Music has the power to emotionally connect with people in a nostalgic way.

Often it takes us back to certain moments or places in our lives. The winter season is definitely filled with many memories for all of us, which is why I will be reviewing some of your teachers and classmates’ favorite albums that they listen to during the winter. 

I’ll rate the albums using four aspects: lyrics, instrumentation, vocals, and originality. The overall rating out of 5 will be based on the average of the ratings, rounded up. 

Dance Vault Mixes (The Unreleased Mixes) • Whitney Houston

“I like this album because it feels really close to my heart, which connects me to the winter spirit and the joy that Christmas gives me. It reminds me of cozy and chilly days in the snow. Also, winter always reminds me of the 1990s-2000s. I think it’s because all the good Christmas movies were released at that time. The album is from the 2000s so it just brings me so much joy and makes me truly feel the enthusiasm and love during this season.” – Alya U. (Grade 8)

Lyrics – 3/5

The lyrics are not meaningful as their main purpose is to work with the instrumentation, which is made for a club and party setting, through carefully crafted rhymes. 

Instrumentation – 5/5

The instrumentation features fun, strong electronic beats which beautifully compliment Whitney’s vocals.

Vocals – 5/5

 Whitney’s large vocal range is beautifully showcased in this album. Her high notes at the end of songs elevates the songs to another level. 

Originality – 2/5

The instrumentation used in this album is similar to most of the instrumentation found in the majority of house and dance music albums.

Overall – 4/5

The album’s fun beats and amazing vocals led me to recommend adding it to your playlist.

AM • Arctic Monkeys

“I like how the lyrics of the songs hold a deeper message that I can relate to, and also the style of music really fits in with the vibe of the season which is why I like listening to it especially in the autumn and winter months.” – Antonina P. (Grade 11)

Lyrics – 4/5

The lyrics are meaningful, exploring themes like the complexities of relationships. A lot can be learned from them on a deeper level. 

Instrumentation – 3/5

The overall instrumentation is basic, but the guitar solos are creative and complement the rest of the instruments and the songs in general. 

Vocals – 2/5

Alex Turner’s voice seems quite monotone at times. He could try including a wider range of notes (high and low) in order to get rid of that monotone effect.

Originality – 3/5

Some aspects of the album, such as the guitar and drums used for it, are quite typical to the rock genre, however I will say that their lyrics are very creative, as they use witty wordplay and imagery in order to convey emotions, which is why I would say that this album is quite original. 

Overall – 3/5

Personally, this is not the type of album I’d have on repeat, but I would recommend it for people that enjoy rock and fun guitar solos.

Chamber Songs • We Hate You Please Die

“The driving melodies are incredibly exhilarating, so I get a kick out of the melodies, and the lyrics are promoting positive messages. I get into bands that have mostly female leads kicking aggressive males out of their band. They also have a special type of guitar sound that has an interesting squawk to it, so every single song is pretty exciting to me to listen to.” – Marty Lawless (MYP & DP Design teacher)

Lyrics – 5/5

 The lyrics are meaningful, exploring themes like existential struggles and societal expectations, deeply woven in a subtle way. 

Instrumentation – 4/5

The way that the guitar is used as well as the type of guitar present in this album gives the instrumental a unique and exciting sound to it, which to me are 2 aspects that are important when considering what a good instrumental is. 

Vocals – 1/5

The vocals are the part of the album that I do not like at all. I feel as if the main singer is speaking rather than singing most of the time. 

Originality – 5/5

The dynamic contrast between the unique instrumentals and the vocals make the songs exciting and give them a creative sound. 

Overall – 4/5

The band’s unique way of crafting this album would definitely make me add a couple of the songs to my playlist. I would recommended If you like the post-punk genre.

The Bodyguard Original Soundtrack Album • Whitney Houston

“I was in grade 10 and I was impressed with Whitney’s voice, but also with the message of her lyrics. As a teenager, I was  touched by the difficulties and struggles Whiteny faced in her personal life – difficult marriage, alcohol and drug abuse. I was also puzzled by how such a beautiful and talented woman got trapped in a toxic relationship without realizing how special she was. For me, it was an example of how people can get lost in unhealthy relationships and it helped me acknowledge and avoid the traps I encountered as a young person.” – Ana-Maria Boiangiu (MYP & DP Romanian teacher)

Lyrics – 5/5

The lyrics are meaningful, exploring themes like love and loss, aspects present in all of our lives.

Instrumentation – 2/5

The instrumentation is quite basic, and doesn’t feature many instrumental solos.  

Vocals – 5/5

Whitney’s outstanding vocals are showcased throughout this album. The album features many difficult high notes.  

Originality – 2/5

The lack of unique instrumentation didn’t make this album stand out to me compared to other R&B and soul albums. 

Overall – 3/5

I would only recommend this album if you enjoy albums with good vocals and meaningful lyrics; if you enjoy fun, creative instrumentation, then I wouldn’t consider this to be the album for you.

Bonus Tracks! The Bite Staff’s Favorite Winter Albums

Bloom – Beach House
Frank (deluxe edition) – Amy Winehouse
Take Care – Drake
At.Long.Last. – A$AP Rocky
This Old Dog – Mac DeMarco
Graduation – Kanye West
Nostalgia, Ultra – Frank Ocean
Christmas – Michael Buble
Days Before Rodeo – Travis Scott 
Wiped Out – The Neighborhood