Valley of the Deep Beats: angel olsen

Friday, December 9, 2016

one good thought. (best of 2016)

Here are a few reasons to hate 2016:
Zika.
Terror attacks in Brussels and Istanbul.
Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Keith Lamont Scott, Terrance Crutcher murdered.
Five Dallas police officers murdered.
Brock Turner.
Attack at Pulse Nightclub.
Trump.
David Bowie dies.
Glenn Frey dies.
Phife Dawg dies.
Merle Haggard dies.
Prince dies.
Muhammad Ali dies.
Prince Be dies.
Gene Wilder dies.
Arnold Palmer dies.
Leonard Cohen dies.
Sharon Jones dies.
Brexit.
Trump.
Attack at Ohio State.
Standing Rock.
Tennessee burns.
Trump.

I'm sure that I've missed something.
Lots of sucking happening in that list, huh? But you know something...when I stood on the banks of the Currituck Sound, days after the attacks in Brussels, holding my four-year old daughter and watching the sun gleam off of the water the only thing I could think about was how such beauty could never be taken by terrorists.

In October, when I stood in a crowd at the feet of Kelsey Lu, whose name I had never heard before, and listened to her voice and her cello I was not thinking of any of the terrible things that happened this year. In that moment all I could think was about was how such beautiful sounds could transfix a room full of strangers.

We need these moments. They give us life and hope and strength. Angel Olsen has reminded us that "some days all you need is one good thought strong in your mind." This year seemed to provide a never ending stream of loss and suffering. But when I really reflect on it I can see the beauty and joy and love sprinkled into it.

Music always helps. I have my favorites. Here are some that helped me through.

Kelsey Lu - Church

DIIV - Is The Is Are

Angel Olsen - My Woman

Anderson .Paak - Malibu

A Tribe Called Quest - We Got it From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service

Mary Lattimore - At the Dam

Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein - Stranger Things, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2

Ty Segall - Emotional Mugger

Thee Oh Sees - A Weird Exits

The Men - Devil Music

Parquet Courts - Human Performance

Kevin Morby - Singing Saw

Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial

Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition

Solange - A Seat at the Table

Quilt - Plaza

Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam - I Had a Dream that You Were Mine

Isaiah Rashad - The Sun's Tirade

James Blake - The Colour in Anything

Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered

Monday, December 22, 2014

best of 2014.

I have been trying to come up with something to say about this year and I keep finding myself failing. The events of the recent months and weeks have made it tempting to look back at 2014 and see nothing but darkness. That would be one way to choose to think about the past 12 months. I could choose to let the injustice, the anger and the sadness overshadow the great relief that was the completion of my master's degree or the small joys of family vacations or the answer to prayer that was full-time employment.

Then I start thinking about choice. It's something I talk about with the people I work with on a daily basis. The power of choice. The paradox of choice. The freedom of choice. Choice seems to be the one thing that is granted to all of us, even in moments when it seems there are no options. We've spent a lot of time judging other people's choices. How would you choose to react if you felt your life was in danger? What would you choose if someone was threatening your family? How do you determine what sort of milk to purchase? What is the best thing to say in this situation? How am I supposed to feel about that?

Having the time to think about what music I listen to and why is a luxury. That is not lost on me. Having the time to type about it, to make lists, to consider what qualifies an album for such lists feels more wasteful now than ever before. I have three kids at home. I work six days a week. There is always something to do. Do I feel guilty about choosing to write about music this week? Yes. I feel guilty about everything. That's a choice.

Here are 50 other choices I've made:

50. Anjou - Anjou
49. The Preatures - Blue Planet Eyes
48. How to Dress Well - "What is This Heart?"
47. Caribou - Our Love
46. Perfume Genius - Too Bright