Wax and Want

[waxandwant]

Record #10 - Sleater-Kinney - Dig Me Out

When I pulled this one out, I already knew I didn’t have a strong attachment to it, but I still gave it a listen with an open mind.

My ex bought this record when we were together and left it behind when we broke up, but that’s not the reason I’m letting it go. While I do like some Sleater-Kinney songs, I just don’t enjoy the band enough to feel the need to keep Dig Me Out.

Listening to it again confirmed that I have no real emotional connection to this record. It doesn’t spark anything for me. Maybe its association with my ex leaves me a little numb, but honestly, even without that, I know I’d never choose this over anything else in my collection.

It’s also just a standard black pressing. If it were a special edition or a colored vinyl, it might be harder to part with, but as it stands, there’s nothing really compelling me to hold onto it.

This is the first record where the answer feels clear: it doesn’t belong in my collection.

Good news for the ranking, I’ve finally found the line.

BadBadNotGood – IV

Camille Saint-Saëns – Danse Macabre

Grimes – Visions

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Novos Baianos – Acabou Chorare

Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch

Claude Dejean – Moog

King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan – Let’s Make a Record

Grace Jones – “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)” (Single)

Sleater-Kinney – Dig Me Out

Anything between Grace Jones and Sleater Kinney will probably be a "maybe" and anything after Sleater-Kinney will be on its way out.

[waxandwant]

Record #9 – The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

This is the copy that belonged to my late family member, and I’ll have a hard time parting with any records from their collection. Honestly, I’m not sure I’ll part with any at all. And if I ever do, they’re going back to family.

I’ve already talked about my childhood attachment to The Beatles in my declutter blog, but this album is one of my absolute favorites. Even without the sentimental value, it would be a no-brainer to keep. But knowing it was theirs makes it feel completely untouchable.

This is also one of those moments where this project overlaps with my decluttering. I recently realized I had a duplicate of this album and passed the extra copy along to a friend who didn’t have it. That felt right, this one stays with me, and the other one gets to be played and appreciated somewhere else.

Now, onto the ranking:

BadBadNotGood – IV

Camille Saint-Saëns – Danse Macabre

Grimes – Visions

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Novos Baianos – Acabou Chorare

Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch

Claude Dejean – Moog

King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan – Let’s Make a Record

Grace Jones – “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)” (Single)

Once lists get too long, I start to feel the inconsistencies and want to change things all the time. I find that happening here. Do I really like the Grimes album more that Sgt. Pepper's? This ranking isn’t some definitive reflection of my taste—it’s purely based on vibes and how I’m feeling in the moment. Ultimately, it’s just a tool to help me figure out what to keep or let go of from my collection.

[waxandwant]

Record #8 – Novos Baianos – Acabou Chorare

I love this one. It’s an easy keep. No hesitation.

I know I got this from Vinyl Me Please, but I can't remember if it was part of their subscription, or something I paid extra for. It's hard to backtrack considering they've gone offline.

Purchased: Vinyl Me Please – between 2017-2019 – Price $27ish Verdict: Keep

Updated ranking:

BadBadNotGood – IV

Camille Saint-Saëns – Danse Macabre

Grimes – Visions

Novos Baianos – Acabou Chorare

Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch

Claude Dejean – Moog

King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan – Let’s Make a Record

Grace Jones – “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)” (Single)

[waxandwant]

Record #7 - Grimes - Visions

It goes against every fiber of my being to tell a woman to talk less, but with Grimes… well… it may be good advice.

Regardless of her interviews and public appearances, Visions remains an absolute gem. This album is incredible. There are no skips for me. Keeping this one is a no-brainer, especially considering I can listen to it as much as I want, without financially supporting her further.

This is a standard black pressing. If I’d had the chance to grab a more interesting variant, I probably would have, but at this point I’m not exactly eager to give her any more money. That said, the music on Visions holds up beautifully.

Anyway, here’s my current ranking so far, without further context:

BadBadNotGood – IV

Camille Saint-Saëns – Danse Macabre

Grimes - Visions

Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch

Claude Dejean – Moog

King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan – Let’s Make a Record

Grace Jones – I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You) (Single)

[waxandwant]

Record #6 – Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch

This one’s an easy keep. I enjoy listening to it, and I don’t see myself parting with it anytime soon.

