Hefty month eh?
At last, the trees did lean in to make a suggestion
"Well, we know where they all hang near the hoodlums and the gangs
Those that read all the books stacked to the ceiling
Well they've been cutting us down, they've been messing us around
Pretty much fell in love with Ben Howard's lyricism throughout his latest album, Collections From the Whiteout. He's such a clever, creative, out-of-the-box artist and this album really showcases that. My favorites from the album are Rookery, Sorry Kid, and Metaphysical Cantations. The more you listen to it, the more cohesive and appreciative you'll become for the little (at first) odd, yet crucial components that make Collections from the Whiteout, what it is. PLUS, the album cover is SO lovely.
April was just a heavenly music release month. Expectations were high, especially it being Flyte, and they exceeded them so much in their sophomore album. This Is Really Going to Hurt is a seamless work of art, each song never failing to catch on. Everyone's a Winner is really just heart-achingly beautiful and leaves you pondering for a while. I love the delivery of the reality in all the "except's". If I were to choose my favorites, it could honestly be track 1 through 10, but as of now, Mistress America, There's a Woman, and Trying to Break Your Heart.
For the past 3 months, I've been backlogged on my listen later playlist, which is where I put songs that I listened to once and could see myself liking, songs that I want to listen to, or that have been recommended to me. I won't lie, there are some in the middle that have been there for a while.... and Gone Hollywood was one of them. The build-up in this song and climax is just so refreshing. I know I'm late to it but Breakfast In America is truly a top-tier album, to think it's been sitting in my playlist for three months :,(.
I haven't listened to much of Gregory Alan Isakov, but enough to know he's an absolute wordsmith. I remember hearing this song and instantly realizing that Brandi Carlile was singing on the track as well, automatically giving it extra points. I'm so weak for traditional-sounding folk, sent this straight to the in an open field under stars playlist. Gregory Alan Isakov is an artist I'm looking forward to delving into & listen to intently, as of now he's my late-night background music.
I found Paul Whitacre while I was looking for lo-fi and I discovered his other project. I love it when finding artists just spiral into finding more, if I were to just stay on the lo-fi side, I would've never known of his other side plus expected a song like this. I've listened to Zach Winters previously so it was really cool addition to an already cool find. Peach was one of those songs that got me going throughout April, while at the same time, giving me peace.
I absolutely love historically referential songs that lyrically and sonically reflect the time.
A song written in 1962 is oddly still relevant today, I genuinely think that Beudouine could've hummed the whole song and it'd still be on this list. The chorus is filled with the hum mimicking the sound of a tape in reference to the Watergate Scandal, which I find so clever by Margo Guryan. All this charged sentiment is compressed into this warm yet witty tune, the true definition of a multi-dimensional song. Listening to a song and enjoying it is one thing, but a song that you can research and learn so many new things is another. You can read more about it here: https://www.stereogum.com/2081295/bedouine-the-hum-margo-guryan-cover/music/
I revisited Zach Winters after finding peach, so a loophole there. The expression of "I don't want this job" is explicitly stated throughout the song, but a part of me feels like there's internal wrestling and wanting to prove to oneself that indeed, I don't want this job. A very easy listening song.