musicforants.com

a tumblelog about music (for kids who can't read good)

[musicforants]

Here’s my favorite albums & songs in 2025. Click the links to listen to my full Best Songs playlist (100 tracks) via Spotify or Apple Music. Enjoy!

BEST ALBUMS OF 2025

ROSALÍA - LUX

Bon Iver - sABLE, fABLE

Jens Lekman - Songs for Other People’s Weddings

Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band - New Threats from the Soul

Destroyer - Dan’s Boogie

Nourished By Time - The Passionate Ones

Wednesday - Bleeds

Sudan Archives - The BPM

Jeff Tweedy - Twilight

Blood Orange - Essex Honey ---

Momma - Welcome to My Blue Sky

Panda Bear - Sinister Grift

Wet Leg - moisturizer

Dijon - Baby

Horsegirl - On and On

Little Simz - Lotus

Florry - Sounds Like…

Ethel Cain - Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You

Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out

Snocaps - Snocaps ---

The Beths - Straight Line Was A Lie

Youth Lagoon - Rarely Do I Dream

Big Thief - Double Infinity

Lily Allen - West End Girl

Matt Berninger - Get Sunk

Perfume Genius - Glory

FKA Twigs - Eusexia

Alex G - Headlights

Neko Case - Neon Grey Midnight Green

Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH

BEST SONGS OF 2025

ROSALÍA - Reliquia

Jens Lekman - Wedding in Leipzig

Chappell Roan - The Subway

Bon Iver - Everything Is Peaceful Love

Wednesday - Elderberry Wine

Ethel Cain - Nettles

Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band - New Threats From The Soul

Blood Orange - The Field (feat. The Durutti Column)

Destroyer - Cataract Time

Alex G - Afterlife ---

Sudan Archives - DEAD

This Is Lorelei & MJ Lenderman - Dancing in the Club

Nourished by Time - 9 2 5

Momma - I Want You (Fever)

JADE - Plastic Box

Matt Berninger - Bonnet Of Pins

Smerz - You got time and I got money

Wet Leg - mangetout

Dijon - Yamaha

Big Thief - How Could I Have Known ---

Geese - Taxes

Little Simz - Free

james K - Play

Horsegirl - Switch Over

CMAT - The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station

Perfume Genius - It's a Mirror

Oklou - blade bird

Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH

Water From Your Eyes - Playing Classics

Addison Rae - Headphones On ---

Nation of Language - Inept Apollo

caroline - Total euphoria

Jim Legxacy - father

Pulp - Spike Island

The Beths - Metal

Florry - First it was a movie, then it was a book

Tyler, The Creator - Don’t Tap That Glass / Twin Flame

Panda Bear - Ends Meet

Black Country, New Road - For the Cold Country

Clipse - The Birds Don't Sing (ft. John Legend) ---

Sophia Stel - Everyone Falls Asleep In Their Own Time

Jeff Tweedy - Enough

Hayley Williams - Parachute

Fontaines D.C. - It's Amazing To Be Young

HAIM - Take me back

DARKSIDE - S.N.C

Neko Case - Winchester Mansion of Sound

Flock of Dimes - Long After Midnight

Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild

Braxe + Falcon - UFO (ft. Phoenix)

Link to full 100 track playlist on Spotify / Apple Music

---

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

---

APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST

Best Songs - 2025 by Taylor Johnston on Apple Music

Playlist · 100 Songs

[musicforants]

Just like the crisp weather, which took its leisurely time arriving this year, my annual autumn mixtape is finally here in all its winsome, melancholic glory. So while you're putting on layers and indulging in seasonal introspection, enjoy these wistful, guitar-driven vibes of the Autumn mix 15th edition. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify / Apple Music. Enjoy!

Ada Lea - something in the wind

Snocaps - Wasteland

Whitney - Back to the Wind

Flock of Dimes - Long After Midnight

Ratboys - Light Night Mountains All That

Florist - Gloom Designs

Drugdealer & Weyes Blood - Real Thing

Jeff Tweedy - Enough

Skullcrusher - Dragon

Big Thief - How Could I Have Known

Kacy Hill - The Garden

This Is Lorelei & MJ Lenderman - Dancing in the Club

August Ponthier - Karaoke Queen

Tombstone Poetry - Bear Down

Wednesday - Elderberry Wine

Cass McCombs - Peace

Gordi - Broke Scene

The Mountain Goats - Rocks in My Pockets

Kacey Musgraves - If The World Burns Down

Andrew Montana - Silver Fish

Neko Case - Rusty Mountain

S. Carey - Daylight

Horsegirl - 2468

Lord Huron - Watch Me Go

Kate Bollinger - What’s This About (La La La…)

Sharon Van Etten - Idiot Box

Matt Berninger - Little By Little

Jensen McRae - Daffodils

Dean Johnson - Death of the Party

Ethel Cain - Nettles

Autumn 2025 by Taylor Johnston on Apple Music

Playlist · 30 Songs

[musicforants]

Summer snuck up on me this year, but the solstice has hit and now it’s officially time to roll out the annual mixtape, your go-to soundtrack of bright, sunny jams to blast loud while you’re out there making summer memories—road tripping, pool hopping, or sweating through another heatwave. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify or Apple Music. Enjoy!

