10 records that are good for the soul

We pick out ten records during mental health week that will help you to reset.

Last updated: 12th May 2022

Originally published: 11th May 2022

In light of mental health week, we're thinking of ways in which we could relax. Music is often one of the best things you can go to in order to escape for a little while and there's a good chance that your favourite artists help you feel a bit less alone when you need it. With that in mind, we came up with a list of records that we feel do a great job taking your mind off things and help you to reset.

The XX- XX

Who can listen to Intro on this album and not be completely blown away? One of the greatest albums of all time, XX is a comforting listen that has incredible tones. This is the perfect record to reset yourself to, you can have it on in the background and it'll still probably still mellow you out even if you're washing the dishes.

Courtney Barnett- Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

The Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett has made a habit of creating anxiety anthems. Often putting so much humour and wit into her writing, she'll easily make you feel less alone. With an indie-rock backing, you can also get the relief of thrashing your head back and forward too if you want.

Julia Jacklin- Crushing

When you realise that Julia Jacklin's album Crushing is about debilitating heartbreak you may think that it isn't the most soothing listen. But this is exactly the kind of album you need to hear when you've got a lot on your mind. Jacklin stomps out her feelings with the blare of her guitar and some devastating ballads. It's the feeling of sharing in her catharsis that makes this such a rewarding listen.

Tourist- Everyday

This is an album that feels purely tranquil throughout its entirety. Taking influence for as the title suggests, the everyday, this is an ambient album that will calm even the most racing of minds. Tourist is truly a master of crafting soundscapes and you can get so lost here.

Belle and Sebastian- If You're Feeling Sinister

Belle and Sebastian are a cult band who started out in the mid-90s. If You're Feeling Sinister is their defining album and one that features detailed storytelling. It's the kind of album that can make the unseen feel heard and with beautiful instrumentation throughout combined with Stuart Murdoch's vocals, it's a folk/pop album that shines with character.

Weyes Blood- Titanic Rising

Titanic Rising is nothing short of a masterpiece in creating atmosphere. Whether it be the track Andromeda where it feels as if you are truly on an intergalactic journey or candle-lit Wild Time, you have to listen to this album for the first time with your eyes closed and you'll be transported somewhere else entirely.

The Big Moon- Walking Like We Do

Walking Like We Do is an album that searches for the brighter moments in life. The time spent with friends, the relationships that make life worth living and the ways in which you can reset. It celebrates vulnerability and in turn, makes some of those harder moments of life seem powerful.

Taylor Swift- Folklore

This was a surprise lockdown release from one of the world's biggest pop stars and a turn of direction towards indie-folk. It worked wonders for a songwriter who has often thrived on threading the needle between the personal/impersonal and there's a sense of warmth throughout that is completely infectious.

Rizzle Kicks- Stereo Typical

There's nothing that can lift your mood quite like having a laugh and that's what shines through on Stereo Typical. Rizzle Kicks were a duo who never took themselves too seriously and that makes their music all the better for it. A quick listen to Down With The Trumpets or When I Was A Youngster will easily lift your spirits.

Hot Chip- A Bath Full of Ecstasy

A Bath Full of Ecstasy was Hot Chip's venture into full-blown psychedelia and it was an experiment that paid off. The dance group put on a spectacular display of colour, you'll soon get lost in the grooves of this album as it is complete escapist heaven. The perfect tracklist to forget about your worries with.

We hope these albums help you to get into a good headspace. Whether they relax you or make you feel as if someone understands what you're going through, albums can be a brilliant way to help combat those moments when you're feeling low.

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