Vinyl Me, Please is a subscription service that’s a modern take on the old “Record of the Month” clubs. As a long-time audiophile and vinyl collector, I had to sign up as soon as I heard about it!
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription: Vinyl Me, Please
The Cost: US – $27 per month / $75 per 3 months / $284 per year
The Cost: US – $27 per month / $75 per 3 months / $284 per year
International – $44 per month / $120 per 3 months / $450 per year
The Products: A specially selected limited edition vinyl LP, a cocktail recipe to be paired with the music, an original piece of art, access to “The Standard” (VMP’s online magazine), access to forums, special deals on other albums
Ships to: everywhere, cost included in membership
Ships via: USPS
Check out all of our Vinyl Me, Please reviews!
This month's album is "Donuts" by J. Dilla! The selection of this album by Vinyl Me, Please is impressive to me. You don't have to be a hip-hop afficionado or even really a fan to love this album - it's a classic! The little sticker on the upper right hand side is pretty funny; it says "Nutrition Facts" then "Beats - 100%" then "Rhymes - 0%". J. Dilla was "a producer's producer." While not extremely well-known, he worked with many very famous artists and created beats that defined the Detroit scene in the early days of this millenia. Unfortunately he passed away days after this album was released, but his legacy lives on! I also love this picture of him. It's perfect for who he was, and it gives me a sense of familiarity.
I don't mind the simplicity of the artwork on this record at all. Sometimes it's nice to have an amazing cover to look at, but in this case, it's what's inside that counts.
This is another double album, so the inside folds out to reveal some nice pictures and liner notes.
Another clear record! (Last month's was clear as well.) This is a double album, but both records look identical. For the record, I am still a happy child inside when I get non-black vinyl!
A note was included this month regarding an issue that occurred during the pressing of this album. Apparently there's a "whoosh" on one of the tracks. They sent an email before shipping about this matter as well. It only affects 1-2 tracks, so they went ahead and sent the album, but they are having it re-pressed and sending the replacements out with the April packages. As a musician, I understand completely that sometimes mistakes happen with the production of albums. I'm impressed that they went ahead and sent it, and that they are being proactive about having it re-pressed. I would have expected them to either delay the shipment or to ask who needed / wanted a re-pressed copy. I am very pleased that they did neither of those things!
This is the accompanying artwork by ready2rumble. It's cute, but I can't imagine ever posting this. So far Vinyl Me, Please has kind of underwhelmed me with their artwork. I am waiting for the month where I open the box and immediately run to frame the artwork! I hope it happens soon!
The cocktail this month is the Hennesy Black Royale. I am pleased that it's an actual cocktail this month because last month's cocktail was a kind of weird joke. I am going to try it, but it looks a little intense for me! The "Notes" section also gives a little more detail on this album, and I like what they have to say about J. Dilla.
The inside back cover of the packaging always seems to have the artwork credit along with some poem or narrative written by Vinyl Me, Please's co-founder Tyler Barstow. This month's prose is a bit of a miss with me, but I appreciate what he is trying to do. It's almost like an artist's statement about his curation.
On a related note, one of the perks of a Vinyl Me, Please subscription is a discount on selected other records. I took advantage of that perk this month and purchased "Black Messiah" by D'Angelo this month. I am loving it!
Verdict: I love this month's package! I mainly love it because I love this double album, but the selection of albums I have received so far from Vinyl Me, Please has been truly impressive. It's not that every album is "my style" or at the top of my wish list, it's that every album so far has been a really great album that is important to have in my collection. Their music curation is simply awesome. I've been consistently disappointed with the included artwork, so I hope that improves, and the words from the co-founder are sort of hit-or-miss with me. I will try the cocktail this month with one raised eyebrow. I hope it's tasty! I also have to say that their discounts on records, plus their newsletters and access to their forums are all things that I take advantage of. That definitely adds to the value of the subscription for me.
What do you think of Vinyl Me, Please?
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