Album #1: Tigermilk - Belle and Sebastian.
Genre (according to Wikipedia): Indie pop, chamber pop
Singles?: No.
Have you heard any songs from this album or group before? No.
Thoughts?: Right now, the album sounds like songs I’d hear in a coffee shop. Not that it’s a bad thing, it’s a relaxing experience. I love the chamber pop influences, I think that’s contributing to its “coffee shop” sound. This album may not have the staying power of other albums, but it is decent enough background music. As for the lyrics, they’re pretty good, but again, the vocals are buried within the mix and this becomes coffee shop music.
Favorite songs: The State I Am In, Electronic Renaissance
As a writer, what can you use this music for when honing your craft?: I could potentially use the album for rainy days, based on the titular Apple Music playlist. Also, because of its laidback indie pop status, I could use it for specific scenes, particularly ones inside coffee shops (see a theme here?).
File correlations: Files #007-009: Tallis Tales, Silvercrest Services (depends on the scenes), Force Devils (Mainly Brent and Bianca focused).
Album #2: Amnesiac - Radiohead
Genre (according to Wikipedia): Alternative rock, electronica, experimental rock, post-rock
Singles?: Pyramid Song, Knives Out
Have you heard any songs from this album or group before?: Yes. Radiohead is one of my favorite bands of all time. I have heard several songs off this album, but never in a full chronological order.
Thoughts?: I may be biased for Radiohead, considering one of my favorite albums was Kid A, but I love their overall sound and versatility with their music. Some of these songs, namely “Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors” hurt my ears, but I’m sure I can handle the sound with repeated listens.
Favorite songs: Pyramid Song, You and Whose Army?, I Might Be Wrong, Knives Out, Morning Bell/Amnesiac, Life in a Glasshouse
As a writer, what can you use this music for when honing your craft?: The uncertain anxious nature of the album can help me with certain scenes that are inspections of human psyche. For example, meltdowns. The more experimental sides inspire me to explore more about mythology and other sorts of art forms, much like Radiohead did with this album and Kid A.
File correlations: Experimental: File #004 - C*O*M*A*T*O*S*E. Anxious, conventional: File #007 - Tallis Tales.
Album #3: Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Genre (according to Wikipedia): Soul, R&B, blues, rock, Southern soul
Singles?: Respect, I’ve Been Loving You Too Long, Shake, Satisfaction
Have you heard any songs from this album or artist before?: Yes. I’ve fully listened to this album once before. I know Redding’s songs “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”, “Try a Little Tenderness”, “These Arms of Mine”, and “That’s How Strong My Love Is” too.
Thoughts?: I love soul music. I find it to be a relaxing genre. It’s mainly because of the accompanying arrangements that support the vocalist. The vocalists’ efforts, usually, are smooth and complement the music beautifully. This album is a fine example. The way Otis Redding sings is passionate and fits each song he sings. Plus, these songs can either be soothing enough to fall asleep or wake up to, or energetic enough to wake you up to (see a theme?) and get you in a good mood.
Favorite songs: Respect, Change Gonna Come, I’ve Been Loving You Too Long, Wonderful World, Rock Me Baby, Satisfaction (I Can’t Get No)
As a writer, what can you use this music for when honing your craft?: This is perfect for scenes involving mornings or calmer scenes. I’ve gotta be careful about how to use it though. The more I listen, the more the interpretation could switch to something involving romance. It’s not like that’s a bad thing though.
File correlations: File #002: Heaven’s Helpers or File #003: American Peas.
Album #4: Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
Genre (according to Wikipedia): Rock, pop rock
Singles?: Mrs. Vandebilt, Jet, Band on the Run
Have you heard any songs from this album or group/artist before?: Not with Wings, but yes with Paul McCartney. Of course I’ve heard a lot, perhaps all, of his stuff with the Beatles, and the two collaborations he did with Michael Jackson. I have also listened to his album McCartney, his song “Coming Up”, and his duet with Stevie Wonder “Ebony and Ivory”.
Thoughts?: True classic rock right here. I remember listening to music similar to this all the time with my mom. She always played a classic rock station, 98.5 KFOX, the South Bay’s classic rock. It’s how I got my music taste today. Anyways, despite the tough conditions, one of the best things about Paul McCartney is his ability to make great music within said conditions. He and his wife are great songwriters, and I can understand why this album has been a critical darling. I love the sound of this rock, it sounds authentic, true, real. Maybe it’s cliche of me, rockist even, but I love this type of music, and I wish more people listened to it instead of the manufactured stuff from the music industry today. In a way, it sounds a lot like The Beatles (especially Jet).
Favorite songs: Side One, Mamunia, No Words, Helen Wheels, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
As a writer, what can you use this music for when honing your craft?: I wouldn’t use this to hone my craft, I like to use different kinds of music for this. This won’t do but I love listening!
File correlations: If I had to say something, File #003: American Peas.
Album #5: Achtung Baby - U2
Genre (according to Wikipedia): Alternative rock
Singles?: The Fly, Mysterious Ways, One, Even Better than the Real Thing,
Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Have you heard any songs from this album or group before?: I’ve heard One before. I’ve also heard a bunch of tracks like Sunday Bloody Sunday, Pride (In the Name of Love), the first three songs off of The Joshua Tree, and Beautiful Day. Also, The Wanderer, which features Johnny Cash.
Thoughts?: With this album being called one of the greatest of all time on Wikipedia, I have high expectations. So far, the music is very moody, which is good, because if the music makes you feel something, that’s great. The lyrics aren’t sticking out to me yet, aside from One. The album was underwhelming, I don’t remember a lot of the tracks. Maybe I shouldn’t have set expectations for it.
Favorite songs: One, The Fly, Acrobat
As a writer, what can you use this music for when honing your craft?: I would use this music mainly for science fiction projects. I don’t know how exactly it reminds me of sci-fi. Maybe it’s because of the industrial influences.
File correlation: File #008: Silvercrest Services
