Hey there! We’re nearing the exact midpoint of winter and if you’re anything like me, the remedy is a cozy hoodie, fuzzy blanket, steaming mug, and of course, a warm playlist. Here are some mixes I’ve been using to soundtrack flurries and cold fronts lately.
SNOW DAY, a collection of stay-at-home favorites crowdsourced by The New Yorker’s Rachel Syme via tweet // ft. Laura Marling, James Blake, Elliott Smith, Al Green, Jonny Greenwood, Sara Bareilles, R.E.M.
COZY, a calming and nostalgic snow day playlist from WSJ Magazine’s Natalia Barr // ft. Joni Mitchell, Taylor Swift, Norah Jones, Arlo Parks, Bon Iver, The Shins
Winter Mix No. 03 - 2022, easygoing rock and folk deep cuts from graphic designer Laura Filas // ft. Fleetwood Mac, The Velvet Underground, The Kinks, Born Ruffians, and a particularly nice gem from rising star Kate Bollinger
A Winter Chill, icy instrumentals and experimental sounds from composer Max Richter (best known for his work on The Leftovers) // ft. Richter’s own work alongside Grouper, Moses Sumney, FKA Twigs, Perfume Genius
Songs For Warmth Seeking, Vol. 1, another seasonal mix from writer and expert curator Hanif Abdurraqib // ft. Kehlani, Tinashe, The Antlers, Isaiah Rashad, Lord Huron
Songs to hear from (very) early 2022
Despite a still-very-strange state of the world, the music year has at least kicked off with a bang, full of exciting new songs and album announcements. Here are the standouts that have caught my ear so far, also in the Hear Hear playlist for your listening pleasure.
“Everything Is Simple,” Widowspeak. An inviting, relaxed background tune that sounds like you’ve known it forever, with a recurring piano riff that will be on repeat at indie coffeeshops for years to come.
“Touring In January,” String Machine. In my college years, I was drawn to a very specific sound: orchestral indie rock with swooping strings, triumphant horns, and wordless group sing-alongs. Of course, I’m still a sucker for it — especially when it’s as well-executed as this track from Pittsburgh-based seven-piece String Machine. If you ever had a phase with Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, New Pornographers and the like, give this one a spin.
“Running with the Hurricane,” Camp Cope. The Melbourne trio is back with a lovely piano-infused variation of their folk-punk sound.
“Respirate,” Pinegrove. A slow and sweet tune from the Jersey band, as they continue honing their distinct brand of twangy-alt-country-emo.
“Happy New Year,” Let’s Eat Grandma. A wonderfully synthy return from the hyperpop-adjacent, provocatively-named British duo.
“Call U Tomorrow,” Montell Fish. Okay, this one came out in 2021 but I’m excited about Fish’s distinct take on sparse, emotional, genre-hopping indie, with elements of both Bon Iver and Frank Ocean on this track.
Essential covers of The Beatles & Bob Dylan
Two stellar playlists curated by Matthew Perpetua, with covers of the Fab Four and Dylan from major Black artists of the era. Both playlists feature Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, and many more icons.
The Weeknd album lives up to the hype
I’m all in on the captivating sonic landscape of The Weeknd’s Dawn FM, driven by its distinct pairing of producers: Pop megamind Max Martin (responsible for countless chart-toppers) and electro artist Daniel Lopatin, aka Oneohtrix Point Never (responsible for the anxious scores of Good Time and Uncut Gems). As Pitchfork’s Dani Blum writes, “the two function like a devil and angel perched on his shoulders — Martin’s glittering effects, Lopatin’s abstractions and absurdity.”
Here are two of my favorite songs from the album, paired with great blurbs from two great music writers…
“Here We Go… Again” (feat. Tyler, the Creator) // From Jamieson Cox’s newsletter, One Good Song: “The joke is right there in the title: after half an hour of unpredictable and occasionally radical pop music, you hear The Weeknd’s signature cadence — that angelic sung-rapped flow — and the album’s first truly self-referential verse on a song called “Here We Go… Again.” Those glowing harmonies were co-written and produced by a near-octogenarian member of The Beach Boys. They’re beautiful and a little bit absurd.”
“Less Than Zero” // From Ryan Schreiber’s newsletter, What’s Good: “A self-effacing breakup song with an irresistible, blossoming chorus and a devastating kick of a final lyric, it is one of the Weeknd’s best songs yet — and in this catalog, that is no small achievement.”
Keeping score: Batman gets another new theme
Michael Giacchino, the composer behind so many franchise reboots (Star Trek, Mission Impossible, and the MCU’s Spider-Man), iconic Pixar scores (Up, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, and Inside Out), and my favorite TV score ever (Lost) has been tasked with creating another fresh theme for yet another iconic character: Robert Pattinson’s upcoming take on The Batman. He did not disappoint: this seven-minute suite is a brooding, building masterclass that gave me chills as it reached its big finish. Let’s hope the movie lives up to the music.