The Music of 2023: Quarter 2
Time for new pretties! I will say I am regretting my decision to change the formattign to "song title - artist." It just doesn't look right for this project! I might switch it up for the 2nd half of the year.
April
24. Getaway Car - Taylor Swift
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
OH NO, THE REPUTATION SEAL IS BROKEN. Mostly because I was like, "hey google, what was the timeline for the Hiddleswift relationship again?" and google was like "I know what you're really asking, and of course there's a song for that." Not quite as much of one as I'd hoped, given that this goes from metaphorical to a very literal crime-tinged interpretation of the title, but I'll take it.
25. Champagne Problems - Taylor Swift
But you'll find the real thing instead
She'll patch up the tapestry that I shred
Evermore is apparently getting greenlit on a song by song basis like my brain is a radio station accepting singles, so as much as I want to do a full album sweep in one place, I can't, I can only pluck one at a time. And right now I'm just going to live/weep forever in this soft, sad, piano-based apology song about breaking the heart of a guy with marriage on his mind. I can't even pick a true favorite lyric, they're all so good. (Internet claimed this one was also inspired by Tom, and once again I'm like "mmm, maybe half of it is," but I love it on its own merit.
26. Tis The Damn Season - Taylor Swift
And the road not taken looks real good now
Speaking of Evermore, I keep forgetting I did technically greenlight this one last year. Or the year before? It's just I got so immediately overwhelmed by how much I loved "Right Where You Left Me" plus Willow that this slower one got overlooked on The Music List. But as this has pretty similar themes to the above, I quite love it and want to give it its due.
CD Rec: Marion Raven, Songs From a Blackbird (2014 international re-release)
NEW ENGLISH MUSIC FROM MY GIRL!!! I was just bemoaning how I missed M2M, when I remembered to look her up on Spotify and was immediately so taken by the first couple songs that I ordered the CD off eBay and proceeded to fall in love with it while driving. Every song is enjoyable, even though apparently half of them are actually from earlier albums on this particular version/re-release, so...eh, I'm gonna do the top 8/12 a.k.a. the ones I feel like I have something to say about. My CD, by the way, is the one that's only 12 tracks long, starts w/ The Minute and ends w/ When You Come Around. I learned just now there are 3 bonus tracks on Spotify, but I haven't listened to them yet as of the end of June. Too overwhelmed.
27. The Minute - Marion Raven
And you will never be the same again
The music in this is just so good; I have been singing the chorus (and especially this line) for days now. Great album opener.
28. Driving - Marion Raven
If we spend all our money we can tank her up
We can go until the morning, we don't need to stop
So you can see part of why I wanted to fall in love with this via the car's CD player...this perhaps more than any others will bring me back to my hour-long road trip down country roads to get to my beloved giant annual used book sale. Also, I love the quasi meta-y line of "because the girl on the radio is me."
29. Scandal - Marion Raven
Haven't you heard what a scandal it will be?
Not an instant hit, but it quickly went up several notches in my estimation as the featured hip-hop-ish vocals went from distracting to Musically Cool
30. Better Than This - Marion Raven
Oh, we lost the fire from September
And I can't do with only embers
A ballad, but the best one on the CD so I never skip it.
31. Home - Marion Raven ft. Lisa Miskovsky
I have to get home to my heart
I lost it long ago and I need a fresh new start
I just love this imagery! I also love the line and harmonies on "Have you ever seen the sun in the summer not setting?"
32. Colors Turn to Grey - Marion Raven
Play with fire, you get burned
When colors turn to grey
A really fun kiss-off breakup song.
33. In Dreams - Marion Raven
I wish that I kissed you,
I kissed you when I could
Probably in my top half, once again just really fun and catchy music.
34. When You Come Around - Marion Raven
What you look like, I hardly remember
I think the last time I saw you was back in November
My 2nd favorite on the album. Feels kind of like a hidden bonus track -- I wouldn't have chosen it for the album closer, compared to the song before it (the ballad Never Leave Me) -- but it's so upbeat and catchy that it makes me jam out and smile every time. Always back to normal when I see your face!, indeed. All the lyrics are great in this, too.
May
35. Delicate - Taylor Swift
My reputation's never been worse, so
You must like me for me
Spurred by my love of Getaway Car, I picked a random one on the CD to try next because I'd heard of the title, and it immediately worked for me despite having nothing quality in it except the music. Obsessed w/ the chorus in particular. I should just play the CD through but I can't...we are literally walking step by step into this snake's nest.
