For the Record Vol. 2
Spotify Wrapped '24 but make it vinyls...
As you (and everyone who listens to music) knows last week our Spotify Wrapped dropped! And if you’re like me, your Apple Music Wrapped. Yes, I’m unapologetically an Apple Music girlie.
That being said I’m also a vinyl record girlie, so for this week’s volume I’m transferring my top 5 artists into my favorite vinyls of this year!
Number 1: brat and it’s the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not by Charli XCX
It’s no secret that BRAT was the top album of the year and the social impact it had was immense! For me personally, I played a song from the album pretty much every day after it dropped last June. Prior to that I had CRASH and How I’m Feeling Now on repeat gearing up for BRAT.
I pre-ordered the limited edition red picture disc vinyl not only for its unique color but also the massive BRAT poster my roommate and I now have hanging in the kitchen. Once this second edition came out I scooped it up purely for “Guess” and “Spring Breakers.” And if I can ever get my hands on the remix vinyl, I will have no shame about owning 3 different BRAT albums.
My favorite song on this album is Side C, Track 15: “365.” When “360” dropped as a single, I LOVED it, and didn’t realize it could get much better than that until I heard the remixed “365” - but get me started about the actual “365 remix featuring ShyGirl”.
Number 2: Short N’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
I pre-ordered this album from her site because I really wanted to buy merch and get free shipping. I probably should’ve waited for the Target Exclusive hot pink vinyl but I honestly adore the ocean blue disc I have.
I have been a huge fan of Sabrina Carpenter for years. Emails I Can’t Send was my number 1 album for 2023 and I was able to see her twice that year for under $50 - something that will definitely never happen again.
My favorite song from this album is the final track on Side B, Track 12, “Don’t Smile.” I love how the tone is both melancholic and assertive, blending a sense of empowerment with undertones of sadness and a hint of anger. This complexity makes the song resonate with anyone who has experienced the turbulent emotions of heartbreak.
Number 3: Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves
I have always had a huge love for Kacey Musgraves and her infused country pop sound, and immediately took to her folksy storytelling within this album. For the months of March and April this became my ‘background’ album when reading or writing because it’s so incredibly zen. So it’s really no surprise that this was a top album digitally and on vinyl because I spent a lot of time reading this past year - thank you Kacey!
On a deeper level, I had lost a friend suddenly the month before this album dropped and upon hearing the first song “Cardinal” it made me think of her sweet soul and feel a sense of closure about her being at peace. To top things off the anniversary of my mom’s passing is March 14th so I was able to hear this song that late Thursday night, and so now I have a warm and reflective feeling for both my mom and friend when I hear “Cardinal.”
My favorite song on this album is the title track on Side A, Track 2, “Deeper Well.” I love how introspective, and resilient it is. When I first heard the song I was in a period of creative self-discovery. I had even quit smoking weed a few months earlier so the line “I used to wake and bake” was very quirky and relatable.
Number 4: Hyperdrama by Justice
Is it lame to say that this album altered my brain chemistry? Because it’s true. This album is super creatively stimulating to me. Playing it in the background aided me in writing my science-fiction TV pilot on a tight deadline. The album beautifully crafts high-energy dance music with introspective, atmospheric moments that make me feel like there’s really a song for everyone on it.
My favorite song on the album is Side D, Track 4, “The End featuring Thundercat" though songs like “Generator” and “Neverender” are super close. I just love the song’s electro-house style with Thundercat's signature funk-infused basslines. It’s not only signaling the end of the album, but also talks of closure, and personal endings that will be followed by growth.
Number 5: Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish
This vinyl is a newer addition to my collection. I scooped up the Target Exclusive for its shiny yellow disc.
My younger sister is a HUGE Billie Eilish fan, and my older sister kept telling me how much she loved this album so after giving it a listen I immediately fell in love with not only the sound but the album’s aesthetic. I really think it’s Billie’s best work from When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go? Having seen her perform at Coachella, I’m superrr excited to see her perform this album in full at The Forum in 2 weeks!
For the last three weeks this vinyl has been sitting ready on my player, and I find myself turning it on as I clean my room, get ready after the shower, or just need to rest. It’s such a beautiful, reset album.
My favorite song on this album is Side B, Track 9, “Bittersuite.” I would say “Blue” is a very close second! Both are so dreamy and her vocals in them are just pristine. The blend from “Bittersuite” to “Blue” is top tier on vinyl.
I’ll end on this note, I love listening to vinyl but nothing beats live music and I was lucky enough to see 4/5 of these artists this past year. (Billie Eilish is in 2 weeks and Justice will be in March 2025).
Till the next volume…
♡ Maddie