April 30, 2021
Old and New Favorites
Discover something new to listen to with an oldie and a new pick.
Sing to Me Instead
by Ben Platt
In honor of the recent release of his latest single (“Imagine,” which I highly recommend), I have rediscovered my love for Ben Platt. Best known for his Broadway career, starring in musicals like Dear Evan Hansen, as well as his turn as Anna Kendrick’s love interest in Pitch Perfect, Platt released his debut album Sing to Me Instead in 2019. The album pays tribute to the Broadway part of his life and features a lot of dramatic runs and is very piano-heavy. It’s easy to listen to and invokes a lot of emotions from listeners. “Grow as We Go” is a particularly emotional track and has even gained some popularity on TikTok recently—and for a good reason. The song shows off Platt’s range as an artist, proving that he can not only belt those Broadway-esque high notes, but is also comfortable in his lower register, singing softly about a partner he wants to grow old with.
Favorite Tracks: “Share Your Address” and “Temporary Love”
by Pink Floyd
Looking for an album with those chill summer vibes and that ’70s psychedelic rock guitar? Maybe not, but you should still give Wish You Were Here a listen. As with most of Pink Floyd’s albums, the songs are placed in an order that serves a purpose, as each song has a smooth and effortless transition into the next one. The instrumentals alone are enough to make you appreciate the work the band puts into the quality of their songs. The album was written primarily by Roger Waters after founding band member Syd Barrett left the band due to rapidly declining mental health. Waters missed his friend and came up with the premise for the album and the title song, “Wish You Were Here,” because he was inspired by those feelings of loss, as well as the anxiety and depression that emerged within each of the band members due to their new rise to fame.
Whenever I listen to this album, I want to be driving with my windows down, and the volume turned up far louder than it should be for the sake of my speakers. While the lyrics may be tragic if you actually sit and listen to them, they’re accompanied by an arrangement of jam-worthy instruments, including the saxophone, wailing guitars, and killer drums. On your next 45-ish minute road trip, I suggest putting this on your list.
Favorite Tracks: “Welcome to the Machine” and “Wish You Were Here”