May Playlist // making music again

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I’ve been playing a lot of music this month and it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve mostly been practicing guitar and ukulele and I’m finally building a pedalboard! For now it’s complete (all I need now is a bigger pedalboard). I couldn’t be happier. I’m using a pedaltrain nano pedalboard with these five pedals:

  • TC Electronic Polytune 3
  • Electro-Harmonix XO Micro POG Polyphonic Octave Generator
  • EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine Super Chorus
  • TC Electronic The Prophet Digital Delay
  • TC Electronic Skysurfer Reverb (the very first pedal I bought)
  • TC Electronic Ditto X2 Looper

I now know a few songs on ukulele, most importantly the Mii channel theme, and I’ve been following JustinGuitar tutorials for guitar. His lessons are so good, I highly recommend checking him out on his website and YouTube channel. I’ve also been sporadically playing with the free version of Yousician and working on scales from the exercise book from The Guitar Grimoire.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to this month. Let me know what you all have been listening to in the comments or on Instagram @healthy_ghost.

April Playlist

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This month’s playlist is composed of the music I’ve been playing while making breakfast before work. Calming and comforting. It’s what I’ve needed this month.

I’ve been playing a lot of music lately too. I’m re-teaching myself piano and it’s been a lot of fun. I also ordered a tenor ukulele online and it’s currently on its way. Next month may be a playlist full of ukulele and piano songs I’d like to learn.

What have you been listening to lately? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram: @healthy_ghost.

December + January Playlist

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I wanted to post a little throwback today.

I like posting monthly playlists on my blog because it forces me to listen to more music than I usually do and rediscover old songs I used to love. I listened to a lot of music when I was in high school, but now I don’t take the time to sit down and listen to an album without any distractions.

I would make playlists on iTunes and burn them to CDs to give to friends. We’d listen to them in their cars or when we’d have pool parties. I also used to make playlists on the website 8tracks any time I felt inspired by music and wanted to share what I heard. I used to spend a lot of time curating them and finding cover art for them.

This month’s playlist (a combination of December and January) will feature one of my old 8tracks playlists from high school, “Chill Electronic“. Thom Yorke’s music has always been a huge inspiration for me, and it’s what inspired this playlist. I added a few more songs to the original and posted it on Spotify:

Here’s a link to the original playlist: Chill Electronic. Check out some of my other old playlists too: ParanoidNoAndroid.

Here’s where all of my monthly playlists live: Monthly Playlists.

November Top 10 // a cosy and introspective playlist.

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Another month, another playlist. For November I chose mostly acoustic tracks that encompass the feelings of the start of winter and that are very nostalgic for me. Listen to it at the bottom of this post.

Alexi Murdoch – Through the Dark

I discovered Alexi Murdoch’s music through the movie Away We Go about 7 years ago. I listen to his music whenever I need to relax: a calm start to my morning or a to get a relaxing mood flowing at night after a stressful day of work.

Brand New – Could Never Be Heaven

I finally listened to Brand New’s album from 2017, and I hate that I didn’t check it out sooner. Deja Entendu is one of my favorite albums; listening to Brand New brings back a lot of fond memories and nostalgia. I was hesitant to listen to it for some unknown reason, but I finally did and it’s great.

Jack Johnson – Belle

This song brings me back to high school, sitting in my room trying to learn it on guitar. I never got it down, but I may revisit it again soon.

Kings of Convenience – Leaning Against the Wall

Another relaxing acoustic album. I highly recommend checking this whole album out on a lazy Sunday, but this song is one of my favorites on that album.

Say Hi – My Eyes Won’t Weep No More

I listened to Say Hi a lot in high school, but I recently bought a Say Hi CD at a thrift store in Austin for $1.99. I’ve been hooked again since and it’s all I’ve been playing in the car (to DJ’s annoyance). To me, his voice is so relaxing and his music’s a masterpiece.

Thao and Mirah – Teeth

Another oldie for me from high school, this duo collaborated and created a beautiful indie rock album that I cannot listen to enough.

Vagabon – Alive and a Well

It seems I always have at least one Spotify recommendation each playlist. I was recommended this while making this playlist, and I’ve found one of my new favorite bands. I’ve listened to this album almost every morning before I go into work the past few days.

Bon Iver – Beach Baby

How could I not add Bon Iver to an autumn inspired playlist?