This was originally a Vinyl Me, Please release, but I didn’t actually pay for it. A friend of mine, who had been a subscriber before I joined, received it and thought it sounded tinny. VMP sent him a replacement, but he later realized that’s just how the record sounds and gave me the extra copy. Lucky for me, I love it.

Before this, I was only familiar with one Jenny Hval song, “Conceptual Romance,” but this album introduced me to her broader body of work, and I’m so glad it did.

If you’ve noticed, I’ve been struggling to part with records so far. To help make the process a little easier (and hopefully less emotional), I’m going to start ranking them, very subjectively, based on vibes and my personal attachment to them.

Here’s how things are shaping up so far:

This one’s an easy keep. I enjoy listening to it, and I don’t see myself parting with it anytime soon.

This was originally a Vinyl Me, Please release, but I didn’t actually pay for it. A friend of mine, who had been a subscriber before I joined, received it and thought it sounded tinny. VMP sent him a replacement, but he later realized that’s just how the record sounds and gave me the extra copy. Lucky for me, I love it.

Before this, I was only familiar with one Jenny Hval song, “Conceptual Romance,” but this album introduced me to her broader body of work, and I’m so glad it did.

If you’ve noticed, I’ve been struggling to part with records so far. To help make the process a little easier (and hopefully less emotional), I’m going to start ranking them—very subjectively—based on vibes and my personal attachment to them.

Here’s how things are shaping up so far:

BadBadNotGood - IV

Camille Saint-Saëns – Danse Macabre

Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch

Claude Dejean - Moog

King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan – Let’s Make a Record

Grace Jones – “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)” (Single)

There should theoretically be a line somewhere in this list—the point where records below it are the ones I’m more likely to part with. I’m not sure exactly where that line falls yet, but it feels like it’s somewhere around #5.

Oddly, since writing about the Grace Jones single, I’ve found myself more attached to it. The artwork is striking, and I love the energy of the song. However, because it’s a single, I know I won’t play it as often. If it were a full album, it would definitely jump higher on this list, probably bumping Sister Gertrude Morgan down to #6.

Out of everything so far, I realize I’m least attached to the King Britt/Sister Gertrude Morgan record. I still want to keep it, it enriches my collection, but I can’t imagine playing it that often. If it somehow disappeared or got stolen, I don’t think I’d go out of my way to replace it.

Maybe that’s the metric I need to use: Would I replace this if it were gone?

I’m not sure yet, but as I keep listening through my collection, I think that clarity will come.

To give myself a clearer goal, I’ll say this: by the end of this project, I want to declutter 10 records. If I discover 10 albums I enjoy less than Sister Gertrude Morgan or the Grace Jones single, I’ll keep them. But if I don’t, those two may end up being part of the group I let go.

We’ll see where I land.

Purchased: Gift from a friend (Vinyl Me, Please pressing) – Date unknown – $0 Verdict: Keep

[waxandwant]

Record #5 - Dimitri Mitropoulos & The New York Philharmonic – Camille Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre

Isn’t she beautiful? This one’s an absolute keep.

I found it at a used record store sometime in the latter half of 2024, and it wasn’t expensive at all. While it may not have much monetary value, it’s been a real gem for me.

As someone who works for an orchestra, Danse Macabre is one of my all-time favorites. I play this frequently, especially in the fall. It’s the perfect soundtrack for the season. The music is captivating, and the album art is just divine.

Honestly, I’d hang the cover on my wall, but I love listening to it too much to let it sit there.

Purchased: Used record store – 2024 – inexpensive (exact price unknown) Verdict: Keep

[waxandwant]

Record #4 - Grace Jones/I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You) (12" Single)

I’m torn about this one. I don’t listen to Grace Jones often, but this single is undeniably fun, and a reminder that I should probably listen to her more.

I acquired it for free when a friend generously gave me a stack of old records. It came in a plain clear plastic sleeve, and the only information is printed directly on the record itself.

Here’s the dilemma: singles on vinyl don’t really fit with how I listen to records. We’re in 2026, and if I just want to hear one song, I can easily stream it. That convenience makes this feel less essential. At the same time, the artwork and the energy of the song make it harder to let go than it probably should be.

