If you like the new folklore album, here's what you should listen to next.

Me and Taylor Swift have kind of an interesting history. I didn’t really learn about her until 2008-2009, when I moved up to a college town and made friends with some girls who introduced me to the mainstream country scene. One of them burned me copies of her music (thanks, Cait!) and while I liked some of the songs, 19 year old me felt a little too old for the big hits like ‘Love Story’ and ‘You Belong With Me.’ I was also deep into the rich indie music scene on campus, seeing bands like Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit, The Hold Steady, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Drive By Truckers and Iron and Wine at the college venue for free (RIP CDU.) Honestly there were just so many great lesser-known artists that I could see live that I dove head-first into that world and didn’t look back. Even then I could see that Swift was a talented songwriter (Tim McGraw, the Best Day and Fearless are some of my favorite songs from that era) but it was definitely more of a side interest/guilty pleasure.

Fast forward to medical school, when I hit a pretty rough patch between struggling with coursework and a floundering long-distance relationship. As if on cue, Swift dropped Red and between the title track and ‘All Too Well’ I had found the soundtrack to the very rocky 2012 I had been having. I spent a lot of time driving winding backroads and singing along off-key to some of the best break up music I had heard since discovering Rumours after getting dumped in high school. It easily remains one of my favorite albums of all time and sealed me as a TS fan for the foreseeable future. Songs like Holy Ground, Treacherous, and State of Grace to this day are among my absolute favorites. I've since loved everything she's put out, with an admitted emotional bias/attachment (and dragged my husband along into the fandom; he excels at singing along the wrong lyrics, relishing in the very wrong 'boys only want love if it's Georgia' since he knows it makes me cringe and laugh at the same time. He's going to be a great Dad, haha.)

 So when she rocked up with folklore last week, between my love for pretty much anything she does at this point and long-time passion for artists like Bon Iver and the National, I felt like this was the Taylor Swift album that was made for me. After a few listens I can say folklore has stolen the crown from Red for me as her best work yet. I tear up every time I hear the lines to epiphany, and my tears ricochet and peace really hit me on a personal level. I’m so stoked she did something different for this album and after a few listens, really found myself going back to some of those independent artists I loved back in college. After reading this round table talk at Atwood Magazine, I realized a big part of why I loved the sound is that it brought me back to a sound I really loved back then, but had drifted away from in recent years.

 One of the writers made a folklore-inspired folk playlist on Spotify, and while I love and agree with 99% of his choices, I wanted to add some of the artists and bands I loved in my college days. So in full disclosure, this is a total copycat idea 😊 I’ve highlighted a couple of the artists below. Most are more true folk than Swift’s album is (I feel like calling her album folk is a bit of a misnomer), but some (like the Sundays, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire, and Maggie Rogers) I included because I can hear elements of their sound in folklore. I linked the playlist below... Feel free to have a look if you’re a music nerd like me, or just enjoy the spotify playlist. :)

Bob Dylan- I think in an interview somewhere Jack Antonoff or another collaborator mentioned that Betty had been inspired by Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan/Bruce Springsteen style, but I can’t find the quote now. As a huge Dylan fan, my best guesses were Don’tthink twice, it’s alright or Tangled Up in Blue. Any other ideas?

Jason Isbell- another of my absolute favorite songwriters, Isbell really knows how to make you feel some kind of way with his narrative style. I’d highly recommend his albums Southeastern, Here We Rest and The Nashville Sound (latter two are with his band the 400 unit as well.)

The Postal Service- Give Up was one of the first pop albums I ever purchased (ok confession time: typed this out and then realized Celine Dion came first- I got her greatest hits in 5^th grade because that’s what my friends were listening to. Still love her. No regrets.) It’s definitely more upbeat that folklore, but melancholy songs like The District Sleeps Alone Tonight and This Place is a Prison make for equally good quarantine listening.

Phoebe Bridgers- I have to admit I just this week got around to downloading Punisher. But Stranger in the Alps is a great album, and Motion Sickness made me cry the first 20 times I listened. Honestly, I would love to see her and Taylor collaborate on something. I think it could be really great, if either of them are reading this…(note: they are most definitely not reading this.)

 Bright Eyes- Conor Oberst was the original emo musician prodigy, starting to play professionally when he was only 13 or 14 years old. I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning was the sound of my high school years, and Cassadaga deserves so much more attention than it got (Four Winds is one of my favorite songs of all time.) When it comes to songwriting he’s right up there with Swift for me.  Also I have to thank him for introducing me to First Aid Kit, who I was lucky enough to meet when they opened for one of his shows in Tallahassee :)

Neil Young- forever a favorite of mine, and someone I have always admired for speaking his mind and writing politically-minded protest songs (see Southern Man and Ohio.) I love his heavier stuff too, but songs like Old Man, This Old Guitar, Heart of Gold, and Unknown Legend will always be among his best work in my opinion.

Maggie Rogers- this girl’s EP is unlike anything I have ever heard before, in the best way possible. The mix ofelectronics and nature yields such a unique and beautiful sound, it almost feels transcendental, and it’s a sound that is definitely all her own, which is such a rarity in the pop world these days.

