5 reasons you should be listening to Florence + the Machine

I don't like blogging about music much. My own tastes are so peculiar and specific to me that I feel a lot more self-conscious writing about them than, say, books; also, I have the annoying habit of jumping on a bandwagon many, many years after everyone else. (See: Nirvana, The Raincoats, Sufjan Stevens, The Dresden Dolls, every riot grrrl band ever).

But--and I know I am late to this bandwagon, too--Florence + the Machine is too literary and beautiful not to blog about. Five reasons why you should be listening (if you aren't already):

1. "What the Water Gave Me," a.k.a. "That Song I Can't Stop Listening To," is about Virginia Woolf. Because Ceremonials couldn't get any more awesome. And speaking of Woolf, if you haven't read her essay "Death of the Moth" (my favorite of hers), you should.
2. In my humble opinion, Florence Welch puts more thought into her lyrics than any other pop singer of the moment out there. She's in for the artsy long haul, and that's something this writer can appreciate.
3. Her music is joyful. And I mean really, truly joyful, and not just obnoxiously, aggressively cheerful. For someone who spends most of her devoted music time listening to angsty grunge, punk, emo, and alt rock and weeping into her pillow (sue me), it's refreshing and gorgeous.
4. Her music sounds like a good book feels. And you all know how I feel about good books.
5. Because it's available legally and for free on Spotify and you can't even pull the budget excuse, of course. Also because I told you so. JUST LISTEN.

In other news, fellow music lovers should stay tuned for my review of the fabu-wonderful Amplified by Tara Kelly! That should be coming sometime next week, as long as finals don't kill me.

Gah. Finals. HELP.

(And finally, for all kind enough to wonder--thank you!--the hospital visit on Tuesday went fine. Sounds like we've got at least one problem worked out, which is fantastic news.)