Top 15 Favorite Albums of 2011

There is only a few more days left in 2011 and its about time I share my favorite albums released this year. In no particular order (except maybe the first one...):

The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

Ben Rector - Something Like This 

Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer & Stuart Duncan - The Goat Rodeo Sessions 

Gotye - Making Mirrors 

Boy & Bear - Moonfire 

Adele - 21 

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues 

Mutemath - Odd Soul 

James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning 

Katie Herzig - The Waking Sleep 

Bon Iver - Bon Iver 

City & Colour - Little Hell 

The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart 

The Cave Singers - No Witch 

Tapes N' Tapes - Outside 

Ingrid Michaelson Covers "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye

I've always loved Ingrid Michaelson but watching this video of her covering one of my current favorite songs takes my admiration of her to another level. She plays all the instruments and keeps the integrity and purity of the song. Love it!

Red Letter Agent - New Christmas EP

Its only 4 days until Christmas and if you are anything like me you've been listening to Christmas music non-stop. You may be tiring of your current Christmas music library and needing something new. Of course if you are listening to my playlist I'm sure you can't get enough... right? Well I have for you a new release from Red Letter Agent! These guys have recording some great Christmas classics for your listening pleasure. Add something a little rockin' to your holidays and support some good Nashville boys with fabulous hair.

Buy the album on iTunes!

It's Christmas Time Again!

Here I am sitting on the couch freezing my booty off in southern California watching the Michael Bublé Christmas Special on NBC. Growing up in Los Angeles I remember quite a few Christmases where it was too warm outside to light a fire in our fireplace or wear the new flannel pajamas I received Christmas eve. Now it feels a little more like Christmas all bundled up watching Christmas specials and creating my Christmas music playlist.

If your schedule is anything like mine every weekend is already packed with holiday parties but I hope you can take the time to snuggle up on the couch with some hot chocolate or someone special (or if you are really lucky, both) and listen to some new Christmas music. There are so many great new Christmas albums out this year like Michael Bublé, She & Him, and Mindy Gledhill as well as endless free Christmas and holiday tracks on Noisetrade.com.

This year I tried to choose songs and artists that probably aren't in your regular Christmas music collection. The purpose of this blog is to bring you artists you've never heard of so I hope your find some new favorites. Of course you all probably know Michael Bublé but since I'm watching his program I figured I should add it in to solidify this Christmas feeling I have right now.

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Merry Christmas everyone!

For even more music listen to the old playlists too!
2009
2010

Its A Video Kind of Day

I have so many things to post about. Concert reviews galore, my trip to Nashville, Christmas playlists and many many new artists I'm loving. The time to do all that is the only thing lacking. So until I can get to all those posts here are some of my favorite music videos I keep re-watching on Youtube. Mutemath performing "In No Time" in Paul Meany's garage: I saw City and Colour last week and it was probably the best concert I've ever been to. He is amazing. When I saw The Swell Season at the Hollywood Bowl they opened with this and I will never forget it: How could I not include a video from The Civil Wars?? I'm missing their next L.A. show and I'm a bit devastated about it... You may not have heard of Gary Clark Jr. yet but trust me... you will soon... Enjoy!

The Black Keys New Single - Lonely Boy!

The Black Keys are releasing a new album, El Camino, December 6th and considering how much I loved the first one I know that I will love this one. They released their first single today titled "Lonely Boy." Watch the video and witness some sweet dance moves.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Anticipation

Its only a few more days until Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco and in anticipation of my first time going I've been knee deep in live Punch Brothers videos as well as created a Spotify playlist of all the artist performing this weekend. Enjoy!

My Spotify playlist! Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Punch Brothers Youtube Playlist: Click Here