In true holiday spirit, GalleyCat readers shared their favorite music over the last few weeks.
Today’s installment concludes the first annual Best Writing Music list. We’d like to say thanks to everybody who emailed their suggestions. Want more music? Follow these links for Part One and Part Two of the GalleyCat list. If that’s not enough, Largehearted Boy has plenty more literary and music content.
One reader suggested: “The ultimate weapon is Bach’s unaccompanied cello music. Yo Yo Ma, Pablo Casals, other fine recordings — up to you. But it’s like Liquid Wrench when I’m stuck. Among things that have come out more recently, I like Hanging Gardens by the Necks, New Tones by Nomo, anything by Tortoise, and (for entering longhand changes on the computer) anything by the New Pornographers.”
A reader from Yockey Communication writes: “The Analord 10 singles by Aphex Twin really do it for me. Also, from 2008, Skeletal Lamping by Of Montreal (pictured) is great for editing / rewrites.”
More suggestions after the jump…
Another reader had these favorites:
“Mogwai, The Hawk Is Howling – Not really a “return to form,” more of an integration of the best of their old work with their new, more slimmed-down aesthetic, their constant work on dynamics provides a good listen that ebbs and flows. Intense without being intensely distracting.
“Sigur Ros, Meo suo i eyrum vio spilum endalaust – Though Jonsi (singer-guitarist) moved away from playing his guitar with a violin bow, and they’ve cut most of the pulsing feedback from their sound, the new immediacy is refreshing. A very organic collection that sounds like nothing else from anyone, anywhere.
“Buena Vista Social Club, At Carnegie Hall – A fantastic jazz album that serves both to document their technical skills as well as isolating the furious spark of their live work without ossifying it. One of the few live albums that isn’t just “as good as” their studio work, but necessary.
“Raphael Saadiq, The Way I See It — The pop confection of the list, and probably an incoherent choice in comparison to the rest, but it’s musical comfort. Sunshine and the perfect distillation of classic Motown that’s just wonderful to relax inside.”