Band of Horses- most of their music is decidedly more rock than anything Swift has done, but Infinite Arms was one of those albums that changed my life and that I’ll always anchor to a certain memory, one of with my family through rural Ireland playing these songs on repeat. Easily one of my favorite albums of all time.

Fleetwood Mac- considering they are one of my favorite bands of all time, it was surprisingly easy to pick ‘Storms’ for this playlist. I have a lot of love for both Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie; their words (and Lindsay’s) brought me through my first break up back in high school (as stated above, Rumours changed my life,) at the age when you feel those kinds of emotions at 10 times the magnitude compared to when you’re older.

Iron & Wine and Calexico- the In the Reins EP is one of my favorite albums of all time and I’ll forever be grateful that these two artists have continued their working relationship over 10 years later with a new full-length album. Be careful though- 16, Maybe Less will tear you apart.

Music Monday

It's exam week again guys

and my practice scores are not looking pretty :( 

Here's one of the many songs I listen to when I am stressed out.

Have a great week, and wish me luck!

Music Monday

Dear Peter,

Sorry music Monday is up so late.

And that I fell asleep before we could skype last night.

But really, 

I can't wait to see you in 32 days!

Here's a song to give you encouragement

(he takes his driving test Friday-

wish him luck everyone!)

I know you have a tough week

and I know you'll rock it

{like a hurricane}

in the end.

Love,

Georgia

{p.s. two more songs to celebrate the almost end of hurricane season.

Looks like Florida's gonna come out unscathed this year,

hopefully I didn't speak too soon!}

Music Monday

Hey Peter! 

{and random others *waves*}

I hope you all had a good weekend.

Mine was nice

I just wish I had been a bit more productive.

Oh well!

I'll use it as motivation to work even harder this week

especially in anticipation of our upcoming trip to

CAPTIVA

My personal happy place.

Here's a little song to get some pep in your step

Hope you all have a wonderful week <3

(p.s.- did you guys know this was a cover of a Joni Mitchell song?

I had no clue! 

Here is her version, in case you are curious.

I prefer the more rockin' version

but I do enjoy her voice and the piano.

I also like that both versions are unique, rather than just rehashed material

they almost sound like completely different songs!)

Music Monday (plus a cool link)

I'm feeling a classic kick coming back on, guys

(ok so it's Neil Young circa 1990s-

close enough.)

I remember as a kid

hearing guys like Neil and Bob Dylan sing.

they didn't have a sweetness to their voice

the way some other contemporary singers did

(<3 you Christie McVie!!)

and yet something still draws you in-
perhaps it's the ragged edge that sounds like they've slung back one too many whiskeys,

or the emphasis on storytelling over melody

But really, I think it's probably just the fact that these guys 

(and some of the ladies as well- RIP Janis)

have so much passion inside of them

they're not gonna let their lack of vocal prowess stop them from singing.

And I have to say,

I absolutely love it. 

They don't call Neil the Granddaddy of grunge for nothing.

On another note, what do you think of this NPR article?

I would love to start something like this up at my medical school.

I used to spend a decent amount of time at our local homeless shelter

unfortunately, years of wading through yellow tape, 

only to be stopped in our tracks

left me really disheartened about my ability

as a puny little medical student 

to make a difference in any community at the moment.

I've always felt that I was called to serve others through medicine,

but at the moment,

I am not exactly sure how I should go about answering...

does that make sense? 

This reassuring quote that Peter sent me in one of his letters 

reminds me that rather than attempt to control every minute detail of my life

I should spend more time embracing the moment

and have a bit more faith 

that I will be guided where I need to go

"In whatever place you live,

Stay put until God tells you to leave"

-Abba Anthony 

Have  a wonderful week, friends
oh, and...

Χριστός Ανέστη!

Yep, we can totally still say that! (:

Music Monday- house edition

So in a humorous twist of fate,

both Peter and I are house/apartment hunting at the same time

but separately. 

It's been fun, gut-wrenching, exhausting and educational all at the same time. 

While Peter house-hunts for a room that's biking-distance from work

and open to letting him have guests,

One of my to-be roommates and I went down to where we'll be rotating last weekend,

and both fell in love with the same house

(JUST the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms,

hardwood floors, 

a perfect sunroom

CEDARWOOD CLOSETS- I didn't even know this was a thing

but now I want 'em)

only to find out it wasn't actually available.

I guess that's what we get for breaking and entering through a mailslot

(true story. we are legit creeps.)

There is another house 

that we both also love,

but it's wayy more than 3 girls need 

(FIVE bedrooms, party pool, bar, the works) 

and also way more expensive.

We're currently waiting

to hear  back from a fourth person 

which would obviously make it affordable

And lastly, there is a third house

that we both agreed we can settle for 

If both above houses fall through

(which seems pretty likely.)

It's not the prettiest

so to cheer myself up about it,

I made this pinterest board

with a few ideas of how to make it nice

and cozy. 

I found this website especially helpful 

it's got great tips on how to make cool wall collages,

and simple DIY repairs 

to spruce up even the fugliest of houses.

Also, a cute kid and a dog make random appearances.

So, now that my novel is done,

here's the song of the week.

Only seemed appropriate.

plus, Neil Young <3. 

Have a wonderful week!

Music Monday

Neil Young is a genius.

That is all.