
It’s that time again for another monthly playlist. This time for spooky season we’re celebrating with an ominous and somber set of songs. (The Spotify playlist is at the end of this post.)
Tele Novella – Umbrella at the Station
Spotify’s recommendations are pretty spot on most of the time. I came across this song as I was building this playlist which lead me to check out this album, which is a really good indie pop album. I put a Voxtrot song in the beginning of my last playlist and this time I’m starting out another one with a band that consists of a few of the members.
“No need to put it into words / ’cause I know what you heard.”
Free Cake For Every Creature – Talking Quietly of Anything With You
This is an artist from one of my favorite record labels, Double Double Whammy. I like the majority of the bands on that label, so it was no surprise when I stumbled upon Free Cake For Every Creature that I would like their sound too. This one is another indie pop band that I started listening to this month that I have really liked. Although I wanted to make this a somber playlist, a lot of her songs are feel-good indie pop songs.
“Music under the door, / we’re not old but we’re getting older. / What will we keep on our coffee tables? / We’re getting older.”
Cloud Cult – The Ghost Inside Our House
I mentioned this in a previous playlist, but I have been listening to Cloud Cult for years. They’re one of my favorite indie rock bands.
“We saw a ghost inside our house / or was it wishful thinkin’? / Oh god, don’t leave us by ourselves / or we’re bound to take up drinkin’.”
Dead Man’s Bones – Buried In Water
This one is from Ryan Gosling’s band that he formed with his friend, Zach Shields. Their background is pretty neat, and I would recommend checking out their wiki article: Dead Man’s Bones. In summary, they write love songs about ghosts and monsters.
“Down under the ground / there’s a town there. / I’ve been down there / in the middle of the lake. / I hold your hand, for goodness’ sake.”
Portishead – The Rip
Back in 2008 and 2009 I had a playlist that I had made on my MySpace page. This song sat alongside The Killer’s Romeo and Juliet and Hoobastank’s The Reason. I always come back to this album when I’m feeling nostalgic.
“And as I take on myself / and the bitterness I felt / I realize that love flows.”
Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke – Beautiful People
I will listen to anything Thom Yorke is in.
“I’ll smile careful / to know you’re there (in the morning light) / and I am fearful.”
Philip Selway – Ghosts
The drummer from Radiohead, Philip Selway, has two solo albums that I recommend checking out. They’re very calming and relaxing albums to listen to, especially on rainy and stormy days.
“Is there someone there watching as I sleep? / I’ve woke and I struggle to breath. / Something weighed me down, riding on my back. / Ghosts, ghosts, a crowd at my windows and doors.”
Little Dragon – Gravity
I’ve been listening to Little Dragon for years, but I haven’t listened to their most recent songs until this past month and they’ve been on repeat since.
“Let’s be old fashioned, were all using telephones. / Will you call me tonight, boy?”
The National – Guilty Party
I love The National’s sound. They are an alternative rock band that have been around for almost 20 years. Their most recent album, Sleep Well Beast, is mournful and funereal like most of The National’s past albums.
“You’re sleeping night and day. / How d’you do it? / Me, I am wide awake / feeling defeated.”
The Microphones – I Felt Your Shape
I took a walk listening to his latest album (A Crow Looked At Me, under the moniker Mount Eerie). He had just lost his wife to cancer and wrote an album on everything he had felt during that time. By the end of the walk it had me in tears. I highly recommend checking that one out. This album that I Felt Your Shape is on, Glow Pt. 2, is the first one I listened to of his. All of his albums hold a special place in my heart and I highly recommend listening to all of them.
“But I don’t know, the nights are cold / and I remember warmth. / I could have sworn I wasn’t alone.”
Previous Playlists: August // September