Badly Drawn Boy – Camping Next to Water

I’ve only listened to his first album, The Hour of Bewilderbeast, but I plan on listening to all of his albums soon, especially after revisiting this one.

Radiohead – Gagging Order

My all-time favorite band. Their acoustic pieces always leave me mesmerized. Gagging Order and Faust Arp are my two favorite acoustic pieces by them, but I chose Gagging Order because I thought it was a nice closing song for this list.

Thank you to everyone who has listened to and followed my playlists these past few months. I love making them. ♡

October Top 10 // what I’ve been listening to lately

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It’s that time again for another monthly playlist. This time for spooky season we’re celebrating with an ominous and somber set of songs. (The Spotify playlist is at the end of this post.)

Tele Novella – Umbrella at the Station

Spotify’s recommendations are pretty spot on most of the time. I came across this song as I was building this playlist which lead me to check out this album, which is a really good indie pop album. I put a Voxtrot song in the beginning of my last playlist and this time I’m starting out another one with a band that consists of a few of the members.

“No need to put it into words  / ’cause I know what you heard.”

Free Cake For Every Creature – Talking Quietly of Anything With You

This is an artist from one of my favorite record labels, Double Double Whammy. I like the majority of the bands on that label, so it was no surprise when I stumbled upon Free Cake For Every Creature that I would like their sound too. This one is another indie pop  band that I started listening to this month that I have really liked. Although I wanted to make this a somber playlist, a lot of her songs are feel-good indie pop songs.

“Music under the door, / we’re not old but we’re getting older. / What will we keep on our coffee tables? / We’re getting older.”

Cloud Cult – The Ghost Inside Our House

I mentioned this in a previous playlist, but I have been listening to Cloud Cult for years. They’re one of my favorite indie rock bands.

“We saw a ghost inside our house / or was it wishful thinkin’? / Oh god, don’t leave us by ourselves / or we’re bound to take up drinkin’.”

Dead Man’s Bones – Buried In Water

This one is from Ryan Gosling’s band that he formed with his friend, Zach Shields. Their background is pretty neat, and I would recommend checking out their wiki article: Dead Man’s Bones. In summary, they write love songs about ghosts and monsters.

“Down under the ground / there’s a town there. / I’ve been down there / in the middle of the lake. / I hold your hand, for goodness’ sake.”

Portishead – The Rip

Back in 2008 and 2009 I had a playlist that I had made on my MySpace page. This song sat alongside The Killer’s Romeo and Juliet and Hoobastank’s The Reason. I always come back to this album when I’m feeling nostalgic.

“And as I take on myself / and the bitterness I felt / I realize that love flows.”

Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke – Beautiful People

I will listen to anything Thom Yorke is in.

“I’ll smile careful / to know you’re there (in the morning light) / and I am fearful.”

Philip Selway – Ghosts

The drummer from Radiohead, Philip Selway, has two solo albums that I recommend checking out. They’re very calming and relaxing albums to listen to, especially on rainy and stormy days.

“Is there someone there watching as I sleep? / I’ve woke and I struggle to breath. / Something weighed me down, riding on my back. / Ghosts, ghosts, a crowd at my windows and doors.”

Little Dragon – Gravity

I’ve been listening to Little Dragon for years, but I haven’t listened to their most recent songs until this past month and they’ve been on repeat since.

“Let’s be old fashioned, were all using telephones. / Will you call me tonight, boy?”

The National – Guilty Party

I love The National’s sound. They are an alternative rock band that have been around for almost 20 years. Their most recent album, Sleep Well Beast, is mournful and funereal like most of The National’s past albums.

“You’re sleeping night and day. / How d’you do it? / Me, I am wide awake / feeling defeated.”

The Microphones – I Felt Your Shape

I took a walk listening to his latest album (A Crow Looked At Me, under the moniker Mount Eerie). He had just lost his wife to cancer and wrote an album on everything he had felt during that time. By the end of the walk it had me in tears. I highly recommend checking that one out. This album that I Felt Your Shape is on, Glow Pt. 2, is the first one I listened to of his. All of his albums hold a special place in my heart and I highly recommend listening to all of them.

“But I don’t know, the nights are cold / and I remember warmth. / I could have sworn I wasn’t alone.”

