Noots Letter: One-A-Day Multivitamin

January 2023

Welcome back to the phase of life where everyone is captioning their photos “Michael Jordan Year” again! New year, new newsletter—this 2023, I’ll be listening one album per day. Some are brand new, some are really old, some were less than mediocre but don’t worry, those aren’t mentioned here! Enjoy these highlights of the first 31 days and 31+ listens.

If you want to feel like you’re on the way home from prom night in the 1980s…

The Wild Swans’ Bringing Home the Ashes (1988) or Glass Tiger’s Thin Red Line (1986). I recently sent a text saying “They just don’t make music like this anymore” about these albums, so I guess I am in my Gen X era.

If you’re on a spiritual journey and also love Janis Joplin & Grace Slick…

Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Illuminations (1969) was on Locked Groove’s TikTok page as one of her 10/10 albums. I loved this experimental electronic record and I love the historical impact Buffy Sainte-Marie has made as a social activist, musical pioneer, and first Indigenous woman to win an Oscar in 1983!

If you like listening to musical theatre and/or Rachmaninoff…

Dave Malloy’s Preludes (2016) tells the dramatized tale of Rachmaninoff’s writer’s block. When I was 9 years old, I was obsessed with Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op 18: 2. Adagio Sostenuto and used to listen to it in a dim bedroom and write lyrics to go over top of the flute melody. Needless to say I’m floored that I am not at all unique—Dave did the very same thing and subsequently produced it Off-Broadway.

If you want a former musical theatre girlie who has made a name for herself in the indie scene…

Samia’s Honey (2023) is the second album from this iconique nepo baby. In 2017, she released a single called “Someone Tell The Boys [they’re not important anymore]” and I thought she was so cool for that. Then she starred Off-Broadway in soccer play The Wolves, which was also cool. Then I passed her on the street in 2019 and accidentally ended up in the background of one of her Instagram stories and that was especially cool for me. Anyways, she’s a stellar vocalist and really fascinating songwriter and I’m rooting for her always!

If you want thought-provoking and unexpectedly hilarious hip hop…

Little Brother’s The Minstrel Show (2005) was steeped in controversy at the time of its release, but has gone on to inspire a generation of rappers. The album is complete with skits, critiques, and unforgettable rhymes (on meeting at NC Central University: “study a broad or two or three” lmao). Shoutout to Holland and his project Rap Portraits for the introduction to Phonte & friends!

If you want classic wintertime folk…

Meg Baird’s Furling (2023), H.C. McEntire’s Every Acre (2023), and Margo Price’s Strays (2023) were new January releases by folk/country women with longstanding reputations in the industry.

If you want more alternative folk…

poolblood’s mole (2023) is a great example of how new artists are redefining the genre. In their debut album, co-produced by personal fave Shamir, they combine elements of shoegaze and dream pop in an ode to introversion. Rozi Plain’s Prize (2023) was another standout, incorporating quirky and catchy electronic elements reminiscent of Sylvan Esso.

If you’re wondering about the superior Cranberries album…

The Cranberries, No Need To Argue (1994). I listened to like 4 or 5 of these one week just because I saw this meme. This one featuring “Zombie” was my favorite, which is really saying something because “Dreams” from the 1993 record makes me absolutely feral/frothing at the mouth.

If you’re wondering if alt rock from the early 2000s still holds up…

Beck, Modern Guilt (2004) or Paramore, Riot! (2007). My God, they still really do hit! This month, Belle & Sebastian reappeared with Late Developers (2023) if you’re feeling extra nostalgic.

If you want some jazzy contemporary music…

Jonah Yano’s portrait of a dog (2023) incorporates jazz into lo-fi R&B/folk?? Idrk how to describe, it’s just very chill and vibey. Lakecia Benjamin’s prowess as saxophonist and composer is apparent on Phoenix (2023) and features some iconic jazz vocalists. Bonus! One of my most favorite surprises from last year was Cécile McLorin Salvant’s Ghost Song (2022)—it starts with a haunting acapella cover of “Withering Heights” if that tells you anything about her unreal voice.

If you want Black Keys meets groovy funk, with a surprisingly sentimental twist…

The Arcs’ Electrophonic Chronic (2023) is not only joyful and vibrant, but is also an homage to the late band member Richard Swift. I really loved the celebratory nature of these tracks, and it’s definitely an album I’ll be Bringing To The Park This Summer (ultimate signifier of approval).

If you want to be surprised by how many songs you recognize from these ‘70s classics…

Carole King’s Tapestry (1971), Billy Joel’s The Stranger (1977), Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin IV (1971). Ever heard of them??? Jk. But if you’re looking to start somewhere, Rolling Stones’ 500 Greatest Albums (article linked here) is an extensive exploration of popular music history. It’s wild the sheer amount of hits that single artists used to churn out back in those days—I didn’t even know how much Carole King I knew until I listened. For some reason, whenever I used to see these lists, I’d be like blah blah blah this stuff is old there’s no way it really slaps... But I stand corrected! They’re on here for a reason, folks!

If you’re wondering about my favorite album of January 2023…

Jadu Heart, Derealised. Wow. I don’t know why they have like 2 million monthly listeners and I had still never heard of them, but I’m glad I have now! Think Beach House with grittier, more youthful noise. There’s nothing I love more than tracks that feel like a late night walk home alone in the middle of the city streets, and this is it, baby!!

If you want to follow along…

Here’s your favorite playlist of the year, the one featuring all the favorite tracks from 2023 (one song per artist). As always, feel free to slide in with some suggestions of more no-skip albums you think I would enjoy :) happy happy!