Five Albums To Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution On Track
Words and Picks by Theresa Pham
New Year’s is one of my favorite holidays. The energy and hope that fills the air is magnetic and magical. To be able to start fresh and leave all the negative things from the previous year, it is therapeutic. The best part is making New Year’s resolutions. Yes, my resolutions are usually a bit extreme and I somehow always manage to forget all of them, but this year is going to be different.
Breaking resolutions is a pretty common thing, but sometimes we get a bit delusional about all of it. We think “This is so my year!” and then a week later things seem to fall apart because you skipped the gym and regret the three cartons of Ben and Jerry’s “Chocolate Therapy.” With the end of the month around the corner, I have surprisingly only broken about two of my twenty resolutions. A good occasionally wise friend once told me that you should not listen to songs that fit your current mood, but instead put you into the mood you want to be. Of course it was more eloquently put, but in a nutshell, don’t listen to sad music when you’re sad. The playlist must consist of the right perfect balance of inspiration, energy and also must act as a coping mechanism just in case things don’t go as planned. Because of this, I provided the laziest (on my part, not yours) preventative measures to postpone or soften the blow of a crash-and-burn. If you’ve already crashed, then I got a little something to tend to your wounds.
These next five albums are for all the crazies, myself included, to help stay on track an extensive list of somewhat unrealistic and extreme New Year’s resolution.
John Newman – Tribute
Tribute is on the peppier side of life and sounds like a big beat song that was inspired by Billy Joel himself. Newman is something of a motivational singer in my opinion. Have you heard “Try and Not Giving In” (minus the drum’n’bass backing of course)? Absolutely breathtaking.
Ellie Goudling – Halcyon Days
Ellie Goudling is a newfound favorite artist of mine and absolutely killer live. Goudling’s album Halcyon Days marries thoughtful reflection on young love set to moving synth riffs and beautiful machine beats. The album is perfect to dance around your room or blast at the gym. One of the few things that have successfully gotten me through my three mile runs.
CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe
CHVRCHES stole my heart with their playful hooks and seamless danceable style. CHVRCHES has found the careful balance between pop and electronic dance while keeping the mixing clean and precise. The Bones of What You Believe is current and the contrasting texture makes the album spotless.
Bastille – Bad Blood
Bad Blood is anthemic, energetic and inspiring. The first time I heard the album, I got shivers so cold that I had to turn up the heat in my tiny dorm room. The moving rhythms and intricate harmonies are the perfect push on those gloomy days.
Robyn – Body Talk
Getting over a heartbreak? THIS ALBUM IS WHAT YOU NEED. Robyn has a long history of writing perfect, emotionally gutting breakup songs, but this album is the pure gold. With “Dancing on My Own,” “Indestructible,” and “Call Your Girlfriend” forming the ultimate trifecta of dance-away-the-tears anthems. The album is an empowering twist on the traditional breakup album.
