Happy New Year, Friends!

Recognizing that there is so much music in the world that I haven’t heard yet, I have decided that this year one of my resolutions will be to listen to a new (to me) Album each and every day. For fun, I will record the list here, in case anyone else wants to join my music discovery adventure. Feel free to leave a comment about the albums or tracks you like best (and why!).

A New Album Every Day…

January 2, 2014     Do You Feel The World? by Mike Evin
A friendly, sway-in-your-seat album. Great musicianship and full sounding arrangements without pomp.

January 3, 2014    Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend
Pitchform picked it as the best album of 2013, so I thought it would be worth exploring :)

January 4, 2014   Manuel Ponce: Piano Works, Vol. 1 performed by Alvaro Cendoya
Because uncommon classical works are both refreshing and relaxing.

January 5, 2014   Blue by Joni Mitchell
Because: How did I live so long without hearing this album in its entirety?

January 6, 2014  Eureka by Mother Mother
It starts like a post rock Fleetwood Mac and then jumps into a completely different, electro world. How intriguing! :)

January 7, 2014  Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors
The only lyrics I remember from the entire album are “Bitte Orca, Orca Bitte”. haha. Not because the lyrics are necessarily lacking, but because my attention was drawn more to the really interesting musical arrangements. I look forward to hearing more of their albums :)

January 8, 2014 The Blind Leading the Naked by Violent Femmes
One should always make a study of their best friend’s favourite band.

January 9, 2014 Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars
It’s nice to see an act do so well with mostly sparse arrangements and a focus on vocals. They’re not hiding behind anything. It’s inspiring and a great reminder that less is often best … depending on the piece… there is certainly a place for big, epic music too. Classical music exemplifies the value of both, across AND within individual pieces.

January 10, 2014 Alive 2007 by Daft Punk
It’s got me grooving at my desk … the perfect rhythm for efficiently flying through emails :) A cure for making the mundane more … fundane? haha

January 11, 2014 The Baroness by Sarah Slean
Big choruses and pretty piano parts. Quite lovely.

January 12, 2014 Bows and Arrows by The Walkmen
Atmospheric. Definitely. Was introduced to the album by Matt Gerber while driving to The Argus Music festival in Kitchener. The sound of “No Christmas while I’m talking” made it feel like all the cars were rolling along a frictionless road… almost floating. And no, no drugs were involved (because I know that’s exactly what you were thinking! haha).

January 13, 2014 Songs of a Songwriter Vol. One (Only Halfway Home) & Vol. Two (Shady Lady) by Peter F. Light
Peter is new to the world of songwriting, but he has clearly found his niche (something I’m still trying to figure out) in what I would call Country Bop n’ Roll. It’s playful, yet serious. Country instrumentation, yet old time rock n roll lyrics. “Shady Lady” had me giggling over and over again.

January 14 & 15, 2014 Reflektor by Arcade Fire
I’m counting this as two days, since it’s a double album :) Still serious music, but lighter with a more ‘fun’ feeling than previous albums. I can definitely hear James Murphy’s touch in this. While I love the direction, I do miss the old massive band orchestration and eclectic instruments that inspired me so much… and I wish Regine was in the spot light more. I want Sprawl II 2.0 :) haha

January 16, 2014 foreverly by Billie Joe + Norah
Soft songs about the hard life. I didn’t clue in to who the artists were behind this album until after listening, when I started searching for a link to put in this blog entry. What a cool surprise (and great idea)!

January 17, 2014 The Smiths (2011 remastered version) by The Smiths
As a songwriter it was really interesting to observe that while Morrissey does repeat lines of the lyric in this album, it never feels like it (in contrast to songs like Panic with the anthem-like “hang the dj” line). After listening to this album all the way through, I had to look up the lyrics to check, because I was convinced he never said the same line right after itself… but he does. A magician!

January 18, 2014 Fading West by switchfoot
I haven’t heard all of their albums yet, but (as of today) there isn’t a switchfoot album that doesn’t make me cry… Maybe I’m too sappy, haha. I admire their ability as artists to keep up sonically with the times, while maintaining a distinctiveness unto themselves, and how effectively they blend thought provoking lyrics into a genre of music that (in modern times) is typically angsty and/or ultra simple.

January 19, 2014 Trauma : Chansons de la série télé (saison no. 5) by Cœur de pirate
Producing an entire album of covers for a television series… genius!

January 20, 2014 Panamarenko by Pineforest Crunch
Sometimes shoe-gazey and dreamy. Sometimes straight up pop.

January 21, 2014 Imaginary Biographies by Leerone
Particularly enjoying the heavy groove of “Bring it On”. Can really hear the Tori Amos influence in “Life Could Be”.

January 22, 2014 Trigger Fables by Taste of Joy
The sound elicits images of Lisa Loeb with a grunge-pop band.

January 23, 2014 Calling Out Of Context by Arthur Russell
I didn’t know what to expect after the instrumental intro song, but I definitely wasn’t expecting the pairing of that voice to these sounds. I do love surprises! If jungle pop wasn’t a thing, it is now! At least in my mind :) haha

January 24, 2014 Courage My Love by Annie Gallup
She’s a witty poet, this one :) and master story painter.

January 25, 2014 The Log Drivers by The Log Drivers
This album feels like home to me :)

January 26, 2014 Different Shapes + Sizes (Square the Circle) by Stephane Vera
Groovy… and, at times, celestial.

January 27, 2014 Flourish // Perish by Braids
Up until the last song, the album felt like a mellow blend of Bjork / The Knife /Vessels … and then it got crazy! In a great way :)

January 28, 2014 Days Are Gone by Haim
VERY 80s pop feeling in its production, which I’ve never really been a fan of, but I quite enjoyed this particular album. Solid musicianship, upbeat tunes (for the most part), and interesting voices always draw me in.

January 29, 2014 Mint by Rachel Loshak
Amazingly clear head tone. Sweet melodies. Occasionally medieval sounding arrangements.

January 30, 2014 Give You The Ghost by Poliça
Very Synth. Very Very Synth.

January 31, 2014 Fourth Corner by Trixie Whitley
“Irene” caught my attention in the first 5 seconds. Awesome percussion. Super Soulful.

So that’s one full month and a pretty long list to scroll through! Perhaps I’ll create a new post for each month.

Moving on to FEBRUARY!

Image by Sabine Sauermaul