A Study in Fire Season Playlists

Early on in therapy, before my therapist got to know me pretty well, she suggested soothing music as a way to relax when I was feeling stressed.  For me, however, "soothing" music (which I consider to be of the indie hipster genre...Bon Iver and other insufferably sleepy stuff) actually causes me more anxiety than calm.

When I'm feeling sad or anxious, the best kind of music for me is loud, energetic, and melodic, particularly in the genres of punk, country, and Celtic rock.  I've always had sensitive hearing and tend to shy away from loud sounds, but when I'm feeling off, blasting (and singing along to) awesome music as loud as I can is one of the only things that can actually make me feel better.  I think it's because the loud music drowns out my endless cycle of nasty thoughts, but that's just a guess.  In an attempt to make this process easier, I made myself a "Fire Mix - Happy" playlist for those times when it feels like my brain is working against itself.

All that said, sometimes I just like to listen to sad music and fucking wallow.  I still don't generally listen to sleepy shit, but still, it's music more appropriate for wallowing. I made a playlist for that too - "Fire Mix - Sad."

I wanted to share these playlists with you guys and ask for your advice on any songs you think might fit either of their criteria.

As you can see there's no real consistency in content; the topics of these songs range from drug use and drinking, to infidelity, to losing your job, to plain old absurd nonsense.  It's mostly about the melody and the rhythm, what can I say?

Fire Mix - Happy

1. CCR - "Bad Moon Rising" 

2. CCR - "Out my Back Door"

3. Flogging Molly - "Revolution"

4. Hank Williams III - "Medley: Satan is Real/Straight to Hell"

5. Social Distortion - "Far Side of Nowhere"

6. Social Distortion - "Still Alive"

7.  Social Distortion - "Sick Boys"

8. Social Distortion - "When She Begins"

9. Flogging Molly - "Likes of You Again"

10. Flogging Molly - "Tobacco Island"

11. Hank Williams III - "Smoke and Wine"

12. Hank Williams III - "Crazed Country Rebel"

13. Mike Ness - "Don't Think Twice"

14. Mike Ness - "Ballad of a Lonely Man"

15. Mumford & Sons - "Little Lion Man"

Fire Mix - Sad

1. Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room - "This Light"

2. Gotye - "Somebody that I used to Know"

3. Hank Williams, Jr. (and Sr.) - "Tear in my Beer" (I know, I know)

4. Alkaline Trio - "Fine"

5. The Band Perry - "If I Die Young" (I know)

6. Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room - "Hurricane Season"

7. Social Distortion - "Diamond in the Rough"

8. Social Distortion - "Bakersfield"

9. Nick 13 - "Nighttime Sky"

What music do you guys listen to when you're feeling anxious or sad?

Guest Post: Jess's Holiday Playlist

While Rob and I are on vacation in Florida I thought I'd share some awesome blog writers with you.  This is my first guest post extravaganza so I hope you enjoy!  First up is Jess, who is one of my favorite bloggers ever.  I love her sense of humor and reading about her family (especially her adorable son Wyatt...baby fever!). I'm sure you already know she exists but if not, check her out.  And have her make a banner for your blog, because she does GREAT work (see my banner)! :)

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Hey there! I'm Jess from IROCKSOWHAT and I'm so happy to be guest posting on To Make Love Stay. And since we're already in full swing of the holidays, I thought it'd be cool to share my favorite holiday songs! These are all very classy and therefore should be listened to while walking around with wine.

A Playlist for your Monday

Let me preface this playlist with two points.  First, my musical taste is all over the map. I grew up without a lot of exposure to music types outside of generic pop and pop-infused country (Tim McGraw and the like), so the task fell to my darling husband to educate me.  As a result, my music tastes more or less mirror his.  We both have a strong pull toward music that has meaning for one or the both of us, or as Rob puts it, the music has to have "soul." For me, that meaning can be something actually meaningful or it can be a really strong desire to dance. Regardless, I know what I like when I hear it.

Second, since I was a wee babe I have had extremely sensitive ear-holes (pretty sure that's the scientific name).  When driving in the car the music never exceeds a volume of 14 or 15*. The songs I have compiled below are all songs that I have and do crank up to volumes of 35 or 40. Seriously guys. I also belt them out as loud as humanly possible.

I also want to note that from what I've seen, my musical tastes deviate from those of many bloggers I read.  I hope you'll listen with an open mind because there is no Bon Iver in this playlist (seriously, did I miss some sort of blog memo on Bon Iver? I see that band everywhere in this here blogosphere).

For those of you who cannot see the below playlist, here is a list of the songs.  You can find most of them on YouTube/Amazon/iTunes.

Diamond in the Rough//Social Distortion

Fields of Athenry//Dropkick Murphys

Don't Think Twice//Mike Ness

Forever Fades Away//Tiger Army

Far Side of Nowhere//Social Distortion

Dine, Dine My Darling//Alkaline Trio

Likes of You Again//Flogging Molly

Peacemaker//Green Day

Sick Boys//Social Distortion

*The volume on my car stereo has to be an even number or a number ending in 5 or 0. Don't judge me.