According to the Pacific Rim Panoply of Panacea* (aka the New England Journal of Medicine’s West Coast counterpart), tetrahydrocannibinol (aka THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, is known to “stimulate the fine membranes of the external auditory canal, resulting in enhanced vibratory sensation along the occipital lobe, producing feelings of increased pleasure during the music listening experience, especially during moments like the beginning of the second section of ‘Sicko Mode.’”
There you have it. Smoking weed does make music sound better! And while it’s not like any of the albums on this list need any assistance sounding great, there is something about the crackle of burning fine marijuana and the crackle of playing excellent vinyl albums that just goes together.
So as we kick off this 420 weekend, consider this list of vinyl albums to soundtrack your smoky Sunday. All of the albums listed here are available on Complex Shop, along with countless other classics that sound great whether you’re stoned or not.
*All of the scientific stuff at the beginning of this article is totally made up—really, ”Panoply of Panacea”? Also, the occipital lobe is for processing visual information; it’s the temporal lobe that handles hearing—but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, you might be high already, in which case you’ll probably enjoy our list of the Greatest Stoner Snack Foods of All Time, or the Best Stoner Comedies and Trippy Cult Classics, or especially the Best Songs About Weed.
Dr. Dre — ‘The Chronic’
Year: 1992
Including The Chronic on a list of 420 albums is so cliched it might actually qualify as novel (emphasis on “might”) but let’s not overthink things here. This is a genuine masterpiece of contemporary art, introducing a vibe to the masses that still reverberates today. And this vinyl pressing, featuring all of the original artwork, gives the project the luxe treatment it deserves.
Curren$y and the Alchemist — ‘Continuance’
Year: 2022
If Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre were the preeminent smoked-out MC-producer combo of the ‘90s, Curren$y and Alchemist carry the torch (ahem) for the ‘10s and ‘20s. Does music sound better on vinyl and weed? Our audiophile friends say it’s so, and arguing is overrated.
Erykah Badu — ‘Baduizm’
Year: 1997
A touchstone of the neo-soul movement of the late ‘90s that combined rap beats and classic R&B sensibilities, Baduizm was a throwback when it first dropped, so it’s only right that it receive this deluxe two-disc vinyl treatment.
The cypher keeps moving like a rolling stone…
2Pac — ‘All Eyez on Me’
Year: 1996
2Pac was a famously prodigious weed-smoker, but this classic double album, the last LP to be released in ‘Pac’s lifetime, sounds great even if it’s April 19th or 21st. This edition features four discs, pressed on premium black vinyl.
The Weeknd — ‘The Highlights’
Year: 2021
The only drawback to listening to vinyl is when you’re cheeks deep on the couch and that one lame track comes on that you have to get up and skip. The solution? The greatest hits LP. The Weeknd’s compilation album was released in 2021 and is presented here in a deluxe two-disc set.
Miles Davis — ‘Volume 1’
Year: 1956
This album kicks off with a track called “Tempus Fugit,” which means “time flies” in Latin, which may or may not describe the experience of smoking marijuana. Either way, classic jazz just feels like it sounds better on record players, especially when pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
Tame Impala — ‘Lonerism’
Year: 2012
Tame Impala is of course the mostly solo project of Kevin Parker, who once asserted that “smoking weed can make music more potent.” Which tracks, judging by the blissed out james on Tame Impala’s second album, presented here on two discs. Remember, it just feels like we only go backwards. It’ll wear off in a couple hours.
Bas — ‘We Only Talk About Real Shit When We Are Fucked Up’
Year: 2023
Honest conversations can be hard to have, and if a little “assistance” is needed, so be it. Dreamville veteran Bas’s fourth album straddles the worlds of classic hip-hop and contemporary R&B, with an unmistakably international flavor. This red vinyl pressing of the LP is an instant collector’s item.
Jimi Hendrix — ‘Band of Gypsys’
Year: 1970
This is Jimi Hendrix’s “soul” album, a live set recorded on New Year’s Day 1970. This reissue features deluxe packaging that includes photos and artwork from the original release.
Snoop Dogg — ‘Missionary’
Year: 2024
Bringing the rotation full circle, we present the latest from two West Coast legends, Snoop and Dre, pressed on a wavy red vinyl meant to look like a condom. Proof that regular weed smoking doesn’t have to diminish ambition or creativity.