What I've Been Listening To: Winter 2023 Edition

Jaclyn

Mar 1

For a long time, I didn't listen to much of anything. The occasional book on CD, podcasts on my commute - that was it. Times have changed and, thanks to Steve setting up my Spotify and linking it to my Echo devices, I now have infinite music. And since I haven't cut back on audiobooks - quite the contrary - listening time is creeping up and I'm really enjoying that.

First of all, I'm still on my kick of alternating between listening to an audiobook and then catching up on the latest episodes in my (now mostly cleared of back content) podcatcher. It's a nice way to squeeze in extra reading, and over the past few months I've eked out several books this way, namely:

The Christmas Hirelings, by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen, by Rhys Bowen
Christmas Days, by Jeannette Winterson
Dinner with Edward, by Isabel Vincent
Smallbone Deceased, by Michael Gilbert
Horizon, by Barry Lopez

And as mentioned above, Steve set up my Spotify account (apparently I've had one for ages?) and linked it to my Echo devices, so now I can play any music I want in any room of the house (or my car). After years of professing that I'm just not that much of a music person (except for the Decemberists, of course), I am remembering how much fun it can be to get sucked into a good song or album. Nugget and I have been going down a major R.E.M. rabbit hole on our way to the ski mountain every weekend, and I recently discovered a "90s Road Trip" playlist that turned my car into a time machine. If you haven't driven home from the grocery store belting out "Breakfast at Tiffany's" then you haven't lived.

Sticking with the music theme, I have also been binging on The New Pornographers. Along with The Decemberists, these folks were the soundtrack to my life in law school days. They're touring this spring (!!!) and playing the 9:30 Club in D.C. (!!!!!) and I've! Got! Tickets! (!!!!!!!) so clearly I need to prepare. Although they're dropping a new album and I expect that will make up most of their songs. It's not out yet, so - much, much more New Pornographers listening ahead.

Something else that's coming my way and something else for which I've got tickets - Six the Musical! Are the kids tired of me walking around the house chanting "Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded... LIVE!" yet? Yes. Yes, they are. Too bad! My friend Amanda and I have a girls' night planned when the U.S. tour comes to Baltimore, and we are ready for our crowning glory.

So much music here! What a fun season of listening it's been. I'm sure this will balance out eventually but for now I am really enjoying reliving the 1990s and remixing Tudor history. What are you listening to lately?

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