Each person possesses an album that can deliver them to a vivid memory or a meaningful encounter. Songs are scents in the sense that they can evoke worlds, specific places, and moments, bringing them to mind with great clarity. My two cents. I was first introduced to Jeff Buckley in the summer of 1999, not… Continue reading Jeff Buckley – Grace
Genre: Indie
XTC – Drums and Wires
“Hey Nigel! Come here Nigel!” Kids are weird. Hell, we all are. When your Uncles and I were younger, we used to call each other so many different names. Some were obvious in their intentions to hurt and others were simply ridiculous. For some reason, we always called your Uncle Mitchell…“Nigel.” I know for fact… Continue reading XTC – Drums and Wires
The Shins – Oh, Inverted World
2001 was an extremely confusing, morose period for myself and most of America. I would soon be graduating from the University of South Carolina in December. I had zero plan or clue what my next move would be. I also was in a very serious relationship with someone who still had a remaining year of… Continue reading The Shins – Oh, Inverted World
The Smiths – Hatful of Hollow
There are songs that feel specifically written for you. The fact that we all think and emote in a unique way means we all live a separate psychological and emotional reality. Most of us tend to live in 2 worlds. One in which we are prisoner and slave to our relationship with our own incessant… Continue reading The Smiths – Hatful of Hollow
LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver
Make no mistake, Sound of Silver is a dance album. While those intentions are obvious, I translate the record a little differently. This is an album that hits me seasonally and evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia. Something inside me seems to gravitate towards it every time the mercury starts to drop. The longing and… Continue reading LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
2009. What a year! New Orleans had risen like a Phoenix from the Katrina ashes. The rebirth was vibrant. The city was at the height of what makes it so deceiving and infectious. The Saints were marching their way to their first ever Super Bowl. I was lucky enough to attend every home game. The… Continue reading Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Wolf Parade – Apologies To The Queen Mary
Sometimes albums come along at the right place and the right time. 2005 was a monumental year for myself and all New Orleanians. August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Fast forward 2 months later, I’m a transplanted evacuee living 90 miles away from home in Baton Rouge. The investment firm I was working for… Continue reading Wolf Parade – Apologies To The Queen Mary
The Feelies – Crazy Rhythms
This morning on the way to drop you off at school, we were listening to the new Panda Bear album Reset. I made a comment along the lines of “oooohhh I like these melodies. Very Beach Boys and Feelies.” You didn’t really care about the Beach Boys or The Feelies, but you did ask, “What’s… Continue reading The Feelies – Crazy Rhythms
Guster – Goldfly
1997, Jesuit High School Senior Year. This was a very seminal year for me musically. There was a heavy rotation in the 5 disc changer of Bad Religion, Faith No More, Weezer, 311 (eek), Dave Matthews Band (ugh) and Ben Folds Five. Every morning I would drive your Uncle Mitchell and your “Uncle” Rene to… Continue reading Guster – Goldfly
Daniel Johnston – Yip Jump Music
Pop music has become robotic and redundant. Art and creativity have given way to data. A hit song now is just a plug-and-play equation or proven theorem of chords, melodies and rhythm structure. Grab a marketable looking kid, crank up the social media machine and let the flywheel spin. Then there is Outsider Music. It’s… Continue reading Daniel Johnston – Yip Jump Music