The Decemberists released their new album today, which is good. Sleater-Kinney and Belle & Sebastian came out of hiding, too. But we still have to wait until February for new José González and March for new Modest Mouse. So what do we do in the meantime? Revisit some albums from last year that pair best with winter weather.
The War On Drugs ‘Lost In The Dream‘
This album moves at a glacial pace, which lends itself to listening in the winter months. The cold, slow tone is set in the album’s opener, “Under The Pressure,” which ends in a blizzard of feedback and reverb.
First Aid Kit ‘Stay Gold‘
Don’t let the video for “My Silver Lining” fool you: these Swedish sisters are best sampled when the sun is low in the sky, shining through bare limbs covered in ice.
Delta Spirit ‘Into The Wide‘
This album, like most albums from the California-by-way-of-Brooklyn outfit, howls like the wind. But it’s a cold wind in this case, and a nice change of pace from some of winter’s quieter musical offerings.
Wye Oak ‘Shriek‘
There’s something about the Baltimore duo’s sonic palate that works best in wintertime. Each January, I find myself driving into the White Mountains, armed with most of Wye Oak’s catalog, and it just works. And this track from ‘Shriek‘ is primed for coasting down the mountain on your ride of choice.
