Twenty-one Springs
One thing I have done since music grew into one of my obsessions ( which I think it probably no longer is, though it is deep in my bones now and I wouldn't be without it ) is that I have always listened to albums intensively at the time I discovered them and then often find that I can reach back to that time by listening to them again. Considering this the other day I started to think about spring albums that I associate with different years and so here, for no reason other than that I can is a list of albums that I have listened to in spring over the last 21 years:
1993
( I am at sixth form college, having the time of my life. )
( Now I have started university so I am home for the Easter holidays. )
(I am in my first full-time job but still living with student friends. )
( Back to the nest, moved home to my parents - a poor decision but a comfortable place to be. )
( First spring dating Lou, who I went on to marry. )
2005
(Working freelance, something I didn't really enjoy- stressful, long hours and inconsistent returns.)
2009
( Looking back now I think I was probably genuinely depressed at this point, unhappy with my lack of achievement, realising I was middle-aged, my marriage was failing and staring into the abyss of an existential crisis. )
( My marriage had ended and I guess the inevitable crash was over, but I also had an idea that just possibly something better might follow it. )
(The first spring that Sari and I were living together and moving into our flat. Also we were travelling around Australia for part of the time, which was technically autumn? )
I'm sure there are more that I don't recall around the early 2000s - recently is new and the joyous lack of context that marks youth means that the 1990s are vivid as though they were yesterday. One thing I see looking at this is that it wasn't just my feeling- some years genuinely were way better for music than others...
1993
( I am at sixth form college, having the time of my life. )
- Uncle Anasthesia - Screaming Trees
- Dream Harder - The Waterboys
- Gentlemen - The Afghan Whigs
( Now I have started university so I am home for the Easter holidays. )
- Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins
- The Bends - Radiohead
- Expecting To Fly - The Bluetones
- Drag Down The Moon - Tansads
- Secret Samedhi - Live
- Navigation - Michael Chapman
- Drag Down The Moon - Tansads
- Placebo - Placebo
- Grace - Jeff Buckley
- Faithlift - Spirit Of The West
- The Boy With The Arab Strap - Belle And Sebastien
(I am in my first full-time job but still living with student friends. )
- Weights And Measures - Spirit Of The West
( Back to the nest, moved home to my parents - a poor decision but a comfortable place to be. )
- Mortal City - Dar Williams
( First spring dating Lou, who I went on to marry. )
- True Love And High Adventure - Grand Drive
- The Sophtware Slump - Grandaddy
- Just Like Blood - Tom McRae
- Sweet England - Jim Moray
- Everything To Everyone - Barenaked Ladies
- Up The Bracket - The Libertines
2005
- The Wind In The Wires - Patrick Wolf
- Fisherman's Woman - Emiliana Torrini
- Open Season- British Sea Power
(Working freelance, something I didn't really enjoy- stressful, long hours and inconsistent returns.)
- Plans - Death Cab For Cutie
- More Adventurous - Rilo Kiley
- Whatever - Aimee Mann
- Cease To Begin - Band Of Horses
2009
- The Midnight Organ Fight - Frightened Rabbit
- The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow
- Weightlifting - The Trashcan Sinatras
( Looking back now I think I was probably genuinely depressed at this point, unhappy with my lack of achievement, realising I was middle-aged, my marriage was failing and staring into the abyss of an existential crisis. )
- Grammatics - Grammatics
( My marriage had ended and I guess the inevitable crash was over, but I also had an idea that just possibly something better might follow it. )
- Drown Your Heart Again - The Strange Death Of Liberal England
- Not Far Now - Richard Shindell
- Also some stand-out songs included Richard Shindell's beautiful cover of Northbound 35, Cracker's Big Dipper and Mermaid Parade by Phosphorescence
- Shallow Bed - Dry The River
- Let England Shake - PJ Harvey
(The first spring that Sari and I were living together and moving into our flat. Also we were travelling around Australia for part of the time, which was technically autumn? )
- My Head Is An Animal - Of Monsters And Men
- The Village To The Vale - Autumn Chorus
- Into The West - Pilot Speed
- An Awesome Wave - Alt-J
- Grown Unknown - Lia Ices
- Revival - Bellowhead ( going to see them live on Monday! )
- The Fine Art Of Hanging On - The Leisure Society
I'm sure there are more that I don't recall around the early 2000s - recently is new and the joyous lack of context that marks youth means that the 1990s are vivid as though they were yesterday. One thing I see looking at this is that it wasn't just my feeling- some years genuinely were way better for music than others...