Winter Music Picks - 2014

Hi everyone!

I love Christmas, but I just don't really like holiday music (Bah, Humbug!)
Call me "scrooge" all you want!

Now don't get me wrong, I can enjoy festive music when it's playing in the background of the store when I'm out doing my Christmas shopping, or if it's on at a party, but I just cannot bring myself to actually choose to listen to a record filled with those cheesy Christmas pop songs. 

There are only two Christmas/Holiday themed albums in my collection, Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas and Midwinter Graces, and they're all I need!

Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas by Ella Fitzgerald

Midwinter Graces by Tori Amos

However, winter is my favourite season, there's no doubt about it!
There's lots of music that I particularly love listening to when the air is crisp and I'm waiting for the snow to fall. 

So here are some of my favourite albums to listen to in the Winter...

• 50 Words For Snow by Kate Bush (2011)

50 Words For Snow by Kate Bush

I'm not going to lie to you, this was an obvious choice. But come on, if you're familiar with this album, you cannot deny that this is a perfect winter record! (Just like Aerial is the perfect summer record)
Kate Bush's sixty-five minute ode to snow is the ideal soundtrack for winter, whether you're Snowed In At Wheeler Street or out watching the Snowflakes fall by Lake Tahoe.
Kate described this record as seven songs "set against a backdrop of falling snow", and that's precisely what is is. Seven stunning vignettes that take place across snowy scenes. My favourite aspect of this record is it's ability to both warm me up and chill me to the bone.

Song picks: Misty, Wild Man, Snowed In At Wheeler Street

• Scott 3 by Scott Walker (1969)

Scott 3 by Scott Walker

Scott Walker always seems appropriate for the cold and grey weather. There's a number of his records that I would have included in this list, but there just isn't enough time.
The first of Scott's albums to consist of mostly his own compositions (the only songs that aren't written by him are three Brel covers at the end), this record is chilly right down to it's core.
From the brash gong and slightly dissonant strings at the start of 'It's Raining Today', to the tense, melancholy sadness in his rendition of Brel's 'If You Go Away'. This music could be the soundtrack to those grey winter mornings or a dark Winter Night.

In a Scott Walker fashion, this record is balanced out nicely with Walker's 

unconventional lyrics, paired with Jacques Brel's dark humour, found in songs like 'Funeral Tango'. (Don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom!)

Song Picks: Funeral Tango, It's Raining Today, Copenhagen

• Vespertine by Björk (2001)

Vespertine by Björk

This is my winter warmer record. I love being at home, all cozy, with this record playing on my stereo. Björk's longest and most minimalistic record to date is also her most intimate. The album features instrumental arrangement that revolve around the harp, celesta and music boxes (as well as strings and electronics), creating a delicate atmosphere for her highly personal and often erotic lyrics. I love hearing Björk sing and compose in this style, and it couldn't be better suited for those Frosti winter days.

Song Picks: Hidden Place, Frosti, It's Not Up To You

Thank you so much for reading this blog!

I hope to do many more posts like this in the future!

Please see below for my honourable mentions. 

Thanks,

Josh :-)

Honourable Mentions

• Heart On Snow by Marc Almond (2003)
• Push Away The Sky by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2013)
• Desertshore by Nico (1970)

Please Note: I do not own any of the music or images featured in this post. This was purely for fun and no copyright infringement is intended.