Music I love recently

- “Sprainded Ankle” by Julien Baker

Incredible album. SO good. Blacktop is so beautiful, Julien Baker’s vocal melodies are so distinctive. “Everybody does” somehow feels both devastating while self assured. “I know myself better than anybody else” — “you’re gonna run when you find out who I am” Oh man. “Something” features an incredibly gentle piece of guitar which makes me want to stare out of a window and ponder. “Rejoice” yet again has another incredible bit of guitar (which I actually learned how to play!) This song is an incredible poetic description of Baker’s experiences growing up facing addiction, navigating her complex relationship with religion and the all-too-relatable feeling of letting down the people around you in more ways than one. The album ends with “Go Home” which has an incredible piano outro that cuts deep every time. The finishing lyrics “I’m tired of washing my hands, God I wanna go home” truly chew me up, man. Go and listen to this incredible album if you haven’t already. (I recommend going and sitting on a children’s swing and watching the world go by as you do)

- “Roman Candle” by Elliott Smith

Ok — this isn’t really a recent one. I have been bathing in the warm bright fruitful healing glow of this album for almost a year now. My introduction to Elliott Smith was the incredible song “Roman Candle” (sharing a name with the album it is featured on) Ever since, Elliott Smith has been my muse. “Roman Candle” is haunting and beautiful and rough around the edges but perfect despite it — or perhaps thanks to it — and you have to listen to this album. One thing I love about Elliott Smith (and it truly is one of the many many things) is his lyrics. Smith is a storyteller. His lyrics have a way of pulling you through a story in a melancholy, abstract journey, in which you feel like you have walked through the hallways of his mind and felt the story through him. A perfect example of this is “Condor Ave” which details a car crash between lyrics of self loathing, heartbreak and loneliness. Smith describes how his implied ex-lover takes “a little nap while the road is straight” and how the “drunk man” she killed was relieved of his burdens only through death. Even in such a devastating song, he slips in a dig at law enforcement, singing “they never get uptight when a moth gets crushed, unless a lightbulb really loved him very much” This album also features “No Name #1” as well as #2 and #3 (very creative.. I think these songs could’ve definitely had titles… maybe.. OK. I would call #1 “You don’t belong” I would call #2 “Killing time” and I’d call #3 “Oblivion” thanks for asking. Hey, I’m sure he had a good reason for not naming them. Maybe.) One of my favourite Elliott Smith tracks of all time is on this album — “Last Call” is in my top 20 songs ever for sure — an incredible song that QUITE HONESTLY I can not pinpoint the true meaning behind, but if you ask me, that’s the beauty of most songs. Being able to put your own meanings behind songs and feeling the emotion behind the lyrics beyond “correct” definition is so awesome. To me, Last Call is just about someone who Smith really, truly dislikes, and how he copes with that. Lyrics that stand out to me as being generally poetic and baffling-ly incredible are “Trying to crawl under my skin when I already shed my best defence, it comes out all around that you won, and I think I’m all done, you can switch me off safely.” And  “I’ll sing the praises of my maker’s name, like I was as good as she made me” 

Ask literally anyone who knows me — I could talk about how genius I think Elliott Smith was for HOURS ON END.

- “The Draft” by Football, Etc.

I want to start off by saying I somehow copped a copy of this album on vinyl — which I didn’t even know existed — and it’s pink and awesome. “Sudden Death” literally changed my life. From insanely simplistic but godly effective guitar riffs to insane vocals and lyrics, this song is crazy. “Let’s not save ourselves, let’s not save anyone at all” repeats while guitars harmonise in the background and I’m getting ready to hit replay. “Safety” is a sweet sweet song, detailing the urge to create a beautiful life for the people you love, giving pieces of yourself to them. “I’ll use whatever I can find […] a piece of my own hair” “I’ll build a nest for you”. “X’s and O’s” is about being away from home, being homesick, and LORD that hits close to home. (excuse the pun!) “When I call about the weather, I mean it. Is it cold? Has it snowed? I miss my home.” “Where should I be?” Football, Etc.’s use of guitar harmonies is just insane please go and listen. PLEASE. “Hail Mary” feels a little bit darker, detailing a hospital bed and we can presume is about visiting a hospitalised loved one. Vocalist Lindsay Minton sings “I think this could be the house of God.” And “Brown and white signs lead me to where you lay in your hospital bed”  turns into “where you’ll stay” — implying, finally, death. The album ends with the surprisingly angry and, somewhat niche feeling, “Mouthguard” — which only has the lyrics “Put on a mouthguard.” I can’t tell whether it’s a threat or a nice bit of life advice, but I like it either way.

Ok, this is all I’m gonna do for now because I am getting way too into this and I don’t even think anyone’s gonna see it. HEY — if you did see this (and you read it? Are you crazy?? Thanks, man!) Write a comment to let me know! I hope at least one person enjoys hearing me ramble about music.

Stay cool.