By: Music Journalism Club

As a self-proclaimed fruit lover and connoisseur of music, I felt very passionately about combining these two interests. I decided to use my power as Music Director to pitch a fruit related article and luckily, our loyal Music Journalism Club attendees felt the same. With that, please enjoy our different takes on albums as fruit.

Pear

Clairo, Charm

Favorite songs: “Glory of the Snow”, “Terrapin”, “Echo”

Being one of my most listened to albums probably ever, I felt it was necessary I give my two cents on Clairo’s third studio album, Charm, at least in terms of fruit. Now, there seems to be a lot of online discourse surrounding the album and all that it’s associated with. However, online opinions aside, I did my best to dismiss past assumptions and pick out the perfect match. And with that, I landed on the pear. Pears tend to be a bit underrated compared to the other fruit it sits alongside. Being the less popular pick makes pears a more mature and knowledgeable choice, compared to something like an apple. I wouldn’t consider Charm underrated within Clairo’s discography by any means, but I do think Charm is her most mature work to date. It shows off the best of Cottrill’s songwriting, production and vocal abilities as they’ve progressed since songs like “Pretty Girl” or “4EVER”. So, the next time you listen to tracks like “Slow Dance” or “Echo”, grab a pear and lose yourself in the intricate work that is Charm.

— Allison Lukas

Plum 

Cocteau Twins, Heaven or Las Vegas

Favorite songs: “Pitch the Baby”, “Cherry-Coloured Funk”, “Heaven or Las Vegas”

Yes, yes, I know; how could I do any fruit other than cherries for the Cocteau Twins? The album cover itself is a cherry-coloured funk, but that, to me, is too easy, and Heaven or Las Vegas doesn’t exemplify a cherry in the way that a cherry sits on top of an ice cream sundae or bobs with ice in a Shirley Temple. Yes, it’s warm and lush, but there are darker undertones that differentiate the album from something as artificially sweet as cherries are. Plums, on the other hand, embody the deep, ethereal vibe from the vocals and bass. They are still sweet and summery but are more watery (similar to the aquatic vibes often associated with the Cocteau Twins), and there is a hint of tartness that gives the fruit an edge. Some favorites from this album include “Pitch the Baby” and the titular track “Heaven or Las Vegas.” Check this album out—maybe with a freshly baked plum cobbler in hand. Sounds like a fun and refreshing spring activity in my opinion!

— Maddie Pecak

Elderberry

Juana Molina, Un día

Favorite songs:“Viva solo”, “Dar (qué difícil)”

Un día, like the elderberry, is complex and rich. Concocted by Argentine singer and producer Juana Molina (the elderberry is also native to Argentina), Un día awards its listeners with a hypnotic experience that explores detailed electronic soundscapes superimposed over nocturnal field recordings and acoustic guitars. These serve as the background for ethereal, sometimes haunting, layered arpeggios and vocals resembling perpetual motion in sonic form. Molina’s vocal delivery is most reminiscent of the elderberry; it is dark, mellow, and slightly bitter (when raw) but can also be very rich and sweet (when cooked) on other moments of the album. This is my favorite album from the Argentine artist, and arguably one of the best folktronica projects ever made, in my opinion. I am most fond of listening to this album while watching running water, walking on frozen lakes, or eating cooked elderberries.

— Harrison Arnold

Cherries

10,000 Maniacs, In My Tribe

Favorite songs: “Hey Jack Karouac”, “Don’t Talk”

In My Tribe by 10,000 maniacs is THE cherry album. A wide variety of songs featuring different themes is a great representation of cherries. Sometimes you’ll eat a cherry and be met with a sweet flavor, yet other times a more tart or even sour flavor takes over. It’s fruity and fresh which is everything this album is. It feels like a sunny June day – which also just so happens to be cherry season – where you’re not exactly sure where the day will take you! Perhaps you’ll go on a long bike ride or go swimming in a lake. Cherries encompass all the same feelings, so have a few cherries and listen to In My Tribe if that’s the feeling you’re going for!

