UPDATE: This page will no longer be updated. As of mid-June 2012, I shall be writing a weekly music post instead, Music Mondays, which can be found under the Music category on the right side of my page. I’ll be writing in more detail about the music I am listening to on a week to week basis, so it should be a lot of fun! So check out those posts, and I’ll leave this here so my listening habits of the first half of this year are still on record, for better or worse! Thanks!
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Updated 02-06-2012
Oops, I did it again, and left it a long time between updates on this page. Anyway, I have a whole heap of new music (as in, new to my collection, and a couple are also new releases) to put up, including brand spanking new solo albums by Julia Stone and Regina Spektor, as well as relatively new albums by Jack White and Storm Corrosion (which could be my favourite of the year), and Rocket Juice & The Moon, the bizarre combination of Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz, solo) and Flea (RHCP) with Tony Allen. Here goes (and let me know if you’ve been listening to these):
By The Horns by Julia Stone
What We Saw From The Cheap Seats by Regina Spektor
Storm Corrosion by Storm Corrosion
Blunderbuss by Jack White
Rocket Juice & The Moon by Rocket Juice & The Moon
Best of Kokua Festival by Jack Johnson and Friends
Graceland by Paul Simon
Rubber Factory by The Black Keys
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Updated 06-05-2012
So I’m a terrible person and I haven’t updated my music listening page for a month. Anyhow, the big album I have been listening to a lot these past couple of weeks is Rufus Wainwright’s new album, Out Of The Game, which is a return to the more pop-oriented side of his songwriting, and heavily influenced by 70s music such as David Bowie, Elton John and Billy Joel. Aside from that, my listening has been all over the place, and to be honest I am probably going to forget half of it as I write this, but I shall try my best. Here goes:
Out of the Game by Rufus Wainwright
Cities by The Cat Empire
Grand National by John Butler Trio
Breakfast In America by Supertramp
Crime of the Century by Supertramp
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
The Conversation by Tim Finn
Imaginary Kingdom by Tim Finn
Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens
Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
The Essential Sly & The Family Stone by Sly & The Family Stone
Feel free to comment below with what you’ve been listening to, or cast judgement upon the dorkiness of some of my music choices! Happy Listening!
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Updated 05-04-2012
There is a couple of albums I have recently bought in here, but I have spent much of the last couple of weeks going back through some of my older albums I haven’t listened to in a while – there is nothing like that feeling of rediscovering an album some considerable time after you last listened to it. Anyway, here goes:
Beards, Wives, Denim by Pond
Frond by Pond
Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars
Let’s Build A Rocket, Boys! by Elbow
All Things Must Pass by George Harrison (listening to this one right now, actually…)
Martha Wainwright by Martha Wainwright
As Day Follows Night by Sarah Blasko
Before These Crowded Streets by Dave Matthews Band
There’s bound to be something in here that you’ll like, so why not check out some of these albums?!
Happy listening!
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Updated 19-03-2012
It’s been a few weeks since I updated this, but I have bought quite a bit of new music in the intervening weeks, and am loving all of it!
Currently listening to the following (most of which is newly bought):
Say It Is So by Tim Finn
Feeding The Gods by Tim Finn
Lunatic Soul by Lunatic Soul
10 Stories Down by Pineapple Thief
Let’s Forget All The Things That We Say (EP) by Julia Stone
Anar by Markéta Irglová
Night Owl by Gerry Rafferty
Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
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Updated 20-02-2012
I have been listening to a rather eclectic mix of music this last fortnight, ranging from jazz, to synth-pop, to psychedelic rock, and much more. As usual, if I am putting these albums on this list, it means I think they are awesome and I highly recommend them. Enjoy, and let me know if you have heard of any of these.
Something by Chairlift
Kisses on the Bottom by Paul McCartney
Innerspeaker by Tame Impala
Our Endless Numbered Days by Iron and Wine
Time On Earth by Crowded House
One Nil by Neil Finn
Toxicity by System of a Down
The Genius of Ray Charles by Ray Charles
Rockin’ The Suburbs by Ben Folds
Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk by Jeff Buckley
Happy Listening!
