Staff Picks: The Records We're Loving This Summer

With summer in full swing, we thought it was the perfect time to ask the team what they've been playing on repeat. Each member of staff picked a record that means something to them, and we hope their choices inspire your next browse through the site - or at least your next vinyl-shaped impulse buy.

Read on to discover some of our summer favourites!

Chosen by Sam, Record Expert

Grace was Jeff Buckley's only studio album released in his lifetime, arriving in 1994 to modest initial sales but a critical reputation that's only grown since. It's perhaps best known for Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," which has gone on to become one of the most referenced vocal performances in modern music. Buckley died in 1997 before a follow-up was finished, which has only added to Grace's reputation as a singular, untouchable record.

For fans of: Radiohead, Nina Simone, Nick Drake

Chosen by Tom, Record Expert

Released in 1971, Tarkus was ELP's second album and the moment progressive rock fully embraced its own ambition. The side-long title suite tells the story of a half-armadillo, half-tank creature (illustrated across the original gatefold artwork), and shows off the trio's technical range - Keith Emerson's Hammond organ and Moog work in particular. Side two settles into shorter, more song-based territory, offering a gentler way in for anyone daunted by the 20-minute opener.

For fans of: King Crimson, Yes, Prog Rock

"As a fan of Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters, it only felt natural for me to check out Them Crooked Vultures. The first track, No One Loves Me and Neither Do I, instantly grabbed my attention with Josh Homme's distinctive vocals, before crashing into the grittier Mind Eraser, No Chaser. It's an album I always come back to when I'm after some desert rock vibes."

- Ellie, Marketing

Formed almost by accident in 2009, Them Crooked Vultures brought together Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) for what remains their only album to date. It's a heavier, riff-driven record than any of their day jobs might suggest, with Jones's basslines doing a lot of the heavy lifting under Homme's snarling vocals and Grohl's typically powerhouse drumming. Despite years of fan speculation, a follow-up has never materialised, which only makes this one-off feel more special.

For fans of: Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zeppelin, Hard Rock

Chosen by Owen, Picker/Packer

Southampton's A Formal Horse describe themselves as a "spicy avant-rock quartet" - which might be the nichest genre tag we've ever come across. Meat Mallet, their second album from July 2021, pairs heavy, riff-driven prog with vocalist Hayley McDonnell's distinctive delivery; critics have drawn comparisons to Siouxsie Sioux, Debbie Harry, and Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser, all while the lyrics veer into deadpan absurdity - see song titles like "I'm a Lasagne" and "Bring a Bun." It's serious musicianship with its tongue firmly in its cheek, which has earned it a loyal following in prog circles.

For fans of: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cocteau Twins, Blondie

Chosen by Bethany, Record Expert

Released in 1999, Enema of the State was the album that took Blink-182 from underground pop-punk favourites to mainstream stars, powered by singles like "What's My Age Again?", "All the Small Things," and the more reflective "Adam's Song." It was also drummer Travis Barker's first record with the band, and his sharper, more dynamic style helped define the album's punchier sound. Nearly 15 million copies later, it's remembered as one of the defining pop-punk records of its era.

For fans of: Sum 41, Green Day

Chosen by Jack, Record Expert

One of the buzzier UK guitar bands of the last couple of years, London's Fat Dog built a reputation on genuinely unhinged live shows before WOOF., their debut album, arrived in 2024. The record throws together klezmer, techno, punk, and pure chaos, refusing to settle into one genre for more than a couple of minutes at a time. If you want proof that guitar music still has some danger left in it, this is a good place to start.

For fans of: The Fall, The Pogues, Black Midi

"I've been a fan of Brazilian music for around ten years now, and I'm always keen to introduce others to it - this album is a brilliant place to start. It's thoroughly modern, blending English and Portuguese lyrics with sonic textures that feel instantly familiar if your listening diet is mostly UK and US rock and pop. What makes it such a fantastic record is how effortlessly it wraps catchy, pop-like melodies around far more ambitious ideas and genre-blending."

- Holly, Operations Manager

Ana Frango Elétrico is one of the most exciting voices to emerge from Brazil's recent wave of genre-blending pop, mixing psychedelia, funk, and off-kilter arrangements with a playful, DIY spirit. Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua hops between languid grooves and upbeat, funk-driven moments, almost entirely sung in Portuguese, and is part of a broader resurgence of interest in contemporary Brazilian music that's been gaining international attention in recent years.

For fans of: Caetano Veloso, Talking Heads, Stevie Wonder 

Chosen by Morgan, Record Expert

Stockholm's Viagra Boys have built a cult following on chaotic, sax-soaked post-punk and frontman Sebastian Murphy's deadpan, absurdist lyrics. Cave World, their third album, leans into satire by taking aim at conspiracy theorists and internet-poisoned worldviews, while still sounding like a genuinely great time live. It's smart, funny, and doesn't take itself remotely seriously, which is a big part of the appeal.

For fans of: Iggy and The Stooges, Devo, IDLES

Chosen by Beth, Record Expert

Visions of a Life, Wolf Alice's second album, won the Mercury Prize in 2018, a fitting reward for a record that moves confidently between dream-pop, grunge, and full-throttle punk without ever feeling disjointed. Frontwoman Ellie Rowsell's voice ties it all together, whether she's whispering through the spoken-word sections of "Don't Delete The Kisses" or screaming through the album's more ferocious moments. It remains one of the most celebrated British rock records of the last decade.

For fans of: Hole, Foo Fighters, Warpaint

Chosen by Hannah, Record Expert

Released in 1985, Rock a Little was Stevie Nicks's third solo album, arriving at the height of her post-Fleetwood Mac solo career. It leans fully into the era's glossy, synth-driven production, with singles like "Talk to Me" and "I Can't Wait" showing Nicks adapting her distinctive voice and songwriting to a more modern 80s sound without losing what made her a star in the first place.

For fans of: Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush, 80s Pop

Chosen by Ed, Record Expert

English duo Renaldo and The Loaf spent the late 70s and early 80s building homemade instruments and manipulating tape recordings, closely associated with The Residents and their Ralph Records label. Arabic Yodelling, released in 1983, is one of their most enduring cult releases - a strange, inventive, genuinely uncategorisable listen that rewards patience and an open mind. It's a real discovery for anyone who stumbles across a copy.

For fans of: The Residents, Captain Beefheart, Gong

That's a wrap on this summer's staff picks - eleven records, eleven completely different reasons for loving them, and hopefully a new artist or two for you to discover along the way. As a second-hand shop, we can't promise these exact records will be sitting on the shelf when you look - but if anything here caught your ear, the "for fans of" artists and genres are a great place to start browsing what we've actually got in stock.

 Happy hunting, and see you next time!