Mixtape #9: Best of Australia

I swear that eventually I will post something that is NOT an 8tracks mixtape, but for right now that's all I have time for.

Cover art for Tame Impala's first LP, Inner Speaker

This hasn't been the best semester for me personal-life-wise, but school is going well (seven more weeks!) and I'm enjoying my internship with Battleground Texas (the field organizing branch of Wendy Davis' campaign for governor).  So for now I'm trying, not always successfully, to stay positive and focus on the good things in my life.  Just keeping it real ;)

Anyway, I'd been planning on sharing this playlist for a while.  It occurred to me one day that I just have an awful lot of music by Australian bands.  I would love to visit Australia not just for the amazing natural beauty, but also to get to see some of these great bands that never or rarely make it to the states.  I did get to see Tame Impala last October here in Dallas, but I wish it had been at a better venue.

I might also need to do a Best of the United Kingdom playlist...  Another day!

Best of Australia from fatalistpalmistry on 8tracks Radio.

Mixtape #8: Best of 2013

Just sharing a quick playlist with y'all today because I'm studying for finals.  I was looking at NPR's Top 100 Albums of the Year article earlier and it got me thinking about my favorite CDs and songs of the year.  I somehow narrowed it down to ten songs.

I actually got to see one of the bands, Local Natives, in concert here in Dallas at the House of Blues a couple months ago. A friend of mine that works for Radio UTD got me the tickets!  Wild Nothing was the opener and it was such a great concert.  They just had great energy and you could tell they love doing what they do. Definitely check out their album "Hummingbird," you won't regret it.

Local Natives at Dallas House of Blues, Oct. 8 2013

I found out about CHVRCHES because their lead singer spoke out about the harassment female singers face every day, and why it's not something we should just shrug off as "the norm."  I am always happy to support someone doing good work for feminism.  I try not to talk about that kind of thing too much on here because that's not the purpose of this blog, but between her and Grimes it was a great year for women in music.

Also speaking of awesome women, I'm so glad my Aunt Melissa let me burn her copy of Kacey Musgrave's debut CD.  I'm still kind of in disbelief that there's a country singer who sings about kissing girls.  We've come a long way, baby (Gloria Steinem really should trademark that phrase...).  Plus Kacey is a native Texan :)

Hellogoodbye came out with their third album this year and they seriously just keep getting better and better.  It's so different from their early emo-pop rock, but I love it.  Plus Forrest Kline seems like such a nice guy and his house is awesome.

And of course I had to close it with an M.I.A. track, because who doesn't love M.I.A.?  She is fearless.

Top Ten Songs of 2013 from fatalistpalmistry on 8tracks Radio.

If you too are studying for final exams, best of luck!