I don’t talk about music much on my blog, and I’m not sure why. Music is such a strong passion for my soul, but maybe it’s because it’s not something I really photograph myself very often. I adore music- it moves me and I always sing along at the top of my lungs when my favorites are on. I thought I’d take a day to share what I’ve been listening to over the last year- albums that I put on & adore almost every single song, words have have moved me, lyrics that haunt and uplift me. I’ve been listening to The Civil Wars Barton Hollow for over a year now & just melt into their soulful and heartbreaking songs. The duo have such a chemistry together with their voices and their power together that I can’t get enough. The Decemberists album The King is Dead was highly recommended by a friend, and I’m so glad I purchased it on an impulse. Another group that is doing power ballads for the soul, I really get excited and moved by their songs.
Ah, I know that both Florence+the Machine and Mumford & Sons are totally all the rage right now, but I’ll admit that I’m sold on both of these groups too. Both of these groups have powerful, enticing beats mixed with rich vocals and fantastic instrumentals that never fail to get me pumped up and rocking out within the first song. Husband was just joking with me the other night that he feels like I play M&S all the time, but it’s just what I often put on the radio while I’m waiting for him to come home.
This is a bit further back in that I was first really turned onto Moby when I spent New Years’s Even 2010 in New York City with Stephanie. While we were hanging out at the hotel, waiting for midnight to make an appearance, I have fond memories of the slow and mellow Moby playing on her Macbook. I bought an album when I returned home & purchased a 2nd one soon after. I don’t feel like I often play Moby on iTunes, but somehow the play list always works it’s way down to these albums and I found myself chilling out and slowing down.
What is there even to say about Adele that hasn’t been said? She’s probably one of the most influential and talented artists the world has seen in decades. I remember my first addiction to her music when we were fishing in April of 2011, and I just had the lyrics on replay in my head as we waded through the waters of Baffin Bay. Soon after, I bought both albums, and 21, especially, has been on replay on my phone and computer more nights that I care to confess. The whole album is just genius on so many levels, from the powerful lyrics to the amazing vocals that it’s still probably played a few times a month in my world as I sing along to every painful word. One fascinating thing about 21 is that the emotions elicited by the album are so much a reflection of what’s going on in my life- they can be tragic or uplifting or empowering totally based on what’s going on in my personal life.
My happy, cheery albums at the moment are those by Colbie Caillat after I went to her concert. It’s so light, airy, fun, and upbeat that it never fails to put me in a good mood. Other artists that are getting some regular loving from me include Jason Mraz or Sara Barielles for more happiness or John Mayor for more sullen, love-stuck tunes. That’s just a little peek into some of my favorite albums over the last year that get tons of play in my life and are tunes of my life.
GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: So thankful for a work opportunity that I could turn into a weekend getaway with my best friend in San Francisco.
