We Need More Science: GTA V’s Tunes on Vinyl and Other Things We’re Loving This Month

The Music of Grand Theft Auto V Limited Edition Box Set

More than a year after Rockstar's last open-world blockbuster, GTA V's undeniable score—as well as its in-game soundtrack—are available on six LPs. Drop the needle before you fire up the new Xbox One/PS4 "enhanced" version of the game.—Peter Rubin Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

The Music of Grand Theft Auto V Limited Edition Box Set

As we've come to expect with Rockstar Games' open-world juggernaut,

GTA V

was as sonically compelling as it was ludicrously fun; much of that was thanks to the game's many radio stations. And now, 15 months after the game first dropped (but just after the current-gen version became available for the Xbox One and PS4), Rockstar and Mass Appeal Records have turned the soundtrack into a limited-edition collection. In-game standouts from stations like FlyLo FM and The Blue Ark constitute much of the material, while the rest of the six LPs are filled with the game's score, mixed by DJ Shadow. If you thought a day of hang-gliding and pistol-whipping pedestrians sounded good before, wait'll you try it now. (Disclaimer: hang-gliding is a serious offense.) ($75,

Amazon

)

—Peter Rubin

Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

High Maintenance, Season 5 Who knew that Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld's web series about a Brooklyn weed dealer and his clients would become one of the most thoughtful portrayals of relationships around? Unlike the show's previous seasons, these three new episodes aren't free—but they’re worth it. —Alessandra Ram Janky Clown Productions

Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld

High Maintenance

, Season 5 Who knew that a web series about a Brooklyn weed dealer and his clients would become one of the most thoughtful and culturally relevant portrayals of relationships around? The show's co-creator Ben Sinclair plays the dealer---known affectionately as “the guy”---whose interaction with each client provides the episodes their structure. It’s not about the weed; it’s about

why

the character smokes weed. As with earlier episodes, these newer ones are funny, and, at times, extremely poignant. The catch? The series is no longer free. But they’re worth it: these new episodes are slightly longer, allowing for more developed character stories. “Ruth” is particularly touching. ($1.99/episode, $7.99/series,

Vimeo

)

—Alessandra Ram

Janky Clown Productions

Getting On

If anything, HBO’s most underrated show is even sprightlier in its second season. And for a workplace comedy set in the extended-care unit of a fictitious California hospital, with patients who can barely get out of their beds, that's impressive. —Jason Kehe HBO/Lacey Terrell

Getting On

If anything, HBO’s workplace comedy is even sprightlier in its second season. Which is pretty impressive, given that much of its cast can barely get out of bed. They're the very old women of the Billy Barnes Extended Care Unit, and they're often as unlikable as the hospital’s staff---which includes the phenomenal Laurie Metcalf as Dr. Jenna James, whose disdain for these dying ladies is rivaled only by her enthusiasm for their ancient vaginas. Yup, after obsessing over old turds last season (proving, once and for all, that poop jokes are funny at any age), Dr. James has shifted her research focus to geriatric sex. And that's just the tip…of the iceberg, of course. Let’s hope HBO keeps extending this series, because end-of-life care is just too funny to terminate. —Jason Kehe

HBO/Lacey Terrell

Nicholas Gurewitch, The Perry Bible Fellowship Almanack

The Perry Bible Fellowship isn’t the kind of comic strip you’d want your kids to read in the Sunday paper—it’s sick and twisted, brimming with sexual references and schadenfreude, and side-splittingly funny. —Samantha Oltman Dark Horse Books

Nicholas Gurewitch, The Perry Bible Fellowship Almanack

The Perry Bible Fellowship

isn’t the kind of comic strip you’d want your kids to read in the Sunday paper—it’s sick and twisted, brimming with sexual references and schadenfreude, and side-splittingly funny. In just a few artfully drawn panels, the best of which have been collected in

The Almanack

PBF

creator Nicholas Gurewitch takes an innocuous situation—like an

interview for a job teaching kindergarten

waking up on your birthday

—and then imagines

the worst, most deviant thing

that could happen. It's delightful. The strip's puns,

double entendres

and

dark twists

are so clever and absurd that trying to explain them here would do them an injustice, so just get ahold of

The Almanack

and prepare to laugh—as long as you have an irreverent sense of humor. ($17,

Amazon

)

