My Current Music Rotation

I pride myself in listening to a lot of music. I was told once by a friend that I listen to the most music of anyone she knows and that's a high compliment to me. I don't try hard and will sometimes even go a whole day without opening Spotify but listening to old favorites and finding new albums will always make me happy! I track my music listening with one of my favorite websites, Last.fm. Pictured below are my most streamed records for the past 3 months accompanied by some thoughts I have. 

(What I like to call "Jennacore")

List of Albums In Order:

Spiritual Cramp - Spiritual Cramp

The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs

Silver Jews - American Water

Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS

The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I

Ween - 12 Golden Country Greats

Shinobu - Herostratus vs Time

Sparklehorse - Good Morning Spider

The Dismemberment Plan - The Dismemberment Plan Is Terrified

If you're into anything punk-adjacent it would be wrong of me to not recommend the self-titled Spiritual Cramp album. In just under 26 minutes, the San Francisco band packs a real punch on their sophomore record with upbeat tracks like "Slick Rick" and "Better Off This Way". This album fits any occasion and never fails to put me in a good mood. I find myself gravitating towards it whether I'm on a scenic walk or running in the subway station late for class. Cannot recommend it enough. 

As a single girl in her early-twenties living in New York City, it is only fair that I'm obsessed with The Magnetic Fields cult-classic record, 69 Love Songs. I feel like I find a different song off of 69 Love Songs to obsess over every week. There is something on here for everyone! If you enjoy slower ballads, you'll love "The Book of Love" and "All my Little Words". If you want catchy anthems, listen to "Absolutely Cuckoo" and "I Think I Need a New Heart".  Whether you're chronically single, in a happy relationship, or have no time for romance, everyone can find a song off 69 Love Songs to enjoy. I mean, duh. There's 69 songs to choose from. 

One of the best things I did in 2023 was take the time out and listen to every Silver Jews album. I've always admired the band and the late-frontman, David Berman. Since my deep-dive into the Silver Jews discography many months ago, they have become one of my favorite bands of all time and I can't go a day without wanting to hear Berman's voice in my headphones. Specifically, 1998's American Water has found a special place in my heart containing some of my favorite Silver Jews songs like "People", "Random Rules" and "Honk If You're Lonely". If you enjoy 90s slacker indie in the likes of Pavement, you are past-due for a Silver Jews listening session.

Last year I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the follow-up record from Gen-Z princess, Olivia Rodrigo. At first I was drawn in by the songs that lean heavily on pop-punk stylings like "Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl" but then gradually opened up to some of the real stars on the record like "Lacy" and "Teenage Dream".  Modern pop is not a lane I find myself in lately but Olivia Rodrigo is the real deal. I'm not one for parasocial relationships but to be fair, this album confirms to me that I think we would be friends. 

Now some quick thoughts! 

If you enjoy weird music, you must know Ween. College has been one big effort to get myself into the 90s cult band and it worked. 12 Golden Country Greats is witty, catchy and so much fun. "Piss Up a Rope" is a song that I've played around my friends so much that they had no choice but to love it too. I'm also from New York so I love fun music that helps me tap into my country sensibilities. 

Not one but two albums by The Dismemberment Plan are in my current rotation. They are one of my favorite bands of all time and both albums displayed here are consistent choices that I will never get sick of!! Emergency & I is the bands' critical darling but my personal favorite is 1997's The Dismemberment Plan Is Terrified. Would recommend if you enjoy quirky indie-leaning songs. They are not a band for everyone but luckily, they're for me. 

Shinobu is a very underrated now-defunct band from San Jose that made some of the best indie rock songs ever. I am in dire need of a Shinobu reunion and I believe it could happen if more people knew how great this band is! I love all of their releases but there is something so special about Herostratus vs Time. While of course it is sonically great, Shinobu shines with Mike Huguenor's lyricism. Personally, I am having a Shinobu spring and you should too.

Lastly, I need to shoutout the iconic record Good Morning Spider by Sparklehorse. This record is sonically gorgeous and just so cool. Mark Linkous' creative mind truly shines on here. Linkous passed away before I got into his music and I so badly wish I could have experienced the beauty of hearing these songs live. But I can't, so streaming it on Spotify is the next best thing.