Fourteen love albums to listen to on Valentine’s Day

By Soleil Caouette

Music Journalist 

Whether you are a hopeless romantic or an anti-Valentine’s Day advocate, I wanted to find 14 different albums that represent love of many kinds. This collection contains classic love albums and tracks about being entangled in a toxic mess. So, no matter how much you love or hate Valentine’s Day, here are some tunes for every type of love in between.

Private Space by Durand and the Indications

This soul-filled album prepares you for the day of love with a modern take on disco and funk music. Private Space came out in 2021, right after the pandemic hit in 2020, so this connection the band built during these scary times is very apparent. Amidst the fear and uncertainty, they created songs with love and positivity. 

Crash by Dave Matthew’s Band

Crash, the band’s second studio album, uses solemn and jazzy elements to connect with their audience. Dave Matthew writes songs about a soulmate type of love, and I am here for it! The group is known for combining acoustic guitar, saxophone, and fiddle to create magical music for those romantics of the world. Their top song, “Crash Into Me,” came from this 1996 album and incorporates slow and fast rhythms that add for a more intense build-up as you listen. 

Kaya by Bob Marley and the Wailers

This iconic 1978 album emanates love in more ways than one. Bob Marley is an artist who preached love and peace his entire life up until he died in 1981. I highly recommend this one if you are a fan of reggae. 

Vespertine by Björk

Björk is a master of making beautiful, otherworldly music. This album demonstrates a mystical type of story with love and light. The intimate relationship between her use of voice and instrumentation is an intentional technique she uses to highlight the meaning of her songs. For example, in the song “Aurora,” Björk wanted to paint images of vulnerability and love in human life; she had engineers and programmers help with creating these romantic sounds. 

Pink Moon by Nick Drake

This folk album of Drake’s is his third and last full album, with only eleven songs full of acoustic guitar and touching lyrics. The gentle strumming of his guitar intertwines with his quiet voice. That creates a base for his meaningful words about his lighter, more positive views on life. Drake paints imagery of green hills and the sun shining as he tells stories of passion throughout this track that will make you fall in love. 

Love Deluxe by Sade

Sade’s 1992 album, Love Deluxe, is a soulful collection of love songs that sends you on a romantic journey. They explain through their lyrics that love is mysterious and meaningful. Their smooth elements of jazz and R&B represent those loving tones. 

Grace by Jeff Buckley

This gut-wrenchingly beautiful album created by Buckley will always be one of my favorites. He is known for creating songs about his deep love and connection with people, and his use of jazz and rock elements allows him to produce such romantic-sounding rhythms. Grace is one of those albums that emanate every type of love on the spectrum in a perfect way. No matter how you feel about love, you can relate to his words on a deep level. 

Let’s Get Out of the Country by Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura is a Scottish indie pop band with sweet harmonies and enchanting verses. You might find yourself loving “Razzle Dazzle Rose,” with a lovely use of texture from various instruments played. 

Both by Okay Kaya

Kaya Wilkins produces ethereal tunes with a lot of emotion and meaning behind her lyrics. She’s not the type of artist to create coffee shop-indie music, constantly on everyone’s rotation; instead, she creates experimental and passionate pop music that can hook anyone in. This album explores the different ways to be loved and give love; whether obsessive or magical, Wilkins has gotten wit and poetry down. I highly recommend the song “IUD,” an outlandish love song about not wanting to get pregnant but being so in love with her partner that she could run the risk. The song’s groovy chorus and comical play on words make the perfect Valentine’s Day bop. 

Midnight Love by Marvin Gaye

This classic album, released in 1982, will make you want to dance in your kitchen in the middle of the night. Marvin Gaye’s final album is one of his more upbeat, positive albums that he created with songs about the joy of being in love. In the hit song “Sexual Healing,” Gaye played every instrument himself, excluding the guitar. Even if you do not have a love this Valentine’s Day, this album uplifts you and gets you out of a funk in just 46 minutes. 

When the Pawn by Fiona Apple

This album is for those struggling with romantic relationships, specifically, loving themselves in a relationship. Fiona Apple’s album called When the Pawn dives into the strong desires of all-consuming love and the need to better yourself for love. The song “Paper Bag” emphasizes feelings of self-doubt and insecurity in her relationship. Her strong lyricism, chaotic cymbals and beautiful melodies add to the feeling of being overwhelmed by love.

Double Fantasy by Yoko Ono and John Lennon

This joint album by John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, is a 45-minute symbol of their magical relationship. Double Fantasy incorporates feelings of unconditional love and peace for the family they have created together. The songs featured on this album, “Yes I’m Your Angel” and “Every Man Has a Woman,” are whimsical and playful love-pop songs that are modern for their time. 

Songs by Adrianne Lenker

If you are the type to shed a few tears on the day of love, this album is for you. Adrianne Lenker has a knack for writing the most gut-wrenchingly painful songs you will ever hear, mostly about love. She uses natural elements for this entire album, including chimes, birds chirping and the trees blowing in the wind to create a real human experience while listening. 

Feels Like Home by Norah Jones

Norah Jones’ silky voice can captivate just about anyone. Feels Like Home focuses on the comfortable and homey feeling of being in love. She can sing with such intimacy not many musicians can emulate, and the jazz elements in the background add the warm feeling you get when listening to this album.