assignment 23 - a year in music - cole

So, I've been kind of excited for this assignment, which I know makes me a total dork, but I'm a big music nerd, so I had been sort of brainstorming ideas for how to incorporate the many songs I would like to into one cohesive playlist. I settled on making a "year in music," starting with songs that remind me of early spring, then working my way through summer and fall, before ending up in the dead of winter. Then, I realized the assignment was for 5-10 songs, so I'll be sending two playlists, the first of which will be the aforementioned, and the second of which will be just the songs that I discuss below (the "highlights" of the longer playlist).

1. Holocene - Bon Iver
Pleasant, simple, and subdued, this track has always reminded me of the first warm day in March, with snow melting and daffodils beginning to bloom. This song perfectly captures the end of winter and beginning of spring, and the ambivalence that comes with it.

2. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt.1 - The Flaming Lips
This is just a fun, quirky song by a really quirky band. Not quite as high-energy as some of the summer songs, but definitely captures the easygoing energy of that late-April, early-May warming of the air.

3. Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes - Paul Simon
The lazy river of songs on this playlist, it's warm, simple, and easy to listen to. Not perhaps the conceptual genius of some of the later songs on this list, but definitely the song equivalent of those first few lazy days of summer break.

4. The Knuckleball Suite - Peter Mulvey
This song just screams "summer." Or, perhaps more accurately, sweetly hums summer around a campfire with your family. It's a beautiful folk song that builds as it goes along, eventually coming to a climax that always brings me back to warm, humid summer nights.

5. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
Straight-up baroque pop that really just reminds me of college football marching bands. The warm melodies balance out the autumnal instrumentation, making for September-y "Indian Summer" vibes.

6. Svefn-g-englar - Sigur Ros
Glacial Icelandic post-rock that signifies the transition into cold, dark November. Perfect for late-night drives, especially if you care more about the "feel" of the music, rather than the lyrics, because they're all in Icelandic.

7. How to Disappear Completely - Radiohead
The most beautiful song ever made. I love it with all my heart. Yeah, it's sad and slow and sappy, but its deeply emotional lyrics and melody perfectly encapsulate the darkest days of December, only without the Christmas spirit.