A list for Charlotte

Karen O and Danger Mouse this album is a really lovely chill album. I remember adding it to a Staff Picks blog post because I was obsessed with it for a bit.

My mom had this CD growing up and this was really my only exposure to Simon & Garfunkel. I like to sing along.

This movie was so much fun. It won Oscars and stuff. Watching a live performance of the main song for the Oscars was really awesome. Watch the movie... Actually find a video of that Oscar performance and then watch the movie. It's great and not horribly depressing (it's French so it's a wee bit depressing) and the soundtrack? Chef's kiss.

I've watched this movie only once and will most likely never watch it again. I was devastated. It was the first time I had my heart broken by a movie. The soundtrack has feelings all by itself. I'm a song or two listener of Bjork. I feel like you can listen to this album and have a separate experience from the movie. However, watch the movie at some point if the description floats your boat.

This is actually Billy Bragg AND Wilco. A bunch of Woody Guthrie lyrics were found and so it was decided (by who? whom? I don't know) to add music to these lyrics. Somehow Billy Bragg and Wilco were chosen for this project and not say, his son Arlo (singer) or his granddaughter (I can't remember but also singer)... but Billy Bragg and Wilco. A wise decision.

54-46 That's My Number is probably my favorite ska song. And sometimes a "best of" is truly the best way to learn about a group.

So good. Right now I only remember the song Ranky Tanky. I also remember that they swung through Portland when Arcadia was the other thing... I am bummed I didn't go.

Found on Insta. Sharing because the dude is awesome for this song. I bet everything else he does is awesome too. And f**k Ron Desantis.

I've only heard one song from this so far, In the Pines. I should try to listen to this while at work tomorrow.

I don't remember why this is here. I'm not taking it down. I bet there's a song on here I liked though.

This EP IS AMAZING. And Sly & Co rock.

EP pumps me up every time.

I've been noticing that Elle Dixon has been slipping into my Spotify feed lately. I'm not against this.

Springtime is on my current 2026 Spotify list. Allison Russell is great. I should have listened to the rest of this album by now.

Crabbucket is why this is here. There are many versions of that song as well. I think this may be one of 4 or 5 that I have in Spotify playlists built over the years.

I've noticed that some of the music I've been listening to recently has this big, Broadway feel to it. The Secret To Life feels like something that could probably fit into a modernized Rent. "I hide my shit in the closet
I got some space if you want it
It's cool, it isn't a problem
Now, right now" As a queer, I feel that line on so many levels... the rest of the lyrics are also great.

#sigh I have to pick one? Again... not sure if there are songs I often skip on this one. There were songs from this one that I would put on mix CDs for the wife. I do put this on every so often depending on what I'm feeling.

1. This album, when I first heard it. I could chase the high of that first listen... 2. She is just stunning IMHO. 3. Since this album, she's worked with many other folks (even Mavis Staples). Her style is still mostly folky. It's just not this. 3. She's so different on this, crossing many different genres but still feeling down home. Whatever "down home" means...

I think Spotify likes to remind me of Ida Maria every time she puts out a new album. I am 99,99% positive I put both "Oh My God" and "I like you so much better when you're naked" on mix CDs for my wife when we were still dating.

I have absolutely no idea what Jain is doing now. Mekeba was in a commercial for something. I don't remember what, so if you don't know her, you might know that? A former coworker put me onto her. It's fun!

I don't like all of every Beths album. However, there are always several songs that I love when a new album comes out. Pretty sure they are coming or were recently at the State. If I had more pocket money, I'd go. Also, who doesn't love an Australian accent?

This is her first album. She is a great singer hands down. However, I do tend to forget she exists sometimes. This album, I remember trying to share this with every per I knew who might appreciate a torch singer who isn't overly dramatic. You'll see what I mean.

Canadians... what are ya gonna do? Elevator Love Letter is totally my favorite. I met my wife a year after this came out and that song was also on a ton of mix CDs for her. The rest of the album is great too. Saw them in Portland, not for this album. If you like this, you may like Amy Millan's solo album, Honey from the Tombs.

What did Raminta listen to her freshman year of high school? Side A of the extended play cassette was Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes Side B was TMBG - Flood

I still put this album on periodically. They did a semi recent anniversary tour of this and I didn't go... The Violent Femmes I saw at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI. It was a great show.

So good.

EP I think he switched permanently to clothing design. It's too bad because this song f**king kills.

In college I dated a chick who was a 90s club kid. I was definitely on the younger end of that and still feel like this album really exemplified what club kids wanted to be seen as... not necessarily the reality of it. Great house cleaning album if you need a bit of a bop.

I love Janelle Monae. I love sexy Janelle Monae. I think this is the last concert my wife and I went to. It was literally the queerest event outside of Pride that I have ever been to and I've seen Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls MANY times.

See notes for Stars album Heart.

Do you know Little Simz? If you don't, you should. I don't know this entire album but it's a great starting point.

That's Alright was the first song I had heard from Laura. I think I was looking around youtube and that song/video came up. It's powerful and needs to be listened to loudly. The rest of the album is also great. Her albums from here on out are good but again... starting from the beginning.

I think this is one of the more recent finds for me. I caught an article about the band. Maybe someone died? The article described them as art rock and performance art and so on and so forth. I don't think I could put this on regular rotation but every once in a while? Yes. It's also an album I listen to from start to finish. So, without listening to it in it's entirety right at this moment.. I couldn't tell you if one song is better than another. I feel like they each need each other.

EP I randomly got recommended this by Spotify. There are many songs by them that I love and I couldn't tell you which album they are from. A great mix of trad Irish music and metal/punk. My brother hated it because it's about drinking. If that isn't cool for you this song might not be for you either.

A while back I saw this band listed on a larger festival lineup. I can't remember what. Maybe Bonaroo or something? Like the bands that are in the tiniest sized font. The name was hilarious so wife and I looked them up. This album was great! These a trumpet and a bass balalaika! There are maybe 2 songs on this that I sometimes skip. We saw them down in Boston at the teeny tiny venue on the Berklee campus. We were sad when they broke up.

She's from Tampa which is across Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg where I am from. She is from Tampa and is queer. She is from Tampa and she is Black and queer and DNGAF (I love her). You know who else is from that area? Hulk Hogan lived in my county for decades. This is just one example of the blech of the famous people. Doechii isn't blech. She's an effing genius and her Tiny Desk Concert was awesome.

I love this album backwards and forwards. Again... triggers for regarding drinking. Not all songs are about drinking but... Shane MacGowan was a raging alcoholic but the music he wrote with the Pogues was just so great. This album is an example of why liner notes are important. Then you can read along to the lyrics MacGowan sings because half the time, you can't understand what he says. Or at least I can't. I don't know if it's the brogue or missing teeth (missing due to incidents while drinking).

I think I like this just a little bit more than Rubber Soul but maybe not as much as the White Album... depending on the day. If I need to sing something, I turn on the Beatles.

This might be my most favorite record ever. My mom had a first pressing of this on vinyl. Not on purpose, she just bought it when it first came out and took care of her stuff. Mom had 3 pop/rock albums, this, Beatles Help, and The Doors self-titled (that one was only because the Alabama Song (whiskey bar) song which is in the Three Penny Opera). So... out of the three, it was this most of the time and then the Doors... until I learned what a horrible person Jim Morrison was. I also loved staring at the cover of this album. One of the people on the cover is Swami Yogananda, the founder of the Self Realization Fellowship of which my dad was a member. Once my mom said that was a cult and then another time said it was just a mix of Buddhism, Hindu, and Christianity. Then she said that she never said it was a cult. My mom's name is Rita. She never worked as a meter maid.