5 Indie Albums to Relax To
In our previous post, we highlighted a few of our favorite hip hop albums to enjoy alongside of our relaxation syrup. But what if you want to enjoy a lean drink and you’re not a hip hop head? Fortunately for you, we have you covered as well.
That’s why in today’s post, we’ll be sharing our favorite relaxing indie albums to enjoy with some AKA Lean at the end of a long day. When the goal is to reach a level of peace and tranquility, we believe that one of our relaxation drinks and some good music is a hard combination to beat. Each album we’d like to feature has a dreamy quality to it that is perfect for kicking back with, so keep reading to see which albums make the cut!
Trying to Relax? You Should Listen To…
Light Information by Chad VanGaalen
Also an animator and illustrator who has worked on music videos and projects for other musicians, Chad VanGaalen has an amazing discography that’s filled with plenty of highlights. Our pick for an album to relax to, however, is 2017’s Light Information. From beginning to end, the album has almost a meditative quality to it.
Full of jangly pop and mellow jams, Sub Pop (the label that VanGaalen is signed to) notes that the album presents “a vivid, welcoming journey through future worlds” with “rich soundscapes.” Highlights include “Mind Hijackers Curse,” “Host Body,” and “Old Heads.”
Songs of Pain and Leisure by TW Walsh
Walsh’s website sums him up perfectly as being “a producer, songwriter, musician, and engineer,” and this list of albums he’s mastered is truly impressive thanks in part to having “nearly 1,000 projects” under his belt. It’s his own album, 2011’s Songs of Pain and Leisure, that makes our list.
TW Walsh’s soothing voice and interesting perspective on life make this an easy album to recommend for anyone looking for an album to relax with. Highlights include “Make It Rhyme,” “Plant a Garden,” “Capital Gains,” and “Build Me a Ballpark.”
Further Out by Cloakroom
A trio of musicians makes up Cloakroom, a rock band from Indiana, and their debut album Further Out, released in 2015, is full of gems. It starts out strong with “Paperweight” before moving into the slower “Outta Spite.” Billing themselves as “shoegaze, shroomgaze, and stoner rock,” Cloakroom’s first album is sure to take you on a trip.
Between the excellent guitar work, mellow vocals, and interesting lyrics, you’re sure to find that Further Out is the perfect way relax at the end of a long day and album closer “Deep Sea Station” is the ideal way to bring things to a close.
LOSE by Cymbals Eat Guitars
Formed in Staten Island, Cymbals Eat Guitars has put out a handful of really great records, but the best of the bunch to relax with is probably LOSE. Pitchfork notes that the album is “a sprawling, complex, and fascinating document of American indie rock” and we couldn’t agree more.
The entire album is a reflection that’s punctuated with moments of energy; the end result is an album that comes together to tell its story perfectly. Highlights include “Warning,” “Laramie,” and “Place Names.”
Maraqopa by Damien Jurado
A change of pace for songwriter Damien Jurado, 2012’s Maraqopa seemed to come out of left field. It tells the story of a fictional city named Maraqopa where the narrator disappears from society. Based on a dream that Jurado had, this album, along with its follow ups Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Sun and Visions of Us on the Land. The more you read about the story that these albums tell, the more fascinating it becomes.
Standout tracks are album opener “Nothing is the News,” as well as “Working Titles,” “Everyone a Star,” and “Museum of Flight.”
Put on an Album and Slip Into Relaxation
Feelings of peace and tranquility can be hard to come by, but we believe that music can make a massive difference. Our stress-reliever drink also does the trick, so if you’re looking for something to help you relax while you’re listening to some music, mix our relaxation syrup with your favorite juice or soft drink and sip it slowly.
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Brandon Bova
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