As one week melts into the next and the semester rapidly dwindles away, you may find yourself fading fast, tuckered out, or fraying around the edges. A nervous breakdown lurks. But wait! Your mind is still salvageable. Take a few moments out to relax and find your center of peace before returning to the grind this week. Here are some songs to aid in the healing.
“Woods” – Bon Iver
A meditative round of the words “I’m up in the woods, I’m down on my mind. I’m building a still, to hold back time.” Justin Vernon, the bearded man behind the music of Bon Iver, is probably the only person to successfully apply auto-tune to his voice. This is probably because he actually had a good voice to begin with.
“Baby’s Arms” – Kurt Vile
Vile is a long-haired folk artist who uses guitar ambience in unison with his deep, dream-like voice to create a soft but vivid sound. He has a tendency to slur his words, though he’s not drunk. Time may just be moving a little slower for him. See if it works for you, too.
“Built to Last”— Six Gallery
Six Gallery only released one album in their short existence as a band, but it is an enthralling piece of work from beginning to end. Two guitarists and a bassist relentlessly finger tap their instruments, an oscillation of sound that creates the sensation of flying through stars. Their music falls into the genre of math rock, implying complex time signatures and rhythms.
“The Loop” – Mimicking Birds
Mimicking Birds began as Nate Lacy playing songs to himself in his Oregon basement. Then Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse discovered the musician and signed him to his record label, Glacial Pace. A drummer and electric guitar player were added to the mix for good measure. They then released their first and self-titled album, a chill and chilling collection of acoustic-based melodies.
“Elephants” – Warpaint
Warpaint is an all-girl art rock group from California. Their first release was mastered by John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as he was dating the lead singer at the time. Peppers aside, their music is quite trance-inducing.
“Soul Meets Body” – Death Cab for Cutie
This particularly calming song comes from the band’s 2005 release, Plans, which took them into some new musical territory.
“Upward Over the Mountain” – Iron and Wine
Samuel Beam’s soft strumming is always relaxing, so much in fact, that it might put you to sleep. Just make sure you don’t listen to him while you’re driving.
“Glow” – Kaki King
This is an album, not a song, because it would be a shame to listen to only one of these tracks. Kaki King’s newest instrumental guitar compilation sees (or rather hears) her at the height of her art. Some of the deepest and moodiest pieces she has written are present here, as well as some of the liveliest. She experiments with orchestral sounds on some songs, and features a bagpipe player on a Celtic tune. Overall, the album is a great medium through which to focus your energies.
