update my seasonal sounds!
October 28, 2019 3:56 PM Subscribe
I have a bunch of albums I like to listen to on my commute during fall and winter...but they're (/I'm) very much stuck in the aughts. What should I, an older millennial who wore a Jimmy Eat World t-shirt in her senior photos and never grew out of it, add to my list to bring it into the (gulp) 2020s?
Some criteria:
- 35-55 minutes is sort of the sweet spot, as that's the length of my commute
- gotta have that fall/winter vibe! it doesn't need to have like, lyrics about winter, but it just needs that sort of moody, season change-y vibe. a little whiny is ok
- I do want to branch out, but at the same time, I'm old and I'm not going to change my whole life, you know? Whenever I ask friends for suggestions for new music they're like, listen to Billie Eilish or Lizzo or whatever and I swear to you that I have made a good faith effort, but no. they're cooler than me, it's fine
- would like more none-dude artists broadly, though. just not those
Here's what's been in the rotation for the last 10-20 years (yikes), for reference:
- The Moon and Antarctica, Modest Mouse
- The Midnight Organ Fight, Frightened Rabbit
- Clarity, Jimmy Eat World
- Final Straw, Snow Patrol
- The Execution of All Things, Rilo Kiley
- The Autobiography of Reinhold Messner, Ben Folds Five
- Cease to Begin, Band of Horses
Some criteria:
- 35-55 minutes is sort of the sweet spot, as that's the length of my commute
- gotta have that fall/winter vibe! it doesn't need to have like, lyrics about winter, but it just needs that sort of moody, season change-y vibe. a little whiny is ok
- I do want to branch out, but at the same time, I'm old and I'm not going to change my whole life, you know? Whenever I ask friends for suggestions for new music they're like, listen to Billie Eilish or Lizzo or whatever and I swear to you that I have made a good faith effort, but no. they're cooler than me, it's fine
- would like more none-dude artists broadly, though. just not those
Here's what's been in the rotation for the last 10-20 years (yikes), for reference:
- The Moon and Antarctica, Modest Mouse
- The Midnight Organ Fight, Frightened Rabbit
- Clarity, Jimmy Eat World
- Final Straw, Snow Patrol
- The Execution of All Things, Rilo Kiley
- The Autobiography of Reinhold Messner, Ben Folds Five
- Cease to Begin, Band of Horses
I bet you'd like Against Me!, who I'm into for Reasons Of Queerness but who are also just still doing real solid kinda-poppy punk, but I don't know if they fit the moody-Fall-and-Winter part of the theme.
You might like Big Thief, who do this folk-rock thing that reminds me a lot of the late 90s/early 00s for reasons I can't really articulate. Moody and melancholy and yeah ok probably a little whiny.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:28 PM on October 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
You might like Big Thief, who do this folk-rock thing that reminds me a lot of the late 90s/early 00s for reasons I can't really articulate. Moody and melancholy and yeah ok probably a little whiny.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:28 PM on October 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Ha, I was going to recommend that you listen to the latest (2019)Jenny Lewis before I got to Rilo Kiley . Listen to the whole of On The Line, but my current favorite is Red Bull & Hennessy.
posted by Champagne Supernova at 5:40 PM on October 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Champagne Supernova at 5:40 PM on October 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
Sharon van Etten’s latest album, Remind Me Tomorrow, definitely has that vibe to it in parts. Here’s “Seventeen”.
posted by Seeking Direction at 6:38 PM on October 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Seeking Direction at 6:38 PM on October 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Wow. Came here to say Phoebe Bridgers, Death Cab for Cutie, and War on Drugs. Seriously. So basically, what Syllables said. I also love Courtney Barnett, although I'm not sure she quite fits the vibe described here. BUT! Kurt Vile, who is both Courtney Barnett adjacent AND War on Drugs adjacent, is maybe a bit closer. You might also try Lana del Rey.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 6:38 PM on October 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 6:38 PM on October 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
I am quite excited for the new Jimmy Eat World tour. I also love the National's Sleep Well Beast as a great fall/winter album. "Nobody Else Will Be There" has explicit seasonal imagery, while "Empire Line" has feels like riding a train through New York while the leaves change. The whole album conveys that feeling of suspension that accompanies fall to me -- things are about to change, but not yet, and you can only wait.
posted by lilac girl at 6:51 PM on October 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by lilac girl at 6:51 PM on October 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also:
Aimee Mann - Mental Illness
Beck - Morning Phase
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 6:53 PM on October 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Aimee Mann - Mental Illness
Beck - Morning Phase
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 6:53 PM on October 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Check out boygenius, which is the supergroup of Julien Baker (the most amazing artist in forever, incredibly depressing), Phoebe Bridgers (definitely moody as fuck), and Lucy Dacus (who, if you listen to any of them separately, will probably be the best choice, great range of material and a killer voice and really dynamic music).
