Does anyone else remember what we used to be before Spotify? Oh yeah, illegally download music using Limewire/Kazaa/Napster or paying $0.99 cents per song (on our parents' credit card) to buy a song on Apple...or that one time I recorded "My Band" by D12 feat. Eminem off the radio using a handheld tape recorder. Good times.

Luckily, nowadays we can pay a reasonable fee to stream unlimited music every month with no commercials. I love Spotify Premium. Having a hour - hour and a half commute to my client for the past four years I've spent a lot of time listening to music in my car. In the evenings I usually will listen to a podcast or an audiobook (or call and annoy a friend or my parents by chatting on the phone). However, in the morning I love listening to some good music and drinking my coffee on my drive to work. Depending on my mood I have a couple of playlists I've created that are in my current Spotify rotation. I'm pretty proud of some these as I have been working on them/adding to them for years. And therefore, I present to you a selection of my curated Spotify playlists:

ONE

Name: Emo Forever

Who is it for: Anyone who went to Warped Tour or wanted to go to Warped Tour. Anyone who had a Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, or Hellogoodbye T-shirt. Anyone who was a member of the Hot Topic rewards program and learned their eyeliner skills from My Chemical Romance.

Featured Artists: Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, Hellogoodbye, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182, Say Anything, Girls Like Boys, Cobra Starship, The Academy Is..., My Chemical Romance, and more.

TWO

Name: no words / music to focus

Who is it for: Anyone who needs a playlist consisting of only instrumental music. I like this when I want some background noise at work, but I am either reading or writing and therefore will be too distracted by lyrics.

Featured Artists: Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Yaan Tiersen, Hans Zimmer. To be honestly most of this playlist is movie soundtracks!

THREE

Name: cotton candy songs

Who is it for: Anyone looking for soft, sudsy music. I love this playlist in the morning while I get ready. Its light, airy, and makes me smile. 

Featured Artists: Taylor Swift, Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Sara Bareilles, Beyonce, Imogen Heap, Of Monsters and Men

FOUR

Name: Baby's First Nashville

Who is it for: Someone who is in the mood for country music, who is usually not in the mood for country music. Or if you're getting ready for a bachelorette party in Nashville and need to study up. Or you're drinking a beer on the beach and life is good. 

Featured Artists: Luke Bryan, John Pardi, Cole Swindell, Blake Shelton, Old Dominion, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Dan + Shay

FIVE

Name: 2000s woods party

Who is it for: The type of songs you would listen to while drinking crappy beer or malt liquor with your high school friends while home from college on break. Or maybe at a party the summer before college. If you graduated high school in the late 2000's - this one is for you.

Featured Artists: Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, T-Pain, Akon, Flo Rida, Rick Ross, 3OH!3, LMFAO, Timbaland

Do you make playlists on Spotify? I have some seasonal playlists and holiday playlists as well - check out my Spotify profile here! What are you listening to currently?

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10 Albums to Chill Out to this Summer

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If you can't tell already I'm a total warm weather person. I went to school in the South for a reason, I was sick of Winter and needed so sunshine! Even though somehow I found my way back to the Northeast I still relish every warm summer day. And there's no better way to get into a summer state of mind than popping on a chill album, cracking open a beer, eating some guac, and sitting outside on a warm night. Here are 10 albums which I will be listening to all summer!

ONE // Malibu by Anderson Paak

This is a new album (released in 2016). It reminds me of 'To Pimp a Butterfly' by Kendrick Lamar but is a little more retro. Some of my favorite tracks include 'Am I Wrong', 'Without You',  and 'Celebrate'

TWO // In Colour by Jamie xx

This album was on repeat for me last summer and I know it will be one of my go-to's this summer as well. Favorite tracks include 'There's Gonna be Good Times', 'Gosh', and 'Loud Places'

THREE // Lemonade by Beyonce

Would this be a 2016 summer playlist without Beyonce's new album? Formation is by far my favorite but I also like 'Don't Hurt Yourself'. Give it a spin and jam out to the Queen.

FOUR // What I Got by Sublime

Sublime is honestly a summertime classic artist. I could put each one of their albums on this list. However, What I Got is probably my favorite to jam out to mostly because it includes 'DJ's' and "40oz to Freedom". Also check out 'Santeria', 'Badfish', and 'Uptown Dub'. Or just pick up a Greatest Hits CD because that will do the trick.

FIVE // Cabin by the Sea by Dirty Heads

Just like Sublime the Dirty Heads are another classic summer group for me. They're the perfect music for sipping a frozen drink while sitting on a beach. Favorite tracks include "Spread Too Thin", "Dance All Night", and I also love "Driftin'" on their album 'Any Port in a Storm'.

SIX // Gossamer by Passion Pit

I LOVE Passion Pit, pretty much any time of year. Gossamer is my favorite Passion Pit album and I love listening to them at work, especially in the summer. Favorite tracks include 'Take a Walk', 'Constant Conversations', and 'Carried Away'.

SEVEN // White Women by Chromeo

They kind of remind me of Daft Punk with lyrics. They're a great band to chill out and dance to all summer long. Favorite tracks include "Jealous", "Sexy Socialite", and "Fall Back 2U"


EIGHT // Green Album by Weezer

This album reminds me of summers in my hometown driving around with my windows down. 'Island in the Sun' is a classic but I also really like 'Smile' and 'Hash Pipe'.

NINE // Lost Souls Like Us by The Benjy Davis Project

This is the most country I'll get (and I think you need a little country on a summer playlist). I saw these guys in concert a few times when I was living in New Orleans and got really into them in college. This album is great and perfect for playing while driving around in your car or having a beer after work. Favorite tracks include 'Mississppi', 'The Aftermath', and 'Send Your Love Down'. I'd also check out their first album for a little more upbeat vibe and tracks like 'Sweet Southern Moon' and 'Cajun Crawfish Boil'.

TEN // Purpose by Justin Bieber

Ok so guys, this album is REALLY GOOD. It's kind of sad, totally danceable, and I can listen to it over and over again. I kind of regret not going to the concert when he came to Philly. I obviously like 'Sorry', 'What Do You Mean', and 'Love Yourself', but also check out 'The Feeling'.

And there you have it, pop on one of these albums and get ready to relax and enjoy the summer weather.

What are some of your favorite albums/songs to listen to in the summer time? I'd love to discover some new music to add to my rotation!

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