June
AND NONE FOR JUNE, BYE. I truly have just been listening to these two women, to the exclusion of everyone else, for three months!
April
24. Getaway Car - Taylor Swift
Should've known I'd be the first to leave
Think about the place where you first met me
OH NO, THE REPUTATION SEAL IS BROKEN. Mostly because I was like, "hey google, what was the timeline for the Hiddleswift relationship again?" and google was like "I know what you're really asking, and of course there's a song for that." Not quite as much of one as I'd hoped, given that this goes from metaphorical to a very literal crime-tinged interpretation of the title, but I'll take it.
25. Champagne Problems - Taylor Swift
But you'll find the real thing instead
She'll patch up the tapestry that I shred
Evermore is apparently getting greenlit on a song by song basis like my brain is a radio station accepting singles, so as much as I want to do a full album sweep in one place, I can't, I can only pluck one at a time. And right now I'm just going to live/weep forever in this soft, sad, piano-based apology song about breaking the heart of a guy with marriage on his mind. I can't even pick a true favorite lyric, they're all so good. (Internet claimed this one was also inspired by Tom, and once again I'm like "mmm, maybe half of it is," but I love it on its own merit.
26. Tis The Damn Season - Taylor Swift
And the road not taken looks real good now
Speaking of Evermore, I keep forgetting I did technically greenlight this one last year. Or the year before? It's just I got so immediately overwhelmed by how much I loved "Right Where You Left Me" plus Willow that this slower one got overlooked on The Music List. But as this has pretty similar themes to the above, I quite love it and want to give it its due.
CD Rec: Marion Raven, Songs From a Blackbird (2014 international re-release)
NEW ENGLISH MUSIC FROM MY GIRL!!! I was just bemoaning how I missed M2M, when I remembered to look her up on Spotify and was immediately so taken by the first couple songs that I ordered the CD off eBay and proceeded to fall in love with it while driving. Every song is enjoyable, even though apparently half of them are actually from earlier albums on this particular version/re-release, so...eh, I'm gonna do the top 8/12 a.k.a. the ones I feel like I have something to say about. My CD, by the way, is the one that's only 12 tracks long, starts w/ The Minute and ends w/ When You Come Around. I learned just now there are 3 bonus tracks on Spotify, but I haven't listened to them yet as of the end of June. Too overwhelmed.
27. The Minute - Marion Raven
And you will never be the same again
The music in this is just so good; I have been singing the chorus (and especially this line) for days now. Great album opener.
28. Driving - Marion Raven
If we spend all our money we can tank her up
We can go until the morning, we don't need to stop
So you can see part of why I wanted to fall in love with this via the car's CD player...this perhaps more than any others will bring me back to my hour-long road trip down country roads to get to my beloved giant annual used book sale. Also, I love the quasi meta-y line of "because the girl on the radio is me."
29. Scandal - Marion Raven
Haven't you heard what a scandal it will be?
Not an instant hit, but it quickly went up several notches in my estimation as the featured hip-hop-ish vocals went from distracting to Musically Cool
30. Better Than This - Marion Raven
Oh, we lost the fire from September
And I can't do with only embers
A ballad, but the best one on the CD so I never skip it.
31. Home - Marion Raven ft. Lisa Miskovsky
I have to get home to my heart
I lost it long ago and I need a fresh new start
I just love this imagery! I also love the line and harmonies on "Have you ever seen the sun in the summer not setting?"
32. Colors Turn to Grey - Marion Raven
Play with fire, you get burned
When colors turn to grey
A really fun kiss-off breakup song.
33. In Dreams - Marion Raven
I wish that I kissed you,
I kissed you when I could
Probably in my top half, once again just really fun and catchy music.
34. When You Come Around - Marion Raven
What you look like, I hardly remember
I think the last time I saw you was back in November
My 2nd favorite on the album. Feels kind of like a hidden bonus track -- I wouldn't have chosen it for the album closer, compared to the song before it (the ballad Never Leave Me) -- but it's so upbeat and catchy that it makes me jam out and smile every time. Always back to normal when I see your face!, indeed. All the lyrics are great in this, too.
May
35. Delicate - Taylor Swift
My reputation's never been worse, so
You must like me for me
Spurred by my love of Getaway Car, I picked a random one on the CD to try next because I'd heard of the title, and it immediately worked for me despite having nothing quality in it except the music. Obsessed w/ the chorus in particular. I should just play the CD through but I can't...we are literally walking step by step into this snake's nest.
June
AND NONE FOR JUNE, BYE. I truly have just been listening to these two women, to the exclusion of everyone else, for three months!