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What? Imagine Dragons is Evolving!

I won’t even try to hide my excitement for this new album by Imagine Dragons. I’ve been a huge fan since 2012’s Continued Silence EP, and the Smoke + Mirrors Tour remains one of my all-time favorite concerts. Ahead of this release, they dropped Believer and Thunder, which are both great songs. However, I want to focus on some of the new songs on this album.

First up, my personal favorite: Walking The Wire. From the simple, slow start to the energetic chorus, this song reminds me a lot of Polaroid, which is just about the highest praise I can give a song. Aside from that, I love the pseudo-rapping that Dan Reynolds does on Whatever It Takes, and the way that the chorus kicks in on Rise Up always gets me going.

The album ends on a slower, more solemn note with Dancing In The Dark. This might be their slowest song to date, but it is also one of the most interesting songs on this album. Overall, I have nothing but praise for Imagine Dragons' third album, and it’s one that I’ll be listening to on repeat for the foreseeable future. I highly recommend you do the same.

Bonus Track: Check out I Need A Minute from their original Imagine Dragons EP. It’s a bit more rock-sounding than their current stuff, but it’s a great song nonetheless, and cool to hear how they’ve evolved over time (pun intended).

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Fresh Video - Hey Maria, by Klangkarussell

This Australian DJ duo is probably best known for “Sonnentanz (Sun Don’t Shine),” but Hey Maria is a personal favorite of mine, especially because of this music video. 

Featuring UK dance group, The Twilight Players, this video has some of the best choreography I have ever seen. Their popping moves and fresh, retro style just make it a joy to watch. The synchronized step sequence that begins just after 2:38 is incredible. Klangkarussell caught a bit of flack from their core fans because of the dance-pop style of this song, which is in stark contrast to their other works like “Sonnentanz,” but I love it.

Listen to “Hey Maria” on Spotify here. Add it to your playlists!

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Melancholy Days

This is a playlist for the tough days. For those times when nobody but these artists can seem to feel your pain. For when you are alone or bummed out.

Most of these songs boil down to one thing, powerful lyrics. In this list, you will find masters like John Legend, Hozier, Sam Smith, and Ed Sheeran. I’ve even thrown it back a bit with the ultimate crying song, “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, and other classics like “This Year’s Love” and “Let It Go.” 

Hang in there whoever you are, and let this playlist keep you company.

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Soundtrack Studying

Continuing with the movie theme, I bring you the ultimate soundtrack studying playlist. With powerful scores from Gladiator, The Lord of the Rings, Rudy, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and more, this playlist is sure to get you focused and motivated. Featured heavily are the titans of our time, Hanz Zimmer, John Williams, Howard Shore, Jerry Goldsmith, and Atticus Ross. In this playlist you will also find some hidden gems, like the theme from Cinema Paradiso - one of my all time favorite films, or the recent themes from Stranger Things and Black Mirror. If you are really feeling up to it, throw on one of these movies and try to find the song!

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Soundtrack Sing-alongs

Movies would not be the same without music, and sometimes they dish up some solid yams. From classics like Footloose and Top Gun to more modern animated hits like Frozen and Cars, this playlist features some of the most memorable songs from movies. 

Everyone can sing along to “Let it Go” or sit back and sway to “You’ve Got A Friend in Me.” If you want to get yourself pumped up, listen to “Eye of the Tiger” and “Lose Yourself.” There is plenty to go ‘round, and the more you listen the more you���ll want to throw on one of these films alongside a nice bowl of popcorn.

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Reminder to follow on Spotify to get quick access to all of the playlists!

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Alt Rock Goes Retro

in this collection of yams from 2017, believe it or not. When I heard these songs I was reminded of the 90s and 2000s. In a way, it was kind of refreshing. The Killers, Arcade Fire, Portugal. The Man, and Fitz and the Tantrum anchor this playlist that is a part of my heavy rotation at the moment.

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The Ultimate 80s Rock

If you’ve followed my Ultimate 80s Pop playlist, then you might have noticed a few songs missing. I tried to separate more of the stadium rock into this yam-filled playlist featuring Bon Jovi, Journey, The Police, and more. If there are duplicates then I apologize, but then again do I? All of these songs are just so good.

This playlist will be updated as I rediscover more yams. Also be on the lookout for a 70s rock playlist, since many songs you would associate with these tracks are from that incredible time period.

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The Ultimate 80s Pop

I’m a sucker for the 80s. The powerful synths and experimental attitude brought about some of the greatest yams of all time. Step back in time with this basket of Michael Jackson, The Cure, Duran Duran, and more. Personal favorites include “Bette Davis Eyes,” “Dance Hall Days,” and “The Safety Dance.”

This playlist will be continually updated as I rediscover more tracks, so be sure to follow it. Also look for my Ultimate 80s Rock playlist.

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That College Feeling

For me, these tracks just scream college. If you could go back to freshmen year and film one second of video a day with whatever app does it today, this could be your soundtrack. I don’t know if it is their rebellious undertones or feel-good attitude, but whenever one of these yams comes on I think college. I’m not talking that one rager or all that time spent in the library. I’m talking about that feeling when you step on the campus in the fall, eager to tell mom and dad to head home or when you are reminiscing late night with friends about your time spent together. 

Pop off the walls with a healthy dose of Vampire Weekend and Foster the People or scream your heart out with Bastille or Youngblood Hawke. Enjoy!

