Post Malone Twelve Carat Toothache Vinyl Review: Stylish Sadness, Pressed on Wax
Twelve Carat Toothache vinyl review time. When this album dropped in 2022, critics were split. Some called it slow and indulgent. Others praised its honesty. I held off.
Streaming didn’t sell it for me. But vinyl is different. You sit still. You listen to every second, even the quiet ones. That’s where this record comes alive.
I grabbed the standard black double LP, no extras, no gimmicks. And I’m glad I did. Played through my setup, this album turned into something more than expected.
Album Details:
Release date: 3rd June 2022
Label: Republic Records
Tracklist:
A1. Reputation
A2. Cooped Up
A3. Lemon Tree
B1. Wrapped Around Your Finger
B2. I Like You
B3. I Cannot Be
C1. Love/Hate Letter To Alcohol
C2. Wasting Angels
C3. Euthanasia
D1. When I’m Alone
D2. Waiting For A Miracle
D3. One Right Now
D4. New Recording 12, Jan 3, 2020
What You Get with the Twelve Carat Toothache Vinyl
Let’s start with the physical stuff. The record comes as a 180g double LP in a glossy gatefold sleeve. On the front cover, Post stares off to the side like he’s seen too much. Inside, the design is minimal. You get clean liner notes, no lyrics, no extras.
Both discs arrived flat and well-centred. There were no warps or marks. Each was stored in a basic black paper sleeve, nothing special, but serviceable.
More importantly, the pressing is quiet. There’s no distracting surface noise. Every breath, piano note, and echo-laden vocal lands clean. For a sparse, emotional record like this, that clarity makes a big difference.
Twelve Carat Toothache: A Moody, Spacious Listen
This album doesn’t chase hits. It leans into tension, sadness, and late-night regret. Most tracks sound like voice memos from a spiral. But that’s the point.
“Reputation” opens the album with almost nothing, just piano, reverb, and Post sounding close to collapse. Through vinyl, it feels more real. The hiss of space around his voice draws you in.
Then comes “Lemon Tree.”It‘s a strange song, the lyrics are kind of down, and the beat’s a little weird. But somehow, because of the simplicity and good construction quality, it just works. The guitar sounds warm, fragile, almost like it’s being played beside you.
Each track feels more alive on wax. It’s not louder or fuller, it’s closer.
The Best Songs on Twelve Carat Toothache (On Vinyl)
Not every song is a winner, but a few tracks stand out when spun on vinyl.
“Wrapped Around Your Finger”
This is the album’s most obvious earworm. Shimmering synths, a clean beat, and a vocal that dances without trying too hard. The vinyl mastering adds subtle warmth, letting small production details peek through.
“Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol” (feat. Fleet Foxes)
Probably the biggest surprise here. It’s theatrical, with Fleet Foxes adding rich vocal harmonies. The drums stomp like a fever dream. On vinyl, the mix opens up and lets the layers breathe. It’s dramatic, strange, and brilliant.
“Wasting Angels” (feat. The Kid LAROI)
Post’s voice floats in and out of focus, drenched in effects. The beat is slow and ghostly. You hear every reverb tail and stereo pan more clearly on wax. It becomes a quiet highlight.
Does the Twelve Carat Toothache Vinyl Sound Better Than Streaming?
Yes. And here’s why.
First, the mastering of this pressing gives the album more weight. The bass is smooth, never boomy. Highs stay crisp but not sharp. There’s no digital flatness.
Second, the format changes how you listen. You can’t jump tracks. You don’t multitask. That shift gives these songs space to hit harder.
Tracks like “Euthanasia” or “New Recording 12, Jan 3, 2020” can sound throwaway in a playlist. On vinyl, though, they become little pauses. Intimate moments. You feel them differently.
Guest Features: Some Hit, Some Miss
This record is loaded with guest appearances. Some feel genuine. Others feel stitched on.
The Weeknd shows up on “One Right Now,” and while it’s sleek, it doesn’t land emotionally. It’s well-made, but lacks depth.
Doja Cat adds light on “I Like You (A Happier Song).” That one clicks. Her playful energy lifts the mood without clashing with the album’s tone.
Meanwhile, Roddy Ricch and Gunna show up, but don’t leave much impact. They aren’t bad, just forgettable. Their features feel more like filler than necessary pieces.
On the other hand, solo moments like “When I’m Alone” and “Insane” feel more personal. More like what this album is aiming for. When it’s just Post and his thoughts, it hits harder.
Is the Twelve Carat Toothache Vinyl Worth Buying?
That depends on what you want from a record.
If you’re into loud bangers, skip it. This isn’t for flexing speakers or sound systems. It’s for quiet rooms, late nights, and long listens.
But if you want to hear Post Malone think out loud, if you like sad pop with heart, this pressing delivers. The sound is clean. The packaging, while basic, fits the tone. And the music holds up better on wax than you might expect.
Related Reviews & Sources
For context on how the album was received at launch, Pitchfork’s review offers a good breakdown, harsh but fair.
Vinyl Me Please also wrote up some thoughts on Post Malone’s influence on genre-blurring pop, which helps place this album in a bigger picture.
If you’re curious how Twelve Carat Toothache stacks up next to Post’s older records, the vinyl versions of Hollywood’s Bleeding and Stoney are easier to find and offer more traditional pop moments. But they don’t hit the same emotional pocket.
Final Verdict: A Flawed but Beautiful Vinyl Album
Score: 8/10
Pressing quality: ✅
Mastering: ✅
Packaging: ❌ (a bit barebones)
Music: ✅ (if you’re in the right headspace)
I didn‘t expect to like this so much. But there‘s something strangely comforting about Post Malone sounding so exhausted. Maybe it’s because it’s honest. Or maybe because we all feel a bit burnt out lately.
Either way, Twelve Carat Toothache is a vinyl album that rewards close listening. It’s not his best work. But it might be his most human.
And sometimes, that’s enough.
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