Nothing has more of a negative impact on my workday than forgetting my headphones.
Like most people, music is a huge part of my life. I listen to the most music while I work, sifting through playlists, from neo classical to indie to electronica on what seems like a never-ending search for the perfect tunes to keep me in the zone.
We spend so many of our days at work, and so much of our workdays in front of a screen, that music has become indispensable in keeping us happy, motivated, and productive.
But are all songs made the same? Or are there perfect tracks for certain tasks?
Written by an 18-year-old Kate Bush and inspired by the novel of the same name by Emily Bronte (with whom Bush shares a birthday) “Wuthering Heights” was the lead single off the artist’s debut album in 1978.
Lines like “let me in, I’m so cold” take on ominous meaning when the listener understands the words are spoken from beyond the grave. Catherine, a ghost, begs entrance at a bedroom window so that she can be forgiven by her lover Heathcliff and freed from her personal purgatory.
Because of Kate Bush’s dissatisfaction with the cover art of the single, its release was delayed from November of 1977 to January 1978. This proved fortuitous as it prevented the song from competing with Wings’ “Mull of Kintyre”, which in December of ’77 became the biggest selling UK single of all time up to that point.
“Wuthering Heights” became a massive UK hit in its own right, spending four weeks at number one. Like all Bush’s work, it fared considerably less well in the US, where the song peaked at #108 on the singles chart, marking the contrast from the start between her star status in her native England and that of cult figure here.
A remixed version with newly-recorded vocals appeared on her 1986 compilation album The Whole Story. This is the version presented here.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the installation of the master FM antenna atop the Empire State Building October 29th, light designer Marc Brickman choreographed a light show that synced with Steely Dan’s “FM (No Static at All)” and was simulcast on New York’s WCBS 101.1 (FM of course).
Brooklyn’s Scott Klass makes music that’s “steeped in pop/rock—Weezer meets Ben Folds…leading you to sing along to songs you’re hearing for the first time while stories unfold of relationships gone awry….” (The Deli).
“Klass writes melodic confections that seep into your psyche and stay…and does so with wit and intelligence” (PopMatters).
The Apache Relay’s self-titled third album finds the band somewhat eschewing the more countrified aspects of their previous sound for a wall-of-reverb pop sheen more characteristic of Fleet Foxes or Yukon Blonde.
Fittingly, they recorded in L.A. rather than Nashville this time around. And while the rustic roots still show, the more lush sound suits their more pronounced melodic pop leanings.
A few of these choruses are the real stick-in-the-head type.
Every Moment Has A Song 