Snow Beats: Music Recommendations for a NYC Winter
By now, we’ve all turned to a friend at least once and said that dreaded phrase: “It’s 4 p.m., why is the sun already setting?” And, of course, it will quickly be followed by something even worse: “Sorry, I can’t hang out, I have to study for my exam.” Even though it seems like it can’t anymore, in the coming weeks, the temperatures will continue to drop (in such a way that will shock anyone from California). With the holidays behind us and nothing but the dreary weather ahead, the collective mood on campus will dampen just as fast.
To set your mind at ease during the season of crowded libraries and the quiet panic of a million looming exams, I’ve put together, for your listening pleasure, a few albums and song recommendations that might just make this season a little easier on the soul.
Albums
Faces, A Nod Is As Good As a Wink… To a Blind Horse
Standing still behind the shadow of Faces’ most popular track, “Ooh La La,” is an album that will keep you bopping your head and tapping your foot (if not full-on dancing) during the coming temperature drops. One after the other, the quips of piano and guitar trim the songs in a whimsical way to pair them perfectly with Rod Stewart’s famous rasp. The opening song on the album, “Miss Judy’s Farm,” starts strong, leading in with a howling Stewart and a guitar solo by Ronnie Lane that can’t help but rile up the listener; the two follow suit with the rest of the song, acting like a duet between the guitar and Stewart.
Favorite Tracks: “Stay With Me,” “Last Orders Please,” “Memphis Tennessee”
Deacon Blue, Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
The Scottish band’s brooding production style hangs over the album, weaving a nuanced blend of pop rock and dance influences. Unlike their earlier releases, these tracks shift between a slow, emotional haze and a mysterious ache hard to pinpoint in Ricky Ross’s voice. The instrumentation stays just inventive enough to lure you in while maintaining a digestible simplicity. It’s an album made perfect for gazing out your dorm window on a cold winter night, or for finding a quiet moment in a corner of Butler during a late-night study session. Either way, it is a perfect choice for a moody winter listen.
Favorite Tracks: “Will We Be Lover,” “Bethlehem’s Gate,” “Only Tender Love”
Enzo Carella, Sfinge
Every new listen to this 80s Italian Prog Rock album gets better. The only way to describe the instruments is groovy – an eclectic mix that seems to include everything under the sun, and then some. The production behind Sfinge makes any listener question why it isn’t more well-known. Imagine traditional Italian music, the kind a nonno might play if you gave him a few minutes, fused with the simplistic house beats of the past few decades. Each track makes me want to move, adding a little extra pep to my step. For a moment, I can forget how cold it is outside and dance around my kitchen with something cooking on the stove. I cannot suggest a better album to build a firm foundation of good vibes upon every listen. It’s just fun.
Favorite Tracks: “Sex Show,” “Sì, si può,” “Riflessione finale”
Songs
Blu & Exile, “Requiem of Blue (feat Fashawn)”
A feel-good jazz rap track to lift your spirits.
Bassolino, “Città Futura”
Funky instruments that place you in an ’80s Riviera, perfect for an escape from campus.
Neffa, “Aspettando Il Sole (feat. Giuliano Palma)”
A jazz rap favorite that makes you bop your head, effectively moving it from a rigid studying position.
Portastatic, “San Andreas”
Tropical beach meets the raw elements of ’90s indie rock, creating a sound that suits any mood the holidays put you in.
The Point. , “Leaving”
The radiant fingerpicking creates a vivid warmth, making it easy to forget that it’s snowing outside.
Natasha Bedingfield, “Piece of Your Heart”
You know her, you love her, just listen to it, you’ll love it.