Elliott's Listening Room

Photo © 2012 Ash Adams

Brian and I love music. In the morning, Brian turns on something while we get ready for the day, then we rotate our selections throughout the day while we work. In the car, we either listen to NPR or to music from our iPhones. Basically, if we're near a computer or stereo, we generally go right to it, and because we have similar tastes, there's really no need to ask each other if a given selection is okay. (Usually, it's just what the other was thinking, with the exception of some gutter punk albums from my past.)

Now that Elliott is in the picture, however, there is a third voice in the day's selections. From even his time in the womb, it was clear that he is in our music-loving camp, but there are certain albums and artists that Elliott clearly enjoys more than others. Brian and I aren't sure if every baby will like the same things that Elliott does, but we thought we'd share his favorites anyways!

1. Joanna Newsom. Elliott loves Joanna Newsom, and especially The Milk-Eyed Mender and Have One on Me. His eyes light up the second he hears her and his fingers dance in the air to the harps. In an interview with Joanna Newsom that I read some years ago, she said that she wanted to create music that both children and adults would enjoy, and although I always suspected a child would enjoy her cooky vocals, daydreamy lyrics, and fanciful harp solos, it's wonderful to see Elliott enjoying them!

2. Nico. Another female artist with a particularly unique voice, Nico lulls Elliott into his own little smiling daydream anytime we turn on any track from Chelsea Girls.

3. The White Stripes. This one is a hit or miss, but there are times that Elliott can't get enough of White Blood Cells, and particularly "We're Going to Be Friends."

4. Feist. Yes, Elliott digs lady vocalists, though I haven't met anyone, in fact, who doesn't dig Feist. Smoky-sweet vocals, poignant lyrics (and fun), and a style all her own, the former singer in Broken Social Scene has had the buzz of the international media for the last ten years with good reason. Good pick, Elliott. His favorites? Anything on Let it Die and The Reminder.

5. Bethesda. While in utero, nothing would get Elliott kicking quite like one of Bethesda's rocking tracks off of Dreamtiger & Other Tails, and now that he's out in the world, it's easy to see why: he loves chimes, tambourines, and powerhouse lady vocals. It could also be because the band stayed in our apartment the night before we conceived him. (HA.)

6. St. Vincent. Although we listen to St. Vincent's newest album, Strange Mercy, Elliott seems to prefer her earlier work, which is softer and more melodic. Marry Me is his favorite of her three full-length albums. (Though, I think it's ours, too.)

7. Kristina Morland. Another lady with a good sense of chimes and twinkly noises in combination with a unique voice and lyrics that make us swoon, Kristina Morland will be played in our house for as long as we're alive. (We walked down our wedding aisle in a rose garden to "Taboo.") I'm glad Elliott giggles when he hears her voice.

8. Evan Phillips. We've been playing Evan Phillips' newest album, Goodnight My Dearest Stranger often for the past month, and Elliott is always pleasantly aware and calmed by Phillips' woodsy vocals and acoustic guitar strums, particularly those in "Blue Mountain Molly."

9. Bon Iver. Bon Iver's newest self-titled full-length album is one that Elliott is always in the mood for. Swooping, soft high-pitched vocals and wave-breaking percussion, the album sounds like standing at the edge of the sea.

10. Jeanne Moreau. On one of our first few nights home, there were a few tough hours where Elliott was struggling with stomach upset and we were struggling to calm him. Instinctively, I started to sing "Le Tourbillon" by Jeanne Moreau and he instantly quieted. And although not entirely content yet (gluten and soy were the offenders which have now been removed from my diet) Elliott was calm as long as I kept singing the song. I sang it so many times that night that it's now one of his favorite songs. When he hears it, his eyes smile and dance.

11. Robyn. Okay, so Elliott only really likes one song by Robyn, but it's probably because it's the only one we play. On any day of the week, Elliott will dance with me with the biggest smile to "Dancing on My Own."

12. Seu Jorge. I hadn't listened to The Life Aquatic: Studio Sessions since I was in college, but after seeing how much Elliott enjoys listening to me speak French (and listening to Jeanne Moreau), I started playing Seu Jorge's tracks from the soundtrack to see if he'd feel the same way about Portuguese. I can't be certain that it's the language or Seu Jorge's low, soothing voice and smooth finger-picked guitar, but whatever it is, Elliott digs "Rebel, Rebel" and "Life on Mars?"

In addition to these, we play some classical music, not because we abide the hype that classical music will make our kid smarter, but because, well, we like it. Elliott is a boy after my own heart; he loves powerful pieces like Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 (especially the first movement), Dvorak's Cello Concerto (again, the first movement, the Allegro), and Handel's Messiah.

Good picks, Elliott!