— Christine VanDen Heuvel

Pomegranate

Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 

Favorite Songs: “Everything is Everything”, “To Zion”

The album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill embodies a pomegranate fruit. Lauryn Hill is known for her emotional, meaningful songs, specifically “To Zion”, a tribute to motherhood and her first born son. Pomegranates take time to unravel, often looking simple and rough from the outside. Inside, pomegranates hold delicious, unique seeds. Each seed of the pomegranate has its own burst of flavor, just like Lauryn Hill’s songs in her album, from the flirtatious, “Doo Woop (That Thing)” to the vulnerable “Ex-Factor.” Similarly, pomegranate seeds can be distinctly grouped together, which represents the different feelings of the songs in “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. The songs, “Ex-Factor” and “I Used To Love Him” capture a feeling that heartbreak gives, often painful and sharp. Conversely, “Lost Ones” and “Every Ghetto, Every City” are warmer, more liberating songs. Pomegranates can have both a sweet and tart flavor, which Lauryn Hill’s album captures perfectly. 

— Claudia Rothberg

Grape

Ben Folds Five, Whatever and Ever Amen

Favorite songs: “Fair”, “Kate”, “Smoke”

Whatever and Ever Amen by Ben Folds Five is an album that has an overarching message about how modern culture romanticizes apathy. I think grapes embody this theme extremely well. Today when we buy grapes they are often just in a bag still connected by the stem as if they were just thrown in the bag right off the vine. We hardly ever think about consuming grapes, and usually they are just present in a group setting where we eat them carelessly because they’re around. This lack of intentionality is embodied well in tracks like “Selfless, Cold and Composed” and “Battle of Who Could Care Less” which outline how acting aloof can get in the way of relationships and life goals. On more light-hearted tracks such as “Song for the Dumped” and “Steven’s Last Night in Town” concepts like a breakup or a friend leaving are viewed as very practical scenarios, much like a grape is viewed never as a delicacy or something decadent, but a reliable and convenient snack.

— Nolan Tomesh

Coconut

The Kooks, Inside In/Inside Out

Favorite songs: “Naive”, “Matchbox”, “You Don’t Love Me”

No fruit brings you closer to the ocean than that of the coconut, and The Kooks’ 2006 album Inside In/Inside Out embodies that perfectly. Beginning with a stripped back acoustic track “Seaside”, it immediately transports you there, and sets the interpersonal lyrical tone for the rest of the album. Coconuts aren’t incredibly sweet, but very refreshing- which is a great descriptor for many of the upbeat indie rock riffs dominating the album’s sound. 

— Emily Collins

Lemons

Dayglow, Fuzzybrain

Favorite songs: “Hot Rod”, “Fair Game”, “Listerine”

Fuzzybrain packs a lemony punch in a small dose of only 10 songs. Like the distinctive lingering taste of a lemon, the catchy tunes linger long after the album is over. Fuzzybrain has a deceptively pessimistic tone hidden in upbeat songs. One might even mistake the album’s protagonist for donning rose-colored glasses given its easy-going and summery aura, especially in songs like “False Direction” and “Run the World!!!”. With that being said, other songs are more on-the-nose, such as the titular song “Fuzzybrain”. The funky electric guitar interludes offer a bright and tangy interruption from many of the songs’ deeper messages of isolation and heartbreak. Such a sour attitude concealed in bright and cheery songs makes Fuzzybrain the epitome of a lemony album. This is the perfect album to drive to late at night with your friends on a nostalgic summer night.

— Sophia Kleinmann

Dill

Donald Fagen, The Nightfly

Favorite songs: “IGY”, “Maxine”, “New Frontier”

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen is the perfect album to represent the herb dill. Being that Donald is also the lead singer from Steely Dan, this album has a lot of similar sounds to the rock band, but implements new elements into the music. The Nightfly feels fresh and new with the synths, while still feeling familiar with Donald’s vocals, just like dill! Dill is an herb that brings food dishes to life with its zest and freshness, while still creating the feeling of familiarity, like having a dill pickle on a hamburger, spicing up the meal but in a classic way. When I’m eating dill in any scenario I can almost hear Donald Fagen’s voice in my ear with how similar the two are!

