Tyler, Co-Founder And Director Of Special Projects

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Lord Willin: Clipse. I grew up 15 minutes from Virginia Beach and used to surf very badly across the street from the Cavalier Hotel where Pusha T got married this year. I remember this album coming out my freshman year of high school, and how Clipse and Pharrell (I guess N.E.R.D. at the time) were all over local radio. I was a corny 14 year old from the suburbs who had listened mostly to emo rock and bad Christian music up to that point in my life, so I was about as disconnected as I could possibly be from everything going on in this album. But there are these important moments when you realize art is also other than you, and much bigger and more important than you. I think the stuff Clipse and Pharrell were making around that time were my first major encounter with that. Sort of like the probably made up story about the person telling the security guard that they don't like the Mona Lisa. This album is Virginia Beach's Mona Lisa, and while I love it for a complicated number of ways all these years later, it wasn't always that way. At first, it was just my friends and I listening to it over and over again in our shitty cars driving to the beach and feeling like being from the same area as the dudes making this music proved that growing up there actually meant something.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Man, I spent most of the year remembering how to love music again and didn't listen to as much new stuff as I should have. I loved the new albums from Kacey Musgraves and Pusha T and Chester Watson. Hard to pick between the them but if I had to I'd probably say DAYTONA.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 DAYTONA

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Childish Gambino. I had no idea what to expect and hadn't seen him since he played a set from Camp at Lollapolooza what feels like 70 years ago. To say it was incredible feels less than what it was. I'm not really sure, honestly. He said before he started that it wasn't a concert it was church, so everyone had to put their phones away. It was that, and also a top five show I've ever been to.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Malibu Nights by LANY. Writing an entire album about Dua Lipa breaking up with you is corny as hell and I am fucking here for it.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Cheddar and sour cream chips

Best movie you saw this year and why Blaze. I saw it at Sundance in February and I've been thinking about it probably weekly since then. I don't have anything clever to say about it or him. I'm grateful he existed and that we still have his music.

Best book you read this year and why All the Lives I Want by Alana Massey and My Struggle Vol. 1 by Karl Ove Knausgaard. Deep, meaningful honesty is uncomfortable and we live in a world in which most of what we call honesty falls somewhere between aspiration and bullshit. Both of these books, and writers, thoroughly cut against that grain and their work is both challenging and freeing.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Leavenworth, Washington.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 Meeting my girlfriend Alicia.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:30

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Going to Iceland

Courtney, Music Marketing Project Manager

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Mitski's Be The Cowboy. Admittedly, I didn't ~love~ the album after the first listen or two, but everything clicked once I unboxed the record and spun it in my living room. It's been on rotation ever since. Mitski is an incredible songwriter and makes loneliness feel like a one-woman disco dance party... which is pretty hard to do, amirite?

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour. Golden Hour is a pop country crossover PHENOM. In interviews, she talks about taking acid on her front porch during the writing process, which led to simple yet perceptive lyrics about missing your mom and sister when you live far from home, the first swell of butterflies in a new relationship, or giving someone back their space, cowboy. And then it ends with a rainbow hangin' over your head and you're like fuck, why am I crying?

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Our Foals' Total Life Forever exclusive. That record meant so much to me in college and reminds me of a very dear crew of friends and memories. Plus the blue splatter vinyl color is g o r g.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why John Prine. There is no storyteller as funny or incisive as him. He not only breathes those qualities into his songs, but they're also on full display in concert where he guides you through the journey. It's part stand up comedy, part live music.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Cardi B: Invasion of Privacy simply because it slaps.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Cheez Its all day.

Best movie you saw this year and why A MOTHAFUCKIN STAR IS BORN because it's hard keepin' it so hardcore.

Best book you read this year and why I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. Michelle's work unearthed a decades' old investigation into a terrifying serial killer who was still free, and two months after the book was published, he was captured. Books rule.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Scotland

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 Started working at VMP!

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Spicy tuna poke bowl, sub salmon.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:30 a.m. maybe?

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Hoss is chill.

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Another year of incredible music (both recorded & live), and more travel.

