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April 3rd
album anniversaries

April 3rd album covers: It Is What It Is, You And Your Friends , Heaven To A Tortured Mind, Bookends, B.R.M.C., Wheels Of Steel
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It Is What It Is sleeve

Thundercat • It Is What It Is

Released 3 April 2020 · 7th anniversary

Grief and humor collide here in a way that only this virtuoso bassist could pull off. It serves as a poignant tribute to his late friend Mac Miller, balancing heavy existential questions with the kind of playful, off-kilter charm found in tracks like Dragonball Durag.

Production duties lean heavily into the Brainfeeder aesthetic, blending dizzying jazz fusion with smooth R&B and futuristic funk. You get a masterclass in technical precision that still feels deeply personal, anchored by guest spots from friends like Childish Gambino and Steve Lacy.

You And Your Friends  sleeve

Peach Pit • You And Your Friends

Released 3 April 2020 · 7th anniversary

Sun-drenched melodies mask a lyrical obsession with the messy, often pathetic realities of growing up and drifting apart from your inner circle. These songs feel like a long, hazy afternoon spent reflecting on past mistakes and the specific, awkward charm of your early twenties.

Crisp guitar hooks and breezy indie-pop arrangements define the record, leaning heavily into a laid-back West Coast aesthetic. The production keeps things intimate and raw, perfectly capturing that bittersweet transition period where friendships start to change shape.

Heaven To A Tortured Mind sleeve

Yves Tumor • Heaven To A Tortured Mind

Released 3 April 2020 · 7th anniversary

Glam rock meets experimental R&B in this explosive, genre-defying statement. The production is incredibly dense and layered, pushing the boundaries of how rock and soul can interact within a modern electronic framework.

Every track feels like a deliberate subversion of traditional song structures, favoring chaotic, beautiful noise and soaring, soulful vocals. It stands as a landmark release for its ability to make experimental, avant-garde music feel both accessible and deeply personal.

Bookends sleeve

Simon & Garfunkel • Bookends

Released 3 April 1968 · 59th anniversary

Concept albums were still a relatively new frontier in 1968, yet this record masterfully explores the passage of time from childhood innocence to the anxieties of old age. It serves as a poignant, cinematic meditation on the human experience that feels just as intimate today as it did decades ago.

Sophisticated studio production techniques define the sound, blending experimental tape loops and sound collages with the duo's signature folk-rock harmonies. The result is a lush, melancholic atmosphere that captures the restless spirit of the late sixties perfectly.

B.R.M.C. sleeve

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club • B.R.M.C.

Released 3 April 2001 · 26th anniversary

Raw, snarling feedback and reverb-drenched vocals define this debut, which arrived like a punch to the gut of the early 2000s music scene. It captures a specific kind of restless, leather-jacket cool that feels just as urgent today as it did upon its initial release.

Deeply rooted in the shoegaze and garage rock revival, the record leans heavily on distorted bass lines and hazy, hypnotic melodies. The production keeps things gritty and unpolished, perfectly mirroring the moody, nocturnal atmosphere that the band cultivated during their rise in San Francisco.

Wheels Of Steel sleeve

Saxon • Wheels Of Steel

Released 3 April 1980 · 47th anniversary

Heavy metal history changed forever when this record dropped, cementing the band as architects of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Its title track remains a quintessential biker anthem that defined the gritty, high-octane spirit of the early eighties.

Raw production and driving, twin-guitar riffs capture the blue-collar energy of the Sheffield scene. The sound is unapologetically loud and stripped-back, reflecting the transition from hard rock to the faster, more aggressive metal that would dominate the decade.

How to track album anniversaries in your collection

Give the records on your shelf another spin. Plastic helps you organize your vinyl and CDs, sync your collection with Discogs, and discover album anniversaries and the stories behind them. Explore new releases and rediscover something you already own.

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