Previous Playlists: August // September

top 10 for September // September Playlist

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Here’s a new playlist for the month of September. Check out the full playlist at the bottom of this post and let me know what you guys have been listening to lately in the comments or on my Instagram: healthy_ghost.

  • Voxtrot – Ghost
    • I recently discovered them and have been listening to this album on repeat. I also love listening to indie pop while walking places; I listened to this album while I was walking to the grocery store last week. The lyrics are haunting, contrasting the instrumentals. Definitely check this album out.
  • IAN SWEET – Slime Time Live
    • I listened to this album the other night while I was making dinner for some friends. For me this is a fun, relaxing album to listen to.
  • Palehound – If You Met Her
    • An album that’s lyrically and instrumentally beautiful.
  • Foxing – Den Mother
    • Another band I’ve discovered recently. I love the percussion in this song, plus I love a good album with some strings in the background.
  • Archy Marshall – Ammi Ammi
    • I’ve been listening to King Krule (and when he was formerly known as Zoo Kid in 2010) for the past few years, and just discovered this album under his name, Archy Marshall. This one’s a lot more experimental than his other albums.
  • Mitski – Francis Forever
    • Mitski has become one of my favorite musicians recently. Her lyrics are sad and beautiful, and the album as a whole is wonderful.
  • Death Cab for Cutie – I Dreamt We Spoke Again
    • I’m a month late to listening to this album, but I’m glad I finally did. I’ve loved Death Cab for Cutie since high school, and it’s amazing they’re on their ninth studio album and they’ve grown so much.
  • Department of Eagles – Phantom Other
    • I listened to Grizzly Bear in high school and even went to their concert with Owen Pallett a few years back. This album just reminds me of cold winter nights in the woods.
  • Radiohead – Spectre
    • I’ve been getting back into Radiohead lately, especially since Suspiria and the soundtrack for it is coming out soon.
  • Keaton Henson – The Pugilist
    • Keaton Henson is another one of my favorite singers. His songs are all so full of emotion. I missed this album when it came out, but discovered it while looking him up on Spotify. This is the perfect album to listen to while home at night and it’s storming outside.

Check out August’s playlist here.

 

albums I’ve been listening to lately // top 10 for August

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I want to post about more than just what I eat and recipes, so I figured I’d start out with a simple post: Music I’ve been loving lately.

Music has always been such a huge part of my life. I’ve played the violin for 15 years and taught myself guitar and a bit of piano. I listened to a lot of music in high school and used to post playlists regularly on 8tracks. I still listen to a lot of music, but I’d like to share what I’ve been listening to.

These are 10 albums that I have been in love with recently, and when I wanted to make this post were the first to come to mind. I will definitely make more of these since after I wrote this there were so many more artists I wanted to share!

So here’s 10 artists/albums that I’ve been listening to a lot recently:

  1. Rex Orange County: Apricot Princess
    • This is such a fun, feel good album to listen to. I listen to it a lot while I cook. One of the songs I linked in the playlist isn’t from this album, but it’s one of my favorite songs.
  2. Cloud Cult: Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus
    • I bought this on a whim at a Half Price Books because I’ve listened to Aurora Borealis and Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) a ton of times and really enjoyed them. We listen to this one a lot in the car.
  3. Local Natives: Gorilla Manor
    • This is one I listened to a lot in high school, and I recently rediscovered my love for Local Natives. This brings back so many fond memories from that time.
  4. Gordi: Resevoir
    • I LOVE her voice. Also check out this live version of Myriad: Live on KEXP
  5. Film School: Film School
    • If I were to get serious making music, this is what it would sound like.
  6. The Cat’s Miaow: Songs for Girls to Sing
    • One I like to listen to when I’m home along and sing along with.
  7. King Krule: 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
    • I listened to him when he first started recording his music himself, and I am in love with his voice too.
  8. Mark Kozelek: Perils From the Sea
    • This one is another one I like to listen to when I’m home alone. The whole album from start to finish is such an emotional experience.
  9. Noah and the Whale: First Days of Spring
    • Another one from my high school days. To me, there is nothing better than listening to a Noah and the Whale album on a rainy day.
  10. Belle & Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister
    • This is one I like listening to while I’m in the shower and doing chores around the house. It’s another fun album to listen to.

Here’s a playlist of some of my favorite songs from the albums I mentioned: August Top 10.

What do you guys like listening to? Give me some recommendations in the comments! ♡