giftmusic
Over the past few weeks, we've been asking Readings staff and buyers to come up with their top gift ideas - and now it's time for the musos and music lovers out there. Whether it's jump blues or northern soul, neo-folk rock or lowkey pop, there's plenty out there to please any musicophile this season.

Albums


5021456184040 Baby Caught the Bus
Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes

Melbournian Clairy Browne & her Bangin' Rackettes arrived very late in the year with their debut album, a fun, hard-hitting celebration of northern soul, jump blues, doo-wop, ska and gospel. Radio National made it their album of the year. – Dave Clarke, Readings Carlton

9340650011652 El Camino
The Black Keys

Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney return with seventh album. Pretty much the last surviving act from the blues rock revival of the early noughties. They’ve slightly reinvented themselves and with the help of producer Danger Mouse have once again delivered a blues-rock classic. – Dave Clarke, Readings Carlton

0602527756684 Gentle Spirit
Jonathan Wilson

An incredibly ambitious debut album from this American artist who very much channels the Laurel Canyon vibe from the 70’s. Neo folk-rock, gentle yet not afraid to lash out occasionally. Undoubtedly one of the albums of the year. – Dave Clarke, Readings Carlton

Read our review

9323482010741 Bonfires in Silver City
Lucie Thorne

My favourite Australian female singer-songwriter once again delivers a fine album of beautiful adult contemporary songs. If you are a fan of Gillian Welch or Emmylou Harris you should definitely check out this great local artist. – Dave Clarke, Readings Carlton

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5099908789822 A Creature I Don’t Know
Laura Marling

Third album from the ridiculously talented young English singer. She is only 21, but very much a fully formed talent in the Joni Mitchell mould. – Dave Clarke, Readings Carlton

Read our review

0634457544529 Forever the Moon
Heirlooms of August

Debut album from ex-Red House Painters Jerry Vessel, is a beautiful thing. Quiet, introspective pop at it’s best. – Dave Clarke, Readings Carlton

Books


eden Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain’s Visionary Music
Rob Young

Wonderful survey of more than a century of music-making in the British Isles. Young investigates how the idea of folk has been handed down and transformed by successive generations of musicians and bands such as Kate Bush, Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Nick Drake and Pink Floyd. – Declan Murphy, Readings St Kilda

0061670154 33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs
Dorian Lynskey

Thrilling and moving history of the music that inspired and soundtracked social change. Thirty-three pivotal songs that span seven decades covering artists such as Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, The Clash, Fela Kuti and Public Enemy. – Declan Murphy, Readings St Kilda

0571233759 Manchester: Looking for Light Through the Pouring Rain
Kevin Cummins

Beautiful hardback book which contains some stunning photographs and documents the unique musical history of this hugely influential city. – Declan Murphy, Readings St Kilda

More Christmas Gift Ideas:


Declan Murphy is the music buyer at Readings St Kilda

Dave Clarke is the music buyer at Readings Carlton