Some albums don’t just play, they tell stories. The heartbreaks, obsessions, awakenings and anthems that shape an artist’s sound often mirror the emotional arcs found in literature. So we ask ourselves, what happens when we match your favorite new albums to their literary counterparts?
From the lyrical ache of Florence + The Machine to the sharp scalding-hot tea of Lily Allen. These pairings celebrate the books that hum with the same energy as the music — poetic, raw, and deeply human.
Turn the volume down, crack the spine open, and let these stories sing.
Lily Allen: The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers // Other People’s Fun by Harriet Lane
Florence + The Machine: Bread of Angels by Patti Smith // The Flower Bearers by Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Ashnikko: Middle Spoon by Alejandro Varela // Terry Dactyl by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
Lux: I Am You by Victoria Redel // Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards
Daniel Caesar: Paalaver by Bryan Washington // The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
Tame Impala: Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley // Will There Ever Be Another You by Patricia Lockwood
Brandi Carlile: The Eleventh Hour by Salman Rushdie // Ribbonwood by Ruby Landers
