My life will not be the subject of this one. I don’t want it to be.
I’m starting to understand the idea of “seasonal albums.” Not collections of songs tailored to accompany a particular holiday, but albums that fit more successfully into a certain temperature and certain colors. Influences for this idea are, recently, Greg Johnson and Anthony Fantano.
The Needle Drop called Feist’s new LP, Metals, a “Fall album.” Fantano is right that it is a little cold, like it’s cover art. Many of the songs are about pain and, by extension, loneliness. But energy from tracks like “A Commotion” keep it from being “desolate.” It also might be (nationalist) that she’s from Canada. I imagine thick sweaters, dying trees, yards lost under reds and oranges and yellows, and hot drinks. And therefore, I see lots of warmth (coffee, etc.), too. This argument would almost perfectly justify Metals as a “winter album” as well, which is an issue. It’s possible that there are just cold albums and warm albums; heat albums and A/C albums; coffeehouse albums and beach-front albums. That would make the seasonal album a dichotomy instead of a quadchotomy. For example, what’s the difference between a Spring album and a Summer one? I can’t say. But I can say that there are emotions and phases that fit my idea of one (or two) season(s) over another.
And I will surely change my mind when April brings in some warm weather and green plant life, and I am still listening to Metals.
(I’m also confused that I feel more comfortable saying “album” or “LP” but not “CD.” I even like saying “record” meaning “album,” but since those two words mean different things at the Grammys ["record" means a single song], I’m still unclear what to do. The very very former seems to be the rightest, and the oldest. So let’s go with that.)
A seasonal record may refer better to a season of life. Trouble with relationships? You might connect better with a record about breakups and heartache. Trouble fitting into the real world? Melancholy, philosophy-laden, and political albums–or, conversely, one about friendship!–might help you understand what you are going through. Always happy? Listen to the radio or whatever.
Most of the time, I seek music that reflects my emotional state. But sometimes, my mood follows the music I listen to.
I pay more attention to song lyrics now. I don’t think musicians are in the business of delivering the pithiest and profoundest summations of being human. I think writers do that. But, being a lover of music, I am drawn in by good musical compositions, and find out that “hey, this person is similar to me in at least one aspect!” (Do I really talk like that?)
Seasons change, and as they change, I’m looking for something to do with my life.
