It's those guys again...SURFACE NOISE is back in the building!

This latest trip around the turntable begins with a recap of some current events in our world of vinyl record collecting:

(1) The latest 'Vinylphyle' titles are officially announced. What are they?

(2) More drip from the "Pittsburgh George" collection on Discogs beginning tomorrow, February 20th.

(3) A new IVC (Interscope Vinyl Collective) release was announced. Will you "Stay" for it?

(4) A new Duran Duran reissue excites the masses. Hear about it!

From there, the panel discusses our main meat of the show: what would you do if you had to start your vinyl record collection from scratch? We break down the smartest ways to rebuild a vinyl collection from the beginning in today’s record market, including a discussion on how new/returning collectors should choose their first records, whether to buy original pressings or modern reissues, how to avoid overpriced vinyl, and the best strategy for building a meaningful record collection without wasting money. From essential starter albums and collecting priorities to budget-friendly crate digging tips, this episode is packed with practical advice for both beginners and experienced collectors who want to rethink their approach. If you’re new to vinyl collecting, upgrading your setup, or wondering what truly belongs in a core record collection, this conversation will help you build smarter, buy better, and focus on the music that matters.

It's the show that aims to inform, entertain, and sometimes complain. 

This.

Is.

SURFACE NOISE.

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For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

For more on the immortal Jose Moreno Rahn (aka John Bong):

https://www.youtube.com/@josemorenorahn

https://auroracentralrecords.bandcamp.com

Returning to the madness is friend of the show Adam from The Freight:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheFreightOfficial

https://thefreight.bandcamp.com/album/tales-of-maybe

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_freight_official

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

Rounding out the latest episode of SURFACE NOISE, these BONUS TRAX focus on another matter of vinyl record finance: when is it ok to over pay for a record? What does it mean to over pay? Who drives the ultimate cost between you bringing your next record home or it staying where you found it. 

Plus, you won't hear a man happier about the Ween reissue announcement than John Bong. The passion is intoxicating.

Drink it up, only with these BONUS TRAX!

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For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

For more on the immortal Jose Moreno Rahn (aka John Bong):

https://www.youtube.com/@josemorenorahn

https://auroracentralrecords.bandcamp.com

Joining the First Timer Club is records store owner Joel of Static ATX Records:

https://staticatx.com

https://www.youtube.com/@staticatx

IG: @staticatxrecords

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

The show of record, talking records - SURFACE NOISE - is back to discuss whether vinyl record collecting is becoming too expensive for new collectors. 🤔

First, the dais hits on the latest CURRENT EVENTS in vinyl record collecting before jumping into this sensitive topic of pricing out new collectors. We dive deep into the rising cost of vinyl records, inflated resale prices, limited pressings, and the impact of hype culture on the hobby we love.

From $40 new releases to skyrocketing Discogs and eBay prices, getting into record collecting in 2026 can feel overwhelming. Is the vinyl boom pricing out beginners? Are record labels, flippers, slabbing, and “investor collectors” changing the culture? And most importantly — can you still build a great record collection on a budget? 📉

Help you, help us. Only on SURFACE NOISE!

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For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

For more on the immortal Jose Moreno Rahn (aka John Bong):

https://www.youtube.com/@josemorenorahn

https://auroracentralrecords.bandcamp.com

Joining the First Timer Club is records store owner Joel of Static ATX Records:

https://staticatx.com

https://www.youtube.com/@staticatx

IG: @staticatxrecords

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

For the latest second helping of SURFACE NOISE, this episode of BONUS TRAX is going to hit a nerve (for some). 

When it comes to collecting vinyl records, where is the line drawn between "collecting" versus "accumulating"? Are you actually listening to what you are bringing into your collection, or merely creating your own archive of music on wax? Are you buying with intention, or simply buying everything you see? And when does a "good deal" collide with a "completionist" approach?

Lots of opinions on this one. What is yours? Judge away, after listening to these BONUS TRAX!

⏬⏬⏬⏬

For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on David Bianco (Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion):

https://www.youtube.com/@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion

IG: @audio_excursion

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

Joining the First Timer Club is chat regular "Dr. Johnny Fever": 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnlillphotography

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

The show of record, talking records - SURFACE NOISE - gets deep into the freshly minted Record Store Day 2026 list sharing our first impressions of this annual record collector holiday. 

Our selective vinyl connoisseurs dissect the titles that stuck out - the good, the bad, and the ugly - including some "items" that had us scratching our heads at their inclusion. Hello Kitty fans...get ready.

Which releases are you (or aren't you) lining up for in April??? There may be new faces to compete for space at your local independent stores. Don't say we didn't warn you!

This.

is.

Surface Noise.