Clay, Graphic Designer

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Townes Van Zandt: For The Sake Of The Song. That album has helped me through some times, man. And I had the insane pleasure of putting that whole package together, from the jacket, to the vinyl, to the booklet. It was a fun project for me.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Amen Dunes: Freedom. This album also takes me to a great place. It’s one of the first records this year that I was absolutely blown away by.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Oh man I don’t even remember what all I bought. Maybe the reissue of Trout Mask Replica that TMR did? I just find that album so interesting and wanted to challenge myself to like it (which still hasn’t happened yet) and I figured the vinyl would be better than the YouTube version, so I went for it.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Father John Misty at Red Rocks blew my mind.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 MF Cheez-Its man. Wish they were the extra toasty but they still slap.

Best movie you saw this year and why I’m now realizing I barely saw any new movies this year. Mid90s was awesome though. The soundtrack reminded me how much I love “Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock.

Best book you read this year and why I really need to read more books... I think the only book I finished all the way this year was Respect Yourself. It’s such a great history of Memphis soul and Stax Records.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 I drove up trail ridge road in Rocky Mountain National Park when I moved here to Denver and the sites brought tears to my girlfriends eyes. It was beautiful.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 I moved to Denver to work at my dream job.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 At home, beefy 5-layer burrito from Taco Bell. At the office, Poke for sure.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 I wanna say my dog, Blue, but imma go with Hoss. He’s much more chill and makes funny sounds.

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Growth. Learning. And our 2019 lineup is looking crazy good so far.

Peaches is the goodest boy at VMP Midwest HQ. If you don't follow him on Instagram (@bostonbabypeaches) we'll fight you.

Neeru, Business Analyst

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Mitski: Be The Cowboy. Musically this was the one that spoke to me most. This was one of my favorite albums of 2018.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 Father John Misty: God's Favorite Customer

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Father John Mist:y God's Favorite Customer. VMP had the best color variant of my favorite album of 2018.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Thom Yorke — it was a religious experience.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Mamma Mia Here We Go Again! Soundtrack

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Seaweed Snacks

Best movie you saw this year and why Phantom Thread. Beautiful score, beautiful film. Daniel Day Lewis is a genius.

Best book you read this year and why Astrophysics For People In A Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Because I was in a hurry.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 The Isle of Skye

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 Getting to go to Scotland.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Poke

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:30 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Hoss

What are you looking forward to in 2019? I like to live in the present and not look too far into the future.

Andrew, Head of Editorial & Classics A&R

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why William Bell, Soul of a Bell, because I got to spend a bunch of time with him, and heard amazing stories about the old days on Stax, and what it was like to be forced into military service when you think you're about to blow up as a musician.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why It's Colter Wall's Songs of the Plains.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why I spent this year buying 40-plus Willie Nelson studio albums, and I refuse to pick which.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Either of the times I saw Natalie Prass at SXSW.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Guilty Pleasures are a false construct to try to separate you from art you love. Which is to say I listened to the Star Is Born soundtrack roughly 400 times this year.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Kettle Chips, Black Pepper and Sea Salt variant only.

Best movie you saw this year and why A Star Is Born. Gaga did that shit.

Best book you read this year and why Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music? A book about Christian rock. I've never even listened to that music or am even a good Christian or whatever, but I found that riveting.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Memphis. Best American City.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 Probably when my wife finally convinced me to obliterate what remains of our credit and get a king sized mattress. All couples should have one, it's the shit.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Deep Dish pizza from Village Pizza, with sausage, extra sauce, extra cheese. Chased by a nap at 3 p.m.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 11

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 I would die for Peaches.

What are you looking forward to in 2019? For us to drop a project I already started doing interviews on, and the Classics Lineup. We're coming for your wallets in 2019.

Amileah, Associate Editor

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why A tie: either Be the Cowboy because OF COURSE it is or Tha Carter III because that album taught me about oral sex and I owe it my life

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Beach House's 7. Aside from it being gorgeous and perfect, it's for sappy personal reasons. It soundtracked me falling in love for the first time <3

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why I love all my children equally.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why serpentwithfeet this summer at Eaux Claires. Moses Sumney came on stage and I had so many goosebumps. I wanted to give them my organs, my first born child and all of my money.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 I don't have a guilty pleasure album because I don't feel shame about the music I love but... I did start watching the 2010 reality show Bridalplasty in which brides-to-be compete against each other for plastic surgery, and I do feel guilty about enjoying that for obvious reasons.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Those lil fruit snacks shaped like bunnies.

