January Albums

January Album 1
So
by Peter Gabriel

I know this album well. I first listened to it when I was a young lad, many moons ago, and it has stayed with me ever since. Listening to it again, front to back, on CD, reminded me why it still holds up.
So feels deliberate. Every track has a purpose. Nothing feels rushed or accidental. Even the songs that have been overplayed still work when heard in context, surrounded by the rest of the album. The duet with Kate Bush, “Don’t Give Up,” still gives me goosebumps after all these years.
This is not an album I needed to rediscover. It simply confirmed what I already knew. It is careful, confident, and timeless.
Some albums age. This one settles in.

⸻

January Album 2
Parallel Lines
by Blondie

Parallel Lines surprised me more than I expected. This album came out in 1978, and it still feels sharp. I knew the hits. Everyone does. What I had not done in a long time was listen to the entire album without skipping anything.
Hearing it straight through made it clear how strong it is as a full record, not just a collection of singles. It moves fast, it is sharp, and it never overstays its welcome. There is a confidence here that feels effortless, even when the sound shifts from track to track.
This album is fun, but it is not shallow. It knows exactly what it is doing.