Photo credit: Ross Theisen

As I’m sitting here writing this, I just made a post about a local band and how they have affected my ten years here in Columbus. They have been a part of many great nights. Their songs have lifted me up when I needed it, and they have also made me cry. The memories I have from that band will always be with me. Isn’t it funny how music does that to us?

Over the last few years, there has been another Columbus act that has been a part of my world. That act is Overgrow. Jake Ciccotelli is hands down one of the best songwriters I have heard in a long time. And the emotion that he puts into his lyrics is top-notch. I can recall asking/bugging him about putting out music before he did, as he was playing shows for a minute before he put anything out. And when he finally did, holy smokes!!!! My world was not ready, and I don’t think a lot of people were either.

When thinking about artists to ask to do this piece, it dawned on me that I have never had Jake do one, and that’s shame on me as he and I have had many a conversation about music. He also loves to talk music. So we do from time to time, and they are always good. So here we are. I hope you enjoy. Oh, and be sure to catch Overgrow this Sunday at All Good Fest at Woodlands Tavern. They hit the stage 7:00 PM sharp. See you there. I’ll be the one ugly crying.

I listen to and feel inspired by a lot of music. One of my favorite experiences in this world is finding something new that I connect to, and it’s something that I’m constantly seeking out. So with that in mind, I wanted to reflect on five albums that are constant sources of inspiration for me. Not necessarily my favorite albums of all time (oddly enough, my favorite album actually doesn’t make the cut here), but the albums that I can always go to for inspiration.-Jake Ciccotelli

Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism

I think Death Cab has undeniably been the most influential band on my writing in the past few years. This album is one of those records where I find something new every time I listen to it, and it feels timeless to me. Honestly, you could put almost any album in their discography on this list and it would fit. This one just happens to be my favorite of theirs and an album that I go back to more than nearly any other.

Moving Mountains – Moving Mountains

There is no other album quite like this one to me. The songs are structured in such a peculiar way, and the way they move from passage to passage feels so unique to me. But it still retains its poignancy and catchiness. Moving Mountains had this way of making their instrumentals invoke feelings so naturally. That’s something that I always try to do when I’m writing because of this album. I just think that it’s perfect.

Big Thief – Capacity

This album is something that clicked with me more recently. My friend Matt was on tour with his band Pale Lungs a year or so ago, and we got to talking about music, and he told me to check out this album. I downloaded it, and I remember really liking it, but I didn’t have an immediate connection to it. Back in April my girlfriend and I were helping my grandma move her things back to Ohio from Florida. As we were driving through the mountains in West Virginia, I just put my headphones in and started playing this album. I’m not sure what about that exact situation made it click for me, but ever since then Big Thief has become one of my absolute favorite bands. I probably listen to them more than anyone else at the moment. This record rules.

Pianos Become the Teeth – Keep You

I don’t know if there’s a record that I connect to more than this one thematically. Many of the songs that I’ve put out recently have been about the passing of my father, and this is another album that seems to center around losing a parent. This album gave me the courage to write about those difficult things. Hopefully, my songs can offer someone the same type of peace that this album gave me. In addition to all of that, I think the way that they approach songwriting is very interesting. I’m very into extreme dynamic changes, and this band does that in a way that seems so effortless and beautiful.

Phoebe Bridgers – Stranger in the Alps

The first time I ever heard this album, I was laying in bed in the dark, and I just absolutely lost it. I can’t remember the last time a record moved me as much as this one. This is probably the newest record that I would ever put in my all-time favorites, but it has to be there. Everything about this record inspires and moves me every time I hear it.