Rolling Stone
Contact Rolling Stone by Email View all posts by Rolling Stone April 17, 2026
Neil Young, Hilary Duff, and Jeff Buckley Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty Images Record Store Day is almost here — and as always, there are tons of rare vinyl releases to look for when your favorite independent record shop opens for business on April 18. Official RSD 2026 ambassador Bruno Mars is one of the most famous names taking part, with a special compilation of his all-star collaborations (“Die With a Smile,” “APT.,” “Uptown Funk,” and more). But that’s just the start. We combed through hundreds more RSD-exclusive releases to find the coolest records hitting shelves this weekend. Check out our top picks below, and happy hunting!
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Sonic Youth, Diamond Seas
Sonic Youth haven’t been an active band for a decade and a half, but they’ve kept their fans happy with a steady stream of live archival releases (mostly thanks to the efforts of drummer Steve Shelley). This latest offering is one of the coolest yet. Diamond Seas highlights an underrated aspect of the noise-rock innovators’ legacy by bringing in John Oswald, the guy behind the Grateful Dead’s “Dark Star” megamix Grayfolded, to work his magic on their 1995 classic “The Diamond Sea.” Oswald wove together 32 vintage live performances of the song into what promises to be a truly epic journey through oceans of feedback, filling both sides of a 12″ on white vinyl (side A is all ’95 shows, side B is all ’96). What better way to celebrate the jammier side of SY? —Simon Vozick-Levinson