— Christine VanDen Heuvel

Lime

Young Thug, So Much Fun

Favorite songs: “Mannequin Challenge”, “Surf”, “Bad Bad Bad”

So Much Fun by Young Thug is the perfect album to represent the fruit lime. From the bright hard hitting production that is very similar to the sourness of a lime. Young Thug’s unique flow and delivery emulate the unique citrusy flavor of the lime. Young Thug’s ability to have so many different featured artists and still make greatness is similar to the many uses of a lime. From squeezing it over a taco, to “Hot” with Travis Scott, to a lime margarita, to “Surf” with Gunna, to key lime pie, to “What’s The Move” with Lil Uzi Vert. Young Thug is able to seamlessly fit an all star squad of hip hops best to make a beautiful album where every song has exactly what’s needed of the featured artist and Thug to make a banger. The song that stood out the most to me being “Mannequin Challenge” with Juice Wrld, and my favorite use of a lime being baja blast which is tropical lime flavored. When I hear a song from So Much Fun it adds a pop to my life similar to what a lime adds to any meal.

— Nadiri Morgan-Thompson

Ginger

T. Rex, Electric Warrior

Favorite songs: “Monolith”, “Get It On”, “Mambo Sun”

Electric Warrior is a classic album that’s full of sweetness and spice, just like ginger! The familiar yet unique flavor of ginger is perfectly replicated in this album; the sound will be sure to impact you. Each song is unique and coherent, sticking with you in tune, lyrics, and overall vibe. This album was made with an uplifting intent, showcasing the enjoyment in the music for the band. For Marc Bolan specifically, Electric Warrior was all about the jive, and that’s evident in the liveliness in each song that truly keeps you captivated. Helping T. Rex successfully reach and impact a larger audience, this album has a great variety of songs all comprising one of the best glam rock albums. This album is perfect for every day, every mood, and is the perfect garnish to your day- just like ginger!

— Julia Klima

Peach

Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour

Favorite songs: “Butterflies”, “Happy and Sad”

Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves is the perfect blend of pop and country, floating gracefully between genres to create the perfect album for a warm summer afternoon. Peaches are the fruit of late summertime, much like this collection of 13 songs. Like a peach, this album is full of juicy sweetness, containing affectionate love songs like “Butterflies” that can make even the most cynical listener feel a twinge of tenderness in their hearts. There are several mellow, laid-back songs, but Musgraves also includes several tunes with groovy, driving beats that make you wanna dance. The bright and happy sound of this album creates the perfect soundtrack to listen to while driving to the beach on a warm August afternoon, while eating a sweet, perfectly ripe and juicy peach. 

— Kaelana Faessler

Grapefruit

Vida, Harmonious

Favorite songs: “Limitation”, “Something Inside”

Harmonious by Vida Rahimi is the perfect mix of electronic drive and indifferent coolness to emulate grapefruit. Vida’s expert song-crafting invokes tantalizingly bright tones like the acidity of grapefruit, her experience in music production shining through each song. At the same time, her lyrics play the role of the bitter bite of the fruit–eccentric melodies giving a soft and sweet voice to the darker emotional references in tunes like “Something Inside” and “supermodel.” I think of grapefruit as occasionally overlooked by those over-reliant on the more familiar, but the right choice for people looking for something more: to revel in the off-beat, the harmony between the sweet and bitter. Harmonious is the culmination of Vida’s production prowess and multiple previously released singles, much akin to the sections of the citrus: each piece holding its own impactful beauty.

— Evelyn Krohn

Rhubarb

Lizzy McAlpine, Give me a Minute

Favorite songs: “To the Mountains”, “Apple Pie”, “Pancakes for Dinner”

Rhubarb is the vegetable of early summer. You can’t go to the farmers market in May without seeing the bright red stalk. It’s commonly used in baking and brings a bright and fresh flavor to any sweet treat. Lizzy McAlpine’s Give me a Minute encapsulates the early summer feeling, the subtle excitement for the coming season while also invoking a sense of calm. Her album encompasses a variety of feelings and her lyrics show a range of different experiences, and I feel this range of feelings reflects the range of feelings about the changing of the seasons that late spring brings. While her songs cover a variety of themes, there is an overarching feeling that brings the album together, creating one cohesive listening experience, and rhubarb is just that. It can be used in a variety of recipes, however, it keeps its flavor and carries the same feeling from recipe to recipe.

— Christine VanDen Heuvel