Girl Scout - Honey

Alex G - Afterlife

Blondshell - What's Fair

The Beths - Metal

Nick León & Erika de Casier - Bikini

Sleigh Bells - This Summer

Oso Oso - that's what time does

Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas - Blessings

Panda Bear - Ends Meet

Addison Rae - Headphones On

TOPS - Chlorine

Molly Nilsson - Il Peggior Bar Di Caracas

Alien Boy - Pictures of You

DARKSIDE - S.N.C

Oklou - harvest sky (ft. underscores)

Wet Leg - catch these fists

Dummy - Blue Dada

Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild

Onsloow - Brakes

Mallrat - Hideaway

Tennis - Weight of Desire

Avalon Emerson - Treat Mode

HAIM - Take me back

Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH

Natalie Bergman - Dance

Myd & Channel Tres - All that Glitter is not Gold (feat. Trueno)

Mediocre - Fun Time Fix (We Go Go)

Sea Lemon - Cynical

Fontaines D.C. - It's Amazing To Be Young

Momma - Stay All Summer

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:

APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST:

Summer (Or What It Sounds Like) Vol. 16 by Taylor Johnston on Apple Music

Playlist · 30 Songs

[musicforants]

Happy Christmas Eve! Here’s my favorite albums & songs in 2024, which was, for my money, one of the best years for music in recent memory. Click the links to listen to my full Best Songs playlist (100 tracks) via Spotify or Apple Music. Enjoy!

FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2024

Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

Charli XCX - BRAT

MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks

Cindy Lee - Kingdom Come

Father John Misty - Mahashmashana

Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood

Friko - Where we've been, Where we go from here

Cassandra Jenkins - My Light, My Destroyer

Wild Pink - Dulling the Horns

The Cure - Songs Of A Lost World ----

Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk

Los Campesinos! - All Hell

Adrianne Lenker - Bright Future

Being Dead - EELS

Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Past Is Still Alive

Nilüfer Yanya - My Method Actor

Fontaines D.C. - Romance

St. Vincent - All Born Screaming

Porter Robinson - SMILE! :D

Erika de Casier - Still ---

Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven

Jamie xx - In Waves

Tyler, the Creator - CHROMAKOPIA

Good Looks - Lived Here For a While

Jack White - No Name

MGMT - Loss Of Life

Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well

The Smile - Wall of Eyes

Hovvdy - s/t

Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes

FAVORITE SONGS OF 2024

MJ Lenderman - She's Leaving You

Vampire Weekend - Mary Boone

Charli xcx - 360

Waxahatchee - Right Back to It

Cindy Lee - Kingdom Come

Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

Adrianne Lenker - Sadness As a Gift

Magdalena Bay - Death & Romance

Friko - Where We've Been

The Cure - Alone ---

Father John Misty - Mahashmashana

Cassandra Jenkins - Omakase

Good Looks - If It's Gone

Hurray for the Riff Raff - Alibi

Being Dead - Blanket of my Bone

Nilüfer Yanya - Like I Say (I runaway)

St. Vincent - Big Time Nothing

Erika de Casier - Lucky

Los Campesinos! – Feast of Tongues

The Smile – Bending Hectic ---

Youth Lagoon - Lucy Takes a Picture

Wild Pink - Sprinter Brain

Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Fontaines D.C. - Favourite

Kendrick Lamar - reincarnated

Mannequin Pussy - Loud Bark

FKA twigs - Eusexua

Porter Robinson - Russian Roulette

Nourished by Time - Hell of a Ride

Clairo - Sexy to Someone ---

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Yeah x10

Zach Bryan - Pink Skies

Beyoncé - Ya Ya

Geordie Greep - Holy, Holy

Jamie xx - Baddy On the Floor

Laura Marling - Patterns

Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso (Working Later Remix)

Jack White- That's How I'm Feeling

Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well

Nick León & Erika de Casier - Bikini ---

Michael Kiwanuka - Floating Parade

JADE - Angel of my Dreams

Merce Lemon - Will You Do Me a Kindness

Jessica Pratt - Life Is

Tyler, The Creator - Take Your Mask Off

Beth Gibbons - Floating on a Moment

Grandaddy - Cabin in my Mind

Mk.gee - Alesis

Future Islands - King of Sweden

Bon Iver - S P E Y S I D E

Link to full 100 track playlist on Spotify / Apple Music ---

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

--- APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST

Best Songs - 2024 by Taylor Johnston on Apple Music

Playlist · 100 Songs

[musicforants]

Autumn has certainly been leisurely in its arrival this year, at least in my central TX backdrop, but this week brought some slightly cooler temperatures and it’s starting to feel like like Fall is finally here. As usual, to go along with the colorful foliage, warm fashions and seasonal beverages, I have a new Autumn mixtape to help evoke the wistful, carefree feelings of the season. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify or Apple Music. Enjoy!

