2015 has given us many gifts.
Princess Bubblegum. Caffeinated peanut butter. Music for cats. Yes, of course, you know and I know that Art Garfunkel has provided perfectly good music for cats.
But some extra-ambitious humans at the University of Wisconsin decided “to bring real, scientifically credible music to as many members of the animal kingdom as possible.” As a result, cats may now download “species-appropriate music.”
(OK, now I’m just being silly. Cats don’t download music. They are all about vinyl. Everybody knows that.)
While we’ve not yet invested in this sonic adventure for the Tabby’s Place cats*, we may have something even better.
The top ten albums of 2015, as selected by the Tabby’s Place cats. Allow a decalogue of our residents to share their most-loved lyrics of the year.
1) The Lone Bellow, Then Came The Morning
You won’t see me crying”
— selected by Carrot
2) Delta Rae, After it All
to be no one
To run under the stars of Orion
And all my life I’ve been burning by the dreams I’ve had
Now I want to run”
— selected by Orion
3) Rhiannon Giddens, Tomorrow Is My Turn
No more doubts no more fears
Tomorrow is my turn
When my luck is returning”
— selected by Indie
4) Florence & The Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
— selected by Pepita
5) Dawes, All Your Favorite Bands
And may all your favorite bands stay together”
— selected by Buddy & Lester
6) Sandra McCracken, Psalms
When darkness veils our eyes
He comes with spring returning,
Bringing death to life”
— selected by our forever loved Peachy
7) Hamilton original cast recording
I am not throwing away my shot!
Hey yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot!”
— selected by Baloo
8) Brandi Carlile, The Firewatcher’s Daughter
but I’m going to be ok
as long as you’re beside me along the way
Going to make it through the night
and into the morning light”
— selected by Adelaide
9) Houndmouth, Little Neon Limelight
Well, you better stay away from the limelight”
— selected by Sneaky
10) Alabama Shakes, Sound and Color
Just as he always does
Something will be coming up
Just like it always does”
— selected by our forever loved Colleen
On a list of their own: Mumford & Sons, Wilder Mind
But perhaps I will come of age
And be ready for you
…Didn’t they say that only love will win in the end?”
— selected by Queen
They did. And they were right. A musical New Year to you, kittens. We love you more than all the notes in the soundscape.
*I bet ya 500 jars of caffeinated peanut butter that someone will now email me to ask why not and/or offer to donate to Tabby’s Place to make it happen. Gauntlet officially thrown down.
Please may the moon and the sun shine gently on the haven called Tabby’s Place forever and let love and peace and good health reign for everyone in 2016 – the song of the cats.
Of course cats are all about vinyl…after all, they’re ‘cats’. Only squares (and lemmings) still download music. I, myself, still stand by the lo-fi splendor of 8-tracks, but that’s not relevant here. Year of the monkey? I think not! Let’s crank up the Al Stewart and let’s make 2016, yet another, year of the cat(s).