Alternative Pre-orders

Alternative Vinyl Pre-orders: Indie Records and Reissues on the Way

Why pre-order alternative and indie vinyl?

Pre-orders are close to standard practice in alternative and indie music. Independent labels announce albums months ahead, open pre-orders on announcement day and often offer a limited color variant reserved for those early orders. With pressing lead times running to months, it's also how you get the record on release day. The upcoming records listed here range from current bands like TV Priest, Sour Widows and Flora Hibberd to established names like Teenage Fanclub, plus archival reissues from The Fall and This Heat.

Pre-orders apply to reissues too. Cult albums from 1980s and 1990s post-punk, shoegaze and indie rock return on vinyl regularly, sometimes for an anniversary, sometimes with demos or a live set as a bonus. These editions are often announced well ahead and pressed in limited numbers, so reserving one makes sense if you're a fan.

Independent record labels to follow

In alternative music, following labels works better than following artists alone: each label has its own identity, and their announcements map out the release calendar. The best-known indie labels put out most of their albums on vinyl, usually with a limited edition on pre-order through their webshop or partner record stores.

Beyond these landmark labels, countless small independent labels, some run by one or two people, press records in small batches. Their releases rarely turn up everywhere, so when one appears at several stores, comparing prices and shipping helps you pick the best offer.

• Sub Pop, the label behind Nirvana's "Bleach" (1989)
• Matador Records, longtime home of Pavement
• 4AD, label of Pixies and Cocteau Twins
• Rough Trade, label of The Smiths
• Domino, which launched Arctic Monkeys
• Merge Records, label of Arcade Fire's "Funeral" (2004)

Delays and date changes: the risks of pre-ordering

Pre-ordering vinyl comes with some uncertainty. Pressing plants are busy, so release dates can slip by a few weeks, and an album sometimes comes out digitally before the vinyl is ready. Terms depend on the store: some charge at order, others at shipping, and cancellation rules vary. Read them before confirming, and double-check the exact version you're reserving: color, run size and any store exclusivity.

Comparing alternative pre-orders across stores

The same pre-order can carry different prices at different stores, and not always in the same version. On this page you can compare offers from several partner stores for each upcoming record, then click through to the one you want. If a limited variant matters to you, find out who carries it and reserve early. For standard black vinyl, pre-ordering isn't essential, since it usually stays in stock after release and gives you time to compare.