Listening to music. Playing video games. Watching a movie. Finishing a TV series. There are countless ways to enjoy your cannabis consumption out there, but often it's the simplest activities that hold the most impact.
Personally, I always enjoy listening to full albums after I smoke. The cohesion in an album makes each song feel connected, and in my elevated state of mind it generally can scratch my brain in ways that feel like I have uncovered some sort of hidden meaning.
While I would argue that any album you like listening to would sound better after a smoke sesh, here's a selection of my favorite albums to get you started.
SOLAR POWER, LORDE
I know Lorde's junior album Solar Power wasn't as culturally impactful as her previous two, Melodrama and Pure Heroine, but it sure is fun to listen to after smoking a freshly rolled j. Each song is filled with soft instrumentals and soothing ambient sounds, such as cicadas buzzing, which transport the listener to the singer's sunny summers in New Zealand.
I mean, beyond the album's aptly titled second single "Stoned at the Nail Salon," she even told the New York Times in an August 2021 video interview that Solar Power is her "weed album."
STARF—ER, SLAYYYTER
Even for sober ears, Slayyyter's second full-length album, Starf—er, is exciting. Inspired by the old Hollywood tropes of drugs, sex and celebrity, this fun amalgamation of electronic and pop music from the 1980s and early 2000s just makes me want to dance around with my friends.
The album takes you through quirky, tongue-in-cheek moments in "I Love Hollywood" and "Purr" and then sinks into more the dramatic pop ballads "Miss Belladonna" and "Rhinestone Heart." To understand the full hype of this album, take a world-ending dab hit with your friend and put it on. It'll make you want to get up and dance, even if you're experiencing that "in the couch" feeling of an indica strain.
PERVERTS, ETHEL CAIN
If you're a big fan of horror movies or just like being scared, Ethel Cain's dark, ambient album Perverts is for you. The 90-minute album, which is filled with distorted church hymns and eerie industrial drone sounds, is creepy at best and paranoia-inducing at worst (I know from experience).
For this experience, I recommend taking an edible and beginning the album about 30 minutes later. This allows the album to hit that sweet timeframe between when the edible begins to take effect and when it's at its most potent.
THE FRONT BOTTOMS, THE FRONT BOTTOMS
In my opinion, the Front Bottoms make music for stoners. The indie rock duo's discography isn't necessarily good, but each song seems to be written under some sort of influence and, in turn, seems like it could be heard in the basement of your buddy's house after a big bong rip.
I think almost any of the band's albums could fit into this category, but I'm recommending The Front Bottoms' self-titled, full-length debut. Each track is its own story that listeners can parse through while they're at their most creative.
CURRENTS, TAME IMPALA
Obviously this list wouldn't be complete without Tame Impala's album Currents. While the album has also been described as psychedelic pop, I'd argue that it's best listened to after smoking your favorite uplifting sativa strain.
Get lost in the groovy disco inspirations and addicting synth sounds as each song pushes your brain to the utmost limits of imagination. Plus, the transition between some songs, such as "Let It Happen" into "Nangs," makes for a lovely, uninterrupted listening experience.