Faye Webster - Thinking About You

Dipsea Flower - Burnouts

MJ Lenderman - You Don't Know the Shape I'm In

Clairo - Nomad

Mitch Rowland - Here Comes The Comeback

Haley Heynderickx - Foxglove

Gigi Perez - Sailor Song

Waxahatchee - Lone Star Lake

Babehoven - Birdseye

Hurray for the Riff Raff - Alibi

Cassandra Jenkins - Devotion

Wild Pink - Disintegrate

Florist - This Was a Gift

Caoilfhionn Rose - Fall Into Place

Bon Iver - THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS

Medium Build & Julien Baker - Yoke

hemlock - Hyde Park

Zach Bryan - This World's A Giant

Adrianne Lenker - Sadness as a Gift

Slowdive - kisses (sky ii)

Beetlebug - equinox

Runner - Untitled October Song

Jensen McRae - Massachusetts

Laura Marling - Caroline

Kacey Musgraves - Too Good to be True

Hovvdy - Jean (Julie's Version)

Caroline Says - Palm Reader

James Vincent McMorrow - Meet me in the garden (alt. version)

Katie Gavin - As Good As It Gets (ft. Mitski)

Granddaddy - Cabin in My Mind

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:

APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST:

Autumn (Or What It Feels Like To Fall) Vol. 14 by Taylor Johnston on Apple Music

Playlist · 30 Songs

[musicforants]

Summer is here and so is my annual mixtape full of effervescent, sunny new jams to blast loud while your making all your summer memories! So whether you're a Charly, Carly or Charli, click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify or Apple Music. Enjoy!

SUMMER (OR WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE) VOL. 15

01. Vampire Weekend - Mary Boone 02. DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ - Honey 03. Sea Lemon - Vaporized 04. Carly Rae Jepsen - Psychedelic Switch 05. Middle Kids - Dramamine 06. Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso (Working Late Remix) 07. Maribou State - Blackoak 08. Joe Goddard & Barrie - Moments Die 09. Teliz - Type of Girl 10. Charly Bliss - Nineteen 11. NewJeans - Bubble Gum 12. Purple Disco Machine & Benjamin Ingrosso - Honey Boy 13. Erika de Casier - Lucky 14. R. Missing - Maryhead 15. Jamie xx - Baddy On the Floor (feat. Honey Dijon) 16. Charli XCX - The 360 remix with robyn and yung lean 17. Magdalena Bay - Death & Romance 18. Good Looks - If It's Gone 19. Clairo - Sexy to Someone 20. Empress Of - What's Love (feat. MUNA) 21. Camera Obscura - Big Love 22. Hannah Diamond - Affirmations 23. Dayglow - Every Little Thing I Say I Do 24. The Japanese House - Touching Yourself 25. Everything Everything - Cold Reactor 26. Dagny - Strawberry Dream 27. George Clanton - I Been Young 28. Sheer Mag - Playing Favorites 29. Chromeo - Personal Effects 30. Romy - Always Forever

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:

APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST:

Summer (Or What It Sounds Like) Vol. 15 - 2024 by Taylor Johnston on Apple Music

Playlist · 30 Songs

[musicforants]

Happy new year! Here’s my favorite albums & songs in of 2023. Click here to listen to my full Best Songs playlist* (100+ tracks) via Spotify or Apple Music.

FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2023

Sufjan Stevens - Javelin

The National - First Two Pages of Frankenstein / Laugh Track

Lana Del Rey - Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd

boygenius - The Record

Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World

JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Scaring the Hoes

Caroline Rose - The Art of Forgetting

Blur - The Ballad of Darren

Ratboys - The Window

Blondshell - s/t

Youth Lagoon - Heaven is a Junkyard

Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want To Turn Into You

The Mountain Goats - Jenny From Thebes

Jeff Rosenstock - Hellmode

Wilco - Cousin

Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good!

Slowdive - everything is alive

Indigo De Souza - All of this will end

Wednesday - Rat Saw God

Romy - Mid Air

DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ - Destiny

Billy Woods & Kenny Sagan - Maps

The Japanese House - In the end it always does

Yves Tumor - Praise a Lord who chews but which does not consume

The Clientele - I Am Not There Anymore

Roison Murphy - Hit Parade

Bully - Lucky For You

M83 - Fantasy

Jess Williamson - Time Ain’t Hospitable

Sofia Kourtesis - Madres

FAVORITE SONGS OF 2023

Sufjan Stevens - Shit Talk

Lana Del Rey - A&W

The National - Tropic Morning News

Feist - Borrow Trouble

Blondshell - Joiner

Blur - The Narcissist

boygenius - Not Strong Enough

MGMT - Mother Nature

Wednesday - Chosen To Deserve

Yo La Tengo - Aselestine

Caroline Rose - Miami

Ratboys - The Window

Roison Murphy - The Universe

Oneohtrix Point Never - A Barely Lit Path

Indigo De Souza - Younger & Dumber

Jeff Rosenstock - 3 Summers

Caroline Polachek - Blood & Butter

Sun June - Get Enough

Yard Act - The Trench Coat Museum

DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ – Honey

Girl Scout - Weirdo

JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Lean Beef Patty

Sofia Kourtesis - Madres

Overmono - Good Lies

Bully - Days Move Slow

Youth Lagoon - Idaho Alien

Katy Kirby - Cubic Zirconia

Andy Shauf - Halloween Store

Romy - She's On My Mind

M83 - Oceans Niagara

Yves Tumor - Echolalia

Big Thief - Vampire Empire

Olivia Rodrigo - get him back!