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Updated 06-02-2012
It’s been nearly a couple of weeks since I last updated this page, but a couple of big weeks music wise. I finally saw Incubus live last friday, after wanting to see them for over a decade, and they blew me away! I also bought the newly released Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan which is a massive 4 disc tribute album by over 70 different artists, all to celebrate 50 years of Amnesty International – I recommend this to any fans of his music as there are some great covers on this. Anyway, onto the music I was listening to this last week or two:
Chimes of Freedom:The Songs of Bob Dylan by Various Artists
Let Them Talk by Hugh Laurie
Only Sparrows by Josh Pyke
Make Yourself by Incubus
S.C.I.E.N.C.E. by Incubus
Lonely Avenue by Ben Folds and Nick Hornby
Bittersweet by Crosby & Nash (but no Stills or Young)
L.A. Woman by The Doors
Dynamite by Jamiroquai
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Update: 25-01-2012
Well it’s been a week, so I thought I’d put up some of the albums I’ve been listening to a lot this last little while. There are some that carried on from the previous week – I have chosen not to mention those ones again. This week the mix is perhaps a bit more eclectic? I would like to think most people would like at least one of the albums in this week’s list! Incubus feature a number of times because I am about to see them live in a bit over a week’s time (one of my bucket list bands, I guess you could say). Damien Rice is an Irish folk artist, and definitely worth checking out. Nick Drake is a folk artist from the 1970s, and this album is one of the most stunning albums I have ever heard. New Buffalo features Sarah Seltmann, who has recently gone solo, and the other two artists kind of stem from the progrock/progmetal scene. Anyway, week two:
O by Damien Rice
Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Monuments and Melodies by Incubus
Morning View by Incubus
Make Yourself by Incubus
Live in NYC by Blackfield
Somewhere, Anywhere by New Buffalo
Train of Thought by Dream Theater
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While this blog is mostly about my passion for books and writing, I have to create a little space on it for one of my other passions – music. I absolutely love music, and my music collection is in fact even larger than my book collection. So I thought, why not record what music I’m listening to, just once a week, or maybe even once a fortnight, and just keep a running record of it here on this page? More importantly, I’m going to be completely honest – I listen to all sorts of music, and some of my collection is pretty daggy, but if I love it and am listening to it, I’ll admit to it. So here goes:
18-01-2012
Strict Joy by The Swell Season
Variations on a Dream by Pineapple Thief
8 Days by Pineapple Thief
Together We’re Stranger by No-Man
Deadwing by Porcupine Tree
Grace For Drowning by Steven Wilson
Conditions of my Parole by Puscifer
The Complete Albums by Billy Joel
Did you spot the daggy one? I know I did…
Wanton Creation 
I like Porcupine Tree and Puscifer also.
I really love Porcupine Tree’s In Absentia album.
Do you like Blackfield, Tool, A Perfect Circle or Steven Wilson’s solo & other projects?
Also, do you like Opeth?
{They are good friends with Porcupine Tree}.
Awesome! Yes, I love In Absentia, for me that album and Fear of a Blank Planet are equal as my fave Porcupine Tree albums. Though, I must confess, Steven Wilson’s second album Grace For Drowning is my favourite album he has ever made across all his various projects!
Yeah I like Blackfield, especially their first two albums. Just got a hold of their Live in NYC album today too, which is really good. Also finally listening to No-Man, which is one of the more unusual things Wilson has contributed to, but I like it!
Yeah, I like Tool and APC and Opeth. Did you know Mikael from Opeth and Steven Wilson are working on a collaborative project together called Storm Corrosion? I’m pretty excited, apparently the album is due out in April.
Despite what many people say, I think this is an exciting time for the world of music, there are so many talented musicians and bands out there! 🙂
I really enjoy Fear of a Black Planet also.
Porcupine Tree/ Steve Wilson are so talented!
I have not heard Steve Wilson’s Grace for Drowning yet but its on the list!
I have yet to hear No-Man also.
If it is unusual then I am sure I will like it.
I have been called “weird” because of some of my musical tastes.
{These ridiculous labels are meaningless to me}.
I love highly creative and artistic people- like Radiohead, Bjork, Beck, Tool, Nin,Saul Williams, David Lynch, Carl Jung, Banksy…etc.
I really like people that cannot really be categorized, manipulated or tamed
– INDIVIDUALS}.
Thanks for letting me know of Mikael and Steve’s collaboration!
Now I am so excited! You just made my day!
That is so cool.
Something to look forward to.
I watched an interview with Mikael where he said that he wants to do a solo album.
He wants to do an acoustic guitar album.
I absolutely loved Opeth’s Damnation.
It is my favourite album of theirs.
