Bebe Rexha
Expectations (Warner Bros.)
Limited edition clear LP
Warner Records were good enough to send us some of the vinyl releases they made available on Record Store Day in November, and there were some gems in there. The pick of the bunch is absolutely Bebe Rexha's Expectations.
This is the first time the album, Rexha's debut, is available on vinyl, and it's limited to 2,650 copies for the U.S. and Canada.
Frankly, it's a pop masterpiece, right from the epic opening tune "Ferrari." "Living in the fast lane's getting kinda lonely," Rexha coos, melting all of our hearts. The self-deprecating stomp of "I'm a Mess" is next, and the album never lets up from there.
"In addition to Bebe co-writing and co-producing every song on the album, Expectations is also produced by Max Martin, Ali Payami, JUSSI, Jason Evigan, Louis Bell, The Stereotypes and Hit-Boy," reads the press info.
The album ends with the unrelenting pop-country swagger of "Meant to Be" (feat. Florida Georgia Line). Meanwhile, the clear vinyl is gorgeous, and Rexha looks fab in black and white, her face sitting on the LP sleeve like an awesome postage stamp.
Earl Sweatshirt
Feet of Clay (Warner Bros.)
Deluxe edition, dark blue LP
This is a special fifth anniversary of the album Earl Sweatshirt surprise-dropped back in November 2019.
The album remains a fascinating prog-rap journey, with Sweatshirt indulging all of his more experimental tendencies.
That said, it's a wonderful listening experience, top to bottom. The tracks merge into each other, like the expansive artistic endeavor that it is. The blue vinyl is lovely, as is the sinister goat on the sleeve.
Teddy Swims
I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1.5) (Warner Bros.)
Exclusive baby blue colored vinyl
Another special RSD release, I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1.5) is Teddy Swims' debut album with an additional four tunes added for shits and gigs.
Swims is, of course, the singer-songerwriter known for blending R&B, soul, country and pop to great effect. He used to front the band WildHeart (not to be confused with the far superior British band The Wildhearts.
Still, there's plenty of fun to be had here, not least the hit singles "Lose Control" and "The Door." The four additional tracks are "Hammer to the Heart," "Apple Juice," "Tell Me" and "Growing Up is Getting Old," and all make this new version (limited to 5,000 copies worldwide) worth a look.
Stevie Nicks
The Lighthouse (Warner Bros.)
White vinyl, 45"
The Fleetwood Mac siren with the enviable solo career all of her own, Stevie Nicks "The Lighthouse" single proved that she's still all full of fire when it dropped in 2024.
"Written by Nicks pulling from her personal reflections and experiences, the song is meant as a battle cry to current, past, and future generations of women during this pivotal moment in history," reads the press release. "The song, produced by Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow and Dave Cobb, will be pressed as a limited, white vinyl 7" single."
It's a stunner too, the only disappointment being that the same song (as awesome as it is) is on both sides of the sweet white 7".
