Bwog’s favorite tunes this spring!

Sydney Kaufman

Nothing’s About to Happen to Me by Mitski

Mitski’s great for those moments where you’re really depressed anyway and can’t wait to just get punched in the gut again. Repeatedly. She’s also a fantastic performer (I managed to see her at The Shed this semester!) which really lends itself to this album. Where’s My Phone? is unspeakably dissociative and dizzying live.

I’ve never lived in a small town, but thanks to In A Lake, I simultaneously never want to and feel like I already have. Nothing’s About to Happen to Me is about those moments when you actually know exactly everything that’s about to happen to you and you are faced with the inescapable choice of either staying in patent denial or giving yourself over to deep introspection on the unending, crippling dread of living through it all. When the existential hopelessness of Spring semester inevitably creeps in, you’re gonna want Mitski.

(I swear I listen to happy music, too.)

Manaia Taula-Lieras

Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder

Amidst a stressful spring semester that challenged me to remain upbeat, I relied heavily on Stevie to bring sunshine on cloudy days. Knowing that I would listen to “Knocks Me Off My Feet” on my long walks to Teacher’s College was the reason I got out of bed. His effortless blending of smooth instrumentals and passionate vocals poured love into my morning, ensuring I had a good day for at least those three and a half minutes. The album’s masterful depiction of all parts of the human experience felt particularly meaningful to me as I reflected on all the new stages of life I’m experiencing; I’m new to being 20 years old, but am already halfway done with my time as an undergraduate! Songs in the Key of Life paints all the beautiful and difficult parts of life in such a comforting light that I can’t help but feel hopeful for the future. I find this album absolutely timeless, with a song that matches every emotion and aesthetic taste. He incorporates different languages in “Ngiculela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing,” social commentary in “Pastime Paradise,” and genre in “Sir Duke,” in such a lovely and creative project that I find myself relating to 50 years after its creation.

Amy Meng

A Matter of Time by Laufey

A Matter of Time by Laufey was a staple album of my freshman spring semester. I often found myself humming along to many of the melodies as I walked around campus, studied, or listened with my friends. 

This album reminds me of the comfort of finding your people in a new place, especially as a first-year student who is still getting acclimated to campus life. For me, these songs are just as much about the love for friends and life as they are about romance, and I can always count on the lively rhythm of “Clean Air” or Laufey’s dreamy singing in “Carousel” to brighten my day. Laufey masterfully blends jazz and classical music to create a calming, heartwarming collection of tunes. 

Eve Bertrand

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison

I was recently reminded of my love for the Beatles through the Scorsese documentary Living in the Material World. This album is full of all the songs that Harrison saved up for years while in the band, never able to go past his allotment of a few songs per album. As a result, All Things Must Pass is completely overflowing with influences from several years, and became a repeat calming force for me this semester. My favorites include the title track, My Sweet Lord, and Let It Down. 

Nadia Lam

Fancy That by PinkPantheress

After ending some messy arrangements I was pulled into last semester, this semester has been a very refreshing one where I met so many cool new people. PinkPantheress’ sophomore mixtape Fancy That blends UK garage with dance and Y2K-inspired pop, and has matched the unexpectedly invigorating semester I’ve had. 

Being a long-time fan of Pink’s production style even before she first gained international acclaim with “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2”, I did not love how the public kept associating “Stateside” with Zara Larsson and Alysa Liu, but as I’ve been seeing more appreciation for Pink especially with the addicting-to-watch Rhythm Heaven-inspired music video for “Girl Like Me” that she recently released, I think Fancy That, despite being released last year May, is proving itself to still remain fresh and exciting. The album has been on repeat for me, especially during finals and as I continue to finish up on my polisci colloquium paper, because of its catchy tracks, sharp production, and Pink’s sampling techniques, which I’m deeply inspired by. In particular, I’m a big fan of how she references and samples Basement Jaxx in “Romeo” and “Girl Like Me”, honouring the early 2000s UK dance music scene, and found it so cool that she chopped up Underworld’s “Dark & Long”, famously from Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting soundtrack, which is one of my favourite movies and matches both musically and thematically for “Illegal”. 

With our very controversial election results and the double zeros I’m predicting we’re probably getting for this Saturday’s ESC grand final (which I’m ok with because this year’s is a total mess), the UK desperately needs some more of PinkPantheress bringing back Cool Britannia. And even if you’re not British, what a perfectly charming album Fancy That is to celebrate the fun of just letting it all go!

Audrey Czarnecki

Kpop Demon Hunters by HUNTR/X, Saja Boys

I never got into K-pop despite how popular it is globally. However, KPop Demon Hunters (KPDH) had my attention from the moment the movie was announced. I was intrigued to see how music would be used in the fight against the demons. Once I heard the soundtrack, I played it on repeat. The songs are so catchy, and I’ve memorized several of them along with their choreography. 

KPDH has boosted my mood in the face of stress during the semester. I sing the songs and feel much happier. “Golden” is a very lively song, and “What it Sounds Like” reminds us that we should love ourselves, even when things become difficult and we feel lost. Rumi, Zoey, and Mira were there for each other and were able to heal. I am happy to have made many friends at Columbia who see the real me, and even with the rush of college life, I have found the time to care for myself. 

“Your Idol” and “Soda Pop” are just lots of fun to listen to and make me want to dance. I have gotten up to dance to them on occasion. The entire soundtrack is a great energy boost and helps me keep my head up. 

Honorable mentions: Beetlejuice (Original Broadway Cast Recording) by Eddie Perfect, Pan’s Labyrinth (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Javier Navarrete

Sam Mezrich

Crystal Castles (II) by Crystal Castles

I’ve always been a fan of the more popular Crystal Castles songs (“Crimewave,” “Untrust Us,” “Char,” etc.) but this semester I got really into this album. I felt incredibly liminal this year, and Crystal Castles soundtracked the feeling perfectly. It’s music to listen to while wandering through the stacks at 3 am after they’re supposed to be closed. To me, the album paints a picture of driving through the rural Midwest with a highly overcast sky above you and a sense of impending doom—I can’t wait to return to Wisconsin and blast it in my car. My favorite track is “Baptism,” followed by “Pap Smear,” “Intimate,” and “Empathy.”

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