Best movie you saw this year and why A Star Is Born. Because I love to cry and watch my mom (Lady Gaga) succeed.

Best book you read this year and why Giovanni's Room. James Baldwin is a treasure.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Santorini, Greece. If anyone reading this wants to help me retire there when I turn 23 next year, my venmo is @amileah.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 Another tie: I was the first one in my fam to graduate college, got the world's cutest puppy, interviewed Mitski, and fell in love with my absolutely smoking hot boyfriend.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Breakfast. Food.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 Probably like 10 a.m. lol

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Peaches (@bostonbabypeaches on Instagram)

What are you looking forward to in 2019? i have tentative plans to go to a water park

Alex, Senior A&R

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) Mitski, Be the Cowboy

Your Favorite Album from 2018: Tierra Whack, Whack World

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Novos Baianos, Acabou Chorare. This is one of my all-time favorite albums and being involved in creating a new reissue made this a very special project for me.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 A Stahhh is Born Soundtrack

Best movie you saw this year: Border

Best book you read this year: My Year of Rest and Relaxation

Favorite place you visited in 2018 AUSTRALIA

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 First full year of Rising pressings

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Pastry

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:45 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 hoss4prez

Paul, Customer Support Lead

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Ayalew Mesfin — these kinds of features are always my favorite projects that we do, because of how amazing the story is, and how amazing the artist is as a person. Also, he is the nicest person I think I've ever met.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Kids See Ghosts: Kids See Ghosts. This album is amazing, and its exactly what I have wanted from Cudi for a long time. And Kayne was alright too. "Cudi Montage" always causes me to have a religious experience while listening to it.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Ghost, Prequelle: Lovely package, one of my favorite albums of the year, and their artwork for this album is AMAZING. So having it on vinyl, and being able to hang the cover is on point for sure.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Power Trip in LA. Nicest crowd, but most brutal show :)

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Opiuo X Syzygy Orchestra Live at Red Rocks

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Trashy Chips. DORITOS FOR THE WIN.

Best book you read this year and why The Three Body Problem: I loved this book so much. Made my head hurt, but more than anything, it made me stop reading and scream "WTF" to myself in my apartment.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Portland: Went to Powells and bought almost all of the books. It was nutty.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 I've traveled more this year than I ever have in my entire life, and it was pretty rad :) Also, GOOD Summer was amazing.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Maci Cafe. But I guess we don't order it... Umm OK I guess I am V down with Illegal Petes.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:00 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Hoss

What are you looking forward to in 2019? New Rammstein Album :D

Hoss, the most popular dog at Corporate HQ.

Jake, Engineer

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Ayalew Mesfin, Hasabe (My Worries). This era of Ethiopian music has become an obsession of mine over the past two years. It made me happy to see an artist like Ayalew and the history of this genre get some well-deserved attention.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 Fela Ransome Kuti: Lagos Baby 1963-1969. Early Fela has been one of my go-to work soundtracks. I finally did the dirty work to score a copy of this compilation on the vinyls. I dance around my apartment to "Wa Dele" like twice a week.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Snyders Sourdough Pretzels. Full version, not the nuggets.

Best movie you saw this year and why: Sorry to Bother You and The Favourite — both because they achieve poignance while remaining entirely surreal.

Best book you read this year and why Ted Chiang: Stories of Your Life and Others. Fiction that made me think.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 J-O-B at V-M-P

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Fried chicken sandwich plain with pickles.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Faie (The "Chicago office" dog)

Matt Fiedler, Co-Founder & CEO

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why The Silvertones, Silver Bullets. I love reggae, especially during the summer. This album, plus the Toots & the Maytals Sweet and Dandy exclusive, were on constant rotation at our house all summer long. My wife loved it (not).

