As we continue adjusting to this winter season, let's discuss this time of the year and music. Some people favor this time of the year and continue to go out; however, this is the prime time of my inertia. As a summer baby and enjoyer of the tame coldness in autumn, wintertime is a bittersweet experience. While the early sunsets and low temperatures aren't exactly for me, I appreciate the change of pace that this season has caused. These factors result in me retreating into myself and prioritizing solitude.
In my lonesome, I still find ways to remain entertained and make the most of my days. Music listening is an all-year activity for me, and more time indoors allows additional time for me to tend to this hobby. During the winter months, I usually spend much more time playing my vinyl records and keeping myself moving in the comfort of my home. Music selection during this time can be crucial, and your choices have the power to fight your blues or lean into them. Whether your winter agenda includes socializing outdoors, rotting in bed, or a happy medium, I have some tunes for you. Ranging from different genres and moods, here are ten albums in my daily rotation this winter that you should check out if you need a winter soundtrack:
Daniel Caesar, Freudian (2017)
Daniel Caesar's debut album, Freudian, has been a cold weather staple since I discovered the album in the year of its release. Caesar examines the complexities of unrequited love, accountability in relationships, and how love can guide your best and possibly worst decisions. Lyrically simplistic and sonically cohesive, Caesar tells a story about whether love or peace will win when they can't coincide. He excels in creating a mellow and sweet sensation for some songs and sobering reflections for others as the happiest outcomes are alluded to, although they may not be the most realistic. There's no better time to reexamine love and its potential afflictions than winter. Freudian is a solid modern R&B classic and a tale of love, selfishness, consequence, and gratefulness above all.
Radiohead, In Rainbows (2007)
Radiohead's seventh studio album, In Rainbows, is about the labyrinth that is our existence. In the intricate journey of finding ourselves and being fulfilled by the human experience, connected passages and innate desires control our actions. The album has a relaxed alternative rock sound while conversely tackling notions of fear, love, death, and longing; this pairing provides comfort as these themes are navigated and evoke big emotions. As someone in their 20s, the infamous decade of constant change, an album that expands on yearning for so many things but not knowing how to bring these ideas to fruition makes me feel seen. No matter what personal evolution you're going through, In Rainbows will make you feel a little less alone and hold your hand through this winter (and even make you dance).
Solange, A Seat at the Table (2016)
When I was 15, Solange's third studio album, A Seat at the Table, changed my life. A contemporary R&B project infused with funk and neo-soul elements, this album is an intimate celebration of Black identity, womanhood, and spirituality. It has incredible healing powers, and including it in my winter rotation gives me the reset I need to take on the year dauntlessly. Being able to age with such a special piece of art in my formative years is a great privilege, and it continues to feel like a warm embrace, just as it did during my first listen. A Seat at the Table successfully touches on rage, oppression, and empowerment while including interludes that share anecdotes on these themes from people in her community. I still find new meanings in this body of work, new favorites, and new feelings about the hopefulness it gifts me. While this album isn't for everyone, for the lucky ones that it is for, a rebirth awaits.
Amy Winehouse, Back to Black (2006)
Amy Winehouse's second studio album, Back to Black, is one of the most memorable albums of the 21st century. While displaying her inspirations (Motown artists, '60s pop & soul, classic R&B, etc.), Winehouse creates a unique sound that cements her personal style and hones the skill of creating art that strips you bare while simultaneously putting you back together. An impressive balance is demonstrated in this album as Winehouse discusses her darkest woes over rhythms irresistibly suited for moving your body. Within 34 minutes, she is remarkably candid about addiction, infidelity, and deep disheartenment stemming from encounters that could only leave her grief-stricken. In an attempt to heal wounds, Winehouse trudges through heavy themes and presents a piece of work filled with classics. I have fond memories of singing and dancing to this album throughout my childhood, and I would do anything to experience its magic for the first time. Back to Black has never left my side and will remain a companion this season.
Weyes Blood, Titanic Rising (2019)
Weyes Blood's stunning fourth studio album, Titanic Rising, held me together last winter. "A Lot's Gonna Change" is a fitting opening track as we start acting on New Year's resolutions. While change can be scary, it's necessary and unexpectedly fruitful. Titanic Rising explores hopelessness, collective dread from our climate crisis, modern dating, and living in a time of great uncertainty. The soft rock and folk sound paired with moving lyrics makes the album a tender experience in which I find myself overcome with wistful emotions. She addresses the idea of this century being heavily dependent on nostalgia due to unhappiness in our current times and how fulfillment is an ongoing process. Despite these looming issues, she wants us to hold on because there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and love is everlasting as long as we believe so. This is a message that I want all of us to cling to this year and all years that follow.
