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A Google search I did everyday for the first few weeks of my baby’s life. (My wife and I had a daughter!) We’d carve out some time to walk in the backyard and listen to classical music. Really nice to get past the obvious guys like Beethoven/ Mozart and into Monteverdi / Ravel, etc.
Dec 7, 2023
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I got Apple Music classical recently. absolutely love it. If you’re reading this and haven’t taken the classical-pill yet, you have to give it a try. It has all the calming space out lock in effects of ambient music— but if you care to really tune into the music itself it’s astonishing how beautiful it can be. Growing up, I thought it was music for the diaperproles— babies & senior citizens. I was so wrong. Such grace, such clarity, such overwhelming force, such tenderness, such vehement, electrifying ENERGY all expressed completely wordlessly. By a means that surpasses words. Wordcelsisters, we never stood a chance…
I’ve been on a huge Russians kick currently. Prokofiev, Rachmoninov, Stravinsky, Scriabin, Tvhaikovsky. Some pieces that I’ve really been enjoying recently, in no particular order:
Schumann’s piano concerto in A minor performed by Marta Argerich.
Rossini’s overture from la gazza ladra
Prokofiev‘s dance of the knights from Romeo & Juliet
Stravinsky’s rite of spring
Vladikir Ashkenazy’s rendition of Chopin’s 15th nocturne
I’m also convinced that “Smile Sessions” is the best pop album ever made. If anyone can provide any evidence to the contrary I’d be delighted. But in the meantime, I’ll continue listening to ”The Teenage Symphony to God” front to back ad infinitum
Apr 27, 2024
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I love Sufjan Stevens, Tori Amos, Mitski, the Carpenters, etc. a lot, but for about a week and a half a month, I’ll only listen to classical music. It’s like an acid peel for the soul, and I always feel refreshed afterwards. You have to be really making an effort to classicalmaxx as well & trade up your standard compilation choices for Lawes, Saariaho, Dutilleux, Lutyens, Gesualdo, etc.
Feb 27, 2024
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I’m talking romantic era circa 1870. rachmaninoff, tchaikovsky, sibelius, saint-saëns, and even later composers like scriabin and ravel. I’ve recently been fixated on sibelius symphony no. 2 and ravel piano concerto in g (the second movement definitely being the most emotional). oh, and this is neoromantic but I can’t pass up an opportunity to recommend ennio morricone’s compositions. I recently relistened to the guiseppe tornatore suite and it’s just wave after wave of bliss from the sonic landscape. I hate to be that pretentious classical music guy but I just really like talking about it lol.
Dec 18, 2024
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The LP version of this track is great, but it’s always nice to stumble upon a 12 inch remix that changes a song just enough to make it new again. The Winans are a gospel group from the 80’s/90’s with a lot of wonderful songs. I’ve only scratched the surface of their discography, but so far they’re all hits to me.
Dec 7, 2023
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I started buying records again in the last couple years (pretty much stopped when I was 19, and got into “comedy” 🥴…) here are some recent faves:A silly Dutch hip hop record from 1986. It samples Madonna’s “Holiday” and is featured in the old school viral video “Little Superstar” (maybe that’s how I found it?)… I played some records at a party recently and played this one and people were seemingly getting as much of a kick out of it as I do, so that was nice.
Dec 7, 2023
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I found this cheese at the Gristedes near my apartment in NYC a few years ago, but am pretty sure you can find it anywhere. Fun spicy cheese that’s perfect for a good ol cracker.
Dec 7, 2023