Saturday, January 2, 2016

Hello 2016! Best of 2015.

I decided this summer I wanted to listen straight through to all the 10,000+ songs on my iPod. I got to about "P" before the play sequence got messed up and I never could get it to go quite back to the same sequence. However, I still feel like that was successful. It allowed me to delete a ton of stuff that honestly I hated and have no need to ever hear again. Although I sometimes want to name names, I typically try not to just for kindness sake, so I'm not going to dwell on the "losers". Now, in that same activity, I also found a lot of songs I really like, so for today's blog I decided to sort my list by songs I've uploaded to my iTunes in 2015 (doesn't mean the song was from 2015) and since uploading have given it a good score.

So here we go, sort of in order, sort of not. I'm going to give you some links, but some of them I've talked about before so might not go into huge detail about. Besides, you don't need me to tell you a bunch of stuff. Your ears will know.

I've put as many as I could in a YouTube Playlist for you.

Michelle Branch - Creep (Cover)
Lo-Fang - You're the One That I Want (Cover)
Both of these songs were featured on the CBS series, Stalker. The show didn't last long, but I loved the creepy covers they'd play at the end of each eposide.

The Lone Bellow - Then Came the Morning
The Lone Bellow - Cold As It Is
I really, just really love The Lone Bellow and all that Zach Williams does.

J. Roddy Walston and The Business - Boys Can Never Tell
I listen to a lot of music from these guys, but I particularly like this one.

Sam Pinkerton - You Never Will
I still just love Sam Pinkerton's music a ton. I've told you about her before, so I'm not going to repeat myself. If I'm trying to just relax and get some work done, she's singing to me on my buds.

Golden Groves - Remember
Their album will be out in February 2016. Yeah, I'm ready.

Current Swell - Ulysses
It took me about 2 seconds to know I was going to love this song. Songs like this are the very reason I've been trying so hard to be sure I listen to my entire hoard. I own some great songs and am missing out on them! I got this from a Nettwerk Fall Music Sampler, probably from Amazon. I'll definitely be downloading more tracks.

Mat Shoare - I Yi Yi
If nothing else, get his Daytrotter Session, but I just really enjoy his sound.

Criminal Hygiene - Pickman
This, along with several songs on this list came from the Spring Limited Fanfare Records sampler. The band is very new to me and not my usual sound, but I still like it and look forward to finding time to listen to them more.

*repeat repeat - Don't Want Anybody

Moving Pictures - What About Me
This is an olllld song, but sometimes I get it stuck in my head, so I downloaded it.

Josh Garrels - Decision
I own a lot of Josh Garrels music. I enjoy his voice. Not every song of his is for me, but I do like this one a lot.

Benjamin Booker - Wicked Waters
The label must have really be pushing this song because I own like 14 copies of it. I really like the song and it's one of those I have to listen to at least 3 times before I go on to the next song.

Ex Norwegian - First Time

First Aid Kit - Hard Believer

Ellen O'Meara - Weep Not for Me

Knox Hamilton - Work it Out
I am eagerly anticipating the new recordings they're working on right now.

The Ballroom Thieves - Archers

Austin Manuel - Hold On Tight

Butch Walker - Chrissie Hynde

Milo Greene - Lie To Me

Two Gallants - Invitation to the Funeral

Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends

Dan Deacon - When I Was Done Dying

The Last Bison - Magic Carpet Ride (Cover)

I know there's some missing from this list, for a lot of different reasons. I have tons of excuses, some of which include, but are not limited to:

My new living situation and really, really busy work life has really made it difficult to keep blogging for numerous reasons. Since about 4th grade I've had what I call arthritis in my hands, I don't know if that's really what it is, but my hands hurt a lot when I write or type a lot or do things with my hands. Even though I have just a normal 40 hour job, that usually is really more like 45 hours or so a week and a lot of it is using my hands (typing and doing basic office work). Sometimes, by the time I get home, I really just sit around praying for my hands to fall off because I think it would be less painful if I laid my hand on the railroad tracks and let a train cut them off.

So, out of that is my dramatic way of saying that sometimes blogging physically hurts too much to do it. I've considered stuff like YouTube, but I'm just not into being in videos and it's a lot to figure out, honestly. Although I love my job so much, I do enough reading and figuring stuff out all day, I don't need to add that to my life either.

I try to keep my iPod close by and listen, but I haven't been good about staying on top of downloads. My iPod is mostly full. Sometimes I think it hates me. Maybe I need a newer one? But, I don't know.

Really, this isn't about excuses, but just know that a lot of times there are things I want to blog but just don't have time or energy to do it. I try to do some Instagram stuff in between, although I'll admit it even slacks off when it's super busy.

Before I sign off, I wanna give a shout to The Shameless Pursuit, a KC band that was kind enough to check out my blog recently and send me a message, which encouraged me to get something new posted. I haven't seen them live yet, but a chance is coming up January 10 at the Riot Room.