Saturday, January 2, 2016

Soundtrack of 2015

Can you believe it's 2016 already?! I know, I know, that's what everyone says. But, seriously. I'm more than half-way done with medical school... when did that happen?!

I don't plan on starting this year off with anything quite as drastic as last year (although that pink hair may make another appearance at some point... you've been warned), but I did want to put at least a little "New Year" something in my tiny corner of the internet. 

So. I'm probably a little late with this, but I thought I would share some of my favorite 2015 albums. But I don't mean the albums that I thought were "the best" of the year. These are the new albums that held some kind of significance for me this year --  the songs that were played on repeat to keep me from losing my mind studying for boards, that drowned out disappointments, put words to unprocessed emotions, kept me company on runs, car rides, and travels, and simply helped weaved together all of the memories and stories I have from this past year. So, in a sense, these albums and songs were my 2015 soundtrack.

This post may seem a bit self-centered, but I figured that if these albums meant something to me this past year, maybe they will mean something to someone who may read this for this new year. 


Interestingly, some of my new finds at the beginning of last year, stuck with me all the way through. Certainly makes me excited for new discoveries this year! 

Okay, here we go, in no particular order:

The Balcony - Catfish and The Bottlemen

Oh man, I listed to this album so much this year. Whether studying, driving, or running, and in times of frustration, happiness, sadness... whatever and whenever. I think it will be on regular rotation for me for a long time. There seriously is not a bad song on it (although personal favorite is still Cocoon). 



Our Own House - Misterwives

This was another album that I listened to constantly, in all types of moods and circumstances. And a big highlight of the year was getting to see them play live back in November with a dear friend. For some reason, it serves as a reminder to me to just have fun and be myself, other people's opinions be damned.




If I Was - The Staves

This album is so incredibly beautiful, yet so simple. These songs kept me company through both late nights and early mornings. They have stuck with me so much that I even find myself humming the melodies while walking around the hospital. Plus, I think I've said before, but their cover of "I'm on Fire" is an absolute must-listen.




Chaos and the Calm - James Bay

I love that this album has a little bit of everything. It just feels incredibly soulful to me. So much singing in the car with this one.




Live at Carnegie Hall - Ryan Adams

Not much explanation necessary here. This had me cracking up in the library during boards time, which is also ironic since most of these songs are beautifully sombre. But if you have listened to all 3.5 hours of this, then you understand. Ryan Adams' version of 1989 also gets an honorable mention.






Speaking of honorable mentions:

        


        


       



Okay, that's a lot of music. I kind of wish now I had done this for 2014 too (Hozier, Little Chief, little hurricane now that I'm thinking about it)!!


Hopefully this has inspired you to think about the songs that made up your 2015 and all of the memories that go with them.

Here's to a new year with lots more music and adventures!