I once knew someone who kept a list of songs he considered the prettiest. (”Pink Moon” was one example he gave me.) While my tendency to eschew playlists is well documented, creating a mental catalog of pretty songs struck me as a worthwhile endeavor somehow.
Now, when I hear new music, it inevitably gets parsed as pretty or not, and I’ve found that—surprisingly—that certain dulcet quality is kinda rare in popular music. Even most so-called love songs tend to have an edge to them it seems. Recently, though, I heard a couple songs that fit the pretty bill quite nicely. Enjoy. (Oh, and let me know in the comments what songs *you* think make the grade.)
‘The Snow Abides’ by Michael Cashmore and Antony.
So beautiful.
Yay! Keep ‘em coming … I’ll make a muxtape with the results!
“Black Cab” by Jens Lekman
“Don’t Have to Be Sad” Yo La Tengo
“Bird Stealing Bread” Iron & Wine (and also “Naked As We Came,” but that always makes me cry, so I try not to listen to it very often)
Those are my suggestions just off the top of my head. Pretty pretty, but sort of downers.
Jens Lekman had some really great stuff.
yeah, there’s an awfully high correlation between “pretty” and “crying into your rice crispies.”
oops, that’s the statistics book talking. anyway, i submit “easy from now on” by emmylou harris and “it’s gonna be alright” by ween.
now excuse me while i listen to pretty things and weep hopelessly about all that i have ever lost.
I’ll submit a Dylan 3fer as is my wont:
Lay Lady Lay
Girl From the North Country
and perhaps a deeper cut:
Boots of Spanish Leather
This has turned out to be a great deal more fun that I anticipated. (CMG Unite’s readers have amazingly good taste.)
I’m finishing the playlist now and will post it here ASAP. Keep adding songs to the comments as you think of them … I can always make a B side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1JZly_jHeQ&NR=1