Mixtape Monday #1

You know what makes Mondays easier to deal with?
Music.

I mean, it makes every day easier to deal with, but Mixtape Monday has an alliterative ring to it.

Anyway. I'm going to try to stick with this every Monday -- I even made an entry header graphic.  See?

Don't tell me that ain't commitment.

So, the plan is that each Monday I'm going to post a handful of songs that are my current jams. These songs could be old favorites, new favorites, or simply trendy-yet-fleeting pieces of pop fluff that I can't get out of my head (I'm looking at you, "Call Me Maybe").

With that being said, please feel free to join me. List your current jams in the comments section, or even better yet, grab that cassette tape a few lines up and make your own entry and link back to me so I can check out your tunes. I am always on the hunt for new music and I'm sure we could have a fun time with this.

Alright, pleasantries out of the way, here are my picks for today!
(Please note that you will need Spotify to play the tracks directly from this blog.)

1. The Format - Snails.
For those of you who haven't known me long, let me let you in on a little secret... The Format is my favorite band of all time. For those of you who have recently discovered the band fun., yes, this is Nate Ruess, fun.'s lead singer and lyricist. I've been listening to this amazing voice since 2004. Snails see the benefits, the beauty in every inch.

2. The Naked and Famous - Girls Like You
I blame my addiction to AltNation for this one. This song is catchy and I find myself singing it to myself at random times of the day. The rest of their album is decent, but this is by far my favorite. Don't you know people write songs about girls like you? Everything you say is fire...

3. Gaslight Anthem - 45
Several years ago, I had a seriously intense pop-punk addicted musical phase. I went to Warped Tours and no-name band shows, I had purple and blue hair, and I went through an obscene amount of black eyeliner. I've sort of gotten away from all of that now, but I'm eternally pulled back to the old poppy-punk favorites on my more nostalgic days. I was delighted to hear "45" for the first time -- it's the only new song I've heard that comes close  to the style of my old favorites. ...and I dance with your ghost, oh, but that ain't the way... I can't move on and I can't stay the same.

4. Of Monsters & Men - Mountain Sound
AltNation is also responsible for my discovery of OM&M. I love this band. Their entire album ("My Head is an Animal") is incredible. Some bands are formed to be listened to, some bands are made for singing along. Of Monsters & Men falls into the latter category (at least for me). They're amazing. Some had scars, some had scratches; it made me wonder about their past.. and as I looked around, I began to notice that we were nothing like the rest. 

5. Rise Against - Swing Life Away
This song came on a couple of days ago while I was cleaning and I stopped what I was doing to listen to it -- it had been so long since I heard it, I'd nearly forgotten about it completely! It makes me think of Hubs & I. We live on front porches and swing life away; we get by just fine here on minimum wage. If love is a labor, I'll slave 'til the end, and I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand. 

Your turn. Mixtapes were made to be shared.