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Jeff Tweedy, WARM. This is probably obvious given it's coming from me, but I was not expecting to like it as much as I do. I read Tweedy's book and really enjoyed it. It brought so much more meaning and context to him as an artist, and Wilco as a band. He told his story humbly and a lot of the stories / thoughts / ideals he shares in the book are referenced on WARM. Highly recommend reading the book in addition to buying the album.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Toots & The Maytals Sweet And Dandy. I've known about Toots and the Maytals for a while now but my only reference point was the album True Love. I went on a reggae bender this summer and ended up spinning Sweet and Dandy no less than 100 times.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Sylvan Esso at Red Rocks. We featured Sylvan Esso's debut record back in 2014 (I think..?). It was a record I was unsure of at first. I didn't really "get it." They were touring with tUnE-yArDs that year and we had the opportunity to catch their show in Denver. Their live show totally won me over... The amount of energy they brought to the stage is unbelievable. Getting to see them headline Red Rocks four years later was mind-blowing.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Mac Miller Swimming — not so much a guilty pleasure as much of an album I completely overlooked until he passed away. I regret losing track of him because he was such an incredible talent. This album has so much depth to it that I'm still uncovering.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips

Best movie you saw this year and why I, Tonya — This movie has everything. It's a great story, it's funny and sad at the same time, and the acting is phenomenal

Best book you read this year and why Work/Life Related: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck. Really simple, but compelling. Non-work related — Jeff Tweedy Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) — I love Wilco and this book answered a lot of questions I had as a fan, but also gives more context to Jeff, his music, and there are some amazing stories throughout.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Nashville. I graduated from Belmont University in 2011 and I hadn't been back there since 2013. It was so fun to go back, see old friends and how much the city has changed. It was also fun to reflect on how much I've grown/changed since I lived there.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 My second daughter, Audrey, was born.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Masterpiece Deli: Turkey sammich

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 11:30? I don't know... I don't get as hangry as other people in the office :-)

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Hoss, duh.

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Watching the Bears win a Superbowl, and the Cubs another World Series

Hessler, Head of Revenue

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Darrel Banks Here to Stay. There might be a few other records I would put ahead of this musically but this record represents why I was a member of VMP before ever working here. This was an artist I didn't know at all, I immediately loved the music (heavy nostalgia for the Motown I grew up with) but then learning the story through the liner notes made this record stick with me. The story of his tragic death and the reminder that issues of race and the police are still as messed up today as they were 50 years ago. I found myself telling the story to a few people and realized that this record is now part of my musical lexicon thanks to VMP.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Amen Dunes, Freedom. He was a artist that came out of left field and the new record was one I just kept spinning for months. Feeling a little melancholy: Amen Dunes. Digging into some work: Amen Dunes. Making lazy Sunday breakfast: Amen Dunes. It was just that record for me.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Hot Water Music 20th Anniversary Box Set — this is a lot of my youth all in one box

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Cheez-Its

Best book you read this year and why Peter Drucker's crazy dated but still relevant Effective Executive for work and Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson for fun

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Sa Pa Vietnam and Lyon France

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 I got to ride a dirt bike with 8 good friends through the madness that is northern Vietnam.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Burger at My Brother's Bar

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 11:45

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Hoss

What are you looking forward to in 2019? VMP growing and finding new ways to deliver a deeper music experience to music lovers around the world

Leigh, Creative Director (Customer Experience)

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Erykah Badu, But You Cain't Use My Phone. Because I worship her... and she can do no wrong.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Khruangbin, Con Todo El Mundo. 2018 will go down as the year I discovered Khruangbin existed. Their sound was everything I needed to hear this year.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why I've really enjoyed VMP's exclusive of Donald Byrd's Stepping Into Tomorrow. I also stumbled across a used copy of my fav Three 6 Mafia album, Chapter 2: World Domination, on vinyl and it did not disappoint!

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why David Byrne at Red Rocks. I honestly had no idea what to expect seeing one of my musical heroes live for the first time in 2018. The production he put together for this tour was insane and touching and human and so... David Byrne.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Lots and lots of Gucci Mane, plus KNOWER's album called Life. It came out in 2016, but it's been my guilty P for a couple years now...

Favorite desk snack in 2018 CBD Cold Brew tied with sour candy

Best movie you saw this year and why 2001: Space Odyssey — they brought it back to the theatre in 70mm for it's 50th anniversary. It's such a visual masterpiece and continues to be ahead of it's time. Seeing it on the big screen was like a bucket list experience.

Best book you read this year and why The Disaster Artist was highly entertaining.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Taos, NM

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 I started working at Vinyl Me, Please!!! (dream job, secured)

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Poke all day, err day

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 9:30 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Blue in puppy form

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Some new music from some favorite artists. I hear maybe we'll finally get a new Tame Impala record?

