Sub Pop Singles Club

What's in the box: Each shipment is typically a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl single, usually by an artist on or connected to the Sub Pop roster.

Sub Pop's Singles Club is one of the oldest ideas in mail-order vinyl. The Seattle label launched it in 1988, and its first release was Nirvana's debut single, 'Love Buzz.' The club has gone dormant and been revived several times since, and the label's site still links to it from its main navigation. The concept is simple: you subscribe and receive limited-run 7-inch singles by mail over the course of the term, usually from artists on or near the Sub Pop roster. That roster is broad, running from Father John Misty and Iron & Wine to Mudhoney, Shabazz Palaces, sunn O))) and Flight of the Conchords, so expect variety rather than a single sound. The main appeal is exclusivity and the label's track record. Most of these records are hard to find in shops later. The trade-off is that you are buying blind. You do not choose the artists, and one short single per shipment is less music than you get from a full album subscription. The site's front page focuses on news and tours and does not give current pricing, term length or shipping terms. Read the Singles Club page carefully before signing up, especially if you live outside the US, since the label runs a separate UK/EU store. For fans of the label, it is a fun, collectible way to follow it.