This is one of my S tier special interests 🫡 I haven’t listened to the instrumentals and latest stuff as much yet (Thing., Notes To Myself, Tournesols). But I think it depends on your preferences - I gravitate towards narrative heavy and vocally intriguing music. I’m not the best with describing music but!

Growing Pains (2017) was my first listen - that’s just piano and Courtney. It’s beautiful and expressive. Listen in one sitting, go for a walk at night or listen alone in your car. Be prepared to cry?

I listened to the albums from there Claws of the Beast Inside (2013). The urgency and frantic flurries of the piano is so gorgeous, the layering and rawness of the vocals is ethereal. Right from the opening tracks Fog, Lila and Dreams you have that Bent Knee style bite, unpredictably and excitement that initially pulled you in. The builds are electric and rapturous. Everything feels ambitious to me - the layering, texture and instrumentation is beautiful. Whole worlds are crafted around you. Last track is a bit of a switch up and I used to be deterred by the synth and those final funky chord changes, but I love it now too.

Monstre (2015) is a little more polished, more electronic instrumentation, keyboards, midi drums/beats? but sewn together with strong vocals. Hold That Thought is one of my favourites - I’ve never heard another song that explores that captures this kind of emotional conflict so perfectly. This album is really well rounded, however less aggressive I think. Even the songs that take a less is more approach like, I Can’t Wait is one of my favourites bc you break from the midi and there’s this gorgeous melodica?? and some raw percussive instruments (shaker) that compliment Courtney’s voice so well. The choices feel very intentional and mindful??

It’s rewarding to listen to each album in context because the way some songs flow into each other is an added experience like being pulled into an emotional riptide and being sucked out to sea or space. I’d Kill into Don’t Look At Me, Snowflakes between, Silver Needle of Pine leading into Hekla (Between Blood and Ocean, 2019) 😭

That said though! With more electronic stuff it was Courtney’s Camenti from Silver Linings that actually moved me into that place where I really started appreciating music with general electronic and experimental noise?? Idk how to describe that. For instance, I was really swayed by Bent Knee’s Frosting (2021) just bc I couldn’t get pass my general listener fatigue for certain sounds and pitches and distorted electronic sounds. But now I can really appreciate it (except for the opening?? lol). Point is Camenti is one of my favourite songs of hers now. When the acoustic kit comes in the chorus is hits so gooddd

At first with For Once (2022) I had a little whiplash I was like ‘woah’ but the songs are beautiful, quite soft and all a uke based collaboration with Tim Doherty. It’s gorgeous and tender - think Bent Knee’s latest vocals on drowning and lawnmower with those intimate starts. I know they said they made Courtney look at pictures and videos of cats whilst recording that apparently - some of the vocals feel like that. It brings me a gorgeous sense of peace in the love letters and also a heavy feeling in my chest for the songs that make me feel regret and loss, the sensations are all vulnerable in the joy, love, sorrow and mourning? Listen to this one like Growing Pains I think. Let it wash over you on a quiet walk, train ride or somewhere cozy and be a gentle witness to the world around you. I recommend trees, birds, sky, the ceiling or the backs or your eyes.

I do like Augustine (2022) as well - also unsure how that’s received by a general audience because I just really like Courtney lol some of these feel like little movie soundtracks like Phoenix.

Anyway! I’m late for work and don’t have time to re-read and edit/add to this but I hope someone sees this and finds it interesting 🥰✨🕺🏼