After another night of not being able to fall asleep (damn insomnia), I figured it was time to put up the playlist I forgot to do last week.

To start things off, I’m introducing you (assuming) to one of my favorite songs out this year- A collaboration for a Record Store Day exclusive opens the playlist. Next up is just a fantastic song from a pretty new band Kodaline.

Following thees great openers, I’m bringing you a duo of cigarettes and coffee— The classic, and one of my favorite love songs, by the legend Otis Redding, followed by a song of the flip-side by one of my favorite bands, Jimmy Eat World (this song is inspired by the Redding classic).

No playlist is complete without a little hip-hop, so you get some Schoolboy Q. The songs by The National and Noah and the Whale are two of my favorites from a couple of years ago; while the songs from Robert Francis, Girls, and Fitz and the Tantrums are just some amazing songs.

Now, I’m tossing this playlist on one more time, and seeing if it can help me get some rest!

This week I’m bringing a mix of old songs, brand new songs, and even a little shoegaze. There’s a live cut of one of my favorite songs, and one of the most beautiful covers you will ever hear.

visions from the moon is meant to facilitate an escape from whatever it is you’re caught up in. It is meant to allow a break from the routine. Move to the moon, and take in the visions of Earth, beauty so far away. Let these songs take you away.

(Source: open.spotify.com)

This week, I bring you the first volume of my playlist awake. I give you ten songs that have been stuck in my head as of late, and some that I believe you should hear.

Artist with new albums out (or almost out), such as the incredibly talented James Blake, and the always upbeat Major Lazer, all the way to new singles from She & Him and Two Door Cinema Club.

I’ve also brought back some songs from long time loves The Postal Service, The xx, and The Knife. While introducing you to Rhye, A Silent Film, and Foals.

awake gives you songs that I enjoy in my ears while savoring the mornings’ first cup of coffee. So, pour yourself a hot one, plug in, and wake up with these gems.

Because I’ve been lazy with my blogging lately, I’m going to start something new. Weekly, I’m going to bring you a playlist of some of the music I’ve been listening to.

I tend to experiment with the tunes of a lot of new/great bands, and this is going to be my outlet for sharing my discoveries.

Putting my design skills to use at the same time, I’m going to be designing some custom artwork each week for every playlist.

To begin, I give you escape; a mix of some new artist I’ve recently come across, to some of my favorite artist and songs I constantly let my mind drift away to.

Also attaching a link to the Spotify playlist, in case the attached one doesn’t load for you here.

After taking a few days into this lovely 2013 to listen to a few last albums, I finally had my list completed for the Best Albums of 2012. I spent some time working on my graphic, and typing out a thought-filled post for you all to read. Finally came the time to post it, and it all vanished. I mean, it straight up disappeared. No post, no links, no saved draft. Needless to say, I was angry. So, after taking another day (or two) to rewrite everything, I give you my list for 2012. 

Last year was a strange one when it came to music. It seemed like as the months ticked away, there really weren’t any albums being released that jumped out as standouts for the year. Sure, there was a good one here, and a good one there. I was kind of upset with music overall.

Then, I realized that my Spotify kept playing the same things over and over. And, my iPhone was full of albums that went on and never came off. I found myself finding new bands like the Alabama Shakes. I found duo’s like the Japandroids trying one more and final time to “make it,” producing a hit album like Celebration Rock. Spreading beyond typical hit genres, we saw Abel Tesfaye, The Weeknd, practically reinvent R&B music singlehandedly.

2012 slowly but surely became an amazing year for music, no matter what kind you like. The following is my list of the best twenty five albums released over the past twelve months, in my opinion. I hope you discover something you haven’t heard, and fall in love with it like I did.