There’s also a bigger context shaping how I’m thinking about my collection right now. A couple of months ago, I very suddenly and unexpectedly lost a close family member. They were an avid record collector, and their entire collection will eventually be coming to me. My family is still reeling, and I’m devastated, but I’m trying to compartmentalize enough to function. Their collection means a lot to me, but it also means my own collection is about to grow significantly.

Because of that, I need to be mindful about what I keep. If a record doesn’t spark excitement or curiosity, I need to be willing to let it go.

This Grace Jones single is fun, and I’m glad I have it for now. But I suspect it’s one I’ll eventually pass along, either to a friend or to a record store, once I’ve worked through more of my collection.

Purchased: Gift from a friend – 2016ish – $0 Verdict: Undecided (on the chopping block)

[waxandwant]

Record #3 - BadBadNotGood / IV

This one’s an absolute keep. I didn’t even need to listen to it to know that. It’s one of my all-time favorite albums.

I play it constantly, whether on vinyl or Spotify. It just works for any mood or occasion. I’m not a music reviewer, so I won’t try to write a formal review, but I absolutely love it. For me, it’s a 10 out of 10. There’s no way I’m ever getting rid of this record.

I picked this up back when I subscribed to Vinyl Me, Please, sometime around 2017/2018. It was a monthly subscription service where I’d receive at least one record each month, and I often spent way too much money adding extra records to my order.

I really enjoyed the service. In a strange way, it also made me feel more connected to my late father, who had been part of a Record of the Month Club back in the 1980s, long before I was born. That said, it’s also how I ended up with more records than I actually want or need.

Still, the subscription led me to gems like this one, so I can’t regret it. At the time, the subscription cost around $30–$37 a month. I just checked and now it’s $54 a month, which feels wild. I understand prices have gone up, but records have become shockingly expensive.

For now, I’ll just reflect fondly on the time I subscribed… and let that chapter go.

Purchased: Vinyl Me, Please – 2017/2018 – Monthly subscription (~$30–$37 at the time) Verdict: Keep

[waxandwant]

Record #2 – Claude Denjean / Moog!

This was a blind buy from a local (and slightly overpriced) record store. My usual strategy is to browse the world music section and grab anything that catches my eye if it’s $5 or less. This one fit the bill.

I ended up really enjoying it. It’s full of cheesy ’70s synth covers of older songs, and it’s perfect for keeping me light and motivated while tackling chores around the house. The album cover also satisfies my brain in a way that’s hard to explain. Definitely happy to keep this one.

The real challenge with this project will be the records I don’t even want to play. I know the logical answer is to let those go, but my brain always jumps to “what if you like it?” Even if I have zero interest in listening to it in the moment, I get stuck. I need to start trusting that it’s okay to move on from things I don’t connect with.

Purchased: Local second-hand record store – 2022/2023 – <$6 Verdict: Keep

[waxandwant]

Record #1 – King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan / Let’s Make a Record

Starting off with an absolute keeper: King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan.

This has been in my collection for years, but I don’t actually remember ever properly listening to it before now. Which feels a little ridiculous in hindsight, because this album is incredible and honestly enriches my collection in a real way.

I won’t try to write a full review because I’m not a music critic, I just like things, but I can say I was moved by it. It’s a double LP. The first record features her original music with modern production by King Britt, while the second contains her original recordings, Let’s Make a Record. I definitely prefer the original recordings, but both are fun.

Purchased: Vinyl Me, Please – August 2017 – $27 Verdict: Keep

[waxandwant]

Introduction

I’ve decided to go through my record collection.

Not in a dramatic, purge-everything way. Not in a “minimalism challenge” way. Just… intentionally.

Over the years, my collection has grown. Some records were carefully chosen. Some were impulse buys. Some I’ve never even properly listened to. That feels ridiculous to admit, but it’s true.

I’m going to pull one record at a time, listen to it front to back, and decide if it still belongs in my life.

I’m not trying to be ruthless. If I love it, it stays. If I don’t, I’ll consider selling or trading it.

I don’t want shelves full of records I “should” like, or bought because they looked cool, or because they were limited pressings. I want a deliberate collection.

Some posts will be quick. Some might be longer. I’m not a music critic, and I’m not pretending to be one. This is just me listening more closely to what I already own.

This is for me, but I'm glad you're here.

Let’s see what survives.