I have been away from this space for a week now slowly recovering from my surgery, but I have been quietly working in the background on a few custom orders. I am enjoying the restful time by myself this week, though I miss the company of parents who spent the week caring for me in my weak and really not-quite-with-it state. By the time Rich comes home I am practically bouncing off the walls waiting for his company.
Today I found myself listening to some of my favorite albums of the past year & downloading new ones. Though I do not usually talk music, I thought I would since I have been away from printing & do not have much to show {yet}. I spent the day making a playlist of all the songs that remind me of 2007 & will include my picks.
1. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers: I love Laura Veirs. So. Much. I loved Year of the Meteors & Saltbreakers is just as amazing. I cannot even pick which one I like best. Song choice: Saltbreakers & To the Country {a perfect song for me}.
2. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender: A pianist, harpsichordist, singer & songwriter who does not acknowledge being part of any scene, Joanna Newsom is part of the psych {or freak} folk scene. I am addicted to her, but she is not for everyone {Rich is giving her another try...}. One of my co-workers, who has the most amazing music collection, introduced me to her. She brought the album to work, we closed my office door, & she tried to "warn me." I dig a lot of stranger music, particularly women who can do crazy things with their voices & do not sound necessarily "trained" a la Regina Spektor so when I heard Joanna Newsom, I knew I had to keep listening. The more I listened, the more I loved her. Her voice is wild & her lyrics are amazing. I spent over an hour on youtube today {a very rare thing} watching a short interview with her along with any other video about her. She is so sweet! The video for Sprout & the Bean is so well done. Song choice: This Side of Blue.
3. Amel Larrieux - Bravebird: Amel Larrieux's voice is magic. Rich introduced me to her, but infact he was re-introducing her. She was in Groove Theory & had one popular song Tell Me. I forgot about her, & it seems like a lot of other people did, but she of course kept making music. Bravebird is a beautiful album. She has had two more since, but this one is my favorite. All of her songs have such powerful messages, aside from being beautiful. Song choice: All I got & Dear to Me.
4. The Rapture - Pieces of the People we Love: Rich got to see this band live at Coachella last year & gave me their album. They would be so great to see live - all I want to do is dance when I listen to them, but I am usually in the car. They are a great mix of dance-punk-disco-electronica-rock that just makes you want to move. Song choice: Get Myself Into It.
5. Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight: I came late to the Rilo Kiley scene & did not discover them until a couple years ago. I love Jenny Lewis - for her voice & her fabulos red hair & bangs. Her album Rabbit Fur Coat was pretty amazing & was in constant rotation so I was psyched when this new album came out. Rilo Kiley is your classic indie-rock band but this new album has some edge to it I really like {it also has less of the guy singing - not a big fan of his wimpy voice}. Song choice: The Moneymaker {I really like Breakin' Up even though it is the ultimate break up song, ha}
6. Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love: Perhaps it is because she is an American jazz singer who moved to Paris, or perhaps it is because she has a gorgeously smooth voice, or perhaps her songs make me happy to be in love, but Madeleine Peyroux stirs all these emotions within me whenever I listen to her. It makes me long for lazy Sunday mornings that stretch into the night. Song choice: Don't Wait to Long.
I looks like this music post will indeed be a three-part series. More of my favorite albums tomorrow.