a year in music by
Illustration by Ilan Benaym
January Eels - Electro-Shock Blues A perfectly depressing album for a depressing month. Kent - Isola A Swedish band with an amazing sound. The lead singer’s voice is so rich, it syncs up perfectly with the cold winter. February Hum - Downward Is Heavenward The last record this band made was their best. Space rock for mid-winter. Super Garage - The Self-Titled Debut Album By... This reminds me of a very specific time in my life, and how February can be romantic and warm despite all the snow and cold. March Pulp - This Is Hardcore A really cool album to put on when you let the early spring air in through your windows. It’s my spring-cleaning soundtrack. Sarah Slean - Night Bugs When there’s still a trace of snow on the ground and the nights are still cold, the sun sets late into the evening outside my house. Just as it’s almost dark, a blue tint of light is cast onto the white snow, making everything this erie, irredescent blue color - that is the perfect time for this album. I sit by a window with a cup of tea just listening, almost in tears at the beauty that is Sarah Slean, and the month of March.
April Ed Harcourt - Here Be Monsters For those rainy days that are a bit sad, this album helps you pass the time and feel better. All the lows and highs are here. Gay Dad - Transmission A very unknown band from the UK. This CD blends into the obscurity that is the month of April. Not quite warm or cold, the music is not anything you can really understand. It sounds a bit distorted, poppy, melancholic, and awkward all at once. May Starflyer 59 - The Fashion Focus Jason Martin’s voice is so nice. These songs are for spring. Smashing Pumpkins - MACHINA: The Machines of God This reminds me of my later days in University when school was getting out. Of course, the lyrics “rain falls on everyone” couldn’t describe the feeling of mid-May any better. Sort of a prelude to the summer months ahead. June Ours - Distorted Lullabies One of my all-time favorite albums. It announces the coming of something incredible, like summer. Sloan - Twice Removed This takes me back to high school. It’s a brilliant pop/rock record that makes me pine for old high school summer love that usually happened at the end of the year. So happy it’s sad.
An interesting fact about Daniel is that he categorizes his CDs by month. Here are some of his personal favorites. He comments, “I have so many amazing albums set aside specifically for each month. As you know, I only listen to them at a very specific time in order to get the full effect. Here are the two most definitive albums of each season for me (I couldn’t just pick one). They bring out the absolute best of the time of year and evoke passion, emotion, joy and sadness, while supplying the perfect soundtrack for the month and weather they are accompanying.”
July Creeper Lagoon - Take Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday This album defines summer! Its entire spirit is so warm, it makes you want to open all the windows and take in the beautiful summer breeze. It makes me want the days to never end. It represents summers past, present and future. Rufus Wainwright - Poses Perfect while having breakfast outside in the sun to start your day. Then in the evenings, it captures the warm feeling of the pure beauty known as a summer night. August Ho-Hum - Sanduleak A very unknown band that continues to put out great records. This is fun and poppy, yet still very emotive. Jeff Buckley - Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk Summer nights when it rains and the air gets heavy and thick, I drive around and play this album loud. September Stars - Heart This cute album is a soundtrack for the warm days of September. Andy Stochansky - Five Star Motel A Canadian singer/songwriter with a very original voice. Sets a great tone for the month.
October Deckard - Stereodreamscene Just when the leaves are starting to turn color and you need something still upbeat from September, this album works perfectly. The Leaves - Breathe And, as the leaves begin to fall, this English band, The Leaves, provides the perfect background music. November Matthew Good Band - Beautiful Midnight One of the best rock albums of all-time, its dark and somber tone fits the early November weather nicely with the last of the falling leaves, the cold air, and the hint of winter to come. Drive by falling leaves with the song “Suburbia” playing and the windows down a bit. Shudder To Think - First Love, Last Rites A bit of a different sounding record, this is perfect for 11am snowfalls in late November. December Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Wainwright This is what I listen to when I’m putting up my Christmas tree every year! It’s an amazing work of art. The Stills - Logic Will Break Your Heart I drive around the city looking at all the Christmas lights while listening to this. It’s just so Christmasy. Every part of this album is gorgeous.
