Culture

Suggested Listening ’19: Chris Pyle

Posted on: Monday, January 13, 2020

Every year WOUB Culture spotlights what music-centric folks in the region have been listening to all year round right in time for the holidays in our annual best-of-the-year features.

Chris Pyle is the owner of Donkey Coffee and a local music aficionado.

1. Designer By Aldous Harding

Third album from this New Zealand singer songwriter. I love the down to earth feel of this recording. The self-reflective lyrics are mysterious and leaves the interpretation up to the listener. The lyrical content has been referred to as focusing on a loss of innocence but it’s not nostalgic. For people who love melancholy.

2. Love and Revelation By Over The Rhine

This is the best OTR album since Good Dog Bad Dog. As usual, the lyrics are central to this recording and focus on their relationship of ups and downs and how to navigate through their commitment to each other. As OTR has said, “quiet music is meant to be played loud.”

3. Cuz I Love You By Lizzo

What a fun record! This is where old school and new R&B collide with wonderful results. Many of the lyrics focus on self love and learning to be comfortable in your own skin. Modern top 40 usually doesn’t do it for me but this does.

4. Country Squire By Tyler Childers

My favorite album yet by Childers. Sturgill Simpson produces and gives Tyler his best sounding record yet without making it sound too slick. I love country but I’m very particular about what country I like. This album is a great alternative to most of the crappy pop country that gets played on the radio these days. It’s smart and funny and well written.

5. Western Skies By Bruce Springsteen

He’s back with one of his best albums in years. This one is without The E Street Band and focuses more on sub and hushed tones. He’s never released an album like this before. It’s reminiscent of ’70s California country with lush strings but since it’s The Boss, he puts his own spin on it. Much of the lyrical content focuses on Springsteen’s journey into his 70s and figuring out what it means to be living at this moment in time.

6. When I Get Home By Solange