Car Seat Headrest - The Scholars [2 LP, Black Vinyl, Booklet]

Car Seat Headrest's The Scholars arrives as an ambitious double album that showcases Will Toledo's most expansive and introspective songwriting to date. This comprehensive 2025 release spans two LPs of meticulously crafted indie rock, representing the band's first studio album in five years. Drawing inspiration from Shakespeare to Mozart to classical opera, Toledo crafted a rock opera that pulls from story song cycles like The Who's "Tommy" and David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust." The gatefold edition includes a substantial 28-page booklet filled with illustrations and complete lyrics, offering fans deep insight into Toledo's creative process.

The collection demonstrates Car Seat Headrest's evolution through standout tracks like "Gethsemane," an epic multi-part composition that showcases the album's spiritual themes and ambitious scope. "CCF (I'm Gonna Stay With You)" delivers the kind of emotionally resonant anthem that has made them indie darlings, while "The Catastrophe (Good Luck With That, Man)" balances Toledo's literary sensibilities with accessible melodies. Throughout the double album's runtime, the band balances experimental flourishes with their characteristic blend of lo-fi intimacy and polished production, creating their most cohesive statement yet.

This vinyl presentation does justice to the album's detailed production, with each LP pressed on quality black vinyl that captures the nuanced dynamics of Toledo's arrangements. The gatefold packaging houses a 28-page booklet featuring original illustrations that complement the album's themes, alongside complete lyrics that invite close reading and analysis. The substantial packaging reflects the album's conceptual ambitions while providing exceptional value for collectors and dedicated fans.

• Format: Black Vinyl 2LP
• Standout tracks: "Gethsemane," "CCF (I'm Gonna Stay With You)," "The Catastrophe (Good Luck With That, Man)"
• Pressing details: Gatefold jacket, 28-page illustrated booklet with lyrics, black vinyl pressing
• Genre/style: Indie Rock, Lo-Fi Rock, Alternative Rock, Art Rock
• UPC: 191401213219

The Scholars represents Car Seat Headrest at their most ambitious, delivering a double album experience that rewards both casual listening and deep exploration.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. CCF (I'm Gonna Stay with You)
2. Devereaux

Side B:

1. Lady Gay Approximately
2. The Catastrophe (Good Luck with That, Man)
3. Equals

Side C:

1. Gethsemane
2. Reality

Side D:

1. Planet Desperation
2. True/False Lover