Jam Session #1: radioactive addictions

Music fosters sanity. For writing, running, turning out the screaming baby in the airplane seat next to yours, music can block out the world or tap into the soul. Jam Sessions feature albums released in the past three months that I’ve enjoyed, a few older discoveries, whatever’s recently caught my attention from Soundcloud, and a playlist mixing all the above. Sound good? Let’s go.

Session #1 playlist

Highlights

Morgan Page
In the Air
Released: Apr 03, 2012
Electronic, dance

A friend turned me onto Page’s last album (Believe, 2010), and I’ve been hooked ever since. Not only for the quality of the music, but the quality of the singers he brings in (like Lissie) many of whom I also love. Page has a knack for keeping the underlying integrity/style of a singers work and interweaving it into his music. Plus, his podcast rocks.
Starred: Addicted (feat. Greg Laswell), Light Years (feat. Richard Walters), Missing.

Paul Van Dyk
Evolution
Released: Apr 03, 2012
Electronic, trance

Paul van Dyk is one of the big dogs in the trance/electronic world. He doesn’t release studio albums often (the last in 2007), but they’re always worth the wait. He (along with Page) offers some of my favorite writing music.
Starred: I Don’t Deserve You (feat. Plumb), Symmetries (feat. Austin Leeds), Eternity (feat. Adam Young).

Switchfoot
Vice Re-verses
Released: Apr 21, 2012
Alternative, rock

I’ve been in love with Switch since my teens, and holy hell have they been on a roll. Songs from both Hello Hurricane (2009) and Vice Verses (2011) are staples on practically all my playlists. The Vice Re-verses remixes are awesome and fun, and I’d expect nothing else.
Starred: Afterlife (Neon Feather Remix), Darkest Horses (JT Daly of Paper Route Remix).

Garbage
Not Your Kind of People
Released: May 15, 2012
Alternative

This is my first brush with Garbage, and truth to tell I didn’t download the whole album. And yet, every time their songs hit my headphones I grab for the ipod to star them. They’re growing on me to the point I’ll probably go back and download everything.
Starred: Sugar, Control, Big Bright World.

General Ghost
If Then EP (it’s free!)
Released: May 25, 2012
Alternative

Different, slower, General Ghost offers a more mellow sound that’s great for quiet/semi-depressing scenes. Though they’re not among my favorites yet (their first album only came out this past January), I think they might be in a year or two. I had a professor in college who always considered first albums the best, because they were more “raw” and “honest.” I tend to disagree. I like seeing growth in my music, the change and maturity. It’s worth the wait.
Starred: The Way We Are, If Then, Don’t Waste Yourself.

Pastlights

Imagine Dragons, Continued Silence EP
Feb / alternative, rock

Oh I love them. How I love them. From the songs to the name to the album cover. It’s their first EP and there’s not a bad song here. I’m sold.
Starred: Radioactive, Demons, On Top of the World.

Mona, self-titled debut
Feb / alternative, rock

Mona, I think, caught me in an off mood and is waiting to grow on me. I like them more immediately than, say, Garbage, but am not yet writing odes in their honor. Still, they made my run playlist, which Means Something.
Starred: Shooting the Moon, I Seen, Lean Into the Fall.

Highlights: Podcast

Tessa Elwood
WRITER OF 52 POSTS | WEBSITE

Genre: YA sci-fi. Repped: Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown. Webdesign: Pop Color. Last seen: jumping the KS/MO border in a black camaro.

Getting The Latest Tweet...