pressings of new and classic albums directly to your doorstep, VMP operates under a simple philosophy: The Album Lives! With a carefully curated catalog of new and hard to find releases, the subscription service is more than just a record club, it’s a lifestyle choice for folks who wish Record Store Day could happen every month… in their living room.

Grateful dead vinyl me please