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Childhood Series: Early 2000s Tearjerkers

These ones will get you. As part of my Childhood Series, I visit the early the early 2000s and our younger years. I don’t know what it was about this time period, but artists like Maroon 5, Five for Fighting, Howie Day, and the others on this list must have had some rough patches. 

I tried to arrange this playlist to pick up the more you listen. From beautiful yet heartbreaking yams like “Superman” to more upbeat tracks like “Sunday Morning,” this playlist takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. 

And who could forget the tumultuous 2005 that brought us “Bad Day” and “You’re Beautiful.” Just sit back and let the memories take over.

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let’s get tropical

This seductive bag of tropical yams starts off slow and builds as it puts you in the mood for a summer day by the sand. Some of my favorite artists are featured, such as Ofenbach, BUNT., Sam Feldt, and Klingande with the ultimate tropical house classic, “Jubel.” Whether you want to be lulled to sleep in a hammock by Kidswaste’s “Time” or are feeling the groove with “Heavy Heart,” you can’t help but be relaxed with these sounds. The world’s sexiest instrument, the sax, is heavily featured along with a healthy dose of the flute. Enjoy!

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Fresh Artists: The Him

This DJ duo has taken over my music lately with amazing remixes of Miley Cyrus’ “Malibu,” Martin Garrix’s “In the Name of Love,” and Jocelyn Alice’s “Jackpot.” They also recently released their own yam, “Secrets” with powerful beats and vocals by Cub Rayan. The “Jackpot” remix is just a fun song with a great drop. Keep an eye on these guys, they seem to be getting better and bigger every week and I can imagine some more tracks dropping this summer.

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Childhood Series: Burning CDs and AIM

Today, fittingly Throwback Thursday, I am turning the clocks back to the early 2000s and the days when we burned CDs, wrote on them with Sharpie, came up with sweet AIM screen names and otherwise ruled the streets of our hometowns. 

Any 90s child like myself can’t help but smile with these yams from Gavin Degraw, Kelly Clarkson, Natasha Bedingfield, The Fray, Maroon 5, Train, O.A.R., and Matchbox Twenty. This playlist is a part of my Childhood Series, highlighting those throwback yams from the 90s and 2000s that are worth digging back up again.

This era will forever hold a dear place in my heart. It was when the compact disk started to die and the digital music revolution began thanks to the iPod (remember those?). It was when you would pop anything you wanted into the car’s 6-CD changer or crank the boom box in your playroom. Bluetooth speakers were unheard of and local pools had the best playlists known to mankind. IT WAS THE HEYDAY OF AMERICAN IDOL PEOPLE!

Enjoy these classics and follow this playlist. I plan to add to it as I rediscover more yams from this awesome time period. And if that isn’t enough for you then stayed tuned for my Early 2000s Tearjerker playlist coming soon, as well as a late 2000s middle and high school soundtrack.

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Outlaw Anthems

Feel like a tough, long bearded outlaw with these raw yams from the likes of the sensational Christ Stapleton, Ryan Bingham, Jamey Johnson, and more. 

Stapleton is one of the best songwriters out there, just take in this snippet from “Tennessee Whiskey”: I’ve looked for love in all the same old places, found the bottom of the bottle is alway dry. I can’t get enough of him right now, and am thankful that he stopped writing for other artists like Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, and Luke Bryan and began his own career. 

“Southside of Heaven” is also one of my favorites, perfect for hitting the road out to the countryside. In fact, all of these are perfect for the road. Sit back, stare into that horizon, and let the miles fly by.

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Freshly Picked: Pop

This playlist has it all, from Ed Sheeran to Macklemore to Niall Horan. I won’t say too much about Ed Sheeran, but wow Divide delivered with “Shape of You,” “Castle on a Hill,” “Galway Girl,” and more. 

Macklemore's latest release has a familiar feel to “Can’t Hold Us,” but I think it is much more powerful lyrically and vocally thanks to Skylar Grey. A welcome release that I hope is an indication of more to come.

Talk about a yam. “Bad Liar.” Damn. 

The rest of the list is filled with some catchy beats from Imagine Dragons and OneRepublic, and who could forget “Despacito” with JBiebs. This playlist can’t help but put you in a good mood today.

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Folk-Rock Essentials

A healthy dose of The Lumineers and pre-Wilder Mind Mumford and Sons will get you going with this folk-rock playlist, and I can't help put an absolute yam in "Wagon Wheel" on there first.

The Lumineers have produced an absolute gem of an album in Cleopatra. Released in April 2016, this collection of masterpieces still gets me today. "Angela" might be one of the greatest songs of this generation and if you have not checked it out, The Lumineers released a mini-movie "The Ballad of Cleopatra" which is well worth the watch.

Now I have a love-hate relationship with the Mumford and Sons. The former folk-rock darlings recently turned to harder rock with Wilder Mind, and I probably listened to "Believe" one time and that was it. Thankfully their old stuff still is a joy to listen to, and everyone should take in The Road to Red Rocks (Live) album uninterrupted and in song order. Also be sure to check out "Big Easy Express," a documentary about a cross-country train ride concert series featuring Mumford and Sons and some other artists on this playlist, featuring this awesome ending.

The playlist rounds out with a few yams from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Head and the Heart, and Kaleo. You can't beat this genre in terms of road tripping through the mountains or plains as the sun slowly sets below the horizon. I can also highly recommend these in vinyl. It's magical.