So, I've been going through a bit of a shift in the kind of music I want to listen to lately. For the last, god, 10 years, I've been mostly listening to Haken, Devin Townsend, some off-beat things like Diablo Swing Orchestra, and a fair bit of Nine Inch Nails. Some bands akin to that, as well, like Ayria.

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In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.

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So, I've been going through a bit of a shift in the kind of music I want to listen to lately. For the last, god, 10 years, I've been mostly listening to Haken, Devin Townsend, some off-beat things like Diablo Swing Orchestra, and a fair bit of Nine Inch Nails. Some bands akin to that, as well, like Ayria.

What I haven't been listening to much of has been blues-centric rock. It's mostly been a either industrial metal, or prog. In-fact, even before that, I wasn't ever really that into this kind of sound historically, and ironically enough haven't had a well-curated list of things from this sound.

What I haven't been listening to much of has been blues-centric rock. It's mostly been a either industrial metal, or prog. In-fact, even before that, I wasn't ever really that into this kind of sound historically, and ironically enough haven't had a well-curated list of things from this sound.

But over the last few years, my wife, <a href="http://katestandiford.com">Kate</a> has really gotten into a lot of folk rock, and <a href="http://casualweirdness.life">since we live in a camper</a>, her tastes seem to have started to bleed into my tastes lately. Or at least, that's what I think it is. Hell, it could just as easily be because I've been playing a lot of older rock tracks like Blue Suede Shoes and Leroy Brown <a href="/micro/1988">while performing here at the campground this summer</a>. Either way, I've found myself wanting to listen to music that's a lot more approachable than the weirder stuff like this <a href="https://youtu.be/JyfcbeLfYbI?si=2_4AY0XmCVBRclxv">DSO track</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_e4YX73Ww4">Haken's Cockroach King</a>. Conversely, it's heavy in a very different way than the noisy stuff like Devin Townsend's Deconstruction album, all of which are things that I've historically been into.

But over the last few years, my wife, <a href="http://katestandiford.com">Kate</a> has really gotten into a lot of folk rock, and <a href="http://casualweirdness.life">since we live in a camper</a>, her tastes seem to have started to bleed into my tastes lately. Or at least, that's what I think it is. Hell, it could just as easily be because I've been playing a lot of older rock tracks like Blue Suede Shoes and Leroy Brown <a href="/micro/1988">while performing here at the campground this summer</a>. Either way, I've found myself wanting to listen to music that's a lot more approachable than the weirder stuff like this <a href="https://youtu.be/JyfcbeLfYbI?si=2_4AY0XmCVBRclxv">DSO track</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_e4YX73Ww4">Haken's Cockroach King</a>. Conversely, it's heavy in a very different way than the noisy stuff like Devin Townsend's Deconstruction album, all of which are things that I've historically been into.

I'd say the closest I've ever gotten to this sound is what I can only describe as "objectively cool music". When you hear <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTW0Uf-34BA">Casualties of Cool</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNBzPrFTPtE">S.G Goodman's The Way I talk</a>, you go "DAMN they're so cool." The music is usually straight forward with simple, consistent time signatures, predictable song formats, and simple, yet fantastic hooks.

I'd say the closest I've ever gotten to this sound is what I can only describe as "objectively cool music". When you hear <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTW0Uf-34BA">Casualties of Cool</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNBzPrFTPtE">S.G Goodman's The Way I talk</a>, you go "DAMN they're so cool." The music is usually straight forward with simple, consistent time signatures, predictable song formats, and simple, yet fantastic hooks.

Anyway, I realized I had a few songs that recently caught my attention that kinda aligned with this sound, so I threw them together in a playlist along with a couple samples that seemed adjacent to it, and clicked on Spotify's magic "Enhance" button.

Anyway, I realized I had a few songs that recently caught my attention that kinda aligned with this sound, so I threw them together in a playlist along with a couple samples that seemed adjacent to it, and clicked on Spotify's magic "Enhance" button.

And...whoa! It actually worked! Historically this hasn't been very effective for me. It's unclear why exactly, but usually the music on the song wouldn't fit the vibe I was looking for well enough. Maybe I was trying to be too specific then. Maybe it's just because the music is easier to categorize, who knows?

And...whoa! It actually worked! Historically this hasn't been very effective for me. It's unclear why exactly, but usually the music on the song wouldn't fit the vibe I was looking for well enough. Maybe I was trying to be too specific then. Maybe it's just because the music is easier to categorize, who knows?

Spotify’s “Enhance” Feature Is Awesome

I got a chance to jam this weekend with some really talented people. It’s a lot of fun to get to improvise bass lines instead of forcing myself to memorize songs note for note.

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I got a chance to jam this weekend with some really talented people. It’s a lot of fun to get to improvise bass lines instead of forcing myself to memorize songs note for note.

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This guy from the campground just walks up to me earlier this week and says "Hi, I'm Steve. Do you play bass?"

3 days later I'm playing the bass for the first time in 3 years in front of people, playing songs I've never heard with two people I've never played instruments with.

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This guy from the campground just walks up to me earlier this week and says "Hi, I'm Steve. Do you play bass?"

3 days later I'm playing the bass for the first time in 3 years in front of people, playing songs I've never heard with two people I've never played instruments with.

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Jamming to Diablo Swing Orchestra today. I think they really came into full swing in this last album. They're a little more approach-able in this album, but still have all of that super awesome swing sound, unique instrumentation, and some real bangers.

<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA">https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA</a>

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Jamming to Diablo Swing Orchestra today. I think they really came into full swing in this last album. They're a little more approach-able in this album, but still have all of that super awesome swing sound, unique instrumentation, and some real bangers.

<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA">https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA</a>

<div class="wp-block-group">Jamming to Diablo Swing Orchestra today. I think they really came into full swing in this last album. They're a little more approach-able in this album, but still have all of that super awesome swing sound, unique instrumentation, and some real bangers.<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA">https://open.spotify.com/album/73YgGTPKJux9DVDr3Jv7k7?si=iNGcclvbSq2Cr5ouqceQpA</a></div>

<div class="wp-block-group">Also, "COME INTO FULL SWING" LOL</div>

Bear Ghost is an adventurous rock band out of Phoenix. I discovered them through a Slack channel when someone recommended them. They have somewhat silly subject matters in their music, but it's always fun, unique, and never lacking in good instrumentation.

<a href="https://www.bearghost.com/">https://www.bearghost.com/</a>

Bear Ghost is an adventurous rock band out of Phoenix. I discovered them through a Slack channel when someone recommended them. They have somewhat silly subject matters in their music, but it's always fun, unique, and never lacking in good instrumentation.

<a href="https://www.bearghost.com/">https://www.bearghost.com/</a>

<div class="wp-block-group">Bear Ghost is an adventurous rock band out of Phoenix. I discovered them through a Slack channel when someone recommended them. They have somewhat silly subject matters in their music, but it's always fun, unique, and never lacking in good instrumentation.Give 'em a listen sometime.<a href="https://www.bearghost.com/">https://www.bearghost.com/</a></div>

Freelance Web Developer &amp; Senior Software Development Engineer at GoDaddy. Digital Nomad of 3 years. I talk about WordPress, off-grid, &amp; RV life.