Music fans should be easy to shop for this holiday season, right?
Wrong! What do you pick up for the friend who knew about that rapper months before the rest of the world? What about the audiophile, whose listening habits are particular and immovable? Your sister loves Taylor Swift, but surely she already owns everything the pop star has ever released, right?
Here’s a gift guide for the audio lover in your life — from a can’t-miss box set for the Elvis Costello obsessive to a set of wine glasses that will be music to everyone’s ears.
Play it by … wine
Chances are, you’ve seen someone play water glasses before — rubbing the rim of a glass with a finger can produce musical notes, which change depending on how full the glass is. Uncommon Goods has taken the idea a step further: What if, instead of water glasses, you used wine? And what if there was a way to determine which notes could be produced, by marking each glass like a measuring cup? Well, that’s exactly what they did. Compose a symphony of one with these wine glasses. $68.
Clear the way
A recent trend in venue security is the clear-bag policy. The goal is to streamline bag checks upon entry, making the process safer and faster. If you’re looking for a great gift for a loved one who plans their life around stadium and arena shows, look no further. The clear bag is an alternative to shoving everything in your pockets and clutching your smartphone to your palm. Herschel has a few reasonably priced bags that are practical, stylish and will meet most venue guidelines. $35.
Elvis Costello has entered the building
A new six-disc Elvis Costello box set, King Of America & Other Realms, has what you’d expect from a revisit to Costello’s 1986 King of America album — a remastered version of the original, demos of most songs, a live concert from the era, even some newly recorded takes. The Other Realms is what sets it apart. Building on the original album’s roots-based theme, half of the set explores other Costello recording adventures in the United States — many from the 2000s — with alternate versions and previously unreleased tracks.
