14/24 - The Bad Times Stayed The Same

Let’s blow out 2024 with one final Top 5!

 

 

Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post        

A salty starter from this year’s best TV show: Fargo season 5.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Big Rig

2024: the year when the Western establishment gave up all pretense of caring about international law or human rights and ignored/supported/cheered on a genocide. New Year’s resolution: to keep boycotting anything Israeli/Zionist and not accept media’s blatant racism. Free Palestine!

There is a sphere of burning tar, it's all around
everyone in this god forsaken English town
I wash away it's filthy residue each day
but like a mould it grows ensuring our decay
I plant a seed and wait to see what will become
of routine watering and the magic of the sun
This is how we survive
There stands a tree as tall as me but twice as old
At times it withers but come spring it soldiers on
A kindly soul started its journey before me
I guess this shows the importance of legacy
Still everyday I feel bad energies are here
but little signs of life make matters easier
This is how we survive
Before we go, here we will leave fragments of hope

 

Sleaford Mods - Tory Kong   

2024: the year when Tory Kong was defeated. Unfortunately by Tory Kong Junior, but hey, at least we got some schadenfreude out of it!

 

Sofia Kourtesis ft. Manu Chao - Estación Esperanza  

Hard to feel hopeful consider what’s incoming, but on New Years Eve you’ve got to try haven’t you?  

Kali Uchis - Dame Beso // Muévete

¡Hasta la próxima: *mwah*! 

HNY! Over and out! 

13/24 - It's A Strange Day

Alternative Christmas tunes! Nothing to do with Christmas. But the right vibe, if you ask me.

 

 

Garth Stevenson - Snow        

Not an inkling of snow in Gothenburg this Christmas, but let's pretend, with the help of Garth's muted piano and swirling crystals.

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Aqua

As sentimental as I'll allow, this season.

 

 

Goldfrapp - Utopia   

I've been rediscovering Felt Mountain during the past month, listening to it on the bus from work. A near flawless debut, and its sci fi-fairytale atmosphere somehow mixes well with the holidays too, if one doesn't focus too much on the lyrics.

 

Janet Kay - Silly Games   

No Christmas without some Christmas reggae. Although this one isn't about Christmas, Christmas can be about silly games, right? A favourite game for the whole family: trying to sing along to Janet Key as she hits the chorus. Sounds terrible but it's great fun!

Purelink ft. J - 4k Murmurs

Music for post-Christmas meal food coma.

12/24 - Perfect Timing As New Petals In November

My november songs, slightly too late. Skewing towards safe cards:

 

 

Tindersticks - New World        

More than three decades into a faultless career and they're still putting out excellent tracks like this. Tindersticks - my eternal autumn companions.

Caroline Polachek ft. Weyes Blood - Butterfly Net

Dreamy blend of voices, and an amazing outro, just what you'd like on your first frost morning of the winter.

Oh, if only
The umbrella of the sky
Could wrap us up and up
That's where I'd zoom in close
Dilated as your eyes
Until then, I'll keep it brief

 

 

Sharon van Etten - Anything   

Love how Sharon van Etten is just getting more and more epic with every album. For every new listen, this song seems to grow even bigger.

 

 

Angel Olsen - Go Home   

Speaking of epic. As the gale winds force the boat masts to bow down and the sea leaves its foamy residues high up on the cliffs, so Angel Olsen's voice rips through my internal landscape and brings up old emotional flotsam.

Sigur Rós - Gold

Wrap me in blankets and leave me staring at the horizon while Jónsi tells me about the ephemerality of this season as well as our lives.