Songs To Get Through The Last Few Weeks

The last few weeks of the semester is the most dreaded time amongst college students. It is when many major projects and assignments are close to being due and still many more assignments are given out. Whether it is writing lengthy research papers, preparing for final tests and exams or simply fighting off fatigue, the end of a semester is when most college students hit maximum stress levels and simply put their heads down and plow through the last few weeks as best they can.

Music is many college students' best friend during these stressful times. When you are spending hours in front of your computer screen working on assignments, nothing makes time go by faster than opening up iTunes and listening to music. It helps make the homework process a lot more bearable and takes your mind off of how much work is still left to be finished. When choosing music to listen to while doing work, it is best to choose something unobtrusive in order to maintain your focus on the task at hand. Below is a list of songs and/or artists I listen to in order to get through large amounts of homework.

American Analog Set - American Analog Set was an Austin, Texas based indie band that created lush, acoustic driven soundscapes that seemed to wrap the listener in its organic sound. This is the perfect study music in my opinion and I have written numerous papers with their albums on repeat. You cannot really go wrong with any of their albums or songs, but here is one of my favorites:

Ryan Adams - Although I said to pick music that does not make you lose your focus (anything really energetic, loud, etc), it is important to have some music that is relatively upbeat to help bring you out of the doldrums of the end of the semester. My go-to Ryan Adams album for studying would have to be Gold. The perfect blend of quiet songs and upbeat rockers that make you sing along, Gold will help wake you up if you are fighting off late-night fatigue. Here is my all-time favorite song off this album

Elliott Smith - Elliott Smith's early material had all the feeling of home-recorded songs that seemed to be little more than a man and his guitar. His soft vocal delivery and hushed music is excellent for studying. A lot of his songs are depressing to a degree, but that will at least relate to the stress of knowing you are so close to the end of the school year, yet have so much work to do.

What are your favorite artists to listen to while studying? I know that when the semester is over, I will celebrate by listening to this.

Seasonal Playlists

It seems like fall has left as quickly as it arrived with temperatures being quite frigid lately. However, it is still technically fall, and with that comes another year of making a seasonal playlist and listening to certain albums on repeat. Since the very first mixtape until the rise of the MP3 and iPod playlists, music fanatics have been making mixes that chronicle relationships, the changes of the season and pretty much any other theme that comes to mind. It is almost a yearly ritual where you go through your vast musical collection and pick and choose songs that will fit your mood and your surrounding perfectly. There is a science to it that many adhere to such as making sure the songs flow together, making sure to balance the different styles in the mix, and don't even think about using the same artist twice.

For this entry, I wanted to share my fall playlist and a few albums that I constantly listen to in order to get through the week.

1. Matt Pond PA "Several Arrows Later" - Matt Pond PA is sort of the musical patron saint of autumn. No matter what album of his I listen to, it seems like the perfect soundtrack for when the leaves start to change.

2. The American Analog Set "Set Free" - I listen to this album religiously during the autumn months. One listen to the lush sounds of "She's Half" and you will understand why. The warmth that comes through on "Set Free" make it a prennial autumn favorite.

3. Elliott Smith "Either/Or" - Smith's third album "Either/Or" was the one that started pushing him a little more into the spotlight. Smith's hushed vocals tug on the heartstrings on the mostly acoustic "Between The Bars" and "Say Yes" has got to be one of the most uplifting songs in his catalog.

Fall Playlist 2010

Matt Pond PA "Locate The Pieces"
The Swell Season "Leave"
The American Analog Set "First of Four"
American Football "Honestly?"
Bright Eyes "Classic Cars"
Cat Power "Cross Bones Style"
Damien Rice "Volcano"
Feist "I Feel It All"
Death Cab For Cutie "Transatlanticism"
Papermoons "Live Right"
Elliott Smith "Between The Bars"
The Shins "New Slang"