Put your headphones on! For December, our playlist features songs that require your attention… your undivided attention. So plug in, lay back, get under the covers, and get lost in eleven dark and moody songs that we’ve found for you this month.
Show notes from our December 2023 Spotify Podcast:
We started with Al’s ten submissions and Phoebe’s ten submissions, but our finished, 11-song playlist is put in an order that we think makes sense musically. Which is not same same order that we pick the songs during the picking ceremony heard during our podcast.
Song notes (Quotes are from song lyrics):
- “Chin up, Pluto, the stars still want you, and we down here do too, you know what to do, just keep on keeping on”
Clare Manchon brings you a lovely and funny song about that (former) member of our solar system. - “Don’t remember the last time when I helped someone, don’t remember the last time I helped myself”
Brooklyn’s Shilpa Ray is a wonderfully smart and snarky songwriter. We’d like to hear more from her! - “The future’s just a thing we say to keep the sordid past at bay”
From Dublin, the Irish band Lankum was described by The Guardian as “a younger, darker Pogues with more astonishing power”. - “I checked myself in the mirror before I came out tonight, changed clothes several times and now I feel as though I put on airs.”
They are Maggie and Suzzy and Terre. And we love them (and their sick minds) so much. The Roches are back for the second appearance with us. - “And I won’t know where I’m headed till I’m further along”
Jolie Holland is a long time veteran of our playlist, having been with us four times in the past. She always brings the magic to our playlist. - “Hope is still keeping my head above water ’til the moment before I choke”
Flock of Dimes have been with us once before. We really love the mood of “Awake for the Sunrise”. - “Pretty songs and pretty faces, tell me what their laughter means, some look like they’ll cry forever, tell me what their laughter means”
Amy Annelle’s cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “Buckskin Stallion Blues” is just the right mix of country and songcraft. - “Life flutters by and I’ll leave you in your place, just say you’ll meet me in the bye and bye in a field all tall with grain”
Bonnie Montgomery is a trained opera singer, as well as a budding country diva. “This Town” has such a beautiful melody and shows off all of her gifts. - “I’m in the corner, watching you kiss him, I’m right over here, why can’t you see me?”
If you haven’t noticed, maybe “quiet darkness” is this month’s theme. Willie Watson is bringing his share with “Dancing On My Own”. - “I am just an echo bouncing off the glass into our likeness”
Samantha Crain’s amazing song “An Echo” is one of the most intense songs we’ve had in our playlist in a while. The video is also quite good! - “Trouble can’t touch my lips, straying heart, a sinking ship, now I hold you light fading light”
On their third try, The UK’s Ida Mae is finally in our playlist! “Hold You Like Fading Light” is vocal and guitar brilliance.
Both our Spotify playlist and our podcast are updated and released around the first of each month. We’re recorded monthly in the warm and cozy hug of the OML Studios in lovely downtown Manchester, Richmond, Virginia.
Thanks to Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon for help in recording this month. Thanks to Glen and Elise. Music in this episode includes “Red Eye” (our theme music by E’s Jammy Jams), “TJ Elwood” by Blue Dot Sessions, accordion music by Andrew Huang, “Trois Gnossiennes 3” by Blue Dot Sessions, “Hall of the Mountain King” version by Kevin MacLeod, “Trod Along” by Blue Dot Sessions.
Featured image: An early morning sunrise in downtown Manchester, Richmond, Virginia.
If you have questions or suggestions, please drop us an email.
See you next month!
