Albums to welcome in the cold
Featured image: Lily Ball
With a record-breaking scorcher of a summer behind us, many will welcome the crisp chill that’s started to make an appearance. Soundtracking the whispers of the wind and the greying sky, these albums should set the scene for your winter listening.
Boggy Depot by Jerry Cantrell
Hailing from one of grunge’s influential bands, Jerry Cantrell’s solo debut was the Alice in Chains album we never got. The steadfast engine of the band’s guitar and lyrics exchanges his repertoire of sludgy riffs for something lighter, establishing Cantrell as a singer-songwriter in his own right. Featuring heart-wrenching personal tracks like ‘Hurt a Long Time’ and moody power ballads like ‘My Song’, there is something for everyone to trudge around with your headphones on.
Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers
Indie pop’s favourite sad girl lays bare her struggles on her sophomore album, a solid follow-up to her debut, Stranger in the Alps. Released in the middle of a global pandemic, the album brought comfort to many, despite its nihilistic undertones and with apocalyptic tracks like ‘I Know The End’. With her usual earnest songwriting and folk-ish melodies, Punisher feels like a personal insight into Bridgers’ mind, as though you’re a fly on the wall during a therapy session. Bedroom-pop hits like ‘Kyoto’ and ‘ICU’ remind you that not all is gloomy, while the slower melody ‘Saviour Complex’ helps digest hard feelings. Punisher is the soundtrack to your darker nights.
Rich Kid Blues by Marianne Faithful
Held back for 14 years, Rich Kid Blues was originally recorded in 1971 but not given to the world til 1985. The 12-track album, made up mainly of covers and accompanied by Faithful’s sombre, gravelly voice, paints a story of woe through songs she didn’t write herself. Wrap yourself in a long scarf, put on your longest coat and head out for a long, cold but sunny walk to get the most out of this album. With Faithful’s haunting rendition of Bob Dylan’s ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’, Rich Kid Blues recognises and alleviates the melancholy that comes with bleak winter evenings.
MTV Unplugged (Live) by Alice in Chains
Ditching the distortion for an intimate, stripped back gig, Alice in Chains joined their peers in the line-up for MTV’s legendary ‘Unplugged’ series. One of original frontman Layne Staley’s last public appearances before his untimely passing, the performance showcases his haunting vocals, paired with harmonies from Cantrell, which make for a memorable performance. With tracks spanning their discography, you get a wide range of the band’s abilities. Pair this album with a room full of candles to feel it deep in your soul. A special mention goes to the track ’Down in a Hole’.
Being Funny in A Foreign Language by The 1975
Summer is filled with young love, while autumn brings heartbreak when it all falls apart. Everything about the band’s fifth album screams gloomy walks, coffee in hand, headphones on and your thickest coat zipped up. Exploring their ever-expanding musical palette, the album is filled with yearning. Tracks like ‘About You’, touch the hearts of many suffering from unrequited love. But not everything is sad: tracks like ‘I’m in Love with You’ make you believe that, after the cold, the sun does come, while ‘Wintering’ reminds us that Christmas is just around the corner. So dance a lot, hug your friends and dance with strangers. Being Funny in a Foreign Language holds your hands through the frostbite, reminding us that feeling sad is ‘Human Too.‘
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