I’ve always had a somewhat eclectic taste in music. My sophomore year in college my most listened to albums were probably I And Love And You, by the Avett Brothers, and Viva Italia, by Inti-Illimani. I tend to cycle through obsessive periods of listening to the same album over and over again until I get sick of it. Here are some of my favorites right now:
1. b’lieve i’m goin down… – Kurt Vile
Definitely late to the game here (it came out in 2015), but love the rambling, folksy sound of this album, and a couple of songs really remind me of Neil Young.
Songs I love: I’m an Outlaw, Dust Bunnies, Life Like This
2. Harvest Moon – Neil Young
No surprise here based on number one (you’ll notice a trend throughout), but Harvest Moon is such a beautiful album, and always makes me think of summer. This is my kind of driving music. Maybe the reason I listen to it so much is because I currently live in NYC without a car.
Songs I love: Unknown Legend, You and Me, Dreamin’ Man
3. En Vivo – Enanitos Verdes
Talk about late to the game. According to my two Peruvian friends, discovering Enanitos Verdes (Little Green Dwarves) at this point is kind of like telling everyone they need to listen to Roxanne (The Police), or With Or Without You (U2). Even if you don’t speak Spanish, it will be obvious by the tone that these are mostly songs about love – and they’re great.
Songs I love: Amores Lejanos, Tu Carcel, Mi Primer Día Sin Ti, Luz de Día, Lamento Boliviano
4. Lotta Sea Lice – Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
This is an awesome collaboration that combines two pretty different, rambling folksy sounds together. The songs are long and it’s not uncommon to forget that you’re still deep in the middle of one. Really great music to listen to on a walk.
Songs I love: Fear Is Like a Forest, Continental Breakfast, Peepin’ Tom