50 21ST CENTURY COLLECTABLES

Our annual round-up of recent highlights from the collecting world – across countless genres – takes a slightly different approach this year. For 2010, we have decided to focus on records released only after 2000. While this does not necessarily mean that the artists included have to have been active in that period (such as Nirvana), the main portion of the list covers modern acts around whom sufficient buzz has been generated to warrant high prices.

Of course, some old favourites crop up as well, often in the form of collections of their biggest hits (U2, Madonna). Increasingly acts are turning to modern-day ‘luxury release’ design companies such as Vinyl Factory or Artist In Residence to create limited special versions of their new albums, that often sky-rocket in price due to their scarcity and attention to detail (Pixies, Julian Casablancas, Pet Shop Boys).

The 7” vinyl record remains the king of the collecting scene, of course, just as it was in the punk, psych and rock’n’roll eras. New bands continue to put out gig-only items and debut releases on this format (The xx, The Big Pink, Jack White), and its cachet is undiminished, surprising (and reassuring) in an age when practically all recorded sound is available online somewhere, often for free.

Occasionally, a new band or artist will exploit the …

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