I was inspired last year to write a blog post discussing the music I'd been listening to during 2009. The original idea comes from Piley's blog. Indeed, you can check out his 'Music of 2010' here. It's worth a read and, of course, a listen.
This year, it's been a bit up and down for obvious reasons and I haven't managed to sort out a list of the music I've been listening to.
However, there is one artist that I want to mention.
Just before I found out about my Dad's leukemia, I was listening to Stuart Maconie's excellent Freakzone show on BBC6 Music and heard a magnificent song by a chap called Sufjan Stevens.
I immediately purchased a couple of his albums - All Delighted People and The Age Of Adz. On my travels between Southend, Putney and Kingston, these albums were never off my mp3 player. I found them soothing and beautiful and, somehow, transporting. Sitting on the train or bus, watching the world going by, these albums (particularly All Delighted People) became a source of incredible comfort.
Pretty soon I realised that, depending on how things turned out, these would either be fondly remembered and often played albums that represented an extraordinary time in my life, or music that I couldn't bear to listen to again. Either way, they've formed a sort of soundtrack to the last three months of my life.
I'm throwing a few YouTube videos on the blog so that you can have a listen and see what you think. Whatever happens over the course of the next few months, this music will have been an integral part of the whole experience, for good or bad. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
6 comments:
Yep you have hit the nail on the head for one of the main reasons I love music so much, the memories of your life you attach to it.
For the record I couldn't play the Stone Roses debut album (which I love) in full for about ten years due to a very similar experience to yours, which didn't end up too well. Now I can play it in full and while I still find it emotional, the good memories always win through !
I haven't heard much Sufjan but a mate of mine played his Christmas album to me a couple of years back and it was excellent. I fancy a punt now you have brought this to my attention !
Cheers.
PS - Can't believe my cover has been blown ... CHIEF !!!
EF Rice - Ha! Nothing worse than being reminded of work at 8 o'clock on a Friday night. :o)
Glad you've been inspired to check out Sufjan's music. I'm undecided as to whether it's slightly twee hip silliness, or quite, quite beautiful. I'm going with the latter. I'm a convert!
It's quite Pink Floydy, isn't it? I can't quite make my mind up if I like it, but can see it could be very evocative. Joy Division's 'Atmosphere' is my own equivalent track.
Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone is the best thing on radio by a country mile.
Some one wrote into Uncut (latest issue) really up set that they had not included this in their CD's of the year round up. Not sure i'd buy any but it's nay bad !!!.
Carl.
Oh, I keep hearing about Sufjan Stevens (mostly because of his ridiculously foolish 50 states project) but I've never heard these. They're very good, dammit. More music to listen to. Sigh.
cheers for the 'shout out' (Knight &) Squire! Hope you find a nugget or 2 amongst my old pap...
Not sure Sufjan will be making it to my 'best of 2011' disc, but could be a grower I guess?
P
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