The soulful singing and acoustic guitar- the beautiful melancholy!
I love Hope Leaves, In My Time of Need & Windowpane but my absolute favourite is Closure.
{I can listen to it consistently and it is always fresh}.
I agree with you in that it is an exciting time for music.
There are so many talented musicians/artists out there.
The challenge is finding them.
Sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and do some research.
Other times you are lucky enough to come across them by accident.
Often friends recommend them and other times strangers.
Regardless, it is such a beautiful thing to discover a new artist/musician/film/ book/ piece of art!
Hahaha glad I made your day with that bit of news about Storm Corrosion. I think it’ll be one of the best albums of the year, especially when you consider both Steven Wilson’s latest album, and Opeth’s latest album (which was clearly heavily influenced by their friendship with Wilson). I think Mikael would be great at doing acoustic stuff, as well. He’s a very talented musician, and good at writing intelligent music.
Also, I wouldn’t worry what people think of you and your music tastes – music is a very personal thing, and people who listen to things just because everybody else listens to them are only missing out on all the good music at the end of their day – their loss, not yours! That’s the way I see it, at least. For me personally, my music taste is very eclectic, I think most genres have worked their way into my collection over the years. If it’s good music, I love it regardless of how popular/unpopular it is, or what genre it belongs to – good music is good music, end of story. 🙂
I often find I discover music through connections to other bands. For example, the band Pineapple Thief which I listed here (you’ll probably like them as well, I suspect), I only heard of them because they are on the KScope label that so much of Wilson’s various projects are on, so I gave them a listen and loved them straight away. I often find more bands through friends, too, and we have radio stations here dedicated to alternative music, and even one dedicated to up and coming local bands (which is pretty awesome!)
I am new to “progressive rock” and “metal” music but I am so impressed not only by how good the music is but also by the intelligent lyrics.
{I am not going to get lost in labels though as I agree that good music is good music}.
I have really been missing out all these years!
About “being weird”…
I am totally okay with it.
Other people’s opinions of my musical tastes have no weight.
I listen to what I enjoy- what sounds good to me and makes me FEEL.
Thanks for recommending Pineapple Thief.
What songs/albums do you suggest I start with?
Have you seen the movie High Fidelity by any chance?
I really love it but the reason I mention it isn’t just because of the good music or great acting {I love John Cusak}.
Its because I was curious to know what you think about this quote from the movie & book by Nick Hornby…
“What really matters is what you like, not what you are like.
Books, records, films, these things matter.
Call me shallow. It’s the fucking truth.”
This quote has stuck with me for years.
What really matters is what we like versus what we are like as people.
{You could really argue for and against it}.
I do think that what we like is vital.
Likes can bring us together and often stay with us long after a person leaves our lives.
It is as if a person’s preferences & passions are tattooed in us.
Every time we hear that song, read that poem/book or watch that movie,
it reminds us of them.
It is inescapable and so powerful.
But likes do not guarantee that everything will work out in the end.
They may initially attract us to a person but preferences will not act as glue.
They do not keep people together.
What we are like as people is equally as important- if not more.
We may like similar books, films, music, food, etc but if our ethics and lifestyles are different then they take over.
What are your thoughts on this?
With Pineapple Thief, I have only one album, called Variations On A Dream, but the re-issue of it (And the only one available now) comes with a bonus album called 8 Days (which is a full album, another 10 tracks). There seems to be a massive discography, which I am going to slowly collect now, but yeah, Variations on a Dream is fantastic.
I haven’t seen the film High Fidelity, though I have the book (I haven’t read it, but I have read some of Nick Hornby’s other work. And I have the Ben Folds album where Folds wrote the music and Hornby wrote the lyrics – called Lonely Avenue, if you haven’t heard it, it is absolutely amazing). But it is an interesting quote you’ve mentioned there. I don’t entirely agree, I think both are important. I think what we like ultimately influences and considerably defines what we are like. I think both are important, and when getting to know people and what they are like, considering the things they do like gives you some sort of context to place them in, but so much of what a person is like also comes down to things outside the realm of consumable culture. So books and films and music matter, but there is a lot more to it than that. But to dismiss them would be the same as dismissing what a person is like – the two ideas are inextricably linked, I feel.
Thanks for all of your recommendations.
I have not heard any Ben Folds’ music.
Now its on the list.
I do think both what we like and what we are like are important.
What we like brings us together but is it enough to keep us together?