Fever Ray - Kandy

Jessie Ware - Begin Again

The Japanese House - Boyhood

Kelela - Contact

Jess Williamson - Hunter

Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine

billy woods & Kenny Segal - Soft Landing

Tennis - Let's Make a Mistake Tonight

Slowdive - shanty

Beirut - Hadsel

NewJeans - Super Shy

The Clientele - Blue Over Blue

Nation of Language - Sole Obsession

ANOHNI - This Must Change

The Last Dinner Party - Nothing Matters

Slaughter Beach, Dog - Engine

The Beatles - Now and Then

Link to full 100+ track playlist on Spotify / Apple Music

*playlist subject to change

[musicforants]

With temperatures dropping, colorful foliage and seasonal beverages coming back into season, it’s the perfect time for a mixtape of wistful, melancholy acoustic guitar-heavy sounds. So with no further ado, here's the 13th edition of the Autumn (Or What It Feels Like To Fall) mixtape. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify / Apple Music. Enjoy!

01. Sufjan Stevens - A Running Start 02. Sun June - Get Enough 03. Yo La Tengo - Aselestine 04. Mutual Benefit - Untying a Knot 05. Slaughter Beach, Dog - Engine 06. S. Carey - Steadfast (ft. Gordi) 07. boygenius - Cool About It 08. Andy Shauf - Halloween Store 09. Jess Williamson - Hunter 10. The National - Coat on a Hook 11. Allison Ponthier - Hardcore (Acoustic) 12. Great Lake Swimmers - Peacemaker 13. Courtney Barnett - Different Now (ft. Chastity Belt) 14. The Tallest Man On Earth - Slowly Rivers Turn 15. Blue Lake - Fur 16. Katy Kirby - Cubic Zirconia 17. The Clientele - Lady Grey 18. Kara Jackson - pawnshop 19. Youth Lagoon - Idaho Alien 20. Maybel - Long Road Ahead 21. Hiss Golden Messenger - My Old Friends 22. Madison Cunningham - Anywhere 23. Beirut - So Many Plans 24. Luz - not going anywhere 25. Wilco - A Bowl and A Pudding 26. Boundary Run - Stranger 27. Shannon Lay - From the Morning 28. Nick Mulvey - A Prayer of My Own 29. BEAR DOWN BEAR - Saturnalia 30. Lana Del Rey - Let The Light In (ft. Father John Misty)

Autumn (Or What It Feels Like To Fall) Vol. 13 by Taylor Johnston

Playlist · 30 Songs

Listen to this playlist on Spotify or Apple Music

[musicforants]

Blame El Niño delivering some much-needed wetter, cooler weather this year for the playlist's late arrival, but now that summer is sweltering, I'm here with my 14th annual mixtape full of effervescent, sunny new indie jams to blast loud while your making all your summer memories. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify or Apple Music. Enjoy!

Summer (Or What It Sounds Like) Vol. 14

01. Small Black - Bad Lover (DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ Remix) 02. Marci - KITY 03. Girl Ray - Hold Tight 04. Blondshell - Joiner 05. Phoenix - After Midnight (ft. Clairo) 06. Overmono - Good Lies 07. Röyksopp - Let's Get It Right (feat. Astrid S) 08. Caroline Polachek - Smoke 09. Shalom - Happenstance 10. White Reaper - Pages 11. Grace Ives - Lullaby 12. boygenius - Not Strong Enough 13. Hudson Mohawke & Nikki Nair - Set The Roof 14. Beach Fossils - Run To the Moon 15. Romy & Fred again.. - Strong 16. Georgia - It’s Euphoric 17. Superviolet - Overrater 18. yunè pinku - Night Light 19. Shygirl - Firefly 20. Tennis - Let's Make a Mistake Tonight 21. Chromeo - Words With You 22. Girl Scout - Run Me Over 23. Flume - One Step Closer 1.4 [ft. Panda Bear] 24. Jenny Lewis - Psychos 25. Ela Minus & DJ Python - Pájaros En Verano 26. Róisín Murphy - The Universe 27. Coco & Clair Clair - Pop Star 28. The Beths - Watching the Credits 29. Sofia Kourtesis - Madres 30. The 1975 - Happiness

Spotify Playlist:

Apple Music Playlist:

Summer (Or What It Sounds Like) Vol. 14 - 2023 by Taylor Johnston

Playlist · 30 Songs

[musicforants]

Here’s my favorite albums & songs in a year that had no shortage of great music. Click here to listen to my full Best Songs of 2022 playlist (100 tracks) via Spotify or Apple Music.

FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2022

Alvvays - Blue Rev

Beach House - Once Twice Melody

Destroyer - LABYRINTHITIS

Spoon - Lucifer On the Sofa

Beyoncé - RENAISSANCE

Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

SAULT - UNTITLED (God)

The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention

Wild Pink - ILYSM

The Weeknd - Dawn FM

Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow

Panda Bear & Sonic Boom - Reset

Angel Olsen - Big Time

Wet Leg - Wet Leg

Sudan Archives - Natural Brown Prom Queen

Wilco - Cruel Country

Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever

Phoenix - Alpha Zulu

Let's Eat Grandma - Two Ribbons

Arctic Monkeys - The Car

Nilüfer Yanya - PAINLESS

Horsegirl - Versions of Modern Performance

ROSALIA - MOTOMAMI

Spiritualized - Everything Was Beautiful

The Beths - Expert in a Dying Field

Ethel Cain - Preacher’s Daughter

Jack White - Fear Of The Dawn

Little Simz - NO THANK YOU

Julia Jacklin - Pre Pleasure

Hatchie - Giving The World Away

FAVORITE SONGS OF 2022

Braxe + Falcon - Step by Step (feat. Panda Bear)

Destroyer - June

The Weeknd - Less Than Zero

Beach House - New Romance

Alvvays - Belinda Says

Jamie xx - LET’S DO IT AGAIN

Big Thief - Simulation Swarm

Spoon - Wild

LCD Soundsystem - new body rhumba

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Spitting Off the Edge of the World (feat. Perfume Genius)

Beyoncé - VIRGO'S GROOVE

Soccer Mommy - Shotgun

Let's Eat Grandma - Happy New Year

The Smile - Skrting On the Surface

Ethel Cain - American Teenager

Sudan Archives - Selfish Soul

ROSALÍA - SAOKO

Arctic Monkeys - Body Paint

Mitski - Love Me More

Wet Leg – Angelica

Alex G - Runner

Fontaines D.C. - Jackie Down The Line

Weyes Blood - God Turn Me Into a Flower

Harry Styles - As It Was

Nilüfer Yanya - midnight sun

Phoenix - After Midnight

The Beths - Expert in a Dying Field

Angel Olsen - Right Now

Jessie Ware - Free Yourself

Panda Bear & Sonic Boom - Edge of the Edge

Caroline Polachek - Billions

Arcade Fire - Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)

Horsegirl - Anti-glory

SAULT - God In Disguise

Hatchie - Quicksand

Bartees Strange - Heavy Heart

Wild Pink - See You Better Now

Hot Chip - Eleanor

Julia Jacklin - Lydia Wears a Cross

Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5

Gang of Youths - in the wake of your leave

Plains - Abilene

Spiritualized - The Mainline Song

Wilco - Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull

Jockstrap - Greatest Hits

Father John Misty - Goodbye Mr. Blue

SZA - Shirt

Kevin Morby - This Is a Photograph

Cate Le Bon - Moderation

Jack White - That Was Then, This is Now

Link to full 100-track playlist on Spotify / Apple Music

[musicforants]

With temperatures dropping and colorful foliage and seasonal beverages returning, it’s the perfect time to switch from exuberant synthy jams to wistful guitars and angsty vibes. Here’s the 12th edition of the Autumn (Or What It Feels Like To Fall) mixtape to help evoke the winsome melancholy of the season. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify / Apple Music. Enjoy!

01. Cass McCombs - New Earth 02. Plains - Abilene 03. Shannen Moser - Oh My God 04. Bonny Light Horseman - California 05. Maya Hawke - Luna Moth 06. San Fermin - Someone You Call Baby 07. Father John Misty - Goodby Mr. Blue 08. girl in red - October Passed Me By 09. Kurt Vile - Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone) 10. Florist - Two Ways 11. Warpaint - Champion 12. Andrew Bird - I Felt A Funeral, In My Brain (ft. Phoebe Bridgers) 13. First Aid Kit - Turning Onto You 14. Kevin Morby - A Random Act of Kindness 15. Skullcrusher - It's Like a Secret 16. Laura Veirs - Autumn Song (feat. Kate Stables) 17. Wilco - Country Song Upside-down 18. Indigo Sparke - Hysteria 19. Horsegirl - World of Pots and Pans 20. Old Sea Brigade - If You’re Falling Asleep 21. Angel Olsen - Right Now 22. Drugdealer - Pictures of You (feat. Kate Bollinger) 23. Weyes Blood - Grapevine 24. S.G. Goodman - Teeth Marks 25. Sharon Van Etten - Never Gonna Change 26. Alex G - Miracles 27. Katie Toupin - Adam's Song 28. Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You 29. Jacob Humber - Quiet Conversation 30. Wild Pink - The Grass Widow In The Glass Window

➡️ Listen to this playlist on Spotify or Apple Music

[musicforants]

Summer has arrived in all it's sweltering glory and as per usual I've made a mixtape full of exuberant, feel-good sunny jams (the 13th annual!) to blast while you’re out making your summer memories. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify or Apple Music. Enjoy!