25. Father John Misty—Fear Fun
24. Glen Hansard—Rhythm and Repose
23. Here We Go Magic—A Different Ship
22. Grimes—Visions
21. Tame Impala—Lonerism
20. Divine Fits—A Thing Called Divine Fits
19. The Helio Sequence—Negotiations
18. Metric—Synthetica
17. Soft Swells—Soft Swells
16. The Weeknd—Trilogy
15. Ben Howard—The Burgh Island EP
14. Half Moon Run—Dark Eyes
13. Twin Shadow—Confess
12. Mumford & Sons—Babel
11. The Walkmen—Heaven
10. Regina Spektor—What We Saw From The Cheap Seats
9. The xx—Coexist
8. Chromatics—Kill For Love
7. Beach House—Bloom
6. Lovedrug—Wild Blood
5. Grizzly Bear—Shields
4. ∆ (alt-J)—An Awesome Wave
3. Frank Ocean—channel ORANGE
2. Alabama Shakes—Boys & Girls
1. Japandroids—Celebration Rock

In a year where I had originally struggled to find standout music, I ended up discovering more than I could hope for. While it was more of a challenge to refine this list than I could begin to describe, there are several albums that stood out, that just didn’t make the final cut. The following, are my five honorable mentions:

-Purity Ring—Shrines
-Ellie Goulding—Halcyon
-Vacationer—Gone
-Walk the Moon—Walk the Moon
-Dinosaur Jr.—I Bet On The Sky

 And while this isn’t enough music already, 2012 has come and gone. This music is in the past. A week into 2013, and we already have some great music surfacing. To prepare you, I give you the five albums that I am currently most excited for to come out in the months to come.

-The Joy Formidable—Wolf’s Law
-Local Natives—Hummingbird
-Frightened Rabbit—Pedestrian Verse
-Arcade Fire
-James Blake

 Music is something special. It has a way of resonating with people on a level nothing else can. It is something that I surround myself with daily, and something that I truly love. You may know these artist and albums already. But, if you don’t, I hope that you find something that speaks to you. I’m attaching a link to a full Spotify playlist for you to subscribe to (Click Here), and including the playlist below for ease as well. Now turn up the speakers, and enjoy.

Another year has come, another year has gone. With that year, memories of laughter, joy, heartbreak, and loss. Throughout it all, the constants are what remain atop our memory of what was 2012. What greater constant to recall than that of music.

Throughout the journey of the last twelve months, we’ve all been immersed in music of different likings. What follows, are my 25 favorite tunes of the time that was. If you know some, enjoy. If there are some new tracks you’ve yet to hear, I am pleased to introduce you to some great songs (in my opinion, of course).

25. Anna Sun—Walk the Moon
24. Only Son of the Ladiesman—Father John Misty
23. October—The Helio Sequence
22. Paradise—Wild Nothing
21. Impregnable Question—Dirty Projectors
20. Oats in the Water—Ben Howard
19. On The Sea—Beach House
18. Chained—The xx
17. Nerve—Half Moon Run
16. Feel So Close—Calvin Harris
15. Breathing Underwater—Metric
14. Sugar—Paper Route
13. Firewood—Regina Spektor
12. Oblivion—Grimes
11. Kill For Love—Chromatics
10. Constant Conversations—Passion Pit
9. State Hospital—Frightened Rabbit
8. Breezeblocks—∆ (alt-J)
7. Great Divide—Lovedrug
6. Thinkin Bout You—Frank Ocean
5. The Mother We Share—CHVRCHES
4. Yet Again—Grizzly Bear
3. Five Seconds—Twin Shadow
2. Hold On—Alabama Shakes
1. The House That Heaven Built—Japandroids

To make things even easier for you to discover these lovely songs, I give you a full Spotify playlist. You are all very welcome.

Spotify Playlist

Absolutely incredible to see two of this generation brilliant minds work through their creative process like this. Getting to see them work is one thing, but getting to see them create one of their more notable masterpieces… To be a fly on the wall for all of their writing sessions.

One of the best songs I’ve heard in some time. If you haven’t listened to Half Moon Run’s new album Dark Eyes yet, treat yo’self. It’s a true beauty, and one of the best albums of 2012.

From start to finish, these Canadian guys have created a sound that resonates throughout each chord on this album. 

Check them out on Spotify.

Japandroids—The House That Heaven Built

One of my favorite albums of the year. The guys just announced that they’ll be playing the Fillmore in November.

Count me in.

People, people… If for some reason, you live under a rock and still don’t know who The xx are, I give you their new single “Angels” from their forthcoming sophomore album Coexist.

With Romy’s beautiful, yet haunting, vocals leading the way, this soft guitar driven track is 100% to the core xx music. If this doesn’t get you excited for their new album, shame on you.