Been a while since we’ve done one of these, huh? I’ve started soliciting them from the group again after the shuttering of our Icecast station meant no one could explore what music we’re into that way (not that it wasn’t massively out of date anyway). Nevertheless! The group has picked a song each that they’re digging at the moment and given me a little blurb about it. We’ll see if we can keep it up seasonally, but for now, go forth and explore, Letters readers!
dotcomboom: Keane – “Walnut Tree” (from the “Somewhere Only We Know” single, 2004)
Maybe not a Spring centric song exactly, but I got really into it during my last months on campus around this time of year. Considering that the tides feel like they’re changing again (a deal of movement in my personal life even over the last two months), it feels appropriate to bring it back to commemorate that. I don’t think I could do it justice in describing it, even simple lyrics have a tendency to elude me, but it feels to me either like returning to a familiar place in hopes that a promise would be kept, or going to said place in spite of what was there, not being there anymore. Either way, the recurring “I waited a long, long, time…” is as good an expression of love – or yearning? – as anything.
mariteaux: Chevelle – “An Evening With El Diablo” (from Wonder What’s Next, 2002)
I’m thankfully better now, but this year started rough and hit me hard. I actually wasn’t sure what song I could pick for my own post, given it’s not been very musical until recent. If these posts are time capsules though, “An Evening With El Diablo” was with me at my lowest, putting it on loop before crawling back in bed to fester. A six-minute, coal-black churn interrupted by classic Chevelle explosiveness, it was as much the lyrics as the music that got to me–a protagonist mighty tempted by either the literal Devil or one inspired by him. This disease keeps holding me down; nothing seems to faze you. Wish I had your faults. When all you want is your mojo back, unrestrained danger is absolutely captivating.
ciel: Saosin – “Seven Years” (from Translating the Name, 2003)
I am not kidding when I say I’ve legitimately just had this whole EP on loop for the past two weeks. Being a huge emo sperg my entire life, “Seven Years” in particular ticks every box for me. Might honestly have the nastiest snare I’ve ever heard in my entire life and god damn I love it. Not sure how to put it myself but the roominess of the kit paired with the loose, yet cutting guitar tone really does just feel like the entire world is crashing down on you. Pair that with the vocal layering around the end? It’s heavier and more abrasive-feeling than most metal I’ve heard in my life! Pretty much all of Translating the Name is just as good as this, and it’s a shame it’s so damn short, because nothing else in their discography really comes close for me. I’ll figure out how to tie these lyrics to the Hero of Time somehow, but for now, go listen to the damn EP, it’s sick as fuck.
Savannah: Hotel Mira – “Don’t Break My Heart” (from After Party, 2025)
Hotel Mira’s Pity Party was my soundtrack for spring and summer 2025. Just after I saw these guys live in October (because only a Canadian band would ever tour in my city), they dropped their follow-up EP, After Party. Hotel Mira’s always been a fun, catchy band, but their sound’s gotten poppier and catchier with every album. I spent a lot of time working on Desertbound listening to their recent stuff, particularly “Don’t Break My Heart,” on repeat. Now I’ve permanently associated Hotel Mira with Desertbound‘s narrator-protagonist, Trapper. Something about the beat and the fruity lyrics and singing.
caby: S. J. Tucker – “Wonders” (from Wonders, 2013)
I’ve not been doing a whole lot of active listening as of late with one thing and another, if I’m being honest, so I wasn’t sure what specifically I wanted to write about for this post. Outside of school work and sleeping, I’ve been doing a lot of daydreaming lately, so any music that encourages that has been much appreciated. I decided to write about this song, “Wonders” by S. J. Tucker, because it reminds me very much of my Elder Scrolls sona Blivo, with lyrics exploring both the danger involved in adventuring as well as the magic of it, which suits Blivo to a tee, in my opinion. S. J. Tucker’s voice is also always just beautiful to listen to, which is always a plus… Looking into it, the song is based on and takes lyrics from the book The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente, which seems equally as whimsical. Makes me want to rewrite Blivo’s bio again.
