The Blue Nile – Hats

Blue Nile producer and bassist Andy Bell once told frontman Paul Buchanan, “People would have to have a good excuse not to call all of our songs ‘I Love You.'” Filled with sublime, euphoric, and often heartbreaking love, Blue Nile’s sophomore album Hats was released in 1989 after a trying period for the band which an entire album’s worth of work was scrapped. The album is largely inspired by the crumbling relationships, both professional and emotional, surrounding the band including Buchanan’s own parents’ breakup after a decades-long marriage. With more sparse and tormented lyrics, Hats makes defeat sound euphoric and can be simultaneously uplifting or devastating depending on your mood.

Recommended – Full Listen