Other ladies: Lucy Rose (yes absolutely), Joseph (first album probably better mood-wise for what you're looking for), Mitski, Sylvan Esso (I listened to a lot of SE on rainy autumn days), TRACE, Middle Kids, Camp Cope
Some dudes: Gregory Alan Isakov, Iron and Wine, Caamp (maybe slightly more up?), Ben Howard (maybe slightly darker than you want)
posted by curious nu at 6:56 PM on October 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
Other ladies: Lucy Rose (yes absolutely), Joseph (first album probably better mood-wise for what you're looking for), Mitski, Sylvan Esso (I listened to a lot of SE on rainy autumn days), TRACE, Middle Kids, Camp Cope
Some dudes: Gregory Alan Isakov, Iron and Wine, Caamp (maybe slightly more up?), Ben Howard (maybe slightly darker than you want)
posted by curious nu at 6:56 PM on October 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
Oh IRFH has it -- Bon Iver, first two albums. These are quintessential autumn/winter albums.
posted by curious nu at 6:56 PM on October 28, 2019
posted by curious nu at 6:56 PM on October 28, 2019
Curious_nu has it for me. The boygenius crew has absolutely seamlessly slipped into my rotations, and I have many plays on all of your tried and true albums. I will play Mitski, Sylvan Esso, Waxahatchee or Liza Anne radio on spotify when I need to not think about it. I'll rotate the National's newest album with the Mountain Goats's newest album as well.
posted by teslacoilswoah at 7:35 PM on October 28, 2019
posted by teslacoilswoah at 7:35 PM on October 28, 2019
Oh, Liza Anne and Waxahatchee are great recommendations too. Another voice for The National (dudes, often called dad rock these days) and The Mountain Goats (dude but like.. not a dude-dude, TMG is special).
I get what people are saying about Death Cab for Cutie, especially as winter music, but I typically feel them as pretty down, not really commute music.
For reference: is this a car commute? What level of traffic? I'd probably have some other sorts of recommendations for bike music than for something on a bus/train or in a car.
posted by curious nu at 7:57 PM on October 28, 2019
I get what people are saying about Death Cab for Cutie, especially as winter music, but I typically feel them as pretty down, not really commute music.
For reference: is this a car commute? What level of traffic? I'd probably have some other sorts of recommendations for bike music than for something on a bus/train or in a car.
posted by curious nu at 7:57 PM on October 28, 2019
A little more folk than rock, perhaps, but two Lauras for you:
I really, really love Laura Stevenson's Wheel. Her latest The Big Freeze is also excellent.
Laura Gibson's album Empire Builder is beautiful, as is her most recent Goners.
posted by valrus at 9:27 PM on October 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
I really, really love Laura Stevenson's Wheel. Her latest The Big Freeze is also excellent.
Laura Gibson's album Empire Builder is beautiful, as is her most recent Goners.
posted by valrus at 9:27 PM on October 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Came up with these scrolling through some playlists and picking out the ones that make me feel cold but in a good way.
Best recs I can come up with:
Sugaring Season by Beth Orton
Birth of Violence by Chelsea Wolfe
All three of Emma Ruth Rundle's solo albums (Marked for Death is my favorite, On Dark Horses and Some Heavy Ocean also both v good)
Droneflower by Marissa Nadler and Stephen Brodsky
Salome by Marriages (led by Emma Ruth Rundle so if you dig the solo stuff definitely give Marriages a whirl)
Puberty 2 by Mitski
On Watch by Slow Mass
As High as the Highest Mountains and from the Center to the Circumference of the Earth by True Widow
Good but all dudes:
Time Well by Cloakroom
The Fact Facer by Holy Sons
No Trail and Other Unholy Paths by Jaye Jayle
Maybe a little out there:
Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light pts. I and II by Earth (instrumental, gorgeous)
Ruins by Grouper (bit experimental)
Sines by Jakob (instrumental, gorgeous)
Jord by Møl (screamy metal but very autumn/winter feeling to me)
Fantastic Planet and A Pink Sunset for No One by Noveller (instrumental, gorgeous, mind-boggling)
The songs "Marrow" and "Our Raw Heart" by YOB
posted by sinfony at 10:15 PM on October 28, 2019
Best recs I can come up with:
Sugaring Season by Beth Orton
Birth of Violence by Chelsea Wolfe
All three of Emma Ruth Rundle's solo albums (Marked for Death is my favorite, On Dark Horses and Some Heavy Ocean also both v good)
Droneflower by Marissa Nadler and Stephen Brodsky
Salome by Marriages (led by Emma Ruth Rundle so if you dig the solo stuff definitely give Marriages a whirl)
Puberty 2 by Mitski
On Watch by Slow Mass
As High as the Highest Mountains and from the Center to the Circumference of the Earth by True Widow
Good but all dudes:
Time Well by Cloakroom
The Fact Facer by Holy Sons
No Trail and Other Unholy Paths by Jaye Jayle
Maybe a little out there:
Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light pts. I and II by Earth (instrumental, gorgeous)
Ruins by Grouper (bit experimental)
Sines by Jakob (instrumental, gorgeous)
Jord by Møl (screamy metal but very autumn/winter feeling to me)
Fantastic Planet and A Pink Sunset for No One by Noveller (instrumental, gorgeous, mind-boggling)
The songs "Marrow" and "Our Raw Heart" by YOB
posted by sinfony at 10:15 PM on October 28, 2019
My wife still holds Clarity near and dear to her heart but these days is also listening to a fair amount of Mitski, Waxahatchee, Frankie Cosmos, Hundred Waters, >Radiator Hospital, and Hop Along.
