The Record Store Day 2026 list dropped last week and I’ve been going through it with a highlighter and a growing sense of opinions. Every year the list gets longer, the prices get higher, and the ratio of genuinely exciting releases to cynical repackaging gets worse. But there’s still gold in there if you know where to look.

Before I get into specific releases, let me say what I always say about RSD: come to a record store. Buy something. Talk to people. Have a beer if we’re offering them, which we will be. The day works best when it’s a celebration of the physical music format and the shops that sell it. It works worst when it becomes a flipping exercise for people who’ll list the records on eBay before they’ve even left the car park.

Right, here’s what I’m excited about and what I’d skip.

Worth the Queue

Broadcast - “Tender Buttons” (Clear Vinyl Repress)

This one made me genuinely happy. Broadcast’s Tender Buttons has been out of print on vinyl for years, and secondhand copies go for absurd money. Trish Keenan’s voice on wax is something special, and this album is one of the best electronic pop records ever made. Warp Records have handled this with the respect it deserves: proper mastering from original tapes, clear vinyl that actually suits the record aesthetically, and a reasonable pressing quantity that should mean most people who want one get one.

If you only buy one thing on RSD, make it this.

Amyl and the Sniffers - Live at the Croxton (Double LP)

The Sniffers recorded live is always chaotic and always brilliant. The Croxton is the right venue for it. A room that size captures the energy without the sterility of a big arena recording. I’ve heard a few tracks and the recording quality is excellent. Heavy green splatter vinyl. Limited to 2,000 copies in Australia, which means it’ll move fast but shouldn’t be impossible to get.

Courtney Barnett - “Things Take Time, Take Time” Sessions (10” EP)

Four tracks recorded during the Things Take Time sessions that didn’t make the album. Courtney’s outtakes tend to be someone else’s A-sides, so this should be strong. The 10” format is a nice touch. Not everything needs to be a full LP.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - “Live in Adelaide ‘24” (Triple LP)

Look, you know what you’re getting with a Gizz live record. Sixty-plus minutes of psychedelic jamming pressed on some mad colourway, in this case “burnt orange and olive swirl.” Their live recordings are consistently well-produced and their fanbase hoovers these up. If you’re already a Gizz collector, you don’t need me to tell you. If you’re not, this is actually a good entry point to their live catalogue.

Interesting but Niche

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - “Primary Colours” (Orange Vinyl)

An absolute Melbourne classic that’s been hard to find on vinyl. If you care about Australian punk, you already own the CD or the digital version. Now you can own it on obnoxiously orange vinyl. Limited numbers, probably gone within an hour at most stores.

The Avalanches - “Wildflower” Instrumentals (Double LP)

The instrumental version of Wildflower is interesting for DJs and producers who want to sample or study the production, but for casual listeners, the vocal versions are the better record. Nice for completists.

Various Artists - “Underground Sounds of Melbourne 1990-1995” (Compilation LP)

Haven’t seen the full tracklist yet but the era and city are right for some real gems. Melbourne’s early-90s underground scene produced incredible music that never got proper documentation. If the curation is good, this could be a sleeper hit of RSD.

Skip These

I won’t name specific titles because I don’t want to trash anyone’s work, but here’s what I’d avoid:

Major label reissues of albums that are already in print. If you can buy the standard black vinyl pressing any day of the week, paying $60+ for a coloured variant on RSD is a tax on impatience. The music doesn’t sound different because the vinyl is pink.

Picture discs. They look great on the wall. They sound terrible on a turntable. Every year there are half a dozen picture disc releases that will end up framed rather than played. If that’s what you want, fine. Just don’t expect audio quality.

Box sets over $150. Some of this year’s RSD box sets are priced beyond what the content justifies. A single bonus disc and a booklet does not make a $200 box set.

How to Approach the Day

For first-timers, here’s how RSD works at most independent stores:

1. Check your local store’s plan. Every shop does it differently. Some have queues from 6am. Others take pre-orders for selected titles. We’ll be announcing our approach on socials closer to the date.

2. Have a Plan B. The most limited titles sell out at the first store that opens. If you miss your top pick, have other titles in mind so the morning isn’t wasted.

3. Buy something you’ll actually listen to. RSD works when people buy records they love and play them. It fails when it becomes a speculative market for sealed records that never get opened.

4. Support the shop. While you’re there, browse the regular stock. Buy a non-RSD record. Grab a coffee. Have a conversation. The shops hosting RSD invest significant effort and capital into making the day work. Support them year-round, not just on one Saturday in April.

The full Record Store Day list is on their website. Have a look, make a list, and come see us in April.