Top 20 Spring CDs

Ah, spring. Spring is the time when everyone loses their minds and starts walking around in shoes with no socks, shirts with no sleeves, and pants that end at the knees even on days when the temperature barely reaches 10-15 degrees Celcius. Or even below that. It depends on how sunny it is and how harsh last winter was.

After completing this top 20, it seems that for me, generally speaking, guitar rythms seem to flow nicely in the windy spring breeze.

But there are also a few excentricities.

Runner up: Squirrel Nut Zippers, Perennial Favorites (1998) & Hot (1996)

Watch out, the squirrels are coming out swinging to some jazzy bluesy swing revival!

20. Karma Wears White Ties, Wesley (2016)

Ah… a starry spring night. This indie dreampop/shoegaze band makes me feel like summer is almost here (even if I had to wear my scarf while waiting for the bus this morning).

19. Louise attaque, Louise attaque (1997)

Louise Attaque’s classic album with its fast violin, guitar, and drumming, fits well on a windy spring day.

18. Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Last Smoke Before the Snow Storm (2011)

Lovely smooth guitar rythms on a lovely day spent doing nothing at the foot of a large tree, watching the rasy of light through the moving leaves.

17. Jethro Tull, This Was (1968)

Blues rock is always a good idea. It may be Anderson’s flute that gives it a spring feel.

16. The Rolling Stones, Hot Rocks 1964-1971 (1971)

Rocks are heating up under the spring sun.

15. Beaties Boys, Paul’s Boutique (1989)

Time for a little spring garage sale. I’m taking the banjo.

14. Lost in Translation Soundtrack (2003)

Spring’s a time for contemplation and meditation, on all the nuances that are lost in translation (and boy are there many).

13. The Paper Kites, Woodland (2011)

It’s just a bit too early here for a walk in the neighbouring woods (too muddy), so the birds are all alone and consequently overjoyed.

12. Wolf Parade, Apologies to Queen Mary (2005)

This hypnotic music is rather melancholic and might work best on a rainy spring day.

11. Eric’s Trip, Love Tara (1993)

Remember your teen years, when spring was about new romantic possibilities… and (the flip side) cruel heartaches.

10. Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes (1983)

Adolescent frustrations are expressed quite differently here. For a very windy spring day.

9. MC Solaar, Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo (1991)

Solaar’s rythms flow well on a spring breeze. And spring is a good time to listen to poetry.

8. Leonard Cohen, Greatest Hits (1975)

Another spring album that is made for reflection. On an evening perhaps, with a glass of wine. Or at dawn, with tea and oranges (or, again, a glass of wine, it depends how late/early it is).

7. Ani Di Franco, Like I said (1994)

A classic and particularly intimate Ani album, with great acoustic guitar rythms, that’s perfect for spring. And, as always, the lyrics hit you straight in the gut (in a good way).

6. Belle and Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003)

LOVE THAT SHIRT. And the attitude.

5. Bob Dylan, The Essential Bob Dylan (2000)

Essential indeed, and incidentally, it all flows quite well through the Spring leaves.

4. Pixies, Waves of Mutilation – Best of Pixies (2004)

My mind is floating nicely.

3. Iron and Wine, Live at Norfolk (2009)

I want to cuddle into this awesome guy’s voice and take in all those nostalgic poetic truths.

2. Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation (1988)

A little distortion for rainy spring evenings.

1. Lou Reed, The Transformer (1972)

Spring chillin. Time to take a walk. On the wild or the moderate side, it’s all good.

 

 

 

Superstar (Carpenters vs Sonic Youth)

Falling in love with a music superstar may not be the best idea. You get to meet them before the second show, they say they’ll “come back this way again”, and you’re left to wait and wait, and be miserable while listening to their songs on the radio.

When the album “If I were a Carpenter” came out in 1994, I had no idea who were The Carpenters. When I found out that they were a duo consisting of a brother and sister who looked like they were taken out of a 60’s style perfect TV family, I was surprised that all these alternative bands decided to cover their songs. Every kid was listening to this tribute album back then, and The Carpenters was introduced to a new generation. Those who cared to know learned about Richard and Karen’s musical talents as well as their life struggles. The most interesting cover songs go after the sadness and longing expressed in the lyrics and Karen’s voice, like “Superstar”.

In 1994, Sonic Youth’s version of “Superstar” includes a lot of distorted feedback and other sounds that add to the feeling that this “Superstar” person is really far away, and that all that remains is a voice on the radio.

Both versions are great. And very different. Perhaps my vote will go to Sonic Youth, but for purely nostalgic reasons.

(P.S. I know this is not an original Carpenters’ song. 😉 )