Maroon Weekly

Well it’s winter in College Station. I hope you all stocked up on your sub-zero rated North Face gear over break, because with temperatures hovering around that of a broken refrigerator, things might get unbearably pleasant out there. When you’re trudging through all the snow drifts to get to class, you’re in danger of becoming downhearted, depressed, and cold to the world. It may seem strange to reach out for the same kind of somber music as the surrounding environment, but winter time demands winter music. I’m not talking about Christmas music either; I’m talking about plopping right into a plush white snow bank of supple tunes designed to warm and calm.

i.e.

Fleet Foxes –Fleet Foxes

I first heard this album in the summertime and thought, “eh, not bad, little slow, not really what I want to hear,” but I pulled this thing out as I was trudging through a grey and drizzly December campus, and I finally got it. Fleet Foxes is almost exclusively cold or cool weather music, and you’ll really want to use as much of this medicine as you can this season. Multi-layered vocals and soft guitar work elevates generic folk songs into warm hymns that become odes to life itself. Seriously, man.

David Bazan – Curse Your Branches.

I reviewed this album a while back and I’ve been listening intently since. It’s fantastic, especially for Bazan fans. Just like Fleet Foxes, you may have to roll it around in your ear drum for a while before you really fall in love with it, but once you’re in, you’ll be like the mountain man that never wants to leave his desolate cabin. Bazan writes sincerely heartbreaking songs, but with a pop sensibility that is intriguing and unforgettable. It’s like having a party to fill out divorce papers and write obituaries. That might not sound appealing, but we all know everybody loves a good train wreck, especially when it’s riddled with undeniable pop hooks.

M. Ward – Hold Time

M. Ward’s fuzzy folk pop is upbeat but subdued, perfect for fighting a continuum of grey skies. Of M. Ward’s five albums, Hold Time is the most recent, but I recommend any of the others for a source of winter jams. M. Ward fits a bill of pop folk perfectly and doesn’t try too hard to stretch outside those bounds. It’s always been a dependable source for good songwriting.

Bon Iver – For Emma Forever Ago.

This guy kind of fits the same bill as Fleet Foxes for anyone unfamiliar with either of the artists, but this is another sublime album for a little introspective winter wanderings through campus. Slow it down, grab a cup of coffee, and listen to Bon Iver. Not only will you instantly become a caffeinated hipster, I guarantee you’ll be happy and warm too.

A few more honorable mentions worthy of wintry time: Blitzen Trapper – Furr, Boards of Canada – Music Has the Right to Children, Joy Division – Closer

Save your Miley and Nickelback until spring folks, take advantage of this great weather while it lasts. Good luck on your arctic expeditions!