14. midspring
music to help bring us closer to warmer weather
April came and went in a millisecond. Before I knew it I realized I had not taken the time to sit down and even really think. This included sitting down to dive into music and albums. I found myself listening more on shuffle, radio, and in snippets. My own Apple Music Replay playlist has also been failing me, refusing to properly update each week as it says it should. The failure of technology through the fast passage of time is a reminder to ground myself and actually try to “stop and smell the roses,” figuratively speaking. Focus on the small things and appreciate what actually goes on in life, rather than breeze through and rely on modern advancements.
Here is some music that has accompanied my early spring, providing a soundtrack to the changing seasons and weather fluctuations.
Bye Bye Badman (바이바이배드맨) - Bad Timing
After a long hiatus, Korean Indie Rock band Bye Bye Badman returned with a new full length album packed with late 90s/early 2000s inspired rock tracks (apt considering the band’s Stone Roses name inspiration). Leading with the single Zero, this is a well put together album from start to finish. I especially love the way they interchange vocalists between male and female, and often times give an almost androgynous vibe. The songs are nostalgic without being weighed down too much into the past. There is still a freshness to the sound, and they provide a great spring soundtrack to your days being out and about as winter breaks.
Ludwig Goranssen, et al - Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score and Soundtrack)
If you haven’t seen Sinners, try to find some time to do so, especially on 70mm or IMAX. A visual and auditory treat with a powerful storyline interweaving the Blues genre and its impact on Black American cultural history. The soundtrack and score are particular, curated, and crafted in such a way that really brings the movie to life.
Fontaines D.C. - Romance (Deluxe Edition)
I was months late at really diving into this album, but to my luck, I could do so with a deluxe edition release. Probably the most talked about Indie Rock release last year, Romance is an auditory exploration through various genres like shoegaze and nu-metal, in a dark, beautiful package.
Momma - Welcome to my Blue Sky
This is a fun wistful, poppy, nod to 90’s/00’s era of indie rock. Written about a transformational summer in the band’s co-founders’ career, the album encapsulates sentiments of youth, grief, growth, and love in a swirl of anthemic shoegaze tracks.
What have you been listening to this spring? I would love to hear your recommendations and favorites!
Thanks for tuning in.