On July 5th, A Perfect Playlist will be 10 years old!
I can’t believe it’s been a decade since I pressed “publish” on my first post in the summer of 2014, shortly after being pulled up on stage by The Wanted. (You can read my blog’s full origin story here.)
2014 was an epic year for music with artists like Bad Suns, The Black Keys, George Ezra and Spoon releasing some of their best records to date. Now, these iconic albums are turning 10 years old alongside my blog! To celebrate my site’s birthday and the 10th anniversary of some of these records, I have some exciting content planned in the coming month. Follow my Instagram to stay up to date on new posts, giveaways and other fun surprises.
Let’s take a trip back in time and revisit a few of my favorite albums from this era of Tumblr, Polaroid cameras and rainbow oil puddles.
Bad Suns – Language & Perspective
After releasing a few singles and EPs in 2013, Bad Suns’ first full-length album, Language & Perspective, debuted in 2014. Ten years and four records later, it remains their most popular album. I received Language & Perspective as a Christmas gift in 2014 along with my first record player. I have fond memories of hearing the vinyl crackle on Christmas morning, hot chocolate in hand, as lead singer Christo Bowman’s voice materialized through the speakers.
Bad Suns are considered alt/pop and have even been described as a modern-day Tears For Fears. With memorable choruses like “I’ll try my best, how much do I invest? Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips.” Bad Suns know how to plant an earworm. The polished, yet whimsical sound of this album makes for such a fun listen. And it’s even better live – when I saw Bad Suns live in 2015, Christo was quite literally ON TOP of the crowd. Belting into his mic at full volume, fans supported his weight as he sang the record’s closing track, “Rearview.”
Fave tracks: 2, 3, 5
2. Catfish & The Bottlemen – The Balcony
Catfish & The Bottlemen, made up of Ryan Evan “Van” McCann and Billy Bibby, began playing music together at Bibby’s parents home, a bed and breakfast in Wales in 2007. Since then, they’ve kept fans guessing with their Oasis-like antics and spotty social media presence – various members have quit and rejoined the band throughout the years due to disagreements and tension.
Their debut album, The Balcony, burst onto the scene in 2014. The record kicks off with “Homesick,” followed by their most popular track, “Kathleen,” in a swirl of guitar and exploding choruses. But track 6 on the album, “Hourglass,” stands apart from the rest. This quieter, acoustic track among the loud, explicit and often sexual record tells the classic story of simply missing your lover. This intimate track opens with Van saying “You ready?” and ends with him saying “got it” – a great addition to the record that showcases the band’s ability to sing softer, lullaby-like tunes in addition to their usual blaring ones.
Fave tracks: 1, 2, 5
George Ezra – Wanted On Voyage
George Ezra is an old soul. At first glance, his baby face is deceiving. When I saw him live in the Fall of 2014, shortly after the release of his debut record, I was taken aback by the deep, bellowing voice that echoed off the walls of the venue. As soon as he played his lead single, “Budapest,” I was hooked. Since then, I’ve followed him closely, seen him live a few times and grabbed all his records on vinyl.
Wanted On Voyage, which Ezra released at just 21 years old, is one of my favorite records of all time. When I think of excellent imagery, this record immediately comes to mind. A few of my favorite lyrics, (and there are a lot) are:
I fill your pillowcase up with snakes
The man eating kind
Though you call yourself a woman
I doubt it they would mind
–“Drawing Board”
The raindrops keep falling, searching for a home
My television’s gasping for air
And everybody’s searching, searching for a reason
And I’m, woah I’m, searching for you
–“Song 6”
Every once in a while, you hear a song that leaves an imprint on your heart. For me, that’s track 13 on Wanted On Voyage, “Song 6.” I first heard it live 10 years ago in the front row at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, and it blew me away. The dreamy guitar riff mixed with soft drums, bass and George’s smooth vocals sounds like falling in love. The song starts with what sounds like a voice note of a simple tune, featuring just George’s raw voice and guitar. He sings about the monotonous task of painting a white wall, adding a twist by repeatedly writing his lover’s name on the freshly painted surface.
Fave tracks: All of them!
Here’s to another 10+ years! Thanks for reading.
-Sophie
A Perfect Playlist 
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