favorite albums of 2015 (so far)

2015 has been a fantastic year for music . . . and it's not even June yet. Thanks to my highly obsessive personality, I have this thing where I only listen to a particular album or artist for about a month straight. Once I'm sick of it, I move on to something else. (I do the same thing with books, movies, shows, hobbies . . . it's rather sad, actually.) Here are the new albums I've been obsessed with so far this year. (note: some of these albums came out at the end of 2014, but I start listening to Christmas music exclusively at the beginning of November, so they didn't show up on my radar until January.)

The Phosphorescent Blues - The Punch Brothers



If you've known me for any amount of time at all, you know I'm obsessed with Chris Thile. Nickel Creek has been my favorite band since I was ten years old. I finally got to see them last year at the Ryman when they were touring for their reunion album. This January I finally got to see Chris' new(ish) project, The Punch Brothers, at the Ryman, and it was an incredible show. It's completely impossible to define what genre the Punch Brothers fall in to. (Is awesome a genre? IDK.) They play bluegrass instruments . . . and sometimes they play bluegrass . . . but very little on their new album resembles bluegrass. *Points to their Debussy cover* The entire band is basically made up of virtuosoes, and I feel smarter just listening to them play.

Carrie and Lowell - Sufjan Stevens



I actually wrote a really long and impassioned personal essay about this album on Tumblr. It's way too fangirl-y to post here, but here's the gist: this album is everything. It is, hands down, going to be my favorite album of the year. And that's saying a lot. The album chronicles Sufjan's journey of grief after his estranged mother died. I seriously cry every time I listen to this album, because Sufjan has beautifully captured all of the feelings that go along with grief. Also, it's Sufjan. This album is sparse, emotional, folksy--everything you'd want from a Sufjan album. (If you read this, Sufjan, I'm really sad you aren't doing a show anywhere near Nashville. That's not nice.)

Kintsugi - Death Cab for Cutie



Full disclosure: this is not my favorite DCFC album. Not even close. I still love Plans and Transatlanticism the best. However, I did get to see DCFC at the Ryman a few weeks ago, and this album was so good live. Ben's lyrics aren't quite up to par on this album, but it's pretty musically impressive (but not "I Will Possess Your Heart" impressive.) Also, it's about Ben's breakup with Zooey Deschanel, so there's that.

Monterey - The Milk Carton Kids


Do you need to just be mellow? Do you want bare-bones folk that still manages to be technically impressive? Do you want stellar harmonies blended so seamlessly you can't quite distinguish who, exactly, is singing what? Do you want musicians with humor so dry they could moonlight as comedians? Then you need The Milk Carton Kids. True story: Joey and Kenneth of TMCK once made Marcus Mumford cry because their voices and guitar playing were so beautiful. (Don't believe me? Watch the Another Day, Another Time documentary/concert.)

You Got This - Haas Kowert Tice



I know what you're thinking: Katy, that bass playing sounds really familiar. That's because Paul--the Kowert in Haas Kowert Tice--is the bassist for the Punch Brothers. Actually, you're probably not thinking that because I'm sure no one obsesses over instrumental neo-classical bluegrass like I do. Whatever. These guys are great. I saw them last week with my dad and sister (my father is the whole reason I'm even in to this kind of music) and they did not disappoint. I'm actually going to go see them again this weekend. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

For your convenience, here's a playlist with my favorite songs off each album.

 xo, Katy

graduation and future things

 

 Can you guess what I did this weekend? Oh yeah! I graduated magna cum laude with my BA in English and Theological Studies! That's what! This was a day five long years in the making. And it was a great day, indeed. A few highlights of the day:

• I forgot to bring my camera. Hence the sad cell phone photos. 
• We had forty-something graduates this year. Which is a lot when you consider how small my alma mater is.
• I managed not to trip while walking across the stage.
• All of the ladies had to pin their collars into their gowns. Mine was very, very crooked.
• I broke my honor cord and my shoe right before we lined up for the processional. 
• I only cried like...twice.
• My dad gave the invocation, which I amazingly didn't cry at.
• Alberto Gonzales, the former US Attorney General, gave the commencement address. It was fantastic. This also brought the number of Attorneys General I have been in the same room with up to two.
• It doesn't matter what the weather is like leading up to graduation, or what it's like after--it's always insanely hot and humid. This year stayed true to form. Which was fun, considering I was wearing seventeen layers of black.

After the ceremony, my dad took my sister and I out to lunch at a seafood place on the river. My sister got me gluten free cupcakes from Vegan Vee, and they were the best cupcakes I've ever had--no lie. I'm not sure if Vegan Vee is that amazing or if I was just excited to be done with college and eating cake! 

Oh, here's a picture of my dad and mom being all cute after his graduation from our alma mater. 

So what's next? I've been asked that a lot lately. I already have a fantastic job that uses my degree, so I'm doing great in that regard. I am considering grad school, though if I do go, I probably won't enroll for a year or so. I'm looking at local colleges and online programs. I'm trying to decide between an MFA in Creative Writing, or an MA in English. There are pros and cons to each!

My more immediate plans include second shooting for and assisting a wedding photographer here in Nashville. That's going to keep me busy the next several weeks.

Oh, and I'm leaving for Northern Ireland in a month! I'm going on a music mission trip with my church. I'm so incredibly excited! Now, if only I can get all of my funds raised before our deadline in a week. I have faith that God will provide. He always does! :)

I'll be posting around here a lot more, now that life is finally starting to settle down some.

xo,

Katy