The Vinyl Rewind — Analog Legends, Tape Ghosts & Electric Rebirth (VR-005)

This edition dives into the pillars of American music — jazz immortality, college-rock genesis, Canadian alt-rock charm, ‘90s post-hardcore heat, and long-awaited emo excavation. Five reissues, five different mirrors held up to the last half-century of underground and mainstream innovation.

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John Coltrane — 1960–1964 Mono (Rhino High Fidelity)

Original Releases: 1960–1964 | Box Release: November 28, 2025 | Format: 6×LP AAA Mono Box, Linen Slipcase
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Why It Matters:
Rhino opens Coltrane’s centennial celebration with an archival masterclass: six Atlantic-era albums, all AAA cut from the original mono masters. Giant Steps, Coltrane Jazz, My Favorite Things, Olé Coltrane, Coltrane Plays the Blues, and Coltrane’s Sound — the full arc of Coltrane’s transformation from hard-bop architect to modal visionary. These recordings form the bedrock of modern improvisation, and hearing them cut in their original mono intensity is like rediscovering fire.

Collector’s Note:
AAA Kevin Gray mono cuts on 180g Optimal pressings housed in heavy glossy gatefolds with the rare French alternate covers. Packed inside a Sierra linen book cloth slipcase, foil-stamped and hand-numbered to 2,000 copies. Includes rare photos and detailed notes by Syd Schwartz.

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R.E.M. — Chronic Town / Murmur (DSS One-Step AAA) (Definitive Sound Series)

Original Releases: 1982 / 1983 | AAA One-Step Release: December 10, 2025 | Format: 2×LP One-Step Box
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Why It Matters:
The birth of college rock gets the highest-end treatment possible. R.E.M.’s first EP and debut LP — the blueprint for four decades of indie rock — are resurrected via a meticulous One-Step process pulled directly from the original analog master tapes. Hearing “Radio Free Europe,” “Wolves, Lower”, or “Pilgrimage” with this depth is like wiping fog off a window you didn’t know was dirty.

Collector’s Note:
One-Step AAA process using Neotech VR900-D2 180g vinyl; mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman. Housed in a heavy tip-on jacket and unified slipcase. Limited to 3,000 numbered copies, with restored artwork overseen alongside Mitch Easter.

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Odds — Nest (Remastered) (We Are Busy Bodies)

Original Release: November 5, 1996 | Vinyl Reissue: November 21, 2025 | Format: LP, Limited to 500
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Why It Matters:
A Canadian alt-rock classic returns. Nest bottles the scrappy humor, melodic sharpness, and power-pop charm that made Odds cult heroes. Their biggest single (“Someone Who’s Cool”) hit #1 for a reason — this record swings between clever and sincere with effortless chemistry, the sound of a band fully locked into its own orbit.

Collector’s Note:
Remastered for vinyl and limited to 500 copies. First proper reissue of a Canadian ‘90s staple with restored art and improved soundstage.

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Girls Against Boys — Cruise Yourself (Remastered) (Touch And Go Records)

Original Release: 1994 | Remaster Release: January 30, 2026 | Format: 140g Suspended Gold Vinyl (1,000 copies)
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Why It Matters:
Post-hardcore swagger rarely sounded this seductive. Cruise Yourself sharpened GVSB’s signature double-bass throb, chrome-sleek guitars, and groove-driven menace. “Kill the Sexplayer” still punches like steel-toed boots, while “(I) Don’t Got A Place” and “Explicitly Yours” bring the noir-rock gloss that made the band so untouchable in the ’90s.

Collector’s Note:
Pressed on Suspended Gold 140g vinyl (1,000 copies) and remastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service. Also available on black. Includes EU/UK variants via Secretly Store.

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Jejune — This Afternoons Malady (2×LP, First Time on Vinyl) (Numero Group)

Original Release: October 1998 | Vinyl Debut: January 23, 2026 | Format: 2×LP
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Why It Matters:
Second-wave emo at its most melodic and wounded. Jejune’s final album marries midwest-emo vulnerability with alt-rock dynamics and massive, Corgan-esque guitar layers. Co-produced with Ted Leo, this is the genre’s great lost record finally getting its long-overdue vinyl edition — handclaps, heartbreak, fuzz, and all.

Collector’s Note:
Remastered for its first-ever vinyl pressing by Numero Group. Expanded liners and upgraded packaging replace the old picture-disc bootleg that haunted collectors for years. Sadly, this pressing (both color and black) sold out quick so looking at second hand market or may hit store shelves. Also, Jejune’s debut Junk is also available and the black variant you can still pick up.

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Closing Groove

From Coltrane’s modal revolution to the hazy urgency of ‘90s slackers and emo survivors, VR-005 pulls from every shelf of the sonic library. These aren’t just reissues — they’re anchor points.