The holiday season is only a few weeks away. Before you rush off to pick up some presents, make sure to check out Exclaim!'s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide, which we will be rolling out in daily instalments this week.
Sometimes a surprise is the best gift of all — finding something not that's on the wish list but that isn't even on the radar. Here we offer a couple of oddities that might just fit the bill for that hard-to-buy-for music nerd in your life.
The Exclaim! Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Music Ephemera
Vinyl Coaster Collection (Bravado)
Are you sick of your buddy's misplaced bottles of Labatt 50 ruining your coffee table? Then conquer water rings in style with a vinyl coaster collection from Bravado (pictured above), which takes some of classic rock's greatest discographies (i.e., works from the Doors, Guns N' Roses and those bastions of music-themed merchandise, the Rolling Stones — how are KISS not in on this?) and converts them into party-ready discs to keep your drinks on. Who says unfinished basements can't be tidy?
Matthew Ritchie
Politically Correct Footwear
Finding the right gift for a vegan music lover can be hard, especially if it's apparel you're looking for — it's not always easy to dress with both empathy and flair. Luckily, California shoe company Keep has made some excellent collaborations with chillwaver Washed Out and Canadian songwriting twins Tegan and Sara, whose shoe designs tick all the boxes for the vegan music obsessive on your gift list. All three pairs (Tegan and Sara each designed their own) are limited edition, so grab them while you can!
Stephen Carlick
Moog Werkstatt home built synthesiser
Initially produced for a workshop at Moogfest 2014, the Werkstatt analog modular synth is now seeing a wider release from Moog dealers across the world. The device incorporates a number of classic Moog circuits, which can be modified by those interested in building their own synth, with no soldering or advanced technical skills required. The DIY element will only be bolstered by an online community launched by the company, encouraging users to learn more about their device and look at user-submitted modifications and builds.
Calum Slingerland
Need more holiday gift ideas? Then check out our other sections on music, videogames, movies and books, as well as gifts for the "urban hipster," hip-hop fan, metalhead, folk fan and cineaste in your life.
Sometimes a surprise is the best gift of all — finding something not that's on the wish list but that isn't even on the radar. Here we offer a couple of oddities that might just fit the bill for that hard-to-buy-for music nerd in your life.
The Exclaim! Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Music Ephemera
Vinyl Coaster Collection (Bravado)
Are you sick of your buddy's misplaced bottles of Labatt 50 ruining your coffee table? Then conquer water rings in style with a vinyl coaster collection from Bravado (pictured above), which takes some of classic rock's greatest discographies (i.e., works from the Doors, Guns N' Roses and those bastions of music-themed merchandise, the Rolling Stones — how are KISS not in on this?) and converts them into party-ready discs to keep your drinks on. Who says unfinished basements can't be tidy?
Matthew Ritchie
Politically Correct Footwear
Finding the right gift for a vegan music lover can be hard, especially if it's apparel you're looking for — it's not always easy to dress with both empathy and flair. Luckily, California shoe company Keep has made some excellent collaborations with chillwaver Washed Out and Canadian songwriting twins Tegan and Sara, whose shoe designs tick all the boxes for the vegan music obsessive on your gift list. All three pairs (Tegan and Sara each designed their own) are limited edition, so grab them while you can!
Stephen Carlick
Moog Werkstatt home built synthesiser
Initially produced for a workshop at Moogfest 2014, the Werkstatt analog modular synth is now seeing a wider release from Moog dealers across the world. The device incorporates a number of classic Moog circuits, which can be modified by those interested in building their own synth, with no soldering or advanced technical skills required. The DIY element will only be bolstered by an online community launched by the company, encouraging users to learn more about their device and look at user-submitted modifications and builds.
Calum Slingerland
Need more holiday gift ideas? Then check out our other sections on music, videogames, movies and books, as well as gifts for the "urban hipster," hip-hop fan, metalhead, folk fan and cineaste in your life.