⏬⏬⏬⏬

For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on David Bianco (Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion):

https://www.youtube.com/@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion

IG: @audio_excursion

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

Joining the First Timer Club is chat regular "Dr. Johnny Fever": 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnlillphotography

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

It's coming....like another Neil Diamond tribute band. It's BONUS TRAX, from the latest episode of SURFACE NOISE. And a fan favorite is back by request: Cheap Heat!. To those out there saying vinyl record collecting is too expensive, we scour the discount bins on the floors of our local vinyl record stores to share some records that can still be found in the wild that won't break your budget.

Beware: there will be a lot of titles from "The Incredible String Band" on full frontal display (and it's not from who you would think).

BONUS TRAX, front and center - NOWWWW!!!!

⏬⏬⏬⏬

For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

For more on the immortal Jose Moreno Rahn (aka John Bong):

https://www.youtube.com/@josemorenorahn

https://auroracentralrecords.bandcamp.com

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

Ever feel that little sting 🐝 when someone shows off a grail you’ve been hunting for years?

Yeah… that’s Vinyl Jealousy — and we’re talking all about it on this episode of SURFACE NOISE, the podcast for serious (and seriously obsessed) record collectors. 

In the world of vinyl record collecting, it’s not just about music — it’s about rare pressings, first editions, colored vinyl, sealed copies, and those impossible-to-find records that make collectors compare shelves. Why do we feel envy over someone else’s record collection? Is vinyl jealousy normal? And how do you keep the hobby fun without turning it into competition? 

We dig into the psychology of record collecting, collector mindset, social media flex culture, Discogs wantlists, grail chasing, and the emotional side of building a vinyl collection. Whether you collect jazz, rock, soul, punk, hip-hop, or private press rarities, this episode will hit home.

If you’ve ever:

👀 Compared your collection to another collector’s

⚡️ Felt jealous over a rare vinyl find

🥀 Lost an auction for a record you needed

🧠 Questioned why certain records matter so much …you’re not alone. 👍🏻

SURFACE NOISE is the show of record, talking records — from crate digging stories to high-end grails and everything in between. 🎯

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For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

For more on the immortal Jose Moreno Rahn (aka John Bong):

https://www.youtube.com/@josemorenorahn

https://auroracentralrecords.bandcamp.com

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

From one segue to those that need a segway, on BONUS TRAX following the latest episode of SURFACE NOISE, this band of vinylists dive into some popular online sellers on popular selling platforms that have great (and sometimes not so great) reputations. Are some better than others, and why?

The crew also discusses shrinkage/theft and share a couple particular cases where the risk didn't outweigh the reward. Didn't these fools mamas not raise them right?

Another happy ending, courtesy of these BONUS TRAX. Get a taste.

⏬⏬⏬⏬

For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

For more on the immortal Jose Moreno Rahn (aka John Bong):

https://www.youtube.com/@josemorenorahn

https://auroracentralrecords.bandcamp.com

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

Before you spin that next black circle, let SURFACE NOISE inform, entertain, and complain!

For this latest rendition of the program, we go through some current events including updated release dates from Acoustic Sounds on some long awaited Bob Marley titles and a new Beach Boys boxset highly coveted by their fan base (and already sold out on their webstore). Add in a couple other new releases out this weekend, and consider the "inform" box checked! ✅

The panel then delves into a conversation about whether record collectors today are too critical - expectations in quality, value, and sound just scratch the surface (pun not intentional). Does a critique often become misconstrued as being critical? And should we always be critical in evaluating what we are bringing into our collections, and why we collect?

So many questions! Grab the oven mitt, 🔥 takes are a plenty on the latest SURFACE NOISE!

⏬⏬⏬⏬

For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

For more on the immortal Jose Moreno Rahn (aka John Bong):

https://www.youtube.com/@josemorenorahn

https://auroracentralrecords.bandcamp.com

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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.

.

.

.

Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE

⏬⏬⏬⏬

For more on host Concert Buddie:

https://www.youtube.com/@ConcertBuddie

https://concertbuddie.com

IG: @concertbuddie

For more on Arnaldo (fidelios_frequency): 

https://www.youtube.com/@fidelios_frequency

IG: @fidelios_frequency

For more on Jason Roxas:

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonRoxas

For more on David Bianco (Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion):

https://www.youtube.com/@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion

Please join David every Monday on his YouTube channel for "The Audio Quest", a livestream discussing the latest news in gear, releases, and topics keen to the auditorily inclined. 

For more on Chris (Groove Seeker):

https://www.youtube.com/@Groove_Seeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts:

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

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.

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Don't forget to visit FOTS (friends of the show) Vinyl Storage Solutions for the BEST sleeves to protect your best records (and your worst). Save 10% using the code(s) below: CONCERTBUDDIE