Friday, July 31, 2026 • Vinyl Finds from Around the World
Reasonable Doubt
Jay-Z's 1996 debut on Roc-A-Fella. Commercially modest at release, it's now regarded as one of the most influential and revered hip-hop albums ever made — jazz and soul samples, heavy boom-bap drums, and production from DJ Premier, Ski, Clark Kent and Big Jaz. Many still consider it his finest work.
Jazzed
Built on a jazz-fusion foundation, Jazzed spotlights the jazz side of Eva Cassidy's artistry — clear melodic lines and refined instrumental arrangements give each song structural tension, with voice and accompaniment fused plainly and without ornament. A concise, pure portrait of her feel for jazz tradition and chamber-music detail.
Blue
Drummer-producer Dae Han, steeped in island culture, fuses jazz, hip-hop, soul and house into one seamless flow running from Maryland to Honolulu. With a returning guest turn from Shing02, it's among Aloha Got Soul's most refined Broken Beat / Nu Jazz records — back in stock via a 2026 repress.
MTV Unplugged
One of the most emotionally weighty live albums of the '90s. Stripping away their wall of electric guitars, Alice In Chains recast classics like 'Nutshell,' 'Down in a Hole,' 'Rooster' and 'Would?' as acoustic versions — the brooding melodies and lacerating vocal harmonies lose none of their tension and gain a raw intimacy. Official Legacy Recordings 2LP.
New Quiet
Shoegaze-revival flagship Sonic Cathedral presents Sennen's first album in a decade. Warm and fuzzy, self-recorded by the London band and mixed by James Chapman (Maps), its lead single carries the languid haze of Galaxie 500 and the youthful ache of early Ride. Pressed on the officially named 'Golden Retriever' golden vinyl to match the record's plush mood.
自己愛三部作
Korean singer-songwriter and bassist Woo HuiJun — whose music crosses rock, folk, jazz and punk — swept Best New Artist and Best Alternative Rock Song at the 2026 (23rd) Korean Music Awards. This Japan-exclusive set gathers her three 2025 releases plus rare demos and practice recordings, a full portrait of her raw, vital early work. (3CD; Japanese cover TBC.)
Minimalism's world-changing classic In C turns 60. Terry Riley — who had refused to perform the piece live since a 2009 Carnegie Hall show — returns after 15 years, joining some 50 musicians at the UNESCO World Heritage site Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Recorded on the full-moon night of July 2024, the moon rose over the temple just as the performance ended. Issued on vinyl for the first time by Kyoto label disk sibasi.