Summer (Or What It Sounds Like) Vol. 13

01. Jamie xx - LET'S DO IT AGAIN 02. Sea Lemon - Turn Away 03. illuminati hotties & Bartees Strange - Pool Hopping (Strange Pool Remix) 04. TOPS - Party Again 05. Purple Disco Machine - Hypnotized (ft. Sophie and the Giants) 06. Beach Bunny - Oxygen 07. Hatchie - This Enchanted 08. Gang of Youths - in the wake of your leave 09. Braxe & Falcon - Step by Step (ft. Panda Bear) 10. PUP - Matilda 11. Barrie - Jersey 12. Magdalena Bay - Hysterical Us 13. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Tidal River 14. Charli XCX - Lightning 15. Spoon - Wild 16. Joesef - It's Been a Little Heavy Lately 17. Soccer Mommy - Shotgun 18. Ducks Ltd. - 18 Cigarettes 19. Empress Of - Save Me 20. Wet Leg - Angelina 21. Mitski - Love You More 22. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges - B-side 23. Foals - 2am 24. Channel Tres - Acid in My Blood 25. Dehd - Bad Love 26. MUNA - Anything But Me 27. Wallows - I Don't Want to Talk 28. Sleigh Bells - Locust Laced 29. Yumi Zouma - Give It Hell 30. Arcade Fire - Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)

Spotify Playlist:

Apple Music Playlist:

Summer (Or What It Sounds Like) Vol. 13 - 2022 by Taylor Johnston

Playlist · 30 Songs

[musicforants]

Here’s the albums & songs that I loved the most in 2021. Click here to listen to my full Best Songs of 2021 playlist (100 tracks) via Spotify or Apple Music.

FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2021

01. The War on Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore 02. Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview on Phenomenal Nature 03. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo Augustine - A Beginner's Mind 04. Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee 05. Wild Pink - A Billion Lights 06. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert 07. The Weather Station - Ignorance 08. Magdalena Bay - Mercurial World 09. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home 10. Lucy Dacus - Home Video

11. Kacey Musgraves - star-crossed 12. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions 13. Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place 14. Porter Robinson - Nurture 15. Snail Mail - Valentine 16. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club / Blue Bannisters 17. Indigo De Souza - Any Shape You Take 18. Low - Hey What 19. Tyler The Creator - CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST 20. Lord Huron - Long Lost

21. Hand Habits - Fun House / Dirt EP 22. The Hold Steady - Open Door Policy 23. Torres - Thirstier 24. Small Black - Cheap Dreams 25. Kings of Convenience - Peace or Love 26. Sun June - Somewhere 27. Faye Webster - I Know I’m Funny haha 28. The Antlers - Green To Gold 29. illuminati hotties - Let Me Do One More 30. The Mountain Goats - Dark In Here

FAVORITE SONGS OF 2021

01. Cassandra Jenkins - Hard Drive 02. The War on Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore 03. Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen - Like I Used To 04. Japanese Breakfast - Be Sweet 05. Little Simz - Woman (ft. Cleo Sol) 06. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine - Back To Oz 07. Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place 08. Wild Pink - The Shining But Tropical 09. Low - Days Like These 10. The Weather Station - Atlantic

11. Lucy Dacus - VBS 12. Magdalena Bay - Hysterical Us 13. Julien Baker - Hardline 14. Lana Del Rey - White Dress 15. Indigo De Souza - Hold U 16. Porter Robinson - Get Your Wish 17. Kacey Musgraves - breadwinner 18. Snail Mail - Valentine 19. Dayglow - Close To You 20. Torres - Don’t Go Puttin Wishes In My Head

21. Wolf Alice - The Last Man On Earth 22. Sun June - Bad With Time 23. Kanye West - Come To Life 24. St. Vincent - The Melting of the Sun 25. Big Thief - Little Thieves 26. Lord Huron - Long Lost 27. Hand Habits - Aquamarine 28. Kero Kero Bonito - Well Rested 29. The Antlers - Solstice 30. illuminati hotties - Mmmoooaaaaayaya

31. Skullcrusher - Song For Nick Drake 32. Xiu Xiu & Liz Harris - A Bottle of Rum 33. Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever 34. IAN SWEET - Drink The Lake 35. Tyler, The Creator - SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE 36. Clairo - Blouse 37. The Hold Steady - Funny Farm 38. Allison Ponthier - Harshest Critic 39. Small Black - Postcard 40. Faye Webster - I Know I’m Funny haha

41. SZA - Good Days 42. Ducks Ltd. - 18 Cigarettes 43. CHVRCHES & Robert Smith - How Not To Drown 44. Kings of Convenience - Rocky Trail 45. Caroline Polachek - Bunny is a Rider 46. Alien Boy - The Way I Feel 47. Olivia Rodrigo - deja vu 48. Sweet Trip - Chapters 49. Hatchie - This Enchanted 50. MUNA - Silk Chiffon (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)

Link to full 100-track playlist on Spotify / Apple Music

[musicforants]

With temperatures dropping and autumnal beer and coffee returning (the pumpkin spice MUST flow) it’s clear that Fall has arrived. As usual, to go along with the colorful foliage and warm fashions, I have a new Autumn mixtape (in two parts) to help evoke the wistful, carefree feelings of this grand season. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify / Apple Music. Enjoy!

