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.

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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

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!

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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

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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 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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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

We back! If you know, you know.

The show of record, talking records - SURFACE NOISE - is looking at the potential future of our own record collecting journeys. After we hit on some current events in the hobby:

From there we discuss the use of apps during our own vinyl pursuits, including a (better) POV on a new contender: Vinyl Snap. Does a mere picture of an album cover, record label, or bar code give all the keys to collecting success at our fingertips? Or is this another pretender to the Discogs throne? 👑  Find out what our panel thinks!

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

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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 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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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 tap is back on at Vinyl Community Podcasts as Alex (Beer & Vinyl) returns to the airwaves with an insightful chat with the founder/owner of Colemine Records Terry Cole. 

https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com

If your New Year's resolution was to listen to more Surface Noise, we've got your hookup with the latest BONUS TRAX! Hear our adventurous vinylists discuss a few vinyl-related gifts they each received over the holidays, then they discuss a new app called Vinyl Snap. What is Vinyl Snap? Check in on the next episode as only Arnaldo did the homework (during a trial period). 

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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 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.instagram.com/thegrooveseeker

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

Welcome back to the show of record, talking records - SURFACE NOISE! And we are ready to bring you more vinyl record talk than you can fit in your record room!

For the first show of 2026, the panel jumps into some current events in the wacky world including another box set fiasco, a pulse from Vinyl Me, Please, and the Rhino Start Your Ear Off Right (SYEOR) reissue releases are out now in January (and who ordered any).

From there we share some of the key record shows on our radar for 2026. Will we see you at any? Austin? Vinyl Con(s)? Chicago? The Surface Noise crew is excited to explore new record shows for 2026, and hope to see our fellow vinylists all across the globe!

Add in a few John Bong F bombs, and we are off to the races!

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 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.instagram.com/thegrooveseeker

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

Happy New Year, fellow vinylists! Back with another contribution to Vinyl Community Podcasts, host David Bianco of the YouTube channel Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion shares an interview conducted with the venerable mastering and audio engineer Kevin Gray. 

Kevin has mastered music for every major label in every genre, including pop, rock, jazz, classical, adult contemporary, alternative, punk, heavy metal, contemporary Christian, new age, gothic, world ethnic, disco, dance, soul, blues, and hip-hop / rap. In addition, Kevin has to his credit more than a hundred top ten and Grammy award winning records, and dozens of RIAA certified gold and platinum albums and singles.

In this interview he shares integral parts of his journey to becoming a premier audio mastering engineer, beginning way back at the age of eighteen to the present day with the business he operates, Cohearent Audio. You'll hear about mentors in Kevin's career along the way, the importance of plating in the record production process, his thoughts on half-speed mastering and lacquer availability, and additional insights into the full chain process of bringing a recording to life on the vinyl format.

Sit back and adjust those audio devices to their preferred settings, your tray tables upward, and relax as David is proud to bring another Audio Excursion to the Vinyl Community here on Vinyl Community Podcasts!

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. 

As we close 2025 here on Vinyl Community Podcasts, the last BONUS TRAX segment of the year features a spirited debate amongst the SURFACE NOISE crew about the greatest (and worst) Christmas/Holiday songs in existence. Dishes were smashed. Names were called. And we find Arnaldo is not a fan of Saint Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime"....like the opposite of big fan. Like hates it, hates it. 🤬

Ultimately, In a sea of Mariah Carey's, be an Eartha Kitt. 😻

Thank you for your continued support on VCP, Surface Noise, and all the programming we put out. 2026 will be another great year, and we thank you for being part of it! 🏆🏆🏆🏆

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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.instagram.com/thegrooveseeker

IG: @thegrooveseeker

El Presidente, 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