The ghost of David Berman

David Berman, the singer from Silver Jews and Purple Mountains, and one of my favourite songwriters, died this week.

I learned this within minutes of waking up on Thursday morning – from a music website, which I have been trying to read first thing as a replacement for the news, ironically to avoid negativity – and it absolutely floored me.

Nevertheless I got up, went to work, then went home early after realising I just could not keep my shit together. Instead I got on the emptiest carriage of the train, put “The Wild Kindness” on my headphones, and had a good cry.

Six favourite albums from 2019 (so far)

As if that title wasn’t disclaimer enough – no, I have not listened to every single album released this year. Shocking, I know. I still haven’t gotten around to the new Jamila Woods album yet, even though apparently everyone loves it, and I really liked HEAVN, and I could be listening it right now, but instead I’m writing this blog post. Sorry.

Anyway, here are six albums that have been the soundtrack to my 2019, or at least my January through June.