Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide 2012
JEMP Records / Jammin Johns / Amazon
Still haven't finished your Christmas shopping? Don't worry -- we've got you covered. It's certainly coming down to the wire, but thanks to Diffuser.fm's handy last-minute holiday gift guide, finding presents for all your alt-rock-loving friends and family members will be a breeze. We have five categories for you: box sets, concert tickets, books, apparel and the catch-all odds and sods. Each is packed with last-minute gift options that meet our own stringent guidelines. Once you're done, feel free to pick up something special for yourself, too -- after all that shopping, you've certainly earned it.
JEMP Records
Box Sets
Why not give the gift of music in a box? The 'Blur At 21' collection -- which celebrates 21 years of Blur with reissues of the band’s seven studio albums and much, much more -- is as good as any. Experimental aficionados should check out Can's 'The Lost Tapes' vinyl box set, which features more than 30 hours of recently unearthed material and unreleased film scores. Death Cab for Cutie's 'The Barsuk Years' compiles on vinyl the band's entire output on that indie label, from their 1997 demo 'You Can Play These Songs With Chords' through to their 2003 label swan song, 'Transatlanticism.' Other sets worth checking out include Rancid's 'Essentials' 7-inch box set, Roxy Music's 'The Complete Studio Recordings 1972-1982' and Phish's 'Chicago ’94' live set.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Concert Tickets
Any self-respecting indie rocker would be thrilled with a pair of tickets to Neutral Milk Hotel mastermind Jeff Mangum's solo U.S. winter jaunt. It sold out almost immediately, but seats are now available through the second-hand vendor Stubhub. (Warning: They're at a bit of a premium, because it may be his final solo jaunt.) Passion Pit and Matt and Kim are hitting the roads of North America together this winter (and headed to some of the bigger arenas along the way), and tickets to most gigs are still available at Ticketmaster. But wait, is your friend more of a Phish fan? Why not get him or her seats to Trey Anastasio's winter 2013 solo East Coast jaunt here. Or there's always Ellie Golding, the British singer who's backing her recent 'Halcyon' album with appearances in a handful of cities on this side of the pond. Get tickets here.
McSweeny's
Books
It was a good year for indie rock-themed books, which always make great gifts. Check out the Beck 'Song Reader,' which features sheet music for 20 songs penned by Beck but never recorded. They're just waiting to be fully realized. The LCD Soundsystem Photo Book collects hundreds of pictures taken by photographer Ruvan Wijesooriya. The images span the band's inception through to its 2011 swan song at Madison Square Garden. The 'Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division' tome retells the oft-told story of the legendary band with new insights, thanks to author and founding bassist Peter Hook. Know somebody who wants to take on the music industry on the production side of things but doesn't know where to begin? 'Complete Music Producer – Essential Skills to Become a Success' is as a good a place as any.
Amazon
Apparel
The Joy Division-inspired Disney T-shirt that Peter Hook spoke out against earlier this year has long since been ripped off the rack, but Surfer Blood's own take on the iconic design -- which was recently mentioned in a JD documentary -- is available here. Have you ever checked out a Yellow Bird Project T-shirt? They are custom-designed by bands like Bon Iver, the National, Grizzly Bear and Hot Chip, and in addition to looking super cool, they raise money for an array of charities. Talk about a win-win situation -- give the gift of giving today! Or, if you have a little extra loot to spend this year, why not just go searching on eBay for some vintage apparel, like this old-school Blur 'Super Turbo' T-shirt, this original New Order '89 tour T-shirt or this super rare Nirvana Dantes Inferno shir -- all sweet gift picks.
Jammin Johns
Odds and Sods
Shopping for that eccentric indie rocker that has everything? We've got you covered with off-the-wall items like the Princess International virtual air guitar, which plays basic chords and Beatles songs with a simple push of a button (and serious air strumming). Keep your friends safe with Bonnie "Prince" Billie condoms. Or, keep them clean with this official Tenacious D product -- a towel whose specific purpose we can't discuss in polite company. The ultimate WTF gift, the Jammin Johns Screamer Toilet Seat, features a real sunburst guitar finish and a brass hinge. Plus, it comes in three classic body styles: acoustic, electric and grand.
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