Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Onward!







So, I guess you could say I've been on a bit of a... sabbatical?
I last left off in April of 2014 it seems.
There's too much that has happened since then, and while I did my best to keep up with even just the mixes, most months I never even made it to 8 songs.
But, I figured, if I'm ever going to get back into it, the beginning of the year is a great time. And this year definitely started off amazingly.



"The Devil Drives" - Murder By Death
So, Ultimately the story starts in December, but not by much. My roommates, their ladies, and myself drove up to the Joshua Tree area for a NYE show with Murder by Death. It was a blast, to say the least. To ring in the New Year with Murder by Death. That being said, in addition to Auld Lang Syne, they played two other songs after midnight fell, and both songs hit me in the feels. Each song had its own reason for being perfect for the new year. I ultimately chose this one for the mix because, just as the ending lyrics summarize... There's still time to start again.

"Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)" - Silversun Pickups
This song, I think the best way to describe, is mesmerizing. I don't remember if it popped up in my Facebook feed, or I was notified via e-mail, but I caught this when it first came out and I couldn't stop listening to it. I actually took my laptop into my bedroom, put the video on repeat and just closed my eyes, each time soaking in a different part of the song. "I've got nowhere left to dream, so I'll just stay awake" really resonated with me. But then again, so did the entirety of the song.

"Wolves Without Teeth" - Of Monsters & Men
I was listening to Of Monsters & Men pretty heavily in the beginning of the month. I got pretty excited that while I was playing their newest album at work my co-worker enjoyed it, and subsequently looked into them further on his own time. The album is very cohesive as a whole, one of the kinds where it's hard to have a favourite. It really depends on the mood, but I kept coming back to this song most during that time.

"Be Here Now" - As Tall As Lions
Another band I was constantly coming back to during January, and February. And probably will in March too. This is ultimately because I got to see them perform in late December at a reunion. They came back together for two shows in LA and two shows in NY and if it's not the best show I've ever been to, it's definitely in the top 3. The talent and emotion that came with that show resonated far into January, so I kept playing their self-titled album on repeat. And again, still do. I just can't get over how amazing it was. Out of all the songs though, as they played the album in full and then some, I chose this one because "It's been a good life, I'll be sad to see it go." I like that, in the sense of starting anew. For this particular year I think of it in terms of how I'm glad of what I've accomplished so far, but I'm ready for the next step.

"Shine A Light" - BANNERS
This song came up on shuffle, from one of many playlists I downloaded from an amazing site. I first heard it at work, and it immediately caught my attention. It's got such a nice feel to the beat, and the positivity that's conveyed through it is very much enjoyable.

"Lifted Up (1985)" - Passion Pit
More than anything, I drove my co-workers nuts at work because whenever this song would come up I'd since "1985 was a good year!!!" at them and generally follow it up with me telling them that's when I was born and "you're welcome!" What. You enjoy my presence, therefore 1985 was a good year, because I'm here! You're welcome.

"Night/Day" - Mae
Originally, this song was part of a project I did on Facebook. I told everyone to comment on my status with a letter. I would then find an artist/band that started with that letter. But wait, there's more! Within that artist, I would pick a song that I felt was appropriate for them. Yup. I got a little in over my head with that, but in such a good way. I had somewhere between 15-20 people respond, and it took me all together about 4 or 5 days to finish. Night/Day originally was for one of my co-workers, and still is. But the more I listened to it, the more I thought it was appropriate for my new year too. January I took charge, I stopped figuratively sleeping in. Plus it just kept coming up on shuffle. So, I couldn't deny it a spot on the playlist. And I'm sorry, but his voice. So delicious.

"The Tortoise And The Tourist" - Modest Mouse
Honestly, the biggest reason this is on the playlist is because it came up at work on one of my morning shifts, and it starts with "Wake up and get ready wake up and get ready." And I was like uuuggghhhh but why, I'm already am at work. Geez song, why do you have to rub it in. I think first though I just started laughing at the irony. And then I played it when my co-worker arrived for their shift.



Honourable Mention:

"Foxglove" - Murder By Death
This was the other song that was played after midnight at the NYE show. It's always been one of my favourites, so that helps. But although it wasn't necessarily as obvious of a new years song as The Devil Drives, it felt right to me. "It was always you..." just got to me. Not that it meant anyone in particular, but, that it was a good year to find whoever it was.