Listening
In no particular order:
My Favorite Albums
Census Designated by Jane Remover (Bandcamp/Youtube) - While I didn't "get it" on first listen, and even now could nitpick it for ages, it is easily my favorite album atm for too many reasons. One is that it's the shortest hour I know. Almost every 15-to-30 minute album I've ever heard feels longer than this. Another reason is that I'm basically incapable of listening to it as background music, which is very rare for my scatterbrained ass. Jane will genuinely aim a gun at you and force you to focus on it the whole damn time! And those are just some of the easier to articulate reasons...
Emily's D+Evolution by Esperanza Spalding (Bandcamp/Youtube) - She had a free public concert back when I was about 11, and my grandparents took me to see it! The intro for "Ebony and Ivy" would get stuck in my head at random moments throughout my life after that, but I only remembered the name to look it up recently! Now it's one of my go-to albums when I need to inject some powerful feminine energy into myself <3
Avalon Vales by Lauren Bousfield (Bandcamp/Youtube) - My favorite electronic-instrumental album. It is the monster hiding just under the surface of a river, the ghosts in a snowy mountain's swirling winds, the eyes peering back at you from a forest's dim foilage. Whenever I play it I either sink deep into repressed childhood trauma or dissasociate from it altogether. 50/50 chance.
The Turning Wheel by Spelling (Bandcamp) - The space and restraint that gives this album life is a big inspiration to me when I try to make music.
星のひとみ (Hoshi no Hitomi) by 黒百合姉妹 (Kuroyuri Shimai) (Youtube) - *dissolves*
Visions of Bodies Being Burned by clipping. (Bandcamp) - One of the most richly, beautifully detailed albums there is, in every regard.
Young Enough by Charly Bliss (Bandcamp/Youtube) - I'm pretty sure this is one the first albums I listened to in full, back when I was first getting into music at 12/13! I just thought it was "meh" back then, but it has since become a classic to me! There just isn't much else that makes me want to scream every lyric like this!
Albums I Might Add To This List
Speak For Yourself by Imogen Heap (Youtube)
Fires In Heaven by SALEM (Bandcamp)
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar (Youtube) - I know it has it's problems but this album showed up for me when I needed it and it doesn't hurt that basically every moment is memorable asf
Pink Moon by Nick Drake (Youtube) - Nick Drake's voice sounds like a tight, comforting hug from a dude who's way bigger and hairier than you, which happens to be something I need a lot ahahaha...ha
Heaven and Hell by Vangelis (Youtube) - I become the female Carl Sagan whenever I hear this
Galore by Oklou (Youtube)
Soundtracks For The Blind by SWANS (Bandcamp/Youtube) - Excellent album to walk back home in the dark to in my experience, it animates the leaves.
Wild Things by Ladyhawke (Bandcamp) - Used to be one of my favorites before I figured out I was trans, and although I feel, like with AURORA, that age has decreased my enjoyment of it, I do still like it a lot from time to time :)
Deltron 3030 by Deltron 3030 (Bandcamp) - I don't listen to this often but it turns me creative whenever I do.
The Orgin of My Depression by Uboa (Bandcamp) - Relatable :(
Sing The Sorrow by AFI (Youtube)
My Favorite Individual Tracks
Sleeping Satellite by Tasmin Archer (Youtube) - Very well could be my favorite pop song.
The Four Horsemen by Aphrodite's Child (Youtube)
Is It Cold in the Water? by SOPHIE (Youtube) - RIP Sophie <3
By This River by Brian Eno (Youtube) - It picks you up, and then you wake in a different place from where you were, not remembering how you got there.
lowsun in a glistening by Sadness (Bandcamp/Youtube)
13 Angels Standing Guard 'Round the Side of Your Bed by A Silver Mt. Zion (Bandcamp) - Definitely my favorite 100% instrumental song.
All Apologies by Nirvana (Youtube)
Songs I Might Add To This List
Yesu Ka Mkwebaze by Noviciat des Soeurs Missionnaires de Notre-Dame d'Afrique (Youtube/Youtube (alt)) - I have a weird relationship with religious music in that I recoil from much of it due to my relationship with Christianity, yet am also drawn to some of it because a true believer can make it beautifully heartfelt. I am much more able to listen to this song than other Christian songs cause it's both not in English and not the contemporary pop rock slop that comprises everything you'd hear from Christian radio or an average Evangelical church.
Teardrop by Massive Attack (Youtube)
Sweetness by Jimmy Eats World (Youtube)
Love Somebody by Teddy Geiger (Youtube)
Elegia by New Order (Youtube)
In A Big Country by Big Country (Youtube) - BUT I CAN LIVE AND BREATHE AND SEE THE SUN IN WINTER-TIIIME
Pretty Bones by yeule (Youtube)
WOODEN DOLL (歌詞) by Kenshi Yonezu (米津玄師) (Youtube)
Soulless Creatures by AURORA (Youtube) - Although I feel almost as if I've "aged out" of listening to lots of AURORA, her discography got me through being 14-15, all I listened to in that time, where I was slowly cracking until I realized I was trans. This song in particular is my favorite from her.
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman (Youtube)
A Lovely Pear by Bull Of Heaven (Youtube)
Cirrus by Bonobo (Youtube)
Flan by Jake Chudnow (Youtube) - The universe began to this.
Thank You For Hearing Me by Sinéad O'Connor (Youtube) - The universe will end to this.