Inside a Taste Shaped by Teenage Rooms and Pandemic Discoveries
From teenage rooms to pandemic afternoons, these tracks trace moments both fleeting and unforgettable.
@tangerine_vinyl goes through the March 18 to 20 prompts as you would an old photo book. Picks are like snapshots of their past: some albums take them back to being a teenager and some remind them of strange times like the early days of the pandemic, when music was a way to find hope in a world that had suddenly changed.
The prompts go everywhere. One asks about black and white album art, another wants songs that never sound old, and another about albums that feel like a chapter of your life. They make you think about why some songs stick and why certain albums feel heavier than others, even years later.
Music isn’t separate from their life. It’s in the albums they play over and over, the songs that still surprise them, and the artists that somehow stay important. It’s in how a band can pull people together, how they create the perfect opportunity for you to find people who love the same things as you do, and even facilitate meeting your future best friend.
Which album artwork in black and white do you love?
I remember when this album came out and absolutely loving it. Even almost ten years later, this whole album is still a 10/10 for me. I was 17 when it released, so listening to the song “seventeen” felt very special for me even if I personally couldn’t relate to the lyrics. If someone hasn’t heard the album, I would recommend “postcard (feat. Gordi)” as I think it’s the most beautiful song on the album. It really shows how versatile Troye is with his work and how talented he is.
What’s a track that always sounds fresh?
Jeff Buckley is, in my opinion, one of the best singers from the last 30 years. The soul and feeling he put into his music, especially in this song (but also his whole discography) makes his work absolutely timeless. His songwriting is impeccable and really makes you feel every emotion he puts into it. One of the lines that really stand out to me is “she is the tear that hangs inside my soul forever.”
Which album reminds you of a specific chapter in your life?
When I found this album, it was in 2020 just before COVID started. I actually got into Harry’s music first, and eventually got into One Direction. Of course I always knew One Direction’s music but I was never a fan really till the pandemic happened. This album from Harry and all of One Direction’s music made it easier during that time. It was tough for a lot of people, including me... and a distraction was what I needed at that time. I remember listening to “Kiwi” and dancing alone in my room and having some hope of light in a world that was so different.
@tangerine_vinyl’s picks aren’t about rules or trends. Some songs are loud, the ones you play alone in your room or blast for anyone around. Others are quiet, tied to being 17, or a first concert, or a weird time like the early pandemic. What sticks is how they keep coming back, carrying little pieces of all those moments with them.
