Music to Atone To
relatable music that seeks to atone and lift the spirit with brent faulkner
featuring artists like
Brittany Howard, Declan McKenna, BROCKHAMPTON, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Gary Clark, Jr.
Perhaps you’re like Alexander – you’ve experienced a “No good, very bad day.” Maybe, a difficult situation in life extends beyond a bad day. A break-up with your significant other has got you down. The loss of a family member has you feeling mighty low. You’ve lost your job, and now, you must rebuild and rebrand. Bummer! All of these unfortunate life experiences and more are captured by the songs featured on this playlist.
This playlist needs no genres; it’s a collection of relatable music that seeks to atone and lift the spirit. Some music reflects pain and misfortune that devastates, but ultimately, it’s therapeutic – a means to move forward.
Love Kills – Coyle Girelli
9 October 2018
“Easy to love / Harder to kill / Careful of the color / When you swallow that pill.” Such poetic, if pessimistic lyrics from English alternative musician Coyle Girelli. Clearly, on “Love Kills,” the opener from his 2018 debut solo album of the same name, Girelli has experienced the devastating, ‘deadly’ side of love. There are few topics that necessitate atonement more than the plight of love…
Benediction – August Alsina
2 October 2018
“Started off in the streets / We would take collection from the fiends / People dying all around me / So I gave you my testimony.” August Alsina often wears emotions on his sleeves musically and personally. It’s a trait that characterizes so many of us in a cruel, hurtful, and often unforgiving world…
Head Above Water – Avril Lavigne
25 September 2018
“God, keep my head above water / Don’t let me drown, it gets harder.” More and more frequently, pop music incorporates elements of spirituality, whether it’s affirmation or skepticism of God’s existence…
Nina Cried Power – Hozier
17 September 2018
“It’s not the waking, it’s the rising / It is the grounding of a foot uncompromising.” Those lyrics are nothing short of passionate, poetic, and incredibly prudent. For Irish singer/songwriter Hozier, known for “Take Me to Church,” socially-charged songs are his wheelhouse…
Hurt Feelings – Mac Miller
12 September 2018
“I’ve been going through it, you just go around it / But it’s really not that different when you think about it.” Sadly, rapper Mac Miller, who tragically passed away at the age of 26, had a tumultuous year in 2018…
Big God – Florence + The Machine
5 September 2018
“Sometimes, I think it’s getting better / And then it gets much worse / Is it just part of the process? / Jesus Christ, it hurts.” Florence Welch, the face and the voice of Florence + The Machine, is no stranger to singing about heartbreak…
Death of a Hero – Alec Benjamin
27 August 2018
“I tried to look away but you can’t look away from a train wreck.” For pop artist Alec Benjamin, the train wreck is disappointment – the “Death of a Hero.” The source of Benjamin’s disappointment is discovering the ‘true colors’ of someone he once idolized. The Phoenix, Arizona singer/songwriter uses “Death of a Hero” to express his feelings – a way of atoning for the ‘death’ he’s experienced…
Ex-Factor – Lauryn Hill
22 August 2018
“Loving you is like a battle / And we both end up with scars.” The push and pull of love is a topic tailor-made for musical atonement. Hip-hop/R&B artist Lauryn Hill sealed her spot as a musical icon with just one studio album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Released in 1998, it is the perfect example of a timeless album…
The Palace – Father John Misty
14 August 2018
“But I don’t wanna leave the palace / Let’s pay someone to move in here and fix this.” The hardships are substantial for Josh Tillman, better known as Father John Misty. Clearly, on the extremely slow, gorgeous, and haunting balladry of “The Palace,” the alternative singer/songwriter has reached a breaking point…
Cupid – Ryan Beatty
31 July 2018
“And when we get older / And y’all break up someday / And this is not a secret…” Secrets? Ah, the plight of love is in full effect on “Cupid,” a slick, urban-pop gem from California pop artist Ryan Beatty. The former teen-pop artist, now fully-grown, joins a wave of artists bravely opening up and being honest about their sexuality…
Only Love – Mary J. Blige
27 July 2018
On her spirited single “Only Love,” Mary J. Blige eschews pain in favor of lacing up her dancing shoes, and basking in the sheer jubilance of love. Throughout a truly illustrious career, the Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter has worn her emotions on her sleeve…
Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore – Marlon Williams
27 July 2018
“What am I going to do when you’re in trouble / And you don’t call out for me,” New Zealand singer/songwriter Marlon Williams sings on the final verse of “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore.”…
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype. When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event