Part One 01. The Antlers - Green To Gold 02. Skullcrusher - Song For Nick Drake 03. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine - Back To Oz 04. Cassadra Jenkins - Michelangelo 05. Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place 06. José González - El Invento 07. The Weather Station - Tried To Tell You 08. Allison Ponthier - Harshest Critic 09. Sun June - Bad With Time 10. Big Thief - Little Things 11. Hand Habits - Clean Air 12. Faye Webster - I Know I’m Funny Haha 13. Strand of Oaks - Galacticana 14. St. Vincent - Somebody Like Me 15. Lord Huron - Twenty Long Years Part Two 16. The War on Drugs - Living Proof 17. Clairo - Blouse 18. IAN SWEET - Drink The Lake 19. Julien Baker - Favor 20. Manchester Orchestra - Telepath 21. Lana Del Rey - Yosemite 22. Wye Oak - It’s Way With Me 23. Courtney Barnett - Rae Street 24. The Staves - Nothing’s Gonna Happen 25. Big Red Machine - The Ghost of Cincinatti 26. Shannon Lay - Rare To Wake 27. Kacey Musgraves - hookup scene 28. Heartless Bastards - Dust 29. Kings of Convenience - Comb My Hair 30. Lucy Dacus - Going Going Gone

➡️Listen to this playlist on Spotify or Apple Music

[musicforants]

The CDC says if you have you’re fully vaccinated, the summer is officially on (and unmasked), so I really had no choice but to bring back my annual mixtape full of sunny, exuberant indie jams to soundtrack your shot boy/girl summer. Click here to listen to this mix in its entirety via Spotify. Enjoy!

01. beabadoobee - Last Day on Earth 02. Blood Cultures - Set It On Fire 03. Romy - Lifetime 04. Kero Kero Bonito - 21/04/20 05. The 1975 - Me & You Together Song 06. Gillian Moss - Special Thing 07. Dayglow - Close To You 08. marsfade - Do U Know What I Mean 09. Rico Nasty - IPHONE 10. Japanese Breakfast - Be Sweet 11. Dogleg - Kawasaki Backflip 12. Porter Robinson - Get Your Wish 13. Caroline Rose - Feel the Way I Want 14. Dream Wife - Temporary 15. Wild Pink - The Shining But Tropical 16. Bicep - Apricots 17. Beach Bunny - Cloud 9 (ft. Tegan and Sara) 18. Sylvan Esso - Ferris Wheel 19. Dagny - Somebody 20. The Avalanches - Music Makes Me High 21. Jorja Smith - Addicted 22. The Hold Steady - Family Farm 23. Jaja Bu - Bibles 24. Dirty Projectors - Lose Your Love (Chromeo Remix) 25. Slayyter - Clouds 26. GUM - Low to Low 27. Middle Kids - Questions 28. A.G. Cook - The Darkness (Remix) [ft. Sarah Bonito] 29. Tennis - Tender as a Tomb 30. Róisín Murphy - Murphy’s Law

Listen to this playlist on Spotify or Apple Music *** P.S. Even though I never officially released it because it didn’t feel right, I did make a Summer (Or What It Sounds Like) Vol. 11 mix last year, and it’s a pretty good one too. Here’s the link on Spotify / Apple Music for you summer mixtape completionists out there. 

[musicforants]

Well, it’s been quite a year. I have to admit with the pandemic + election, I spent most of the year retreating to my musical comfort zone, listening to the familiar instead of seeking out new music (with a few exceptions for long-time favorites), and with that I didn’t make a single post in 2020 until now. In recent weeks though, I’ve been playing catch up and discovered a wealth of new music that I truly love, enough that I could create this list of favorites and feel like there was still much more I wish I could include.

I hope these albums and songs can bring you joy in these difficult times as well as in the (hopefully) better days to come. Click here to listen to my full 75-track Best Songs of 2020 playlist on Spotify (or Apple Music).

Favorite Albums of 2020

01. Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension 02. SAULT - Untitled (Black Is) / Untitled (Rise) 03. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher 04. Taylor Swift - folklore / evermore 05. Perfume Genius - Set My Heart On Fire Immediately 06. Caribou - Suddenly 07. Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud 08. Fleet Foxes - Shore 09. Run The Jewels - RTJ4 10. Destroyer - Have We Met

11. Soccer Mommy - color theory 12. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush 13. Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure 14. Andy Shauf - Neon Skyline 15. Jeff Rosenstock - NO DREAM 16. Bright Eyes - Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was 17. Helena Deland - Someone New 18. The Flaming Lips - American Head 19. Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song 20. Hum - Inlet

21. Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways 22. Charli XCX - how i’m feeling now 23. The Mountain Goats - Getting Into Knives 24. Yves Tumor - Heaven To A Tortured Mind 25. Adrienne Lenker - songs 26. TOPS - I Feel Alive 27. Bartees Strange - Live Forever 28. Tennis - Swimmer 29. Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas 30. Nation of Language - Introduction, Presence

Favorite Songs of 2020

01. SAULT - Wildfires 02. Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension 03. Phoebe Bridgers - Kyoto 04. Perfume Genius - On The Floor 05. Bob Dylan - Murder Most Foul 06. Soccer Mommy - circle the drain 07. Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure? 08. Waxahatchee - Lilacs 09. Romy - Lifetime 10. Run The Jewels - walking in the snow

