It has been a while since I sat to write one of these blog posts, 7 years to be precise. A lot has changed in the way we listen to music, in the way I listen to music. I don’t even remember when was the last time a bought a physical copy of an album.
This year, while I listened to a lot more music than in the previous years, I didn’t listen to as many albums as I would have when I used to write these posts more regularly. My “listening” attention is being pulled between albums, streaming services, podcasts and why not, reading. Thankfully I can listen to some podcasts while I play the “occasional” game of Two Dots.
Looks like I have settled on a process to discover music that seems to be working. I listen to a couple of podcasts that recommend new music, then I listen to a few songs and albums from there on Spotify, and I let Spotify suggest more. Finally, what I truly want to listen to, gets added to my iTunes library for repeated listens.
There are a handful of albums that made me sit down and listen, sharing in no particular order:
Better Oblivion Community Center
Phoebe Bridgers was one of my favourite artists of the last few years (including boygenius). She teams up with Conor Oberst for a fantastic folk-rock album. I hope it's not their last one!
Better Oblivion Community Centre on Spotify
Nilüfer Yanya - Miss Universe
At only 24 years of age, her music sounds a lot more mature than that. I love the sound of her guitar and I hope this is the signal of many more good things to come.
Nilüfer Yanya - Miss Universe on Spotify
Marika Hackman – Any Human Friend
Don't know how Marika Hackman has flown under my radar for so long. This is probably the album that I listened to the most. This is a strange one for me, I identify a lot with the melodies, but not so much with the words. The album tells the life of a twenty-something living in a big city... I am not that anymore. For younger people, it probably has a different meaning, for me it's all about the pop melodies.
Marika Hackman – Any Human Friend on Spotify
FINNEAS – Blood Harmony
Finneas O'Connell is the lesser know of the O'Connell siblings, but I would say, the creative force behind her sister Billie Eilish. This EP is a small collection of finely crafted pop songs. For me "I Don't Miss You at All" is contender for the song of the year
FINNEAS – Blood Harmony on Spotify
No-Man – Love You To Bits
I am not going to try to describe this one, from the "Art-Rock" duo of Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson. Pop Matters describes it as their Disco White Whale and most other reviews are in prog rock sites, well, you will just have to try it for yourselves.
No-Man – Love You To Bits on Spotify
Other notable releases for me, include Big Thief's 2 albums, Angel Olsen's All Mirrors, Clairo's debut (Alewife is another contender for song of the year!) and Sharon Van Etten's Remind Me Tomorrow
Enjoy, and share your music!
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