Emmy the Great - First Love (2009)

My first encounter with Emmy the Great was fairly soon after the release of this debut album of hers. A friend of mine used to have a music blog where he listed best albums of the year and he listed this one there. I really liked the album. It sounded fairly simple, but I kind of like simple melodies. The lyrics are really well written and who doesn't like a good break-up album. Back then, it would've been reasonably difficult to find this album anywhere in Finland, so I didn't buy it straight away. I actually ended up buying her second album, Virtue, first when I had just moved to London. This one I only found years later. Got it quite cheap at that time. Emmy the Great's folky sounds are quite well produced. There are elements of trad folk in there with some excellent fiddles, but the overall sound is much more modern, which I perhaps like a bit more.

Dan Michaelson - First Light (2017)

It seems strange to write about this album now that the spring is in full bloom, sun is shining and it's warm outside. This album is a proper winter album. Then again, now that I'm listening to the album in COVID-19 lockdown with sun shining in trough the windows, it sounds glorious. Some people have a voice that makes gives you shivers even when the song or the melody isn't that exiting. Dan Michaelson has one of those voices. If I were to compare it to some other voices out there, the most apparent comparisons would be Bill Callahan or Matt Berninger of The National. The deep voice has also been put in the very front in his music through production, so you'll hear all the little faults, but also all of the rasp. I think one reason why I adore these raspy low vocals is that it's a complete opposite of my own clear and high ones.

The Cardigans - First Band on the Moon (1996)

I've said it many times before, but the Swedes really know how to make good music. It's quite astonishing how many great albums come out of Sweden, considering the size of the country. The Cardigans is one of those very popular bands that people know at least around the Western world. Then again, most Americans will only know the biggest hit Lovefool. If your knowledge of The Cardigans is limited to this hit song, I seriously encourage you to check out other songs and albums as well. I mean, it's a good catchy tune, but in my opinion, it's not even close to being the best that the band has to offer. First Band on the Moon is the third studio album by The Cardigans and it's probably the first one that's really strong from start to finish. I perhaps slightly prefer the albums that came after, but this is still one of the finest albums from the band.