11. Fleet Foxes - Sunblind 12. U.S. Girls - 4 American Dollars 13. Caribou - Home 14. Taylor Swift - the last great american dynasty 15. Yves Tumor - Gospel For A New Century 16. Kelly Lee Owens - On 17. Tame Impala - Breathe Deeper 18. beabadoobee - Care 19. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges - Texas Sun 20. Charli XCX - forever

21. Jeff Rosenstock - N O  D R E A M 22. TOPS - I Feel Alive 23. Andy Shauf - Neon Skyline 24. 070 Shake - Guilty Conscience 25. Bright Eyes - To Death’s Heart (In Three Parts) 26. Tennis - Tender as a Tomb 27. The Flaming Lips - Flowers of Neptune 6 28. Destroyer - Cue Synthesizer 29. Bartees Strange - Boomer 30. The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking

31. Fiona Apple - Shameika 32. Dua Lipa - Cool 33. Future Islands - For Sure 34. Helena Deland - Someone New 35. Caroline Rose - Feel The Way I Want 36. Matt Berninger - All For Nothing 37. Lianne La Havas - Bittersweet (Full Length) 38. Adrianne Lenker - anything 39. The Mountain Goats - Picture of My Dress 40. Jessey Lanza - Lick in Heaven

41. Nation of Language - On Division St. 42. Laura Marling - Held Down 43. The Weeknd - Blinding Lights (Chromatics Remix) 44. Hum - Step Into You 45. Thundercat - Dragonball Durag 46. Wolf Parade - Julia Take Your Man Home 47. I Break Horses - Neon Lights 48. Frances Quinlan - Your Reply 49. Dogleg - Kawasaki Backflip 50. Sylvan Esso - Ferris Wheel

Link to full 75-track playlist on Spotify / Apple Music

[musicforants]

Here’s the albums & songs that I heard and loved in 2019 and that I hope to be listening to for years to come. Click here to listen to my full Best Songs of 2019 playlist (75 tracks).

Favorite Albums of 2019

01. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride 02. Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell! 03. Bon Iver - i,i 04. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising 05. The National - I Am Easy To Find 06. Big Thief - U.F.O.F. / Two Hands 07. Wilco - Ode To Joy 08. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow 09. American Football - LP3 10. Michael Kiwunaka - KIWUNAKA

11. Hot Chip - Bath Full of Ectasy 12. Thom Yorke - ANIMA 13. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains 14. Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari 15. Jamilla Woods - Legacy! Legacy! 16. Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet 17. Jenny Lewis - On The Line 18. Charly Bliss - Young Enough 19. FKA Twigs - Magdalene 20. Chromatics - Closer To Grey

21. Deerhunter - Why Hasn't Everything Disappeared Already 22. Bat For Lashes - Lost Girls 23. Whitney - Forever Turned Around 24. Yola - Walk Through Fire 25. Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblivion Community Center 26. Shura - Forevher 27. The Mountain Goats - In League With Dragons 28. Jenny Hval - The Practice of Love 29. Orville Peck - Pony 30. Hatchie - Keepsake

Favorite Songs of 2019

01. Lana Del Rey - The Greatest 02. Bon Iver - Faith 03. Sharon Van Etten - Seventeen 04. Weyes Blood - Movies 05. Vampire Weekend - This Life 06. Lizzo - Juice 07. Thom Yorke - Dawn Chorus 08. Frank Ocean - In My Room 09. Charly Bliss - Capacity 10. The National - Light Years

11. Jay Som - Superbike 12. Big Thief - Cattails 13. Clairo - Bags 14. American Football - Silhouettes 15. Mannequin Pussy - Drunk II 16. FKA Twigs - cellophane  17. Better Oblivion Community Center - Dylan Thomas 18. Yola - Love is Light 19. Aldous Harding - The Barrel 20. Brittany Howard - Stay High

21. Bat For Lashes - Kids in the Dark 22. Kishi Bashi - Marigolds 23. Soccer Mommy - yellow is the color of her eyes 24. Jenny Hval - Ashes to Ashes 25. Purple Mountains - All My Happiness is Gone 26. Hot Chip - Positive 27. Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Hole 28. Shura - religion (u can lay your hands on me) 29. Andrew Bird - Manifest 30. HAIM - Summer Girl

31. Michael Kiwanuka - You Ain’t The Problem 32. Wilco - Love Is Everywhere (Beware) 33. Jamila Woods - BETTY 34. Drugdealer - Honey (ft. Weyes Blood) 35. Chromatics - You’re No Good 36. Deerhunter - No One’s Sleeping 37. Hand Habits - Can’t Calm Down 38. Lower Dens - Young Republicans 39. Toro y Moi - Who Am I 40. Hatchie - Obsessed

41. Molly Sarlé - Human 42. Sufjan Stevens - With My Whole Heart 43. Morabeza Tobacco - Ally McBeal 44. Sudan Archives - Confessions 45. Orville Peck - Dead of Night 46. The Mountain Goats - Cadaver Sniffing Dog 47. Cate Le Bon - Daylight Matters 48. Whitney - Valleys (My Love) 49. Kate Teague - In Our Element 50. Kevin Morby - OMG Rock n Roll

Spotify link to full 75-track playlist