Prince Teddy, seen here managing our socials, got only one vote as best office dog. From his owner, Cam.

Michael, Staff Writer

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) Care for Me by Saba and it's not close.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why I listened to Die Lit more than anything. I didn't anticipate a Playboi Carti album sticking that long at all, but it stuck.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why I don't, cuz I work here. Deadass. I don't even open my shit up, it's all in plastic. I MIGHT muster up the courage to drop $40 on a 7" of this rare yyu single that I'm obsessed with — shipped from Germany? — but it ain't that type-a fiscally reckless party just yet.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Radiohead at Madison Square Garden. I almost cried within 10 seconds of hearing Thom Yorke's voice. I don't cry.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Unfortunately, I've been exposed to my fair share of Bhad Bhabie by proxy this year. She has slaps and I fuckin' hate that shit. Her writers and executive producers go CRAZY.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 My living room is my desk, so it's whatever I got on hand. I may or may not have the wings on deck prior to opening the Docs up.

Best movie you saw this year and why Widows. That shit was fucked up. If I could watch Hereditary in theaters for the first time again, that'd be a close second only to hear my 6'2" white homie scream like a child toward the last 10 minutes.

Best book you read this year and why As Black as Resistance: Finding the Conditions for Liberation by William C. Anderson + Zoe Samudzi. It's the best because this country's overdue to burn for its evils, and I may need a gun because help isn't coming for people like me.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 All the L.A. business trips did wonders for my spirit, and horrors for my arteries. It was dope to get back to NYC though, I missed it.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 I left Freelance Hell and went full-time here.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 If it's on VMP... Village Pizza deep dish. If it's on me... wings from whichever spot got the deal that day.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 A cool 10:45.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Peaches, duh.

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Being a better rapper than everyone else while interviewing rappers better than anyone else. And maybe exchanging body heat with somebody beautiful, issa drought out here for the boy.

Theda, Copy Editor & Editorial Assistant

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Arctic Monkey's Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not from Essentials, because it made me feel like an angsty high school teen again.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why serpentwithfeet's soil, because I have literally never heard anything like it. It's a beautiful blend of genre and talent and I think it's the most interesting album to come out of 2018.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Probably The Voice of Frank Sinatra. It's just a smooth, wonderful classic.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Goldfish

Best book you read this year and why She Begat This: 20 Years of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Joan Morgan, because it's a compelling feminist analysis of an iconic album, from the woman who coined the term hip-hop feminism.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Black Mountain, North Carolina. It is beautiful and feels very separate from the rest of the world.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 A few things: graduating college, successfully moving across the country and getting a new kitten, too.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:30 a.m. Although I think it's more like another breakfast, at that point.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Peaches (who I have tragically never met)

The main thing you can learn from this is that the co-worker(s) who prefer(s) to stand is most likely to kill you in your sleep.

Cam, Head of Music & Brand

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and Why Ayalew Mesfin: Hasabe (My Worries). This project holds an incredibly special place in my heart — a transcendent one that goes far beyond the music. Over the course of 14 months I was able to watch this project move from Ayalew Mesfin's Denver, Colorado, living room where he shared his story & music with Eothen Alapatt & myself, to a mastering studio in L.A., to a pressing plant in Europe, back to Ayalew's living room where he was able to proudly hold up the first-ever compilation LP of his work with tears in his eyes as he recalled the journey up to that point, to multiple stages in Denver, Berkeley & L.A where he performed to large-hearted crowds alongside Debo Band, Madlib, & other greats. The music is so good, but the people, the story & the spirit behind this project made it one I'll never forget.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Amen Dunes: Freedom. The album I thought he was capable of and the album I knew I needed in my life — timeless and equal parts healing and inspiring.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why The Texas Gentlemen at Antone's in Austin, TX, SXSW March 2018. Some bands were born to play gigs in late-night, rowdy venues. This show started at 1am and I've rarely, if ever, seen a crowd so ready to take the ride then the 1,000 or so folks swaying & bopping their heads, spilling their drinks & going into their own little worlds for 60 minutes as if it was the last concert of their lives. Was insane and I loved every minute of it.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Shawn Mendes

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Cheeze-Its

Favorite place you visited in 2018 The Ramon Crater in Israel

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:40 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Prince Teddy

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Going even deeper with our favorite labels and artists to curate great music and stories... especially a little something we have cooking with Blue Note.

