Holiday Shopping Guide + Staff Picks

We like to think we're a lot kinder than the High Fidelity crew, but one thing we do share in common with Rob, Dick and Barry—aside from the obvious—is that we love making lists of the music we love. Maybe it's just comes with the territory, but there is something so satisfying about recommending music to folks, especially when they come back later, tell you they dig it and that they want more.

It's fun to discover, and we love facilitating that discovery. In our latest DCD Newsletter, we provided the Slacker's Guide to Holiday Shopping, and at the tail end of that, we threw in a few personal recommendations. Check out the whole mess below and please, whenever you're feeling adventurous, ask one of us for a suggestion. We're always happy to point you in an interesting direction.

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APPETIZER
First things first, let's talk stocking stuffers. We've got plenty of things that'll fit in the oversized socks hanging above your mantle. From gift certificates (available in any denomination), to the "I Still Buy Records" RSD t-shirt (more info), to multiple styles of headphones, to concert tickets (Ticket Alternative venues [now including Eddie's Attic!] and cash only, please), to 33 1/3 books (we've got about 20 of these in stock at the moment), to the just-released Oxford American music issue, you've got options.

ENTREE
Yum, right? Kinda got you hankering for more? Well, for your main course this evening, we have a lovely selection of box sets. Seriously, do you realize how many box sets we have? We have tons. Variety is the spice of life, they say, and boxes like these will fill you up nicely. But don't overdo it! You've got to save some room for...

DESSERT
For your final course, how about something sweet and a little less pricey? Maybe a selection from our vast and eclectic (Ghostface to Wanda Jackson, High on Fire to the Traveling Wilburys, Hendrix to Mumford & Sons) vinyl selection? Or you could sample some recommendations from each member of the Decatur CD crew:

Warren: Wilco's The Whole Love, Tom Waits' Bad As Me, Gillian Welch's The Harrow & the Harvest, Cass McCombs' Humor Risk, King Crimson's Discipline 40th Anniversary
Eliot: McCoy Tyner's Inception/Reaching Fourth, The Spits' IV (vinyl), Dead Boys' Young, Loud & Snotty, Emitt Rhodes' Recordings 69-73
Austin: Soul Jazz's New Orleans: The Original Sound of Funk, 1960-75, The Men's Leave Home, XTC's Skylarking, The Undertones' An Anthology, TV on the Radio's Nine Types of Light
The Security Chicken: Songs to Make Dogs Happy

Stuff Yr Stocking

Let's talk stocking stuffers. As we get closer and closer to the big day, you may find yourself at a loss trying to find that perfect final addition to the oversized socks on your mantle. Luckily, we've got loads of options for solving your gift-y dilemma. From gift certificates (available in any denomination you want), to the "I Still Buy Records" RSD t-shirt, to multiple styles of headphones, to concert tickets (Ticket Alternative venues and cash only, please), to 33 1/3 books (we've got about 20 of these in stock at the moment), to the just-released Oxford American music issue, well, you really don't have any excuse for an empty stocking this year. Alternately, stop by, give us the elevator pitch about your recipient's taste, and we'd be happy to make some recommendations.

FYI: Open until 9pm on Mondays through Christmas

Heads up, friends and neighbors: We're extending our Monday-night hours through the holiday season. For the next couple Mondays (12/12 and 12/19), we'll stay open until 9pm for your shopping convenience. If you stop by during that time, we promise not to ask you if you've got a case of the Mondays. After all, everybody knows nothing good comes from asking that.

'Tis the Season for Box Sets

It's the time of year where it feels like everybody is putting out a gift guide. Not one to be left out of the holiday madness, DCD fearless leader Warren has cobbled together the following list of box sets and deluxe-edition goodies that you should take into consideration as you purchase things for loved ones this year.

Beach Boys: Smile (2CD or super-deluxe vinyl box)
Rolling Stones: Some Girls (ditto)
Doria Roberts: Blackeyed Susan (LOCAL box)
Tom Waits: Bad as Me (limited deluxe edition)
Numero #035: Boddie Recording Company
Ray Charles: Complete ABC Singles (5CD)
East of Underground: Soul, Funk & Rock (3CD box)
Janis Joplin (4LP vinyl box)
Kings of Leon (3LP + rarities box)
My Morning Jacket: Circuital (deluxe vinyl)
Panda Bear: Tomboy (deluxe vinyl)
The Who: Quadrophenia (2CD or super-deluxe vinyl box)
Pink Floyd: The Wall (Immersion 7LP/CD set)
John Fahey: Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You (Dust-to-Digital)
Jethro Tull Aqualung (LP/CD/DVD box)
Grateful Dead (5LP box)
Bear Family: Bristol Sessions (5CD box)
Depeche Mode (6LP remix box)
Syl Johnson (7" box)
Bear Family: Acadian All Star Special (3CD box)
Cake (7" box)
Rancid (CD/vinyl/DVD box)
Beady Eye (7" box)
Bruce Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town (2CD deluxe)
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (LP box)
Jimi Hendrix: West Coast Seattle Boy (LP box)
Led Zeppelin: Mothership (vinyl box)
Tom Petty: The Live Anthology (vinyl box)
Jimi Hendrix: Live at Winterland (8LP vinyl box)
REM Live (vinyl box)
Rolling Stones: Get Your Ya Ya's/Exile (vinyl boxes)
Hank Williams: Complete Mother's Best (CD box)
Tom Waits: Orphans (vinyl box)
Beatles: Singles (RSD box)
Red Hot Chili Peppers (CD/DVD RSD box)
Janis Joplin: Singles (box)
Syd Barrett (single/book RSD box)
The Doors (7" RSD box)
Bob Dylan (singles RSD box)
Bruce Springsteen (7CD box)
Richard Thompson: Live at the BBC (3CD/DVD box)
Pink Floyd: Discovery (14CD box)
Miles Davis Quartet: Live in Europe (3CD/DVD box)
Opika Pende (Dust-to-Digital box)
Elvis Presley (singles box)
Numero #024: Titan It's All Pop (vinyl box)

Terrific Thursday Sale

Around DCD HQ, we subscribe to the Nordstrom line of thinking this time of year: We just like celebrating one holiday at a time. That being said, now that the gobbling (of both sleep-inducing food and exclusive vinyl varieties) has come to an end, it's time to break out the jolly music. They say it's the most wonderful time of the year, and we're inclined to agree. As such, our holiday tunes are out in full force. You can find them in the usual bin, right across from the cash register, where the new-arrival used stuff resides the rest of the year.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is not only the first day of December, it's also Terrific Thursday! We'll be celebrating by marking everything in the store 10% off for one day only. Let's get this month off to a great start. There is one catch to the sale, though. In order to reap the benefits of sweet, sweet discounted music, you need to tell us, when you get up to the counter with your purchases, why Thursday is so terrific. Give us your opinion, we'll give you 10% off. And if you think Thursday is terrible, that's fine too. We're not here to boss you around. Not too much, anyway.

See you tomorrow, then! Let's make it terrific.