Fiona Apple, When the Pawn… (1999)
With pleasure, I must add one of my favorite albums for my fits of rage: When the Pawn... by Fiona Apple. This album is about insecurity, craving acceptance, and the despair that follows faulty relationships. The chaotic part of my brain enjoys Fiona's take on how intentional disruption and messiness can be exciting when life is too good, even if it ends badly. While reflecting on lost love, Fiona considers her flaws and how her comfort in toxicity reflects where she is. When the Pawn... speaks to and soothes a past version of myself and equally satisfies who I am now. This album balances alternative and piano rock, baroque pop, and jazz elements to create harmony in a project where each song packs a punch. The final treat is the 90-word poem that is the complete album title, and it will have you rooting for yourself and your actions wholeheartedly.
Jazmine Sullivan, Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe (2022)
The deluxe version of Jazmine Sullivan's hit EP Heaux Tales is an extension of the rich and unapologetic accounts of autonomy, sexuality, and empowerment from the perspectives of Black women. The women featured address their intimate experiences and relationships, whether good or bad, and how they lived and learned. Followed by the interludes, Jazmine sharply creates a beautiful telling of their dealings with love, pain, and self-worth while eliminating the presence of criticisms that social norms tend to have when Black women speak on these topics. A judgment-free atmosphere is cultivated in this project, and that is the key to why it is so refreshing and liberating to hear. As an R&B household name, Jazmine outdoes herself with exceptional work while continually raising the bar for vocal powerhouses in this genre. Heaux Tales reminds me to assess my life choices with nuance, understanding, and confidence.
Lorde, Melodrama (2017)
Lorde's second studio album, Melodrama, is an intimate and defining coming-of-age story that grapples with heartache and loneliness. The alt-pop album meshes the variance of moods at a house party, such as want, angst, and spontaneity. Young adulthood brings first experiences, heartbreak being one of them for many, and it is an intense and engulfing pain that causes a new person to emerge from its conclusion. Lorde cleverly and vividly paints a picture with more somber lyrics, and the more upbeat sounds capture the thrill of those developmental stages in a heartbreak timeline. It's a wild ride, feeling freedom at one moment and then succumbing to sadness in the next, and accepting these phases has an alleviating effect. The wintertime feels are here, and Melodrama gives me the space to be as expressive as I want while having an absolute ball.
Sade, Love Deluxe (1992)
Nothing brings warmth quite like one of the most calming and sublime voices in music, Sade Adu. Love Deluxe, the fourth studio album from the band Sade, is a stirring project about human life, struggle, and relationships. Orchestrated with intent and precision, the instrumentals on this album can stand alone. Blending an ambient sound in their usual R&B and jazz backing, Love Deluxe highlights the transcendently impressive abilities of the band. There are character studies in some tracks, and others dive into the intricacies of love, the central theme of their music. Perfect from start to finish, this is a no-skip album that can be played on a loop without interference. Most effective for cozy days and times of mindfulness and focus, allow Love Deluxe to put you in a trance and remind you how powerful loving is in our existence.
Al Green, Let’s Stay Together (1972)
Last but not least, I present a '70s classic: Al Green's fourth studio album, Let's Stay Together. The title track is one of the most popular and memorable soul songs that continues to live on through generations. If you're a daydreamer and avidly romanticize your life, Let's Stay Together elevates this experience and makes it cinematic. The sound brings me to a time I haven't actually lived through. Yet, there's a feeling of comfort and familiarity with each listen. Additionally, if you are a fan of the Bee Gees like myself, Green's famous cover of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" is the seventh track; his rendition goes to show how a song can be transformed entirely with the right touches. Green plays between his softer falsetto and powerful chest voice, and it's a delight to hear. Soul music legends are astonishingly precise in crafting music about longing, and this album is a masterclass in musicality and doting lyricism amid hurt.
Now, I could go on and on about more albums I hold near and dear during this time of the year, but I'll leave you with these picks. May my ten wintertide album selections aid you this season and impact you as profoundly as they have for me. For some playlists with selections from these albums and others that may be exactly what you're looking for, head over to my Spotify account here.
Happy listening!