I learned to love music at Camelot Music, Coconuts (both are now owned by F.Y.E.), and Sam Goody Music Stores. The way we listen to music has changed, but what makes us want to listen will never change. Here are four albums from my playlist starting with a featured album by Angel Olsen.
All Mirrors by American singer-songwriter Angel Olsen debuted October 4, 2019, for Jagjaguwar Records. Olsen co-produced the album with John Congleton. It is her 4th studio album. All Mirrors received high praise from music critics and debuted at the 52nd spot on the Billboard 200.
The album is a bold departure in sound for Olsen who added a 12-piece string section. Her decision to add the strings was influenced by her desire to create something reminiscent of the music of Scott Walker and an annual event from her childhood. Because her birthday is in January, her parents always took her to see “The Nutcracker.” As a young child, she fell in love with the sound of the strings, and she would write songs and try to recreate those sounds at home.
The lyrics Olsen penned for All Mirrors are also a departure from her usual tone in that they are more personal. She was working through the end of a serious romantic relationship and the loss of some key friendships. These events caused her to question what if anything she expected from a partner or a friend and what she would allow them to expect from her moving forward. It’s not the usual bitter fodder one has come to expect from artists writing about break-ups. It’s about coming to terms with what you want in life without apologizing for the successes you’ve achieved or accepting less than you deserve and allowing others to do the same.
All Mirrors is the Angel Olsen album I listen to most. It’s a darker more dramatic production than her previous albums. My favorite tracks are “All Mirrors’” “Lark,” and “Summer.”
This album has been classified as Rock, Baroque Pop, and Alternative/Indie.
Angel Olsen is from St. Louis, Missouri. She is currently based in Asheville, NC. Olsen plays a vintage Gibson S-1 guitar from 1979.
Olsen has collaborated with Bonnie “Prince” Billy and the Cairo Gang, Tim Kinsella of Cap’n Jazz and Chicago poet Marvin Tate, Leroy Bach of Wilco, and Cass McCombs.
She is currently working on a new album, titled Whole New Mess for Seasick records which is due to be released August 28, 2020. Other studio albums by Angel Olsen include Half Way Home; Burn Your Fire for No Witness, and My Woman. In 2017, “Windows,” the final track on Burn Your Fire for No Witness was featured in the final episode of the Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why. You can learn more about Angel Olsen and her music by visiting her website, angelolsen.com.
Watch this performance by Angel Olsen,
“Inlet,” is the first album by Hum in 22 years. After their 1995 album, You'd Prefer an Astronaut which contained the hit, “Stars,” they released the more experimental album, Downward Is Heavenward in 1998, before breaking up in 2000. Far from being a “one-hit” wonder, Hum’s unique style, a blend of shoegaze - an indie rock genre often associated with My Bloody Valentine, and alternative rock (post-hardcore, space rock, and emo), influenced groups such as Deftones and the post-hardcore band, Hopesfall. By the 2010s Hum’s blending of shoegaze and post-hardcore inspired a new group of bands, Nothing, Title Fight, Cloakroom, Superheaven, Higher Power, and Greet Death. Hum reunited for some live shows in 2015 and on June 23, 2020, they surprise-released Inlet, on Bandcamp. Critics have hailed it as the perfect follow-up to Downward is Heavenward. Before the release of Inlet, I had never listened to Hum, but I didn’t need prior knowledge of the band to enjoy their music. My favorite tracks are “Waves,” “Step into You,” and “Folding.”
Hum was formed in Champaign, Illinois in 1990. Current members include founding member, Matt Talbott -vocals and rhythm guitar, Bryan St. Pere – drums, Jeff Dimpsey – bass guitar and Tim Lash – lead guitar. Additional albums released by Hum include Fillet Show (1991) and Electra 2000 (1993).
Inlet is available for purchase at https://humband.bandcamp.com/releases, and most major music services. Follow them on Facebook,
https://www.facebook.com/humbandofficial/photos/a.455775203696/10157451918528697/
Halcyon Digest is the 5th studio album by indie rock band Deerhunter. It was released September 28, 2010 for 4AD worldwide. It debuted to universal acclaim. Halcyon Digest features a stripped-down sound with less emphasis on electric guitars and an expanded array of instruments including acoustic guitar, banjo, autoharp, electronic percussion, harmonica, and saxophone.
