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Random Album Recommendation #2

Pharoah Sanders - Karma

My Rating: 9/10

Favorite Track: "The Creator Has a Master Plan"

Comments: This one has been stuck in my head for weeks; I've given it about four or five listens just in the past few days. There really in nothing else like this, at least that I've heard. A Love Supreme and Love in Us All come somewhat close, but I still think this is in a league of its own. Both "The Creator Has a Master Plan" and "Colors" feel like songs that take the listener to a higher state. A must listen for all.

[sphoricuslistens]

Random Album Recommendation #1

Richard Dawson - End of the Middle

My Rating: 7/10

Favorite Track: "Gondola"

Comments: Probably my strongest contender for album of the year right now, though of course it is way too early to say for certain. This album is urging me to revisit the Richard Dawson albums I previously didn't care for, like Nothing Important, as well as visit the albums of his I haven't heard (a friend of mine in particular recommended Peasant, Henki, and The Ruby Cord). I certainly look forward to looking deeper into the discography of this strange musician.

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I've explored my "depression music" in great lengths over the past few weeks, having gone through a breakup, and figured I'd share some of my brief thoughts.

Vic Chesnutt - About to Choke and At the Cut

Vic Chesnutt made notoriously depressing music, and I must state that that continues to hold true. These two albums just happen to be my typical go-to's for him but really any of his albums are good, depressing music. He has music for everything, ranging from heartbreak to loss to suicide. The songs may be simple, but they will work their way into your head.

Greg Brown - Further In

I knew this album was great upon first listen but my god did I really realize its beauty in the past few weeks. Having to do with the turmoil of love, it was an appropriate album for me to listen to. Like Vic's songs, these songs have a tendency to stick in your head.

Sufjan Stevens - Michigan and Illinois

Michigan in particular takes the cake here but Illinois has it's own tune of sadness, especially on songs such as "Casimir Pulaski Day" and "Chicago." Michigan captivates the sad heart through and through, however, especially for me (a Michigander). And, like Vic, most of Stevens' music is pretty good depression music; I think most would argue that Carrie & Lowell is the pinnacle of this.

Jóhann Jóhannsson - IBM 1401, a User's Manual

The middle of this album is kind of slow but the beginning and end of this album have made me cry within one listen before, for whatever that's worth. Not particularly related to heartbreak until the end (with "The sun's done dim and the sky's turned black / Because I loved her and she didn't love back") but still so full of grief and mourning that it's worth mention.

Some Other Albums Worth Mention:

Gavin Bryars - The Sinking of the Titanic

Fripp & Eno - (No Pussyfooting)

Halsey - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power

Philip Glass - Einstein on the Beach

Fishmans - Long Season

I would also like to mention some music that has lifted my spirits from turmoil. Really all of this music has, but these few albums are hard to put in a category dedicated to depression. I have less to say here, but these few have been equally as important to me.

Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense

Just an uplifting performance through and through, so full of the signature Talking Heads energy. A few songs in particular have aided me, "This Must Be the Place" and "Crosseyed and Painless."

Masayoshi Takanaka - All of Me

Takanaka's music is similarly uplifting and full of energy. Over the past few weeks, All of Me has emerged as sort of a comfort album of mine.

Some More Albums:

Sun Ra - Space is the Place

Talking Heads - Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues

Miles Davis - In a Silent Way

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Some of my favorite first listens of the year thus far:

Sound and Shadows - Ralph Towner

The Noisiest Guys on the Planet - Jana Winderen

The Blue Notebooks - Max Richter

My Favorite Things - John Coltrane

An empty bliss beyond this world - The Caretaker

Pieces of a Man - Gil Scott-Heron

Sweet Tooth - Mali Obomsawin

Space is the Place - Sun Ra

Insignificance - Jim O'Rourke

Outer Wilds: Live From Timber Hearth - Andrew Prahlow

XO - Elliot Smith

The Bootleg Series, Vol. 14: More Blood, More Tracks - Bob Dylan

[sphoricuslistens]

Autobahn

Artist: Kraftwerk

Year: 1974

Track List:

Autobahn

Kometenmelodie 1

Kometenmelodie 2

Mitternacht

Morgenspaziergang

Genres: Progressive Electronic

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Long Season

Artist: Fishmans

Year: 1996

Track List:

Long Season

Genres: Dream Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Progressive Pop

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Carrie & Lowell

Artist: Sufjan Stevens

Year: 2015

Track List:

Death With Dignity

Should Have Known Better

All of Me Wants All of You

Drawn to the Blood

Eugene

Fourth of July

The Only Thing

Carrie & Lowell

John My Beloved

No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross

Blue Bucket of Gold

Genres: Indie Folk, Singer-Songwriter

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Skitter on Take-off

Artist: Vic Chesnutt

Year: 2009

Track List:

Feast in the Time of Plague

Unpacking My Suitcase

Dimples

Rips the Fabric

Society Sue

My New Life

Dick Cheney

Worst Friend

Sewing Machine

Genres: Americana, Folk Rock, Singer-Songwriter

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[sphoricuslistens]

Sorry for the inactivity! To be honest, it is my fault. I have a tendency to forget about projects like this. I think I'll start posting albums again but it's 100% not going to be every day.

Also, I use Rate Your Music now! You can find me here. I don't really review a whole lot, but you can see the albums I like, want to try, and have been listening to. I also have my "Franziskacore" list which I'm trying to use to bolster my ability to talk about music, but it can also give you a sense of my absolute favorites.

[sphoricuslistens]

December 13, 2023 | Day #6

For the first time

Artist: Black Country, New Road

Year: 2020

Track List:

Instrumental

Athens, France

Science Fair

Sunglasses

Track X

Opus

Genres: Experimental Rock, Post-Rock

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December 12, 2023 | Day #5

Creatures of Habit

Artist: Kiltro

Year: 2019

Track List:

If I Lead

Curicó

Mi Capitán

Corner Bear (Hair of the Dog)

Lovers

Julia

The Hustle

Ursula

The Drunk

Genres: Indie Folk, Latin Rock

[sphoricuslistens]

December 11, 2023 | Day #4

Blonde on Blonde

Artist: Bob Dylan

Year: 1996

Track List:

Rainy Day Women #12 & 35

Pledging My Time

Visions of Johanna

One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)

I Want You

Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again

Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

Just Like a Woman

Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine

Temporary Like Achilles

Absolutely Sweet Marie

4th Time Around

Obviously 5 Believers

Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands

Genres: Folk Rock

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December 10, 2023 | Day #3

Konoyo

Artist: Tim Hecker

Year: 2018

Track List:

This Life

In Death Valley

Is a Rose Petal of the Dying Crimson Light

Keyed Out

In Mother Earth Phrase

A Sodium Codec Haze

Across to Anoyo

Genres: Electronic, Dark Ambient, Drone

[sphoricuslistens]

December 9, 2023 | Day #2

Glassworks

Artist: Philip Glass

Year: 1982

Track List:

Opening

Floe

Island

Rubric

Façades

Closing

Genres: Minimalist, Postmodern

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December 8, 2023 | Day #1

Feelings

Artist: David Byrne

Year: 1997

Track List:

Fuzzy Freaky

Miss America

A Soft Seduction

Dance on Vaseline

The Gates of Paradise

Amnesia

You Don't Know Me

Daddy Go Down

Finite=Alright

Wicked Little Doll

Burnt by the Sun

The Civil Wars

(Untitled)

They Are in Love

Genres: Art Rock, Alternative Rock

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Redesigning the blog a little bit! Going to post whenever I can, and we'll keep track of how long I can go lmao

Will still be album recommendations, but each post will have a little more (track list and genres)