It’s the last Tuesday of the month, so here’s the soundtrack to my past few weeks.
Mott the Hoople, “All the Young Dudes”
Research for work, but honestly this is such a hooky, delightful song I could probably listen to it any time, really. I have no idea what the lyrics mean, but that music… just damn. And yes, Bowie wrote it. No surprise I'm such a fan.
The Kinks, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
The wife and I traveled upstate for a wedding this past month and this was one of the albums we played on the trip. Something about getting away from the city and into forests and mountains of upstate New York calls for baroque rock. No standout songs, just a solid album that perfectly sets a mood.
Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit
“Act of the Apostle” is my phone alarm in the morning – it starts with some snap-like percussion, then a piano, then finally a drum set and vocals so it's energizing but not jarring. Sometimes though I'll want the whole album, and the wedding trip was the perfect time for it.
Original Cast Album, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
Partly research, partly because the show is coming to Broadway this season(!), partly because it's been too long since my last listen. I'm blown away about the sonic world of the entire show, so it's really tough for me to sit down and listen to just a song or two at a time. Thankfully, this was on the wedding-trip mix so I could listen to the whole thing in one go in the car. The only harrowing moment came when I was trying to manage a tricky merger on the highway and “The Duel” popped up in all its manic electronica energy. Expert advice – if you're driving, try to save “No One Else” for the heavy traffic.
St. Vincent, St. Vincent
Research. What's my favorite song from this album? Whichever song I'm listening to, of course! St. Vincent is fierce and this album is a model of powerful electronic rock. After becoming more familiar with making electronic music myself, I know most of the tricks she's using in her music. But even if I know how all of this magician's tricks work, I'm still amazed every time she pulls a rabbit out of her hat.
What’s been coming out of your earbuds this month?