Vocals by Cox and Pundt do justice to stellar lyrics about simpler times and innocence forgotten. The final track, “He Would Have Laughed” is a tribute to Memphis musician and songwriter, Jay Reatard who died in 2010. He was 29.
My favorite tracks are “Coronado,” “Helicopter,” and “Desire Lines.” Cox has cited the Rolling Stone’s album, Exile on Main Street, as his inspiration for featuring saxophone on “Coronado.”
Deerhunter was formed in Atlanta, Georgia by Bradford Cox, and Moses Archuleta in 2001. Band members include lead singer Bradford Cox who also plays guitar and keyboards, singer/guitarist Lockett Pundt, drummer Moses Archuleta, and bass player Josh Fauver (this was his last album with the band). In 2013, Josh McKay became the new bass player and in 2016, Javier Morales joined the band. He plays keyboards, synthesizers, and alto saxophone. Deerhunter has released eight studio albums. Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? (2019) is their latest album.
After Laughter is the 5th studio album by Paramore. It was released on May 12, 2017, for the record label, Fueled by Ramen. It is the follow-up album to their 2013 self-titled album. After Laughter is the band's first album since the departure of bassist Jeremy Davis who left the band in 2015 and the return of drummer Zac Farro, who left the band with his brother Josh in 2010. The album received critical acclaim. Critics hailed the album as a complete departure from the usual sound of their previous releases that were more pop-punk and alternative rock.
After 17 years together, it’s rare for a band to successfully change their sound and attract new fans while keeping their loyal audience.
After Laughter, which I consider their best album, is a testament to the talents, versatility, and musicality of Paramore.
The lyrics of After Laughter that touches on themes of depression, anxiety, and exhaustion are in contrast with the upbeat and vibrant sound of the record. It’s not surprising these themes would eventually come to the forefront of the band’s music. Paramore was formed in Franklin, Tennessee in 2003 when Hayley Williams was 15, Josh Farro was 17, and his brother Zac Farro was 14. After Laughter addresses the major growing pains of Paramore.
While under contract with a major record label, Williams (14), refused a pop solo career to play the music she loved with her friends. Despite considerable resistance in the music industry to a female lead singer, William’s vocals and boundless energy soon won them over. The current members of Paramore are Hayley Williams – lead vocals, piano, and keyboards, Taylor York – rhythm and lead guitar, background vocals, keyboards, drums and percussion, and Zac Farro - drums, percussion, keyboards, and background vocals.
My Favorite tracks are “26,” “Tell Me How,” and “Forgiveness.”
Paramore’s other Studio albums are All We Know is Falling, Riot, Brand New Eyes, and Paramore. On May 11, 2020, Williams announced Paramore is working on their sixth album which will be a return to their pop-punk roots.
Sources for this article include:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Olsen
https://pitchfork.com/features/song-by-song/angel-olsen-interview-all-mirrors/
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14681-halcyon-digest/
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23237-after-laughter/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramore
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23237-after-laughter/
Photo credit for All Mirrors album cover art image:
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61935267
Photo credits for Angel Olsen images:
By Stian Schløsser Møller - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86507592
By WRBB 104.9 FM - P4K - Saturday, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85955701
By Kenny Sun from Boston - Angel Olsen @ The Sinclair (Cambridge, MA), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85956010
Photo credit for Inlet album cover art image:
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64360583
Photo credit for Halcyon Digest album cover art image:
Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49610639
Photo credit for Deerhunter photo:
By Iggysaves (talk) - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45921298
Photo credit for After Laughter album cover art image:
By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53821286
Photo credits for Paramore photos:
By Ralph PH - https://www.flickr.com/photos/raph_ph/34847821524/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60757733
By Lelê Breveglieri - https://www.flickr.com/photos/leleuzis/9403984511/in/photostream/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28222500