Like an insane person, I attempted to drive in Seattle, while it was snowing. Bad idea. And like a true Seattle-ite, it was because my coffee maker’s broken and I needed my fix. I love Seattle in the snow, my city rarely looks more beautiful. I do not however, love Seattle drivers in the snow. If you live here, you know we can barely drive as it is, add in snow and it’s basically a large scale version of slow motion passive-agressive bumper cars.

What would usually be a ten minute errand turned into an hour long adventure, but KEXP was good company. DJ Jack Walters was playing snow songs, which are distinctly different than rainy day songs it would seem. Lovely and bare folk tunes seemed to be the common string, though he also played some songs specifically mentioning winter and snow. It inspired me to come home and share a few of my favorite snowy day songs, hope you enjoy.

Sufjan Stevens – Sister Winter  Sufjan Stevens – Sister Winter

I was going to post this later this month, as an example as one of the very few Holiday/Christmas songs that I actually like. Unfortunately, my Christmas song loving co-workers informed me, despite the wishing everyone a happy Christmas at the end of the song, this does not qualify as an actual Christmas Song. It does however, in my mind, make a perfect snowy day song.

Bright Eyes – Something Vague Bright Eyes – Something Vague

This song doesn’t sound nearly as good when you listen to it in the summer-time. There’s an achy moodiness to “Something Vague,” as well as some great early imagery in the song which clearly declares this to be a lonely and lovely winter song. It happens to be one of my favorite Bright Eye’s song, which curiously all come off his earlier records.

Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) The Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1

I know part of my winter association with this album, was the time of year I fell in love with it. But I always imagined the tunnels Win sings of, were being dug in snow.

Leonard Cohen – Famous Blue Raincoat Leonard Cohen – Famous Blue Rain Coat

“It’s 4 in the morning, the end of December.” Even if it’s 80 degrees outside, the combination of this first line and Leonard Cohen’s voice, which sounds like a cold and dark grey day, makes my teeth want to chatter instinctively. A classic winter song.