posted by saladin at 2:11 AM on October 29, 2019
posted by saladin at 2:11 AM on October 29, 2019
Feeder - Echo Park (I was really into this around the time I was into Jimmy Eat World and Snow Patrol).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:23 AM on October 29, 2019
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:23 AM on October 29, 2019
Coming from a slightly different angle... Do you have Spotify? If you save/play those few albums, and then listen to your Discover Weekly playlist, I bet you’ll find some tracks that are gems - which you can then double-click on to listen to the entire album. You can give feedback (like and dislike songs) as you go to make the next week’s playlist even better.
posted by amaire at 5:20 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by amaire at 5:20 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
All dudes, but I've found myself listening to Mariana's Trench a lot lately. Either Ever After or Astoria albums might be interesting for you...
posted by niteHawk at 5:39 AM on October 29, 2019
posted by niteHawk at 5:39 AM on October 29, 2019
You might do well listening to NPR Music. I haven't listened to it in a long time, but it can be great source for a wide variety of new music. I've been known to derisively call it "easy listening for gen x'ers" but that might be what you want. Anyway, their best-of lists always have a few good things worth listening to no matter what style of music you like. Here's the link for 2019 best-of lists, and definitely check out the year-end lists for previous years.
Not sure about the seasonal feel, but here are a few to check out that I've been listening to lately all from the last decade, I think. I grew up on MTV's 120 minutes and still long for "alternative music." Some are harder, some are softer, all sorts of genres, many women:
The Midnight, Alabama Shakes/Brittany Howard, Jade Bird, Gunship, Lomelda, Alice Phoebe Lou, Snail Mail (really love the Lush album), The Beths, The Tallest Man on Earth, Anna Burch, Noname, Chet Faker, Lala Lala, Hana Vu, Versing (first album sounds a lot like Brighten the Corners-era Pavement), the Dø, Tessa Violet, Kississippi, Mariee Sioux, Moon Hooch (first found on the blue!), Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes, マクロスMACROSS 82-99, Lucy Dacus, She and Him (they have a christmas album), HOME, Olafur Arnalds, Tierra Whack, Jherek Bischoff, Heartless Bastards, the Preatures, Timber Timbre, King Krule, the Townhouses, Wye Oak, Laura Veirs, Kristine, Dana Jean Phoenix, Le Cassette, Mitsume, Jose Gonzalez, this great song from a Japanese band called Africa... I could go on.
By the way, here are a few ways that I use to find new music:
posted by msbrauer at 9:08 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Not sure about the seasonal feel, but here are a few to check out that I've been listening to lately all from the last decade, I think. I grew up on MTV's 120 minutes and still long for "alternative music." Some are harder, some are softer, all sorts of genres, many women:
The Midnight, Alabama Shakes/Brittany Howard, Jade Bird, Gunship, Lomelda, Alice Phoebe Lou, Snail Mail (really love the Lush album), The Beths, The Tallest Man on Earth, Anna Burch, Noname, Chet Faker, Lala Lala, Hana Vu, Versing (first album sounds a lot like Brighten the Corners-era Pavement), the Dø, Tessa Violet, Kississippi, Mariee Sioux, Moon Hooch (first found on the blue!), Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes, マクロスMACROSS 82-99, Lucy Dacus, She and Him (they have a christmas album), HOME, Olafur Arnalds, Tierra Whack, Jherek Bischoff, Heartless Bastards, the Preatures, Timber Timbre, King Krule, the Townhouses, Wye Oak, Laura Veirs, Kristine, Dana Jean Phoenix, Le Cassette, Mitsume, Jose Gonzalez, this great song from a Japanese band called Africa... I could go on.
By the way, here are a few ways that I use to find new music:
- go to one artist's AllMusic page and click on "related artists."Here's the one for Snail Mail
- go to a song you like on youtube and look for the box on the bottom right that says "mix." It's a generated playlist of music that's sort of similar or liked by people who liked what you're watching. Try it with Tessa Violet's Crush
- Find a new genre you like--how about retrowave?--and find its community on reddit or bandcamp. You can also find charts like this synthwave chart (via) that groups essential albums into subgenres, so you can find other albums similar to music you've already listened to. On bandcamp, most albums have a bunch of genre tags at the bottom that take you to the most popular albums in that genre and also the newest uploads.
- explore spotify playlists or the "artist radio" for new music you already like. Soundcloud can also be good at this, but I haven't used it as much recently.
posted by msbrauer at 9:08 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you're ok with maybe crying a little in the car, Typhoon's latest album Offerings
Chastity Belt is so good, the linked track Different Now is very relatable
posted by a halcyon day at 11:19 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Chastity Belt is so good, the linked track Different Now is very relatable
posted by a halcyon day at 11:19 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
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If you haven't already, you could also add just about any recent Mountain Goats record that you may have missed.
posted by General Malaise at 4:06 PM on October 28, 2019