Music inspires. It awakens the spirit and binds moments together. It soothes, excites and supports—and it’s a fundamental for many, including us at COOL HUNTING. Whether sharing our favorite songs, looking for records, testing headphones and speakers, playing instruments or reading about a favorite band, there are no limits to the pleasure of being in love with music. Inside our Musicality Gift Guide, you will find everything from record box-sets to audio recording devices, label merch, biographies, prints and more—chosen for those who play or listen to music. For more gift ideas, check out our full BUY section, which is updated regularly.
Subscribing to the Third Man Records Quarterly Vault guarantees a gift every quarter—with deliveries made in March, June, September and December. Each exciting package will include limited edition, exclusive vinyl along with various other goods from the Jack White-founded label—from patches to photo books, invites to exclusive events, access to the members-only online store and more.
Master & Dynamic has released the MW07—their iteration of compact, case-carry bluetooth earphones. The brand has made—and perfected—over-ear and standalone headphones, but this is their foray into the growing wireless earbud market. The technical specs in these tiny devices are inexplicably good—making them some of the best sounding in-ear speakers out there. 10mm Beryllium drivers deliver rich, deep sound to listeners and the handcrafted acetate looks great. They’re packed away, when not in use, in a stainless steel case that also acts as its charger. And no worries about either of them falling out of the ear—the wide range of bulbs and “fit wings” lets you customize the size to your liking.
A-Trak has spent the past two decades cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in music—as a co-founder of Fool’s Gold Records, a producer and beyond. None of this surpasses his work in remixing—the foundation of his live sets. Now, his best remixes from the past 10 years can be found exclusively on this vinyl pressing out on Fool’s Gold. The set comes in a collector’s box, with a 32-page behind-the-scenes booklet and an accompanying digital download.
From two of the three Beastie Boys themselves—AD-ROCK (Adam Horowitz) and Mike D (Mike Diamond)—comes a wildly comprehensive retrospective on the iconic trio. Telling the tale of how they—of course with the beloved MCA who passed away in 2012—went from teen punk rockers when they formed in 1981 to hip-hop legends (with a few stops via jazz, funk, experimental and more along the way) the “Beastie Boys Book” also features contributions from Amy Poehler, collaborator Spike Jonze, Luc Sante and others. In addition to the memoir components and rare photos, the tome features a graphic novel, a map of Beastie Boys’ New York, cookbook and more. The book is as much of an amalgamation as the band itself.
German manufacturer Hohner has over 160 years of experience in producing instruments like this bright, durable glockenspiel. Made from renewable mango wood, the musical toy tracks along the C-major scale. The sound produced is crisp and clear, so little maestros can begin to equate keys with notes.
Delivering the signature, high-quality Bang & Olufsen sound, the Beoplay E8 earphones are made from the finest materials. With four hours of playtime on one charge, the E8s feature intuitive touch-control which means you never have to take your smartphone out. These earphones come with a super-efficient leather charging case which has been designed to power them up while on the move.
As a limited edition release, Thundercat’s inimitable 2017 album Drunk has been “chopped not slopped” by DJ Candlestick and OG Ron C of Houston-based DJ outfit The Chopstars. On special purple vinyl, with inner sleeve artwork by Zack Fox, this record is languid and expertly chopped in a manner that’s mellow and smooth.
Equal parts luxuriant oak furniture and technically-advanced musical keyboard, the Roland Kiyola Piano is a MoMA Design Store exclusive. Handcrafted in Japan by furniture-maker Karimoku, the minimalist instrument features unique grain patterns, with 88 keys crafted from a wood and plastic hybrid structure. In contrast to most other digital pianos (which employ sampling/pre-recorded sounds from other pianos), this particular machine employs Roland’s heartier piano modeling, lending a fullness reminiscent of an acoustic piano.
The smallest portable speaker yet by Danish brand Vifa takes its design cues (and name) from Iceland. With three drivers packed into a pebbly shape that enhances 360-degree sound, the Reykjavik comes either covered in Kvadrat woolen fabric or in a fully anodized aluminum version that’s as tough as it looks.
Designed with kids in mind, the BOSEbuild speaker cube kit is entertaining and educational. The set comes with everything needed to assemble a speaker cube—from panels to coils and more. For children aged eight or older, it’s an experience on how music makes its way through wires and out to our ears (and it’s ultimately delivered through a speaker with Bose-quality sound).
In an edition of just 15 units (produced per month), COTODAMA’s Lyric Speaker beautifully displays the words of some two million songs as they play. Much more than just a traditional karaoke bouncing ball screen, this handmade product is a design object as well as a functional one. Made in Japan, this WiFi-enabled speaker’s track collection will continue to grow.
A collaborative design between powerhouse musician St Vincent and the engineering team of Ernie Ball Music Man, this electric guitar looks and sounds like no other. From the hand-rubbed rosewood neck and fingerboard to St Vincent inlays, Schaller locking tuners and a five-way pick-up selector, the custom configurations make it quite the sonic force. When the guitar first launched it was available in black or custom Vincent Blue, a color hand-mixed by Annie Clark, but it has now expanded to Polaris White, Heritage Red, Tobacco Burst, and Stealth Black as well.
Brooklyn’s brandnewnoise handmakes the Loopy Lou, a petite but powerful recording device that offers both single playback and continous playback with a looping switch. It’s a straightforward, handy device that even offers pitch control. Ideal for an at-home studio, and for anybody interested in exploring looping in recording or for performance.
Released in 1992 via Delicious Vinyl Records, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde is turning 25 years old—and to celebrate, this deluxe edition is available for pre-order now. Including a double-LP along with three 12″ singles, there are also brand new liner notes by respected music writer Jeff Weiss. With plenty of humor, clever word play and textured, lush production, this record was a refreshing departure from the era’s focus on gangsta rap—and remains a classic.
Plastic milk crates, IKEA Kallax shelves, repurposed wooden crates—these classic storage options tend to hide the one of the best things about owning vinyl: album covers. Kickstarted into reality, Chicago-based flipbin has designed a slightly angled aluminum holder for easy browsing (and flaunting). The Model 33 can hold about 33 12-inch records, more than enough for an epic holiday party playlist. Lovingly made in the USA, it comes in nine different colors for extra decor flexibility.
Master & Dynamic’s flagship MW60 wireless over-ear headphones are now available in a few new colorways for their 2017 holiday capsule collection, including olive green, camouflage, and black on black leather. As expected, the high-quality headphones still deliver impeccable sound drawn in part from patent pending stainless steel componentry. The new styles, though, make clear reference to the brand’s home city: NYC.
