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The beginning of the spring semester is always a bittersweet time for college students. We’re always excited to see our best friends and to party on the weekends (or the weekdays, too, if you’re an animal), but it comes at a cost. It is only a matter of time before you see your professors and are submerged under a pile of endless reading assignments and research papers.
No matter how organized you are, no matter how much you avoid procrastinating, the brand new semester never fails to hits us all like a ten-ton truck. You will be stressed and you will cry, but at least you” have wine to nurse your sadness, right?
With this in mind, I have curated a playlist to soundtrack your transition back to college. As you sit in the back of your parents’ car, sandwiched in between your suitcase filled with shoes and boxes of various snacks for those inevitable late studying nights, let gentle guitars and soothing voices ease you into a state of tranquility. You’ll need the momentary bliss before your respective college or university rocks you like a hurricane.
“Never Land Here” by Cats On Fire, off of their album, Dealing In Antiques.
Bright, summery guitars is really all you need to cure your winter-induced melancholy and to convince you that the spring semester won’t be a total mess. Cats On Fire combine indie-pop guitar, rhythms and tempos with the mellow, Morrissey-inspired vocals of Mattias Björkas to create music that is easy on the ears and quite frankly, enchanting.
“The Boy With The Arab Strap” by Belle & Sebastian, off of their record, The Boy With The Arab Strap.
Belle & Sebastian is such an incredible band, I’m genuinely shocked when people say that they’ve never heard of them.
Hailing from Glasgow, Belle & Sebastian crafted an upbeat, happy tune that you can easily tap your foot to as you drive back to your college. I particularly like how the song is driven by the piano. It’s shamelessly happy – something you should consider before your face descends into a semester-long scowl.
“Coulda Been My Love” by Foxygen, off of their album, …And Star Power.
If you’re a fan of Foxygen, let’s face it: they’re a really weird group, but I’ll be damned if they don’t make great music.
While …And Star Power can be chaotic at times, “Coulda Been My Love” is the perfect easy-listening song that will having you weeping over that ex that you might not even have (think of the song as the indie-world’s “Hello.”) The piano has a wonderful hallow and cool sound that is bolstered by Sam France’s haunting, airy voice. This song is a straight up masterpiece and the easiest way to lower your nervous heart rate before moving back onto campus.
“Gone” by Day Wave.
I’d really like to know when Day Wave is releasing his debut album because I’m getting impatient with all of these random song releases.
“Gone” is the perfect blend of the dream-pop and shoegaze genres with a splash of sunshine (it couldn’t be all dreary darkness). The guitar will make you want to drive to the nearest sun-strained beach rather than your cold campus. Jackson Phillips’ ethereal vocals will make you want to grow your hair long and engage in a never-ending staring contest with your shoes. It’s awesome.
“Clamoring For Your Heart” by Princeton, off of their single, “Clamoring For Your Heart / This Weather, A Swimmer – Single”
Let’s kick it up a notch, shall we?
The beginning of the semester is not all miserable groans and wails of pain – it can be quite rewarding, in fact. Jesse Kivel’s voice kindly reminds you of that as he warmly flows into your aural cavity, mixing effortlessly with the synthesizer that sounds like it is being played from the bottom of a filled pool. “Clamoring For Your Heart” is an optimistic track that politely asks you to dance to it. Once guitars enter the track, you’ll find it hard to say no.
“Forest Fire” by Life In Film, off of their record, Here It Comes.
An acoustic guitar is the perfect way to soundtrack any traveling experience or relaxation session.
Samuel Fry’s voice is desperate and pleading to the point that it becomes difficult to listen to without bursting into tears (trust me on this one). “Forest Fire” is a track that bares its entire heart to the listener. Between the intertwining strings and guitar and the steady drum beat, you’ll be mesmerized with tears streaming down your cheeks before you know it.
It’s always good to have a good cry before the beginning of the semester. Let all of those emotions out.
“Vestiges” by Martin Courtney, off of his album, Many Moons.
I haven’t enjoyed a record like Many Moons in quite some time now. This is just a sample from the album masterpiece by Martin Courtney.
“Vestiges” sounds like what a walk along a California beach at sunset would. It maintains a constant tempo and features some gorgeous guitar work. It’s easy to lose yourself to the rhythms and melodies of this Courtney track. With hours of packing ahead of you, it’s best to take a mental escape now before Mom and/or Dad begin to scream at you to get your unpacking act together.
“Erica America” by Jens Lekman, off of his record, I Know What Love Isn’t.
A Swedish man playing Spanish guitar. Perfect.
“Erica America” is yet another work of art from the hopeless romantic, Jens Lekman. Featuring swelling strings, a saxophone solo and nearly-poetic lyrical content (“I wish I’d never met you / Like I wish I’d never tasted wine / Or tasted it from lips that weren’t mine”), Lekman beckons you closer with his warm voice to lament alongside him.
“The Coldharbour Road” by Stornoway, off of their album, Beachcomber’s Windowsill.
Find me another song that begins with smooth violin and short, sharp banjo. I can guarantee that you never will.
My favorite bit of this song is not only the speaker’s self-comparison to a “seabird,” but the sudden explosion of sound at the beginning of it. “The Coldharbour Road” tricks you into a false state of mellow comfort and brutally shakes you back to reality with furious pounding on the piano and drums that persists through the entire song. It’s done in such a way that some way, some how, the melody is still gentle and easy to listen to.
Stornoway creates tunes that are always vividly descriptive and features a down-to-earth speaker. This song is no exception.
“Slipping Away” by Oslo Parks.
Oslo Parks is here to spice up and brighten your music library in preparation for the spring semester.
“Slipping Away” legitimately slips itself into your ear. Once you’ve hit play, you’ll be momentarily puzzled by the silence until you fall into the atmospheric glory that is Oslo Park’s “Slipping Away.” Featuring quick drums, droning, airy vocals and quiet guitar, this song is as easy to dance to as it is to curl up into bed with.
You can listen to this playlist below via Spotify.
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