Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features tracks by the indie folk/rock band Mt. Joy.
Mt. Joy
Indie rock band Mt. Joy is both an international sensation and an underrated group. If you are a fan of alternative, indie, or rock music, give the group a listen. Here are some of their greatest hits.
Editor’s note:Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
The Lumineers are an alternative-folk band founded by Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites in Denver, Colorado. Their first studio album, titled The Lumineers after their band name, was released in 2012 and features popular hits like “Ho Hey” and “Stubborn Love.” The band’s traditional sound, lively stage presence, and heartfelt lyrics drew in loyal fans from across genres and led to impressive feats for the group. The Lumineers were nominated for two Grammys after the release of their first album, highlighting their potential and influence in the folk (and popular) music scene.
For me, the Lumineers’ music is so special because it brings up childhood nostalgia while still holding present-day significance. I first heard their classic songs on the radio and my iPod growing up, so the lyrics and melodies became ingrained in my mind even as I explored other genres and artists. The past few years, I’ve fallen back in love with folk-inspired music, including the Lumineers’ latest releases. Each of their albums hold true to the group’s soulful and acoustic roots while exploring new themes that appeal to a wide variety of listeners. From “Flowers in Your Hair,” to “Cleopatra,” to “Donna,” to “ROLLERCOASTER,” the Lumineers consistently put out songs with catchy verses and simple chords, allowing their audience to easily sing and play along.
If you’re looking to explore folk music, The Lumineers features tons of hits and is the perfect album to start out. It’s available for checkout in the Parsons Music Library so give a listen if you’re interested!
Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we’re featuring a collection of feel good indie/alternative music curated by Music Library student assistant Allison (class of 2022).
Allison says:
This is a great playlist for if you’re in a good mood or if you need some extra pep in your step. Especially great when it’s sunny out.
Genre: Indie/alternative
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by Music Library student worker, Diego (class of 2021) and features English singer-songwriter Adele’s 2011 studio album 21. Thanks, Diego!
Valentine’s Day was this month, and with that there are usually two types of people, those who have reason to celebrate the holiday, and those who celebrate the day afterwards, when all the candy is marked 50 percent off at the store. That being said, I think we can all agree on the fact that there is music that can be listened to in order to enjoy the holiday to its finest. It is hard to call out a certain artist for making love songs, as there are a lot, a lot, A LOT of love songs that have been made throughout history, just like there are a lot for us lonely people as well. However, without any regret, we can take a look at Adele for the sake of love/breakup songs. Specifically, we can look at 21, one of her most famous albums to date.
Released in 2011, 21 was a way for Adele to tell her story about an unsuccessful relationship that she experienced. Having released 19 just two years prior, Adele had already begun to build a very devoted fan base that rushed to pre-order and buy her album. Little did anyone know that this would be one of the best sold albums in history. The album itself was widely praised both by professional critics and the general population. It peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and had singles that remained on the US album charts for 24 weeks. 21 ended up becoming the bestselling album of both 2011 and 2012.
Moving on to the songs on the album, as you listen to some of the songs, you notice that she seems to go through all of the themes everyone attributes to after a breakup, from anger to loneliness, regrets, and finally the acceptance of what has happened. For example, the song “Rumor Has It” is in response to all the rumors that surrounded the breakup of Adele and her partner at the time. “Rolling in the Deep” was written to insult Adele’s ex-lover for making negative remarks about her after the break-up. As a whole, her entire album tells different aspects of Adele’s relationship, and its subsequent failure. While it does give off a solemn vibe, the album as a whole makes it sound like the opening of a new door in Adele’s life, and after taking the hard road of coping with the breakup, and the fallout from it, she is ready to move on to someone new. The song “Someone Like You” is one of the last songs in the album, a song which Adele describes as one that made her feel free and liberated.
And that’s what this album is about! It is about being able to make it past a breakup and coming out stronger because of it, it is about learning to forgive those who have hurt you, and it is about cherishing what you have before it’s gone. Adele’s 21 isn’t just for those who have gone through a bitter breakup, or those who miss what they once had, but instead it’s a reminder that there is a such thing as happiness out there, and maybe you already have it, or maybe it’s out there looking for you.
