Soundtrack to 2013
I’m no music geek, but taking time out to listen to music is quite important to my mental health. At the beginning of 2013, I felt that my collection had stagnated a bit and decided to try and listen to a wider range of artists. I remembered my Last.fm. account and made myself use the “mix radio” option.
One of the first new discoveries of the year was Anais Mitchell. I love her album Young Man in America (2012) and her gorgeous traditional folk collaboration with Jefferson Hamer, Child Ballads (2013). In 2014 I hope to get to know Hadestown. Santigold was another new find for me in 2013. Her fusion of pop, rock, hip hop and reggae creates a glorious sound. Bat for Lashes grew on me - Natasha Kahn’s slightly eerie melodies didn’t appeal at first, but they crept up on me and I’ve now got three of her albums.
I began to soften towards Joseph Arthur after listening to The Graduation Ceremony(2011) and came around to Feist via her album Metals (2011). I started listening to Emiliana Torrini and finally got into the Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star - only about 20 years late! Then there was Stevie Nicks’s solo work. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to listen to her properly, especially since she’s influenced so many of my favourites. Speaking of influential female artists, I really liked Yoko Ono’s collaborative album Yes, I’m a Witch (2007).
I decided to try and listen to more pop music in 2013. I enjoyed Lana Del Ray’s Born to Die(2012), but I preferred the even bigger sound of Kyla La Grange’s Ashes (2012). I do like a bit of melodrama.
People whose work I’d like to explore more in 2014 include the astoundingly talented R&B artist Janelle Monae and the intriguingly strange Anna Calvi.
The Albums
Cat Power, Sun (2012)
Stunning electonica album from Chan Marshall
Anais Mitchell, Young Man in America (2012)
Fierce album full of stories and characters
Sharon Van Ettan, Tramp (2012)
Intense songs and what an amazing voice
Santigold, Master of my Make Believe (2012)
So fresh and exciting. Hopefully heralds one of the directions 21st century music will take
Joseph Arthur, The Graduation Ceremony (2011)
Melodic, emotional tunes
Patti Smith, Banga (2012)
Still as political and authentic as ever
Feist, Metals (2011)
Makes me feel like I’m somewhere ancient and cold and rocky
Lana Del Ray, Born to Die (2012)
Melancholy retro pop
Kyla La Grange, Ashes (2012)
Even more melodramatic pop
Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball (2012)
Passionate, angry, anthemic, brilliant as ever
Marianne Faithful, Vagabond Ways (1999) & Kissin’ Time (2002)
Sad, but wickedly defiant
Kate Bush, 50 Words for Snow (2011)
Absolutely gorgeous. I’m completely converted to Bush’s shift into more ambient territory.
The 2013 Mix Tape
These are the songs that will always remind me of 2013
Anais Mitchell, Young Man in America
Nick Cave, To Be By Your Side
Martha Wainright, Proserpina
Fever Ray, Keep the Streets Empy for Me
Santigold, The Riot’s Gone
Siouxsie and the Banshees, One Mile Below
Low, La la la Song
Robert Plant, Shine it all Around
Bruce Springsteen, We Take Care of Our Own
Sharon van Ettan, Peace Signs
Joseph Arthur, Call
Billy Bragg, There will be a Reckoning
Feist, The Bad in Each Other
Bat for Lashes, Trophy
Kate Bush, Aerial
Kyla La Grange, Been Better
Lana Del Ray, Summertime Sadness
Janelle Monae, Cold War
Yoko Ono, Everyman Everywoman
Marnie Stern, Building a Body
Emiliana Torrini, Fingertips
Cocteau Twins, Lorelei
Sinead O’ Connor, Troy
Sleater Kinney, The Last Song
Stevie Nicks, Edge of Seventeen
This entry was originally posted at http://tea-drinker77.dreamwidth.org/ Please comment there using OpenID.
One of the first new discoveries of the year was Anais Mitchell. I love her album Young Man in America (2012) and her gorgeous traditional folk collaboration with Jefferson Hamer, Child Ballads (2013). In 2014 I hope to get to know Hadestown. Santigold was another new find for me in 2013. Her fusion of pop, rock, hip hop and reggae creates a glorious sound. Bat for Lashes grew on me - Natasha Kahn’s slightly eerie melodies didn’t appeal at first, but they crept up on me and I’ve now got three of her albums.
I began to soften towards Joseph Arthur after listening to The Graduation Ceremony(2011) and came around to Feist via her album Metals (2011). I started listening to Emiliana Torrini and finally got into the Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star - only about 20 years late! Then there was Stevie Nicks’s solo work. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to listen to her properly, especially since she’s influenced so many of my favourites. Speaking of influential female artists, I really liked Yoko Ono’s collaborative album Yes, I’m a Witch (2007).
I decided to try and listen to more pop music in 2013. I enjoyed Lana Del Ray’s Born to Die(2012), but I preferred the even bigger sound of Kyla La Grange’s Ashes (2012). I do like a bit of melodrama.
People whose work I’d like to explore more in 2014 include the astoundingly talented R&B artist Janelle Monae and the intriguingly strange Anna Calvi.
The Albums
Cat Power, Sun (2012)
Stunning electonica album from Chan Marshall
Anais Mitchell, Young Man in America (2012)
Fierce album full of stories and characters
Sharon Van Ettan, Tramp (2012)
Intense songs and what an amazing voice
Santigold, Master of my Make Believe (2012)
So fresh and exciting. Hopefully heralds one of the directions 21st century music will take
Joseph Arthur, The Graduation Ceremony (2011)
Melodic, emotional tunes
Patti Smith, Banga (2012)
Still as political and authentic as ever
Feist, Metals (2011)
Makes me feel like I’m somewhere ancient and cold and rocky
Lana Del Ray, Born to Die (2012)
Melancholy retro pop
Kyla La Grange, Ashes (2012)
Even more melodramatic pop
Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball (2012)
Passionate, angry, anthemic, brilliant as ever
Marianne Faithful, Vagabond Ways (1999) & Kissin’ Time (2002)
Sad, but wickedly defiant
Kate Bush, 50 Words for Snow (2011)
Absolutely gorgeous. I’m completely converted to Bush’s shift into more ambient territory.
The 2013 Mix Tape
These are the songs that will always remind me of 2013
Anais Mitchell, Young Man in America
Nick Cave, To Be By Your Side
Martha Wainright, Proserpina
Fever Ray, Keep the Streets Empy for Me
Santigold, The Riot’s Gone
Siouxsie and the Banshees, One Mile Below
Low, La la la Song
Robert Plant, Shine it all Around
Bruce Springsteen, We Take Care of Our Own
Sharon van Ettan, Peace Signs
Joseph Arthur, Call
Billy Bragg, There will be a Reckoning
Feist, The Bad in Each Other
Bat for Lashes, Trophy
Kate Bush, Aerial
Kyla La Grange, Been Better
Lana Del Ray, Summertime Sadness
Janelle Monae, Cold War
Yoko Ono, Everyman Everywoman
Marnie Stern, Building a Body
Emiliana Torrini, Fingertips
Cocteau Twins, Lorelei
Sinead O’ Connor, Troy
Sleater Kinney, The Last Song
Stevie Nicks, Edge of Seventeen
This entry was originally posted at http://tea-drinker77.dreamwidth.org/ Please comment there using OpenID.