Garnet's Gems

I’m so tired, getting ready to go to a club is so much better than actually being there. bleugh

General thoughts & listening habits

About half of my listening this week was while walking a cute little mutt named Finn that I got to babysit for a few days (very fun). I’ve been so busy this week though, perpetual exhaustion. So, what have I been listening to? Lot of the Stones this past week, heck yeah.

Top 5 albums of my week.

Remember, just out of what I’ve been listening to. I don’t track enough modern artists to listen to five new albums every week, y’know? I am hyped for the Jesse Welles’ album dropping on America day though (also rumour has it that Olivia Rodrigo’s gonna announce her third album soon!!)

Also, dw this week is light on folk.

5. The Planets – Gustav Holst (1917): 8

I’m not much of a classic music guy. I think you generally have to be better versed in music theory (can finally play A-Shaped barres though!) than I am to really get it.

Thankfully, this album (I mean, not technically because it’s a symphony, but idc) is great enough for that to not really be an issue.

Themed around the planets of the solar system/Roman gods, each track stands on its own as a complete departure from the others in terms of style.

Mars feels aggressive and Star Wars-esque.

Venus is soft and pleasant.

Jupitar is grand and bold (my favourite track).

If you ever feel the urge to listen to music this old, than this is what I’d recommend.

4. Blizzard of Ozz – Ozzy Osbourne (1980): 8.25

Metal is often quite hit or miss with me, but this album is just plain fun.

Obviously we’re all familiar with Crazy Train. I mean, heck they used it in one of them Despicable Me movies even, but the rest of the album is also very good. I particularly enjoyed Goodbye to Romance and the opener, I Don’t Know.

It’s fairly soft as far as metal goes, pretty poppy, but it’s all just very fun. Dumb, silly fun. Plus, while I’m not generally crazy about shredder guitarists, Randy Rhoads certainly did it better than most.

If you just want to relax and play some Minecraft after a long day at work, this is the album for you.

3. Black Eyed Man – Cowboy Junkies (1992): 8.5

Yes, yes I know, it’s a bit lame to have two albums by the same artist in back to back weeks. The problem is that nobody did folky alt-country as well as the Junkies (except Lucinda Williams). Good albums make me want to listen to more good albums, and then those albums also end up good, so I have to rank them as well.

Like Demons last week (which I’ve since knocked down to an 8.25), this album is an excellent showcase of the melancholic fatigue that only Margo Timmins could pull off.

We’ve got the gorgeous Southern Rain on here, the fun Murder Tonight, In the Trailer Park, the picturesque The Last Spike, and a wonderful duet with the talented John Prine on If You Were the Woman and I Was the Man. Plus eight more great tracks.

This is an album to wear like a coat while you’re standing alone on your porch in the rain and whittling away at a piece of wood.

2. Plastic Surgery Disasters – Dead Kennedys (1982): 8.75

My mom used to have a friend who would describe this sort of music as “ra ra ra f**k! music.” I find that to be a pretty apt descriptor to be honest, but it’s hardly a negative. I do like me some hardcore punk, just hits the vibe sometimes.

Can I just say, I love love love the bass tone on this album, it’s so punchy and raw and mixed in so well. That’s what I love so much about Dead Kennedys generally, the instruments are punchy and loud without the production sounding muddy or unduly subdued (my big gripe with Bad Brains).

Half the time I have no idea what’s being said, but I certainly never lose track of the mood. This album is aggressive, political, punchy and more. It’s just great.

1. Wild is the Wind – Nina Simone (1966): 8.75

Who doesn’t adore the occasional piece of lounge pop/vocal jazz? Don’t lie, I know how many of you love singing Something Stupid as a duet on karaoke night. When done right, it is divine.

This is my fourth Nina Simone album, my god, what a genius. I wasn’t huge on ‘Little Girl Blue’, the last of her albums I’d listened to, so I wasn’t feeling super excited going in (thinking I’d exhausted her good material with ‘I Put a Spell on You’ and ‘Sings the Blues’), but my lord am I glad I gave it a shot.

This is what I love about music, a deep sensation of sincerity. I believe every word she’s saying, and her skillful piano playing takes the spotlight beautifully.

I wouldn’t be surprised if I eventually bumped this one up to a 9 to be honest.

Give it a listen, you’ll see.

recommended songs

(In no particular order)

1. Zydeco Sont Pas Salées – The Rolling Stones (2025)
2. Astronomy Domine – Pink Floyd (1967)
3. Dress Rehearsal Rag – Judy Collins (1966)
4. House for Everyone – Traffic (1967)
5. Rockin’ Around (With You) – Tom Petty (1976)
6. Blind Willie McTell – Bob Dylan (1983)
7. Who by Fire (Live in Dublin Version) – Leonard Cohen (2014)
8. Grace, Too – The Tragically Hip (1994)
9. Lingus – Snarky Puppy (2014)
10. Limelight – Rush (1981)

Nice seeing you all this week! Also if anyone knows how I should indicate the genre of these albums/songs, that would be very helpful. Everything I try just seems too clunky.