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2019 Year End Review

I was unsure if I wanted to do an end of year post for fear of sounding redundant, but I have come across so much music this year that has inspired me that I thought it would be a disservice not to share a couple highlights and a few of my favorites. 

So first, the highlights. I had the opportunity to see The Rocket Summer and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness live this year. I have been following them for over a decade, and being able to see BOTH of them live in the same year left my heart as full as it could possibly get. The music created by both of these artists got me through many ups and many downs over the past decade, and the love I have for every song they write is infinite. 

Another highlight from the year is so simple, yet has been so fulfilling. I started this blog with no intention of starting a social media page. I am glad I went against my better judgement and took Tunes and Tapes to Instagram. It has allowed me to share so much more than posts on a webpage every month. Lyrics are huge for me, but I did not want to make an entire blog post about one line in a song. The Instagram page allows me to do this on a smaller scale. It makes sharing concert experiences and information about artists so much easier. If you have followed, liked, commented, or viewed the Instagram page, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 

Picking a top five this year was less overwhelming than usual because each of these artists have inspired me and are on constant repeat. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have and that you have a wonderful new year. 

  1. Dermot Kennedy: Without Fear 
  2. The Rocket Summer: Sweet Shivers 
  3. Jack Gray: Nights Like This
  4. VÉRITÉ: New Skin
  5. TAVIA: A Walk in the Madness 
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The Rocket Summer – Sweet Shivers

Typically, I do not get too vulnerable in my posts, but it is really hard to say anything about The Rocket Summer (TRS) without sharing why this music means the world to me. A friend introduced me to TRS in my early twenties, around the same time the sophomore album Hello, Good Friend was released. I was so intrigued by the talent of the man behind the solo venture, Bryce Avary, and the optimism of the album and became a fan immediately. 

Now, fast forward a few years and a few TRS albums later to me having my first child. I had always heard about the joy of becoming a mother, but I was not adequately warned of the possibility of despair that might come along with it. I felt immense joy when I saw my precious baby for the first time. He was, and still is, such a wonderful soul. Call it what you will, postpartum depression or mommy blues, but the sadness set in and I genuinely thought I would never be happy again. I put on a brave face, but I felt empty and alone. Even with support around me I did not think anything would make me feel whole again.

Then, by some miracle, I chose to play a TRS song and felt a little better for the first time in a while. For the first time in weeks I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I had every single album by TRS on repeat for at least a year afterwards because I could not mentally bring myself to listen to anything else, and when I tried to veer away to a different artist, it felt as if my brain were taking a beating. Eventually, I started to feel like myself again. I really do not know what I would have done without TRS’s music during that time. It gave me hope, it made me smile, and was the light I needed when I felt surrounded by darkness. Music like this is the reason I have a blog. My hope is to share music that might help someone, wherever they may be in this mortal journey. 

TRS’s seventh album,Sweet Shivers, is here, and it is brilliant. The layering, distorted guitar sounds and attention demanding bass lines have my neurons in overdrive in the best way possible. This is music therapy at its finest. Blast “5 4 3 2 1 Z” and dance your worries away,  press play on “The World’s Greatest” as a reminder to be hopeful when you feel lost, or crank up “Slomo” and soak up the beauty of the world while taking a long drive in a vintage convertible (if you can do that sort of thing). “Morning Light” is probably my favorite track on the album. You can feel the weight of darkness doing everything in its power to push you down in the production of the tune while the lyrics give you the optimism you need to fight back. And, I have to give a nod to the flute part in “Apartment 413.” I guess it is time to dust off my flute and give her a play. 

I hope TRS brings a little peace your way today. He will be touring very soon (Charlotte here I come!). Click here for more info. 

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2017 Year End Review

I have been really excited about music this year. My favorite band, Acceptance, reunited after more than a decade of being disbanded and released a new album, I found several new artists to add to my library, and I started this music blog. Thank you for taking the time to read about the music I love. I have enjoyed sharing these tunes with you. The artist that really stands out to me above all others this year is Irish singer/songwriter Dermot Kennedy.  You can read my original blog post about him here.  I have not come across music like this in a while. You know, the kind of music you talk about daily (I think my friends are starting to avoid me). The kind of music you tell everyone about (I would shout it from a mountain top if I could). The kind of music that makes you feel alive in the best possible way (it’s  literally like magic). In all honesty, my standard of quality music has changed since I first heard him a few months ago while washing dishes (yes, hand washing dishes) after a long day. If you do nothing else before the end of 2017, go listen to his music. It will take you on an emotional journey leaving you craving more.

Here are some other artists I have had on repeat during 2017.

Thank you again for taking time out of your day to read these posts. It means a lot to me. I hope 2018 brings you much happiness.

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The Rocket Summer – Christmas Madness EP

With Christmas only seven days away I have decided to share one of my favorite Christmas EPs, Christmas Madness by The Rocket Summer. Listening to this EP has been a Christmas must since it surfaced back in 2013. It consists of three original songs and one cover. It is hard for me to pick a favorite song because together they give you everything you need during the holidays.   Have you ever felt like Christmas time drives you a little mad? Listen to “Christmas Madness.” Have you ever felt like Santa and his little helpers are really just creepers watching you when you are sleeping or awake? There is a song for that. Just listen to “Elf Creep.” Does going home for Christmas give you “all the feels?” Then you might like “Grapevine Christmas Eve.”  Or,  do you just like a good ole traditional Christmas song? The Rocket Summer has that covered with the end track “O Holy Night.”

So, press pause on NSYNC (the Christmas album bible), Pentatonix, Mariah Carey, SIA, Hanson, and any of your other Christmas musts and give this EP a listen.

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My “Go To” Bands

Now that I have posted about a few new artists I love, I think it is important to write about the bands that help me get through this thing called life. You know, my “go to” bands. The tried and true.

The Rocket Summer: This is Texas native Bryce Avary’s solo project. I first heard of this indie rocker from a friend in 2005. I became intrigued when I was told Avary not only wrote and produced his album, but that he also played every instrument on the album.  At the time, Avary had just released his sophomore album Hello, Good Friend. Since then, he has released the albums Do You Feel, Of Men and Angels, Life Will Write The Words, and Zoetic. I love every song on every album. The last 12 years of my life have been so much better with The Rocket Summer in it. I remember having a bit of the mommy blues after my pregnancies, and I literally could not listen to anything else. Avary’s music makes me so happy, and I am so grateful for it.

Jack’s Mannequin/Andrew McMahon: Andrew McMahon has been part of a few different music acts. He was a vocalist in the rock band Something Corporate then moved on to his solo project Jack’s Mannequin and is currently doing his thing under the name Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.  I first heard of him while watching an episode of One Tree Hill (one of the best shows ever made) in my college dorm room. The song “Dark Blue” by Jack’s Mannequin started playing and I thought (and still think) it was incredible. I have followed his career ever since that day. Every album he releases is great. He is so talented, and his life story is amazing. If you have a minute (or an hour) go watch Dear Jack, a documentary about McMahon’s life. Have your tissues ready. I can not imagine this world without his music.