Excerpts from A.V. Club article written by John Semely

When Record Store Day launched in 2008 as a way to celebrate both music and independent retail, it almost seemed melancholy: a last-ditch attempt to rally around record stores when it looked like they were on their last legs. Now the annual event is huge, extending well beyond indie artists, labels, and retailers, and bringing everyone from Warner Music to Eric Clapton into the fold, substantially complicating its relationship with its initial indie cred. It’s proved so popular that RSD organizers have launched a spin-off event. This Black Friday, Nov. 25, Record Store Day organizers will be discharging a handful of specially pressed vinyl releases, for those of you who don’t spend the Friday after Thanksgiving circling the Target parking lot in your Dodge Stratus like an old crow at 4 a.m. or stepping on your neighbor’s throat to save 10 percent on a grey sweatshirt at Aéropostale like the rest of Middle America.

Here’s our arbitrarily categorized guide to what’s available on Black Friday at your local retailer. Though, considering that the number of units a given store gets (or if they get certain releases at all) is entirely randomized, we might as well be totally indiscriminate about it, right? Right. So here are some releases that might be up your alley if…

…Your third wife got all the Beatles records in the divorce.

The Beatles: The Singles Box Set (Apple) 7-inch vinyl box set, 10,000 copies (U.S.); 5700 (International)

John Lennon: Imagine—40th Anniversary Box Set (Apple/Capitol) 12-inch vinyl, 5000 copies (U.S.); 1700 copies (International)

…You wear socks and sandals to work on casual Fridays. In January.

The Grateful Dead: Live Europe ’72, Vol. 2 (Rhino) 4 LP vinyl, 3000 copies (U.S.); 2850 (International)

Warren Haynes: Rivers Gonna Rise (Concord) 12-inch vinyl, 1800 copies (U.S.)

Janis Joplin: The Classic LP Collection (Legacy) 4 LP vinyl box set, 2000 copies (U.S.); 1200 copies (International)

Janis Joplin: Move Over! (Legacy) 7-inch vinyl box set, 2000 copies (U.S.); 1200 copies (International)

Phish: Party Time (Jemp) double 12-inch vinyl

Phish: The White Tape (Jemp) vinyl

…You just found out that Ronnie James Dio passed away over a year ago and feel really guilty and want to pad out your Dio library.

Rainbow: Long Live Rock N Roll (Niji Entertainment) 12-inch vinyl picture disc, 2500 copies (U.S.)

…Yeah, you’re pretty sure you like soul music.

Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings: Soul Time! (Daptone Records) 12-inch vinyl, 5000 copies (U.S.)

Sharon Jones And The Dap-King: Soul Time! (Daptone Reocrds) CD, 20,000 copies (U.S.)

Various Artists: Wheedle’s Groove: Seattle’s Finest In Funk & Soul 1965-79 (Light in the Attic) 7-inch box set, 2000 copies (U.S.)

Miles Davis: Miles Davis Quartet (Prestige) 10-inch vinyl, 1800 copies (U.S.); 1200 copies (International)

And because we couldn’t make jokes about all of the releases and stuff like this changes all the time, make sure to stay tuned to the Record Store Day website for the most up-to-the-date information.

After two amazing years, The Rumble San Diego is coming to an end and we couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate the event, then with our San Diego Music Thing showcase on Saturday September 10th. We’ve gathered a bill of some our favorite bands and partnered with Bar Pink for an epic night.

Crystal Antlers will be making the trek from Los Angeles before they head to the UK. This Long Beach quintet dropped Two Way Mirror (Recreation LTD) earlier this summer and it’s full of enough psychy garage goodness, that it’s been on repeat around our offices.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tim Presley’s (Darker My Love/ The Strange Boys) solo project, White Fence has bred some of our favorite Velvet Underground inspired albums of the year, with Is Growing Faith. Pure retro Woodist perfection and the undeniable jangle of “Get That Heart” is downright swoon worthy.

“Get That Heart” by White Fence by forcefieldpr

Steeped in Warhol induced psychedelia, Tropical Popsicle melds hazy 60s styled psych pop with tinges of 80s new wave on dreamy numbers like “The Age of Attraction.” The side project of SD local Tim Hines (The Stereotypes, Lights On), released their Beach With No Footprints 7″ (Volar Records) in June and are set to play CMJ in October.

Tropical Popsicle – The Age of Attraction by Sound Injections

Vice darlings by way of Puerto Rico, Davila 666 are gracing our show with fellow In The Red labelmates, Cheap Time before they embark on a Fall tour together. After a series of successful releases dating back to 2006, including the Pitchfork certified, Tan Bajo, full of fuzzed out Spanish garage rock tunes.

Hailing from Memphis, Cheap Time spent most of last year opening for the likes of Yo La Tengo and recording the aptly titled Fantastic Explanations (and Similar Situations), for a Jay Retard influenced garage pop worthy offering.

Our own and Aquarium Drunkard favorites, So Many Wizards are venturing down from LA for the night, bringing their buoyant dreamy bedroom pop to SD. This trio make a blissful whimsical gems like Inner City and Best Friends off their newest 7″ (Seven Inch Project).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our resident DJ, Cory Casey will be spinning all night. SDMT wristbands will be honored. 21+ RSVP here.

Our deepest gratitude goes out to all of those partners, friends, and people who made The Rumble San Diego a reality over these last two years. Please show our partners, past and present some love and thanks for their contribution.  Much love to  Future Sounds, Bar Pink, SD Dialed In, Friends With Both Arms, Trumer Pils, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Eventbrite, M Theory, Veoba, Owl & Bear, Bedouin Vintage Collective and Sezio.

Via Consequence of Sound

For all of you music lovers who have yet to step foot into the DJ space, but want to try it (and you know you do), allow us to introduce the recent culprit of INDIGENOUS work procrastination…

Cimio is the incredibly user-friendly DJ software program that allows users to mix music in three simple steps: import your music, create a playlist, and mix.  It is a product of Scratch DJ Academy, founded by the late Jam Master Jay.  A free trial can be downloaded online or you can purchase the product for $29.95. If you don’t have the money to invest in professional DJ equipment, but want to take your listening/playlists/party-starting expertise to the next level, the product is a ton of fun and easy to use–> it automatically beat-matches the songs you upload.

Considering the Holidays are right around the corner, this is also the perfect gift for the inner DJ we all know…or put it at the top of your own list…if you’ve been nice vs. naughty that is.

Check Out this Hypemachine Cimio playlist featuring some of our current favorite bands: Washed Out, Neon Indian, The Drums.