Our Favorite Musical Gifts for Book Lovers

You'll find a lot of similarities between literature and music. The old adage has always been that books can transport you to another world, and the right album has the power to do so as well. Music and literature have always been linked, from musical accompaniment to epic poetry, to the era of the opera. Since the beginning of the "album era," roughly 60 or so years ago, musicians and songwriters have placed greater importance on storytelling rather than one-off singles designed to catch your attention for three minutes at a time. With a natural link between the two art forms, we thought it would be fun to take a look at some of our favorite gifts for music loving readers. 

Victrola Revolution GO Portable Record Player — $199.99

The Revolution GO is the ultimate all-in-one record player, featuring an integrated Bluetooth speaker enclosure and a built-in, rechargeable battery that delivers up to 12 hours of playback. If you're the kind of person who likes to listen and read in different spots around the house, the Revolution GO is the perfect record player for you, with no wires or cables tying you down. Set up in your cozy bedroom, or take it outside to listen under the stars. 

Victrola Hi-Res Turntable — $399.99–$599.99

The Victrola Hi-Res Carbon and Onyx are the perfect addition to your reading nook. They boast a best-in-class aptX™ Adaptive Bluetooth connection, allowing you to listen to your favorite records with rich, full-bodied sound. The sleek design of the Hi-Res turntables make them easy to fit into any space and setup is incredibly easy, so you can drop the needle on your favorite record while you crack open the book of your choice. 

Led Zeppelin IV (1971) — Led Zeppelin, $26.88

Already one of the biggest bands in the world, Led Zeppelin departed slightly from their tried and true formula with Led Zeppelin IV. Where their early works were electrified, raucous works of blues-rock, the band placed a greater emphasis on songwriting and storytelling with IV. While the record is probably most known for the epic "Stairway to Heaven," vocalist Robert Plant put his own literary stamp on a couple of songs. A devoted fan of Lord of the Rings, Plant penned the lyrics to "Misty Mountain Hop" and "The Battle of Evermore," both tracks heavily inspired by Tolkien's saga.

The Kick Inside (1978) — Kate Bush, $42.99

Her debut record, The Kick Inside introduced listeners to the wonderfully weird Kate Bush. The record dropped when Bush was just 19 years old, but her songwriting ability rivaled those far her senior. Bush combined elements of progressive rock and new wave with an artsy sensibility that was also present in her music videos. One of her most well-known tracks is the Emily Brontë inspired "Wuthering Heights," accompanied by a pair of music videos that see Bush in an ethereal scene, performing a ghostly choreographed dance in flowing dress.

Leviathan (2004) — Mastodon, $26.31

We know what you're thinking. Album cover featuring a ship engaged in battle with a massive, white whale; "what could this possible be about?" We kid, but progressive metal band Mastodon's take on Moby Dick is a heart-pounding adventure. The album opens with their signature track, "Blood and Thunder," setting the tone for a heavy, aggressive retelling of Herman Melville's most well-known work.

Surrealistic Pillow (1967) — Jefferson Airplane, $27.25

Surrealistic Pillow holds up as a beacon of the psychedelic movement, with offerings like "Somebody to Love" and "My Best Friend" dotting the track list. They're most remembered, however, for "White Rabbit," their take on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Grace Slick's reverb soaked vocals combine with the marching beat and legato guitar runs to remind us of quite how reality bending Lewis Carroll's works were. To this day, the song remains an anthem of the counterculture era.

Diamond Dogs (1974) — David Bowie, $27.25

Throughout film, television, music, and internet comment sections, George Orwell's 1984 is one of the most frequently adapted pieces of source material. David Bowie sought to adapt the dystopian tale into a stage musical, but was denied the rights to the book. Bowie instead pivoted to a concept album depicting an authoritarian future. That didn't stop him, however, from including the track "1984," a funky tune inspired by the book.

Things Fall Apart (1999) — The Roots, $54.99

The Roots have made their career as one of hip hop's most interesting acts, blending soul and R&B with rapped vocals, courtesy of lead vocalist Black Thought. Things Fall Apart takes its name from the novel of the same name by Chinua Achebe, a seminal work that examines European colonialism in Africa. The record is a landmark of socially conscious hip hop, establishing Black Thought as one of the genre preeminent lyricists, and tackling topics like racism, class, and politics.

Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005) — Coheed and Cambria, $31.33

That's a mouthful, huh? Coheed and Cambria emerged in the early 2000s and quickly became one of the rare progressive rock bands to achieve mainstream success. With the exception of a single record, all of Coheed's albums are concept albums, telling the story of The Amory Wars, a series of graphic sci-fi novels penned by vocalist and guitarist Claudio Sanchez and his wife, Chondra Echert. Good Apollo contains one of the band's signature tracks, "Welcome Home," best known for Sanchez and Travis Stever's dueling guitar solos.

Disraeli Gears (1967) — Cream, $32.98

The second entry from rock's first major supergroup, Disraeli Gears is a staple of psychedelic rock. The band combined Eric Clapton's blues based guitar with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker's jazz backgrounds, creating a marriage of styles that saw them dominate the late '60s. Disraeli Gears features the track "Tales of Brave Ulysses," a loose retelling of Homer's Odyssey that features a wah-wah drenched guitar solo.