Music That Makes You Feel All the Feelings // A Post on Gaslight Anthem's Get Hurt

I generally hate the term "feel all the feelings" or worse, "feel all the feels," but in this case I couldn't think of a better way to put it. My beloved Gaslight Anthem put out a new record this week, and even though I doubted it (such a bad fan), as it turns out, it just might be one of my very favorites.

When I first saw the teaser video for the album I was really turned off. The song sounded like a worse version of Chad Kroeger (if that's even possible) and I had to listen to it a few times to let it sink in that this could possibly be the new direction I'd been reading about. But then I heard Rolling and Tumbling and loved it, and then listened to Get Hurt and loved it even more. THEN I read this article (thank you Emily for sending it my way) and it all started to make sense.

When I finally got a chance to listen to the entire album I was blown away. I'm typically a pretty intense person when I love something, so when I say I think this album is amazing I really mean it, but I also don't think this album will be for everyone...even people who really love the band.

My favorite part about Get Hurt is just how much emotion and feeling is in it- it's the kind of album I want to listen to when I'm sad, so I can really, really feel sad. Do you do that too? ...or am I the only weirdo here? haha. I'm also a lyrics person, and between the Tom Waits-esque Have Mercy and the Dashboard-esque Halloween (no one else has agreed with me on this one), I'm in heaven. All of the songs are just so great, and yes, even Stay Vicious has won me over after a few listens.

I'm so curious to hear what you think too- are you loving this album? What songs are your favorite? So far my top five are Underneath the Ground, 1,000 Years, Dark Places, Halloween, and Have Mercy. Let me know what you think!

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Perfect Albums

The other day I was talking with Shirley and her husband Nate when the topic of the "perfect album" came up. I'm sure we all have some of these in our lives- certain albums that we love from start to finish. No skipping songs, no getting tired of the beginning or end- just a perfect album with an ideal grouping of songs.

I love all kinds of music, but for some reason when Fall hits I always seem to get a little more nostalgic and listen my favorite records more than usual. Maybe it has something to do with that familiar feeling Autumn brings, or remembering going back to school in late August and September, but whatever it is I always seem to gravitate to the music I loved most in high school and college.

And as far as perfect albums, I have a few. Here are the four that came to my mind right away when thinking about it.

1. Jimmy Eat World's Clarity

I can still remember when I first heard this album. I was a freshman in college, dating a guy who was super into J.E.W. He played this album for me one night while we were hanging out and I fell in love with it upon first listen of the song "Table For Glasses." From there it was on my car's CD player and in my Discman (ha!) every single day on the way to class, and every night before I went to bed. I also have a vivid memory of driving home in a blizzard with Shirley, maybe sophomore year up in Flagstaff, listening to "Ten." I can still remember how quiet it was as we drove through all of that white, the music just barely in the background.

2. The Gaslight Anthem's Sink or Swim

This is probably my most favorite album of all time and it's another one of those bands I heard so much about but didn't listen to for one reason or another. One summer before my family and I left for our East Coast trip (I think it was 2007), Erin told me I just had to download some Gaslight Anthem to listen to while traveling.  She had been trying to get me to listen to them for a few months and always told me how much I would love them. From being from New Jersey like me, having meaningful lyrics chock full of literary and Springsteen references, and dreamy vocals, she said this would be my new favorite band. She was right. I downloaded Sink or Swim and turned it on once we got on the plane...and was enthralled for the entire six hours. And I still am today.

3. Jets to Brazil's Orange Rhyming Dictionary

I had been a Jawbreaker fan in high school and really liked them, but they weren't my absolute favorite. I did love Blake's voice though, so when they formed Jets To Brazil it was as if a tiny little musical wish of mine had been answered. When I first heard Orange Rhyming Dictionary I was also in college and hanging out a lot with an old friend of mine who shared similar musical interests. Our main group of choice was Sunny Day Real Estate (The Pink Album is forever a favorite) but when he put on "Sweet Avenue" one afternoon I was sold. That song remains as one of my all-time favorites but the entire album in particular is definitely one of my "perfect album" choices.

4. Modern Life is War's Witness

Oh, Modern Life is War. Such a good band, but this is really the only album from them that I love. It's perfect to me though, and from beginning to end it totally speaks to me. It reminds me of being younger and driving around with Hank- we both just related to this album so much during that time. I still listen to it now and again, and it never fails to make me feel a bit of happy-nostalgia, but at the same time it also makes me incredibly sad. Two years after it was released one of our best friends passed away and this was the album I listened to non-stop during that time. It's a little hard to listen to some days, but it's also therapeutic to me and I'm so appreciative I had it during that time.

Some other albums I love from beginning to end: Dr. Dre's 2001, Broadway Call's self-titled album, and Third Eye Blind's self-titled album.

How about you? I think it's fascinating to see what others call "perfect albums." Feel free to post about it in your blog (be sure to leave me a link so I can check it out), or share a list in the comments! xoxo