Comfort Music

[e_compass_rosa]

I imagine that we've all got our comfort music. There are times that I need to pull Chanticleer’s Matins for the Virgin of Guadalupe over me like a familiar quilt and hide within voices and orchestra of 18th century Mexico. Other times it’s Townes Van Zandt or Dinah Washington, David Murray or Astor Piazolla. Lately, however, I’ve been all about girl rock 1980’s style. Maybe because that’s the music I woke up to (when I woke up the first time) and the music that makes remember that I am alive, strong, independent, sexual, smart, and all of those other things that too often get buried these days. Nothing fancy here -- electric guitar, bass, drums and women singing in fiery, passionate, confrontational, bleak, angst-ridden, plaintive, bitter, sad, rollicking, organic ways. It just so happens that those adjectives are some of the very descriptors that allmusic.com uses for one of my most beloved comfort music experiences.  Scrawl.

So, just because I've needed it lately, I've been listening to a lot of Scrawl. I've thrown in a bit of Salem 66, and a stretch into the 1990's with early PJ Harvey, Sleater-Kinney, and various other indie rock and/or riot grrrl incarnations. But oh those labels like riot grrrl don't mean much to me since I was already out of it enough in the 90's to actually know what riot grrrl meant. I just listened to my comfort music when I needed it. Just like now. I need it.

Here's some Scrawl for you:

Major Minor

Slut

And for those of you who like your girl rock 1980’s style on the sweet side:
Rocky Top