I don't think guitar solos will help me digest pie.

November 9, 2012 7:20 AM

[Playlist filter] In search of great music for the Thanksgiving holiday that sounds like a comfortable sweater.

Doing Thanksgiving at home this year in California, just the three of us (my husband, son and I) and want some ideas for music to accompany the meal, the hot cocoa, the clean-up, and the Tryptophan snooze-fest that follows. Pretty much open to anything in the rock, indie-rock, blues or blues rock, folk and alt-country sort of genres, but really, don't hold back with anything that makes you feel that way. More than anything, I think I like to hear what moves other people and go take a listen to unfamiliar songs.

(Saw this previously but wanted to see if I could get some more suggestions.)

(This is my first time asking a question here on the green. Let me know if I'm blundering in any way.)

posted by dean winchester to grab bag (18 answers total)

I can't help with individual songs, but this sound like a perfect job for Bon Iver. Their most recent is pretty excellent.
posted by supercres at 7:45 AM on November 9, 2012

We lucked into seeing the last two songs of Chic Gamine's set at a show a few years ago and immediately bought both of the CDs they had for sale. Their 2008 self-titled album is our go-to "people are over and we want something awesome playing" music; their 2010 album City City is also very good. (I could listen to "Sunny Sunday," the last song on the self-titled album, nine times in a row.)
posted by SeedStitch at 7:52 AM on November 9, 2012

in my opinion, you can go wrong with the Ultra Lounge series -- it's fun, upbeat, quirky, out of the ordinary....
posted by mrmarley at 8:12 AM on November 9, 2012

For years, George Winston's December CD (solo, contemporary piano) has always, always, always helped to elevate that warm Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday feeling for me. (Actually, most ALL of his CDs could be great for this...)
posted by foxhat10 at 8:30 AM on November 9, 2012

The Bill Evans Trio, Explorations. Low-key, drums, bass, piano. Totally sublime and relaxing. It's warm and comfortable. One of my favorite albums. I'm going to have to go anti Bon Iver if only because it feels a little too melancholy for a holiday emblematic of togetherness.
posted by Ephelump Jockey at 8:40 AM on November 9, 2012

This is going to be heavy on folky-hippie stuff. A few albums first:

Dylan - Blood On The Tracks.
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks or Tupelo Honey.
Cat Stevens - Tea For The Tillerman.
Nick Drake - Pink Moon.

And then a few songs from my "I'm going upstate to the Catskills" mix may also suit -

Donovan, "Catch The Wind."
Duncan Sheik, "She Runs Away."
The Swell Season - from the soundtrack to the movie I'm Not There, their cover of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere."
Cat Stevens - "The Wind".
Nick Drake - "Northern Sky".
The Band - "The Weight".
Glen Hansard - "Love Don't Leave Me Waiting". (The rest of the album it's from, Rhythm and Repose, is gorgeous stuff but may seem kind of maudlin by comparison.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:52 AM on November 9, 2012

Oh, forgot one - Bruce Cockburn's song "Wondering Where The Lions Are".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:52 AM on November 9, 2012

Hmmm. Lots of possibilities here. I have no idea if this is what you're talking about, but here's a random list:

The Ultra Lounge suggestion above is good. I like Vol. 11 "Organs in Orbit ," the best. Particularly Jackie Davis, "Love Is Just Around the Corner," and Sir Julian, "A Man and a Woman"
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, They Say It's Wonderful
Harry Nilsson: um, anything? How about Are You Sleeping?
Wilco (and Billy Bragg): California Stars
Kurt Vile: Baby's Arms, Jesus Fever
Real Estate: All the Same
Thurston Moore: Benediction
Beach Boys: I'm In Great Shape, Surf's Up, Vegetables, Holidays (I guess I mean the whole album, Pet Sounds or Friends aren't too shabby either)
Love: Andmoreagain, The Red Telephone
The Sea and Cake: Afternoon Speaker, All the Photos (these two have to go together)
Olivia Tremor Control: Define a Transparent Dream
Minutemen: History Lesson Part 2

I also like the idea of laying in a comatose state of turkey eating and listening to all of Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space.


And the soundtrack for doing the dishes:
Girl Talk, Play Your Part
Monks, Boys are Boys and Girls Are Choice
Guided by Voices, Glad Girls
posted by RabbleRabble at 9:10 AM on November 9, 2012

My first thought to "sounds like a comfortable sweater" is Iron & Wine, specifically the album, The Creek Drank the Cradle.

If that sweater happens to be cashmere, I'd go with Bird York's Wicked Little High.
posted by dearwassily at 9:52 AM on November 9, 2012

So glad to have discovered this song. Has become a comfortably worn old sweater for me!

Radical Face Welcome Home
posted by little_dog_laughing at 9:57 AM on November 9, 2012

When you said "comfortable sweater," my mind immediately went to "Tapestry" by Carole King, an album that I've described to others as a warm blanket on a winter day.
posted by jbickers at 10:01 AM on November 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Bela Fleck is good for this-- he tends to feel autumnal to me
posted by np312 at 11:28 AM on November 9, 2012

* I came into mention Radical Face as well! Try Always Gold.
* I think Glen Hansard's Love Don't Leave Me Waiting qualifies.
* Natalie Merchant's The Sleepy Giant fits well into this category.
* Elbow's Lippy Kids has a little bit of that quality in the music, if not in the lyrics.
* Feist - Graveyard
* Sharon Van Etten - Magic Chords
posted by cnc at 1:46 PM on November 9, 2012

Yo La Tengo. Hell, they have a song called "Autumn Sweater"--can't get much closer than that.
posted by dlugoczaj at 2:04 PM on November 9, 2012

Here's what my sweater sounds like.

1. You Still Believe in Me by M. Ward
2. Killing the Blues by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
3. Lay Lady Lay by Magnet
4. Bedside Table by Adem Ilhan
5. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song by Fleet Foxes
6. By Your Side by Beachwood Sparks
7. Homesick by Kings of Convenience
8. Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough) by Phosphorescent
9. Why Should the Fire Die? by Nickel Creek
10. Hold On by Tom Waits
11. Oh, Lonesome Me by Neil Young
12. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight by Bob Dylan
13. One Life Away by M. Ward

One of them, anyway.
posted by sportbucket at 2:28 PM on November 9, 2012 [2 favorites]

My favorite song in this vibe: The Shins, The Past and Pending
posted by justonegirl at 4:34 PM on November 9, 2012

Thank you, everyone! I've got a lot to investigate here -- a weekend of music reviewing and organizing in front of me. I really appreciate you all taking the time to share your favorites.
posted by dean winchester at 10:15 PM on November 9, 2012

How about the ultimate Thanksgiving song--I usually listen to it while I'm cooking--
Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie
posted by islandeady at 11:04 PM on November 9, 2012 [1 favorite]