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Willa Magland

My Top 4 Songs of 2023

Posted Jan 12, 2024

Spotify wrapped was dissapointing this year. I got lumped into pov:indie, which I'm not too ecstatic about. Comparing playlists, it looks like 53 of my top 100 songs this year also appeared on my top songs last year, so I haven't exactly been adventurous.

There are some songs from this year that are very special to me, though, and here are four I want to share (here's a playlist), with no particular order.

Her's - Dorothy

Dorothy

From one of my favorite albums, and artists, Dorothy captures something ethereal about the environment around me, wherever I am. It finds its 80s-style beat in the tumbling of autumn leaves and the setting of the sun outside my window. Stephen's guitar rolls over endlessly, casually, quickly, a riff I've tried many times to learn. I love this song for how perfectly it captures Her's' sombre and vibrant essence.

How do I know, this road's the right way to go?

If she says bye, I ain't gonna feel alright

How did it end, I don't wanna have to pretend

I'll stay outside till your back again

I'll stay outside till your back again

Twin Peaks, Lala Lala - Whistle in the Wind (End of Everything)

Whistle in the Wind

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that, for one of the most beautiful songs I've found this year, I haven't listened to anything else from Twin Peaks since, and my stubborn mind can't imagine why I would; my needs are met. This song is incredible, it's stayed with me ever since my first listen, and has never suffered a skip. I'll always be in the mood for the End of Everything. The song envelops you in this embrace of existentialism and wonder. The beat of the drums and tones of the bass simulate the dreary ticking of a large clock-tower. Constant, finite, and forever.

Ring, ring, ring oh, my death machine

You know it rings all day it doesn't mean anything

I took the ride line south

The mask on my mouth

For all my friends in different metropolitan towns

For all my friends in different metropolitan towns

Men I Trust - Porcelain

Porcelain

This is my third year of loving this song. Off the mystical and miraculous Oncle Jazz, Porcelain transports you to a world of red-eye, cake, highways and wine, all under the ever watchful eye of the omnipotent Oncle. Reminiscent of its title, Porcelain replicates the weaving patterned ink on a delicate memento, filled with memories and heartbreak.

Morning

Red like wine

Got me trapped under

Venetian blinds

Car Seat Headrest - There Must Be More Than Blood

There Must Be More

I may be a little obsessed with this one. I've spent all of this year, and a portion of the last, making my way through Car Seat Headrest's discography, taking my time, with only a few detours here and there. Making A Door Less Open isn't known for really being beloved by CSH fans, but it has found a very special place in my heart. MADLO has Can't Cool Me Down, which, if you listened to the live rip I'd previously posted, needs no explanation.

There Must Be More Than Blood is a bittersweet semi-finale to the album, with one of my favorite bridge's Toledo has ever written.

And it wasn't for love that you went back home

It was the guilt in your throat like you swallowed a bone

They had all of your life to get it right

They had all of that time just to change their minds

And you're grateful for the bus, it's a place to sit down

Like a spider in the winter trying not to be found

No use trying to heal when you're getting stepped on

No use selling your soul when you're getting passed on

The song's instrumentation is this weird mixture of awkwardness, imperfection, and solidity.

There must be more than blood

That holds us together

There must be more than wind

That takes us away

There must be more than tears

When they pull back the curtain

Of this much I am certain

Yeah, well, those are my top 4! I hope you found at least one you enjoyed.

Thank you for reading,

Willa

Current Status ☕

a little dancing guy