{That is what I was trying to express}.
You are right.
You cannot divorce one from the other.
But what we like does open a door.
Its like an invitation almost.
On another note…
Have you heard of Hayden by any chance?
He’s a Canadian singer so I don’t know if he is known internationally.
I really recommend his “Everything I Long For” album.
{The way that Hayden sings makes you feel what he is singing about}.
Its acoustic heaven.
If you like Opeth’s damnation, you might like this.
Ah Ben Folds is awesome, he’s a piano player, but his music has always been like rock music, only replacing the guitars with a piano, so his set up for many of his albums has been piano, fuzz bass, drums (he had a band in the 90s called Ben Folds Five (which only had 3 members), but has had a slew of successful albums since then). He is very talented though, makes the piano sound so exciting.
I haven’t heard of Hayden, but I will have to look into him…*adds to the ever growing list of albums to find and buy*…. thanks for the recommendation!
I see we have similar interests – books and music! 🙂 Love your writing style! It has something new, something that really urges a person to continue reading. Great work! 🙂
You know what they say…great minds think alike! 🙂
And thank you, that is very kind of you! I’m glad to know people like my writing style, I always worry I’m just rambling on about things (I mean, I am, but if people are enjoying it, great!)
Love your blog too, you have a great writing style of your own! 🙂
Seeing as there’s a lot of Opeth and Porcupine Tree and Pineapple Thief talk on here, I think you’ll really like these, if you don’t already..
Try Lunatic Soul. I love, love, love Lunatic Soul. And Les Discretes, if you don’t mind French lyrics, as long as it’s good music. Oh, and Ephrat. Really good stuff.
I recently discovered Pink Room and Retrospective, and I’m immersing myself in their music. Let me know what you think. 🙂
I have heard of all those artists, but haven’t actually heard them! I will definitely look into them and get back to you with what I think! (and no french lyrics don’t bother me, I quite like them actually, even though I have no idea what they’re singing about hahaha). 🙂
And I don’t feel like looking for a translation because the music is so beautiful, I’m scared I’ll find out that they’re talking about their breakfast or something. Silly, I know, but there you go. 😛
Hahahahhaa, that is very true, that would be so disappointing if it was about something silly like that. 😛
I love your taste in music, it has convinced me to be a follower, only a few are worthy!
Thank you very much, and I am glad you like my taste in music – I can only assume then that you must have great taste in music yourself?!
Likewise, I love your blog and have started following it! Always great to find other Aussies on the blogosphere, too! 🙂
Do I spy Iron & Wine? Ahhh love them!
You most certainly do spy I&W – Our Endless Numbered Days, which is probably my favourite I&W album too! As these lists probably suggest, my taste is somewhat eclectic at times. But I do love some of the better folkyish music, like I&W and Bon Iver, and also Fleet Foxes, looove those guys. Actually I love most music, if it’s by actual talented musicians. 🙂
Wow, I haven’t updated this part of my blog for exactly a month! Ooops! Must remember to update it tomorrow some time! 😛
Oooh, yes Fleet Foxes are very good as well! My personal favorite Iron & Wine album is Creek Drank the Cradle… I love the back-woodsy sound!
Yeah, I love that album too, that was his first I think! I&W’s later albums have moved away from that sound, and although I still enjoy them I prefer that older sound he had at the start. I wish he’d tour Australia, I’d love to see him live. I missed Fleet Foxes earlier this year, they played 3 sold out shows at the Sydney Opera House which would have been an amazing show to go to….
I actually got to see I&W live a year ago! He came to this little venue we have in Buffalo that holds about 300 people, and it was so good! He played Naked As We Came for the encore, and it was so beautiful I almost cried. It’s probably my favorite I&W song. So definitely see him if you can! Aww, that’s too bad about Fleet Foxes.
Ahhhh wow, I am so jealous! That’s definitely the way I would want to see him too, in a small intimate gig. I imagine if he came to Australia he would play smaller venues – there’s some great venues around Sydney that hold 500-1000 people, so if he does tour here one day fingers crossed he plays somewhere like that. That sounds like it would have been an amazing show you went to, especially with that encore (I love a well chosen encore)!
It was annoying about Fleet Foxes, but on the same note if they sold out that well, they will no doubt return. They seem to have a massive following in Australia, which is cool.
Okay, I think I need to update this page now before I forget…hahaha
I’ve got my fingers crossed Fleet Foxes go back to Oz soon so you can see them. Do you live in/near Sydney?
