Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions came from both songs I listened to on my commute to work today, and songs inspired by music Chris and I have been talking about, and/or listening to. I’ve been on an Angel Olsen and Lana Del Rey kick this week, ever since I heard, and added tracks of theirs, to this week’s Monday Playlist. I’m also digging into a new blog project that is dedicated to albums and music discovery. I’ll be picking an album, or two, to explore and write on. Sometimes it will be albums of Chris’ that he’s introducing me to. Other times it will be albums of mine that I love that I’m re-discovering. And occasionally it will be a brand new album added to my music obsessive collection. Up first is Townes Van Zandt’s album, High, Low and In Between (title track in today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions list). This one is from Chris’ amazing album collection that we are slowly bringing to our house from his storage. I love exploring his collection, talking to him about it, listening together, and discovering new-to-me music. I love sharing music together (and I love loving him).
Top 5 Music Obsessions – Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Listen via Spotify and YouTube
1. “Heart Shaped Face” by Angel Olsen
from the album, My Woman (2016)
“Was it me you were thinking of?
All the time when you thought of me.
Was it me you were thinking of?
All the time when you thought of me.”
I’ve been into Angel Olsen’s voice and music this week, spending lots of listening time with her album, My Woman; especially this track, “Heart Shaped Face”. I’d love to see her play live.
2. “Venice Bitch” by Lana Del Rey
New Single (2018)
“You’re in the yard,
I light the fire,
and as the summer fades away –
nothing gold can stay.
You write,
I tour,
we make it work.
You’re beautiful and I’m insane.
We’re American-made.”
I love “The Outsiders” reference (“nothing gold can stay”), and the details that bring both the couple and the city they reside in, to life. Though I prefer her other new single, “Mariners Apartment Complex”, this track is good, too. I’m excited about her new album. This track makes me want to write a short story about the writer and the singer, the beautiful and the insane, living in Venice Beach, or somewhere nearby, in Los Angeles.
3. “Again” by Villagers
New Single (2018)
“I’ve found again (again),
a space in my heart again (again),
for God again (again),
in the form of art again (again).”
Another new single that I’ve been obsessing over this week. I’m excited for new music from Villagers. I like the notion of God as art, or as love. That’s how I “read” this, in this track.
4. “High, Low and In Between” by Townes Van Zandt
from the album, High, Low and In Between (1972)
“What can you leave behind,
when you’re flyin’ lightning fast,
and all alone?
Only a trace,
my friend,
spirit of motion born,
and direction grown.
A trace that will not fade.”
Stay tuned for more about this album in the new project I’m putting together. This one is from Chris’ amazing music collection (and his amazing music knowledge). Lyrically, this song is like poetry, to me. I’m looking forward to listening to this album together.
5. “Standing in the Doorway” by Bob Dylan
from the album, Time Out of Mind (1997)
“I got no place left to turn.
I got nothin’ left to burn.
Don’t know if I saw you,
if I would kiss you or kill you.
It probably wouldn’t matter to you anyhow.”
One of my favorite Dylan songs. I’ve been listening to this album (Time Out Of Mind) and Planet Waves (1974) a lot lately. This track is one I always want to play a few times in a row when I hear it.