—Samantha Oltman

Dark Horse Books

Suikoden/Suikoden II

These classic PlayStation role-playing games (Suikoden II is considered one of the best games in the genre) have been out of print, and thus very expensive, since the 1990s. Now, though, you can finally play them through PlayStation Network on your PS3, PSP, or Vita---just not the PlayStation 4. —Chris Kohler Konami

Suikoden/Suikoden II

Of all the new games that Sony recently announced for its various PlayStation platforms, perhaps none were as well-received as this announcement of two very old role-playing games. Originally released on the first PlayStation in 1995 and 1999, they've been out of print, and thus very expensive, since the 1990s. Now, you can finally download and play them via Sony's PlayStation Network, meaning on PlayStation 3, PSP, and Vita---just not on the PlayStation 4. Suikoden II in particular is considered one of the best games in the genre, described by onetime WIRED writer Jason Schreier as "Game of Thrones meets Pokemon." —Chris Kohler

Konami

Wes Stewart's Christmas Music Spotify Playlist

I don't know who Wes Stewart is, but I've been following his Christmas music playlist since last holiday season. The only thing he's missing, IMO, is Maria, but that doesn't stop me from listening almost every day during this most. wonderful time. of the year. —Joe Brown Spotify

Wes Stewart's Christmas Music Spotify Playlist

I don't know who Wes Stewart is, but I've been following his Christmas music playlist since last holiday season. And I'm not the only one: Dude has more than 27,000 followers on his musical catalog of comfort and joy. It has everything: Rat Pack classics, Paul McCartney, The Chipmunks (of course), even the

Home Alone

title music. The only thing he's missing, IMO, is Maria, but that doesn't stop me from listening almost every day during this

most. wonderful time. of the year.

(Free,

Spotify

)

—Joe Brown

Spotify

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Collected Works

This gorgeous hardbound coffee-table book features a history of Sega's popular 16-bit gaming console, accompanied by in-depth original interviews with game designers. But the real draw is the pages upon pages of gorgeous, large-format color illustrations from Sega's archives. —Chris Kohler Read-Only Memory

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Collected Works

This gorgeous hardbound coffee-table book features a history of Sega's popular 16-bit gaming console, accompanied by in-depth original interviews with game designers. But the real draw is the pages upon pages of gorgeous, large-format color illustrations from Sega's archives: Illustrations from games like

Phantasy Star

and

Shinobi

, and original design documents from

Sonic the Hedgehog

and

Streets of Rage

. This is the Genesis like you've literally never seen it before. (£35,

Read Only Memory

)

—Chris Kohler

Read-Only Memory

Broad City, Season 1

Broad City might be the best comedy of the year, and it’s undoubtedly the most rewatchable. Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer created something special this year: a rambling, absurd TV show with a fully realized world. —Brendan Klinkenberg Comedy Central

Broad City, Season 1

If you watched

Broad City

this year, let’s be honest: you’re about ready to watch it again. If you haven’t seen

Broad City

yet, you have about a month to catch up before Season 2. The show is a comedic tour de force, devoid of the pretension usually associated with phrases like “tour de force.” It’s grounded and absurd and, above all, funny. If you need any reason to go physical over digital, the extras provide extended scenes with Hannibal Buress, Amy Sedaris, and Amy Poehler, which should be enough to convince anyone. (You can also see, firsthand, that Abbi Jacobson truly loves Bed, Bath, and Beyond IRL, and wants you to know their coupons never expire.) ($19.99,

Amazon

)

—Brendan Klinkenberg

Comedy Central

Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas LP

One of my favorite Christmastime customs. The vinyl copy has been in my family since I was a child, so years of dust and fireplace ash have contributed to its pop and hiss, which I’ve never cleaned because I love how it simulates the sound of a crackling fire. —Dylan Boelte Amazon

Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas LP

This record gets a lot of play around my house every December—it's one of my favorite Christmastime customs. The vinyl copy has been in my family since I was a child, so years of dust and fireplace ash have contributed to its pop and hiss, which I’ve never cleaned because I love how it simulates the sound of a crackling fire. On cold nights, there’s nothing better than kicking back in the Eames lounger and getting cozy with a snifter of Cognac. (Vintage, price varies) —Dylan Boelte

