Ten great rainy-day albums for the inevitable April showers

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I think it's safe to say the snow is gone, but don't hold me to that.  You just never know with Indiana weather.

As evidenced by Monday, however, we're going to have to put up with the rain now, for better or for worse.  So it's time to find your umbrella, dust off your galoshes and make a playlist of those mellow yet comforting songs you usually skip over, otherwise known as "rainy-day music."

This highly ambiguous term will obviously mean different things to different people, but nevertheless, I thought it would be fitting to share a couple of personal suggestions.  Listed here are ten albums I like to put on when the rain is a-fallin'.

"If You're Feeling Sinister" by Belle & Sebastian – This album perfectly captures the essence of alienated youth and does so with some of the most catchy melodies I have ever heard.  It's a must have for indie music fans and rainy-day music lovers alike.

"I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" by Bright Eyes – You know that song they play in "Knocked Up" when Ben finally moves out of the "bro pad"?  That's on this album.  It's a tour de force of poignant folk rock and another must-have for those unafraid of introspection.

"Parachutes" by Coldplay – This is the album that put Coldplay on the map and earned them their reputation for writing sleep-inducing pop/rock.  They successfully capture the full sound of a rock band while maintaining the softness of an acoustic solo artist, and they will undoubtedly complement your day spent inside watching the rain.       

 

"The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" by Bob Dylan – Consistently ranked in the top 100 greatest albums of all time, this entirely acoustic album features Dylan at his best with songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and the ever-so appropriate for this column "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall."

"Menos El Oso" by Minus the Bear – This album is not your typical rainy-day album.  The songs are up-tempo and performed with a full band that knows how to play sensual math rock like no other.  Still, there's a gloomy calmness to it, making it an ideal soundtrack for a rainy day.

"Colin Meloy Sings Live!" by Colin Meloy – On this album, The Decemberists's front man takes his acoustic guitar to various stages across the U.S. and performs his songs solo.  As if The Decemberists's songs weren't already apt for a rainy day, Meloy manages to make them even more so.

"Boxer" by The National – The National may very well be our generation's version of The Smiths.  The baritone croon of front man Matt Berninger along with the intelligent and melodic instrumentation of the band works well to evoke that conflicting feeling of being sad yet at peace.

"Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits" by Simon and Garfunkel – Any Simon and Garfunkel would work in all honesty, but this just happens to be the only album I have of theirs.  Few things go better with a rainy day than a little S&G.

"Broom" by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – This album is great for when you're upbeat but still want to listen to rainy-day music.  Think old Weezer but more intricate.  I'm not sure how else to describe it.  It's good, though, despite the awful band name.

"Sky Blue Sky" by Wilco – This is simply a beautiful, mellow album, and the irony of the title is just too good to pass up.

— Pannekoek is a senior from Chesterton, Ind., majoring in English writing.

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