Spring – Page 8 – Yea Yea Pueblo

Prior to and after the road trip out here to the Pacific Northwest, I purchased several albums to start the new PNW era.

If you are anything like me then you store your memories along with scents, sounds and tastes.
Each new phase in my life brings forth a new catalog of music, food, fashion and literature. This new period in my life in Washington is no different. I’ve listed a few albums that I’ve been listening to lately to share with you, in case you hadn’t had the chance to check these artists/albums out.

1. Tanlines – Mixed Emotions

One word to describe this album: catchy.

These guys captured a synth heavy afro-pop feel on this album. It’s my current go-to record for all present progressive verbs (i.e. cooking, cleaning, living room dancing).

2. Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials

I know this album dropped late last year, but that hasn’t stopped me from including it in the Springtime library. This album is empowering. The powerful vocals help me dig deep on particularly difficult runs and the track ‘Shake it Out’ has been the perfect backdrop for Tacoma exploration. I’m a fan.

3. Gotye – Making Mirrors

This is my most recent purchase. My rainy days are filled with multitasking around the house so I love listening to this album while running up and down the stairs herding laundry, books and my dog to their respective places. It’s also fairly mellow at times too, which makes cozying up to my laptop equally pleasant.

4. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar

Ladies, we finally have ourselves a Joni Mitchell / Carole King style duet. These girls come to us from Sweden but have a distinctly Pacific Northwestern sound. Think girl-folk Fleet Foxes tracks. I listened to this album a lot before moving and on the way out.

5. Y La Bamba – Court the Storm

This album is a beautiful blend of Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom stylings. Hello bilingual folk album of my dreams! I believe Joanna Newsom (a Tacoma, WA native, woohoo!) also collaborated on the title track of this album.

I’ve included reviews of these albums. I really pay no mind to the ‘ratings’ they receive by music critics. Music is not just something you listen to and critically analyze. It’s an accessory to life, a soundtrack to pace your experiences. Music is the score of our sentience, and the score is exactly what we make of it.

Enjoy the tunes, and Happy Spring!

Hi there,

I’m sure by now you saw the wicked weather that ripped through my state yesterday. I’m still here in one piece, and so is everyone I know and love.

I’ve lived in this state for 8 years now, and I still cannot get used to tornado season.
Is this something you could feel comfortable with?:

This tornado in particular touched down about 10 miles from my office. Sirens were blaring and the sky turned that really dark, eerie color that makes me wish I could click my heels and whisk away to my hometown in California. This tornado was on the ground for over an hour and was about half a mile wide. Eight people died. Serious business.

My family in California and Ireland were blowing up my phone all afternoon, thanks CNN for worrying my mom sick.

Anyways, I’m grateful to still be here with everything still in tact. So much so that I’ve registered with United Way to volunteer my weekends in Joplin, MO to aide in the relief effort. I don’t know if they’ll have any use for me, but I’m sure I’ll hear something soon.

See you again soon!