Amazon

The Thing: The Book

Step your coffee table game up. A meta look at the book as an object, The Thing invited 30 artists to tackle a different aspect of bookmaking and get creative. Like all the best books, it’s tough to put down. —Brendan Klinkenberg The Thing

The Thing: The Book

What a book

is, frankly, a stupid question. It’s two covers, a spine, and pages, filled with words. Maybe illustrations if you’re feeling crazy. However, if you love books—not just reading them, but opening, smelling, stacking, and sorting them—

The Thing: The Book

is amazing. Founded by Jonn Herschend and Will Rogan, The Thing is a quarterly journal that reinterprets a physical object, and the latest iteration is a take on all the minutiae of a book that’s gorgeous, interesting, and the ultimate coffee-table topper. They invited a murderer’s row of 30 writers and artists to take a stab at the essence of the form. What you end up with is A Table of Contents Other Than the One You Are Holding in Your Hands, an erratum from Miranda July, and footnotes from Jonathan Lethem. It's a collection that redefines what a book is, and reminds you what a book can be. ($27.78,

Amazon

)

—Brendan Klinkenberg

The Thing

Dragon Age Inquisition's Character Creator

There are so many options for customization in Bioware's gargantuan new RPG that it almost becomes a game unto itself: if you've got the time (and the patience), it's possible to create characters that actually resemble real people. Whether or not that's a good thing is still up for debate. —Josh Valcarcel Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

Dragon Age Inquisition's Character Creator

There are so many options for customization in Bioware's gargantuan new RPG that it almost becomes a game unto itself: if you've got the time (and the patience), it's possible to create characters that actually resemble real people. Whether or not that's a good thing is still up for debate. If you're looking for inspiration, there's an entire

subreddit

devoted to players' creations.

—Josh Valcarcel

Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

The Music of Grand Theft Auto V Limited Edition Box Set

As we've come to expect with Rockstar Games' open-world juggernaut,

GTA V

Amazon

)

—Peter Rubin

Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld

High Maintenance

why

Vimeo

)

—Alessandra Ram

Janky Clown Productions

HBO/Lacey Terrell

Nicholas Gurewitch, The Perry Bible Fellowship Almanack

The Perry Bible Fellowship

The Almanack

PBF

creator Nicholas Gurewitch takes an innocuous situation—like an

interview for a job teaching kindergarten

waking up on your birthday

—and then imagines

the worst, most deviant thing

that could happen. It's delightful. The strip's puns,

double entendres

and

dark twists

are so clever and absurd that trying to explain them here would do them an injustice, so just get ahold of

The Almanack

and prepare to laugh—as long as you have an irreverent sense of humor. ($17,

Amazon

)

—Samantha Oltman

Dark Horse Books

Konami

Wes Stewart's Christmas Music Spotify Playlist

Home Alone

title music. The only thing he's missing, IMO, is Maria, but that doesn't stop me from listening almost every day during this

most. wonderful time. of the year.

(Free,

Spotify

)

—Joe Brown

Spotify

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Collected Works

Phantasy Star

and

Shinobi

, and original design documents from

Sonic the Hedgehog

and

Streets of Rage

. This is the Genesis like you've literally never seen it before. (£35,

Read Only Memory

)

—Chris Kohler

Read-Only Memory

Broad City, Season 1

If you watched

Broad City

this year, let’s be honest: you’re about ready to watch it again. If you haven’t seen

Broad City

Amazon

)

—Brendan Klinkenberg

Comedy Central

Amazon

The Thing: The Book

What a book

The Thing: The Book

Amazon

)

—Brendan Klinkenberg

The Thing

Dragon Age Inquisition's Character Creator

subreddit

devoted to players' creations.

—Josh Valcarcel

Josh Valcarcel/WIRED

One of the best parts of writing about culture at WIRED is that we get to see, hear, read, and otherwise experience a lot of cool stuff before it comes out. But as focused as we are on the new, it doesn’t mean that we’re above experiencing something old for the first time. And just because we have dedicated culture reporters doesn’t mean theirs are the only palates that count. So, inspired by our friends at Gadget Lab, we asked our co-workers—from photographers to business writers to the geniuses who write the headlines—about that one thing they can’t get enough of this month. Maybe it’s a new album, maybe it’s an old show. Maybe it’s a book we just re-read for the first time since high school, maybe it’s a new game we got a chance to playtest. Whatever it is, if it’s in here, it’s because we love it.