Kathleen, Customer Support Team

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and Why Feist Let It Die or Saba Care For Me. (Also the presentation of Mitski is incredible. It's hard to pick just one favorite!)

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Proabably Amen Dunes' Freedom, but I'm also in love with Sudan Archives' Sink and LUMP's Curse of the Contemporary.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Ahh it's so hard to pick! This was the year my collection really took off. Also my mom gave me a bunch of records from when she was young and told me all of her favorite memories of listening to them. How cute is that?!

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Poppet (Molly Raney) is my favorite performer. I'm a sucker for house shows and small shows with Denver buds. On the other hand, Sylvan Esso at Red Rocks was a parrrttttyyy.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer is by no means a guilty pleasure but it is my favorite pop album of 2018.

Best movie you saw this year and why Call Me By Your Name, for sure. I guess that came out last year, but that's close enough, right?

Best book you read this year Can We All Be Feminists? 17 Authors on Intersectionality, Identity, and the Way Forward for Feminism

Favorite place you visited in 2018 I got to hang in Spain and Portugal for a couple weeks. I ate and drank everything. It was amazing.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 I asked my sweetie to marry me and (spoiler alert) he said yes!

Adam, VP Finance

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Rico Nasty, because it was not something that would have been on my radar otherwise and I love it.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Grateful Dead Pacific Northwest Boxset, because it sounds so good and was newly released material I had not ever heard despite having spent many hours of my life tapping into the vast library of The Dead.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why John Coltrane: Both Directions at Once because I play tenor sax and Coltrane was/is a huge influence on me. I thought I had all his albums, but because the the master tapes were lost and found 50+ years later there was more!

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Phish Halloween - Kasvot Vaxt because Faceplant into Rock.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 I'm not guilty about any of my records!

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Shelled pistachios

Best thing you saw this year and why Ozark on Netflix because it's so good.

Best book you read this year and why Steve Jobs' Biography by Walter Isaacson because you get such great insight into the genius and asshole of Steve Jobs. Imagine what he could have accomplished if he weren't such an asshole!

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Las Vegas for Phish Halloween

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 Starting at VMP!

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Brider Chicken Bahn Mi sandwhich

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 11 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Hoss

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Cashflow positive!

Jesse, Office Manager

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Lafayette Afro Rock Band. I had never heard of them and now listen to it often!

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Kasvot Växt: í rokk (Live). Phish pretended to be a Scandinavian band and wrote this whole album for their Halloween show in Vegas. I was there!

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Khruangbin: Con Todo El Mundo.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Phish. The whole three day run at the Gorge Amphitheater in July

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Cheez-It

Best movie you saw this year and why DUH. A Star is Born. You know why.

Best book you read this year and why The 5 Love Languages. Because LOVE. Pretty eye opening.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 Upstate New York. SO green.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 Going full time at VMP!

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Dill Chicken Salad sammie

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 11:30. I'm normally a late luncher.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 NO comment I CAN'T!

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Traveling. I'm plannin something FUN!

Blue, seen here doing the most, did not get a vote from her owner, Clay.

Levi, Music Team

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III, because I've wanted the complete album for 10 years and it's finally mine

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Arctic Monkeys: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, because they somehow keep getting better

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Colter Wall: Songs of the Plains, because its a criminal act not to get our super-limited instant-classic exclusives. Listen to Storfer.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Jenny Lewis / Beck at Red Rocks, because Beck is a consummate performer and Red Rocks is hallowed ground.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 🤔🤔🤔... I carry no guilt about the music I play.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Neeru's baked goods x 1,000,000

Best movie you saw this year and why BlacKkKlansman, just thought it was a great movie for this year.

