It was founded just four years ago, but for better or worse, Record Store Day has evolved into something of a behemoth.  Sure, bands like Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty and the Heatbreakers, and even Kings of Leon will have vinyl available for sale on April 16, but let’s face it:  you can’t get upset about a celebration of your local record store.

So while some of you may be used to buying your music at Best Buy, Target, or even just iTunes, the Suburban Apologist has compiled a list of 20, must-have RSD releases that should get you out to one of these retailers (and these)next Saturday.  There are going to be over 500 items available for consumption next weekend, but we’ve assumed that the releases will average about ten bucks apiece and that you’ve only got $200 dollars to blow.  So we’ve whittled it down to a short list (in no particular order) of releases worth waiting in line for.  So without further adieu, here it goes, and if you’re not happy with it, then here’s a freaking PDF with every confirmed RSD release for 2011.

A big hat tip to the boys and girls at one of the best independent music blogs on Earth – Consequence of Sound – for researching the hell of these.

Big Star – Third (Test Pressing Edition)
The follow up to 1974’s Radio City is largely considered to be frontman Alex Chilton’s untidy masterpiece and now Omnivore Records is making 1000 copies available to music lovers.  You may have the original, but why not have this sitting right next to it on your shelf.

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez – Telesterion
It’s a 38-track, four-LP introduction to the madman behind bands like The Mars Volta and At The Drive In.  If you’ve ever been intiminated by one of the biggest names in contemporary progressive-rock, then pick this up and let him ease on in.

Piebald – Vol I-III (triple-gatefold three-LP special edition)
They officially called it quits in 2007, but Rise Records is re-releasing three of their best records – 1997’s When Life Hands You Lemons, 1999’s If It Weren’t For Venetian Blinds It Would Be Curtains For Us All, and 2002’a We Are the Only Friends We Have – and packaging it all into one, super-awesome, triple-gatefold, three LP collection that features green, yellow, and blue vinyl.  Plus, there’s only 1000 copies.

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals – Class Mythology EP
Adams says theres a new LP in the near future, but in the meantime fans shouldn’t have a problem setting for a brand new EP that features Cardinology printed on two colored seven-inches packaged with four unreleased outtakes and a mini poster featuring late Cardinals bassist, Chris “Spacewolf” Feinstein.  Limited to 2,500 copies.

Danger Mouse & Danielle Luppi – ROME Sampler (Feat. Jack White)
Because the new Broken Bells EP wasn’t near long enough to satiate a thirst for new music from Brian Burton, fans are hoping that this preview of the collaborative project with the film composer/recording artist will do the trick.  Plus, it’s pretty hard to get sick of Jack White.

Nada Surf – The Moon Is Calling
The Brooklyn-based trio is heading into the studio to record a new album for Barsuk, and this seven-inch – which contains two previously unreleased demos – probably won’t cost you more than five bucks, so why not drop half-an-hour’s wages on something that your other friends were too lazy to go out and get.

My Morning Jacket – “Circuital” (Single)
You probably won’t be able to have a chance at getting your hands on it if you don’ live in Kentucky, but just thinking about tasting the forbidden fruit is enough to get us excited.  The closet location is nearly 2000 miles away and there are just 600 copies, so good luck with this one.

White Stripes – “Lafayette Blues” and “Let’s Shake Hands”
Jack and Meg may be 86’d forever, but at least they’re getting all nostalgic by reissuing their first two singles on black and red swirled vinyl.  Yes, black and red swirled vinyl.

Fleet Foxes – “Helplessness Blues”/”Grown Ocean”
They’re the band that you and your dad mutually love, so why not own a 12-inch piece of vinyl that you and pops can throw on the old gramophone together?  Hell, he might even share a doobie with you.

The Flaming Lips – Heady Nuggs
Wayne Coyne & co. have obviously been enjoying the spoils of releasing records in a non-traditional manner (reimaging 1997’s Zaireeka to be experienced with four iPhones?), but it would be awesome to have the band’s first five Warner Bros. albums – Hit To Death In The Future Head, Transmissions from the Satellite Heart, Clouds Taste Metallic, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and their masterpiece, The Soft Bulletin – in one convenient package.

Bad Brains – God of Love
The real Bad Brains got back together and released an album on Madonna’s label.  Hell, even Ric Ocasek showed up to help them piece it together.  There are also two unreleased bonus tracks.  Just buy it.

Glassjaw – Worship and Tribute
There’s still a bit of dispute as to whether or not Glassjaw’s 2002 masterpiece is going to be available as a limited edition vinyl, but it’s worth showing up to the record store to try and get your hands on a copy.

Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American
The soundtrack to your fist phase of post-pubescence is celebrating its tenth birthday with a three-disc reissue that features a disc or rarites and B-sides pressed on 140 gram vinyl and hand-numbered with a gold foil stamp.  Spend some cheddar on this one.

R.E.M. – Three
It’s the first three singles from their latest album – Collapse Into Now – on three different 7-inch 45RPM discs.  Throw in three previously unreleased B-sides, and this is definitely a must-have.

Nirvana – Hormoaning EP
It was only available on an Australian tour that happened almost two decades ago, but now 6,000 of you can get sloppy seconds.  There are covers of Devo and Vaselines tracks so pay tribute to late great Kurt Cobain by picking this up this 12-inch.

Fela Kuti and the Africa 70 – Monday Morning in Lagos
The Fader claims that many members of his own immediate family don’t even have copies of his music on vinyl, so anyone with any kind of disposable income should be clamoring for a copy of this 10-inch, 140-gram EP that happens to feature “My Lady Frustration” and “Wayo” on the a-side plus “Lover” and “Eko” on the other.  Shit, even Questlove wants it.

Mastadon/ZZ Top – “Just Got Paid” (Split Single)
Just 100 copies of this seven-inch, which features Mastadon covering the second track from ZZ Top’s 1972 release – Rio Grande Mud – will be released on yellow vinyl, so the rest of you metal heads will have to settle for the plain version (of which there are over 3,000) of.  This is still one of RSD’s most interesting releases though.

Owen – O, Evelyn
Mike Kinsella is one of this generation’s masters of finding the tonic note and crafting open-tuned sonic explorations of what it means to grow up in this day and age, so why not pick up a copy of this limited edition of this seven-inch and make up for all the albums you stole from his various other side projects.  You torrent rats, you.

Peter Tosh – “Legalize It”/”Equal Rights”
Legacy is releasing this seven-inch – which features hits the title tracks from Tosh’s first two, solo studio albums –on vinyl that is yellow, red, and green.  It’ll be one of the less expensive (and most abundant) releases available on April 16, so just throw one in your eco-friendly shopping tote for posterity’s sake.

Deftones – Covers
Most of the tracks are already available separately, but who doesn’t want to have the sounds of Chino Moreno covering the likes of Sade, The Smiths, Jawbox, and The Cardigans all rolled up together?  Plus there are only, like 5,000 copies available.

There it is, we hope you’re credit card is ready.