The Sharp List: Our 2020 Culture Gift Guide for Music Lovers and Audiophiles
We never did get to see that new Bond movie — but that doesn’t mean we’re lacking for other great entertainment options.
Beogram 4000c turntables by Bang & Olufsen
Harry Styles isn’t the only one channelling the 1970s. The audio pros at Bang & Olufsen recently completed a mission to collect and refresh 95 of their five-decade-old Beogram 4000c turntables. Its engineers painstakingly upgraded each vintage unit, installing fresh finishes and modern tech like an RIAA preamplifier and a new pickup cartridge. All of this means that suddenly the handsome antiquities are now the easiest and the hottest thing to hook up to your 21st-century stereo. Perfect for spinning some Harry Styles or some Debbie Harry. $11,000 USD
FreeBuds Pro by Huawei
A loud household calls for some powerful noise-cancelling tech. These earphones feature three mute-the-world modes — General, Cozy and Ultimate — to keep your focus on your playlist. Plus, they last long: A single charge will give you up to 7-hours of listening, and up to 30 hours when coupled with the charging case. $270
Records of Evidence
Four great (and, for vinyl fans, very giftable) albums that soundtracked a wild year — complete with a close read of the poignant songwriting that makes them perfect 2020 time capsules.
Tame Impala, The Slow Rush
All 12 of this album’s groovy soundscapes contain real multi- tudes. (Don’t sleep on the Blood Orange remix of “Borderline,” either.) Most 2020 lyric: “We’re on the borderline/ Caught between the tides of pain and rapture”
The Weeknd, After Hours
The king of moody dance jams does it again. Every single time “Blinding Lights” came on the radio this year, it boosted our spirits immeasurably. Most 2020 lyric: “You can turn me on with just a touch, baby”
Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Never has our living room felt so powerfully activated by a single voice. We will be using this emo- tional tour-de-force to audition all future audio equipment purchases. Most 2020 lyric: “And next year it’ll be clear/This was only leading me to that”
Haim, Women in Music Pt. III
If that viral TikTok of the longboarder drinking cranberry juice just got you back into Fleetwood Mac, these three sisters are the next natural chord progression. Most 2020 lyric: “I know alone/Like no one else does”