Best book you read this year and why The Gruffalo, because my 4 year old loves it when I read it to him

Favorite place you visited in 2018 London

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 This was a big year of change for me but getting to join Vinyl Me, Please full time was a lifetime milestone, not just 2018.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Burrito for breakfast, lunch, or dinner... that's a versatile vessel.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 I blur the lines between breakfast and lunch as required.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 HOSS, you ol' sweetheart. (shoutout Peaches, can't wait to meet you)

What are you looking forward to in 2019? The new Deerhunter album and hopefully some War on Drugs or My Morning Jacket. And MORE Tierra Whack 🙏🏼

Lydia, Developer

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why Rico Nasty, Nasty. I honestly hadn't heard of her prior to our announce day. I love it when you hear a song for the first time and immediately have to start fighting your own body to not dance inappropriately. I listened to that record on repeat for the weeks after I received it and I know its going to continue to be one of my favorites.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why I mean, this is a cop out. After "Bubblin" was released I was convinced Oxnard would steal this spot in my heart. But... it didn't. So, I'm going to call out my favorite single and answer "Bubblin'" Anderson Paak. Sorry for this shit answer, its all I have right now.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why Anderson .Paak: Malibu. It has been my favorite album for a couple years now and I was finally able to add it to my collection.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why SOFI TUKKER. They are amazing performers and it was just a super fun show in general.

Guilty Pleasure Album of 2018 Sofi Tukker, Treehouse.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Chocolate Almonds.

Best movie you saw this year and why I Am Not A Witch. It was funny, sad, artistic and surprising. It is completely unique and a strange beautiful story, go watch it.

Best book you read this year and why Year One: Chronicles of The One, Book 1, Nora Roberts. I love fantasy novels and after a while they all start to blend together, same theme, same fanciful creatures and so on. Year One, while it does have elves, differs itself with a dystopian twist that keeps you super engaged. You will power through this book and eagerly await the next.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 San Pedro, Belize. Zipping around an island on a golf cart with your best friends is always a good time.

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 All the awesome opportunities I have been given this year.

Go-to lunch order of 2018 POKE!

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10? If you don't eat breakfast does that even count?

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 He isn't in my office but I have to go with Peaches on this one.

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Travel.

Marissa, Digital Marketing Manager

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why TV on the Radio because it was the first ROTM when I joined the VMP Team.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why The best of Frank Sinatra. Frank is a Jersey boy and it reminded me of home.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Chicago in Las Vegas. Mostly because I got to see my family.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Fig bars

Best movie you saw this year and why A Star Is Born. It effected me in ways a movie should never. I cried for two weeks.

Best book you read this year and why It Didn't Start with You I learned a lot about generational thinking, why we are the way we are to better understand myself and my family.

Favorite place you visited in 2018 San Diego

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 My brother came home from war :)

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Poke - Spicy Salmon bowl for life.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:30 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Hoss for sure.

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Celebrating with my family at my cabin marriage celebration/wedding in June :)

Emily, Manager of Community & Experiential

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and why My favorite ROTM from 2018 is Ayalew Mesfin: Hasabe. We worked very closely with Ayalew on this project — connecting with him, his family, and supporting his very first mini-tour in the US. It was truly amazing to see how music can pull people together from so many different walks of life.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why Khruangbin at The Ogden — they bring the fucking heat. Their stage personas R U L E.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 cheese itzzzzzzzzz

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 Becoming a yoga instructor <3

Go-to lunch order of 2018 A shitty salad that I end up hating, yet I keep ordering ... el-oh-el.

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 10:42 a.m.

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 PEACHES!

Amy, Head Of Product

Favorite ROTM from 2018 (any Sub) and Why Feist Let It Die for the new album art and because "Mushaboom" was my Myspace background song circa 2008.

Your Favorite Album from 2018 and why Caroline Rose LONERbecause I want her steez.

Favorite album you bought on vinyl in 2018 and why I definitely played Irma Thomas 'Wish Someone Would Care' the most this year. Super exciting to discover her for the first time this year.

Best concert you saw in 2018 and why I have a 2 year old and a full time job so I basically don't leave the house. But incredibly grateful to have seen John Prine this year.

Favorite desk snack in 2018 Choco chip cookies from Brider

Best thing that happened to you in 2018 I got a job at VMP, duh

Go-to lunch order of 2018 Spicy tuna poke bowl

Earliest time you ate lunch in 2018 If you skip breakfast but eat at 10am - what is that?

Favorite Office Dog of 2018 Hoss x 100

What are you looking forward to in 2019? Finding new ways to help create meaningful experiences for our members