Yes, do update! I’d like to see what you’ve been listening to lately!
I used to live in Western Sydney, but now I live on the Central Coast about an hour north of Sydney City, so pretty close – I have a few friends down there so I definitely have spent a lot of time in the place! Haven’t been lately though because every time I go I tend to spend a lot of money hahaha.
And the page is updated! I realised I have been listening to a lot of dorky music lately…oh well. 😛
That’s a convenient distance. Ah, yes I can imagine much money being spent there 😛
Good tunes this month! Hooray for Rufus Wainwright (although I confess I only know about three of his songs), Suptertramp and Pink Floyd!
Yep, that’s the way I look at it, I’m close enough and far enough away from Sydney. And I love the beaches up this way (to be honest I prefer my local beaches to Sydney beaches).
Haha, I suspected you might have been a fan of the Floyd! 😛 And if you haven’t heard much of Rufus Wainwright’s songs, get his new album! It’s awesome! I mean I love all his albums but I am really quite impressed with his new album, I think already it could be my favourite album of the year – it’s going to take a lot to knock this one off the podium for me. Having said that, I haven’t listened to Storm Corrosion’s album yet…hrmmm….
Oops I’m rambling about music again. I do that sometimes…
Ahh, you’re so lucky to have beaches!
I’m not a huge Floyd fan, but I’m growing to appreciate them more. I had the misfortune of hearing Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 as a very small child (it’s so creepy when you’re five — why won’t he just leave the poor kids alone?!), and I’ve only recently been able to listen to it without wigging out!
Hmm, might have to give the new Wainwright a listen. Hooray for Spotify!
There are far worse things to ramble about than music 🙂
Okay, I’ve listened to Rufus Wainwright’s new album! After one listen I’m not sure how I feel about the album as a whole, but goodness “Perfect Man” is really wonderful!
Ahhh okay? It is different for him, but I think it grows on you, too. I agree, Perfect Man is a great song. My favourite song on the album though is the second last track, Song Of You.
Cat Stevens! *reaches for Best Of album on shelf* Morning has broken!
Hahaha, yeah, I have a couple of Cat Stevens best ofs I think, as well as a few of his albums, and both albums by Yusuf. 😀
Storm Corrosion! I got it, I got it, I got it! I love it! I’ve just listened to the first two songs, but..WOW. *brains blown*
Ahhhh awesome! I am glad you’re loving it already, you sound like you’re reacting in the same way I did when I first heard it! 😀
Presumably you’ve heard all of it by now….were you impressed by the rest? My favourite song on it was the second last song, Lock Howl. It’s just awesome! 🙂 But I love the whole thing. 🙂
It’s been playing on loop ever since I got it. 😀
I’m going to have to drown in the awesomeness of it before I have any favourites, but I really like that one, too. I can’t decide! I’ll give you a non-giddy opinion in a few days. ..Er. On second thought, make that a week. Or two. Or three. 😛
Hahahaha, yeah. It took me a week and a half until I could write a review of it for another website I sometimes write for, and even then I struggled to do it justice in my review. It takes many listens to fully sink in, but it is an amazing album. Contending for the best of 2012, so far as I’m concerned. 🙂
May I see the review? 🙂
http://castleco-op.com/?p=9648
There it is. I am not so confident with my music reviews as I am with my book reviews, but oh well. Hope you like it anyway! 😛
Damn it. Where is the like button on that thing?! 😛
Hahaha, yeah, they have the different version of wordpress, the one you pay for and get your own domain name etc, which means the like button is removed. 😛 But glad you liked the review 😛
Awesome – you’ve got Blunderbuss – hope I’m partly responsible for that purchase after my twitter comment 🙂
Yep, I finally got a hold of Blunderbuss – I would have bought it earlier but my finances were a bit tight for quite a while there. And yes, I did notice your twitter comment about how much you liked it, which definitely did help convince me (not too many people I know have heard it yet…it seems to have slipped under the radar a little). But yes, it is an awesome album, I have been listening to that one in my car a lot on the way to work (I can almost get through the whole album each way).
If you like Jack Johnson and Cat Stevens, you should give Michael kiwanuka a try – very soulful. His first album is Home Again – almost got an Otis feel to it!
Ahhhh sounds awesome, I will have to look him up! With a name like that I bet he’s soulful! Thanks for the recommendation! 🙂