Soundtrack of My Life: Florence + The Machine

It has been four years since Florence + The Machine told me that I was to  shake it out. Six years since she reminded me that the dogs days were over. In all that time, the band’s repertoire have been on any and every playlist on my IPhone (including my jogging mix, clean the house mix, short drive mix, long drive mix, sexy time mix, and My Special Crimson Friend came for a visit and I want to eat my weight in Hostess Snow Ball but don’t even think of touching me mix). How many of us were just a tad bit disappointed that “Heavy in Your Arms” didn’t appear in Eclipse until the rolling credits? Couldn’t they have played just a snippet during Bella’s Switzerland speech? It could have worked dammit.

But the wait is over. Florence + The Machine is back with How Big How Blue How Beautiful.^Source

For those of you who are right now reading this post and asking yourself, “Who is Florence + The Machine? Is it a new cyber crime fighting show from the Dick Wolf, the creator of Law & Order?” Um, no. However, that wouldn’t be a terrible pitch for a new show.

The band consists of lead singer Florence Welch, a Brit with an octave range that would blow the crown off Queen Elizabeth. And the songs? Think of them as a catalog of musical moments that only enhanced your memories. Need a song to remind you to be strong and that the past is the past? Hello, “Dog Days Are Over.” Tired of hearing “At Last” at weddings? Cue up “Cosmic Love” and dance with your significant other as people gorge themselves over free cake, cheap wine, and those Jordan almonds that you know will break one of your molars but is so worth it. Having trouble finishing that last mile in your 10k run? If “Shake It Out” doesn’t fuel your run, just stop, turn around and find the nearest donut shop because nothing will help you. Sorry.

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Although How Big How Blue How Beautiful is not a dramatic departure melodically for the band, the lyrics are definite eye openers. The queen of haunting melodies and soaring vocal range is opening her private life, and Adele-ing all over the place. The album, a result of years of deep introspection as well as a painful breakup, reflects those moments of juxtaposition in all of our lives when we have felt both strong and weak, loved and hated, stable and out of control at the same time. For Welch, the songs became her release, a diary put to music that you almost feel guilty listening to:

“The songs become these talismans, little spells that you’ve written that are just for yourself. And you can carry them with you.”

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Over the past few months, the band has steadily released music video after music video that play more like a modern dance troupe showcase that make you think just for a second that you could dance like that. Spoiler alert: you can’t. Just watch yourself in the mirror for one minute. You’re life will be forever changed and I don’t mean in a good way. Trust me.

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For me, one of the most memorable songs off the upcoming album and perhaps of this year is “Ship to Wreck.”

This song is all about those times. Y’know. All those times when you thought that extra glass of pinot noir was a good idea and then after that, calling your ex-boyfriends was an even better idea. All those times when you said something that was just a toe over the line . All those times when you get hit in the gut, only it’s your own metaphorical fist that made the punch.

And oh my love remind me, what was it that I said?
I can’t help but pull the earth around me, to make my bed
And oh my love remind me, what was it that I did?
Did I drink too much?
Am I losing touch?
Did I build this ship to wreck?

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I guess I can start a new playlist: What The Hell Were You Thinking mix.

No matter what playlist this new album falls under, How Big How Blue How Beautiful will be nothing short of what Florence + The Machine already does: making damn good music.

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Are you a FATM fan? Which song is on repeat for you? Leave us a message or tweet us your Florence + The Machine playlist.