My No-Skip Albums

These are the albums I can listen to again and again and again and again and...

1. Magic Potion by The Black Keys

If you have ever had the spectacular pleasure to talk about music with me, you have heard me mention Magic Potion. I am a die-hard Black Keys fan, I've been listening to them since I was 14 and my sister gave me her iPod Touch, loaded up with their music, every album ranging from The Big Come Up to Turn Blue. I listened to their discography from cover to cover, and Magic Potion was the album that stood out to me the most. Every song, from "Just Got to Be," to "Elevator" is a work of art, a masterpiece of music.

Magic Potion is a showcase of The Black Keys' talent and their greatest strengths as a band, seamlessly transitioning from each track with crazy guitar solos and their gorgeous vocals.

My favorite tracks: "The Flame", "Modern Times", "Goodbye Babylon."

2. The Living End by Sarah and the Sundays

I fell in love with Sarah and the Sundays when I first heard their song "Moving On" on their album So You're Mad About the Cups. Since then, I've had at least one song by them on every single one of my playlists. When The Living End finally came out after months of anticipation, I immediately added the full tracklist to my queue and pressed play.

Sarah and the Sundays has happily put up with me and my insane obsession with them and their music; I have chatted with them over Instagram DMs, talked about the album with them when it was first released, and this connection only strengthened my love for their music.

Seeing them live last year in July cemented The Living End as one of my no-skip albums. This album is incredible, every track feels authentic and real, and their distinct voice is showcased beautifully throughout the entire album. They are able to transition from a lively, pop song like "I'm So Bored," to a gorgeous, heartbreaking song like the title track: "The Living End."

My favorite tracks: "The Living End", "Pulling Teeth", "Veneer."

3. Bryology by The Moss

Can you tell I love The Moss? This is my second time writing about them here and I've only written a handful of articles. Bryology is the kind of album that wraps you up in gorgeous vocals and hugs you all the way through. The Moss' sound is so distinct and beautiful, every single one of their songs is a delight to listen to, so it's no surprise that Bryology is on my no-skip list.

I found this album the same way I found Sarah and the Sundays; I was shuffling through my recommended music on Spotify and stumbled across "Celebrate," a beautiful song that recognizes the simple moments in life, acknowledging the loneliness that comes with aging and being lonely. All of Bryology has a feeling of nostalgia that anyone can relate to.

My favorite tracks: "The Drawer", "801", "Heart."

4. Waiting to Spill by The Backseat Lovers

How do I begin to describe the love I have for this album? I'll try to do it without tiring out your thumb from scrolling through endless praise for the beauty that is Waiting to Spill. The entire album, from start to finish, is a work of art.

The Backseat Lovers were plunged into the mainstream with their hit songs "Kilby Girl", "Maple Syrup", and "Pool House." I wasn't sure they were going to be able to top their debut album When We Were Friends, but I was happily proved wrong when Waiting to Spill dropped in the fall of 2022. The Backseat Lovers created an album that feels like sitting in front of a fireplace in the fall while listening to someone you love serenade you. It's powerful, it's moving, it's emotional. Every track flows seamlessly whilst remaining distinct, so the listening experience of this album feels like one long work of art instead of ten songs.

I had the most spectacular experience watching them live not once, but twice. The first time was in 2021 when I saw them in a tiny venue. I got to experience them singing some of my favorite songs of all time from a few feet away, surrounded by headbangers that pushed and shoved me to get a better view of these angelic singers. The second time I saw them was in a massive venue, my view of them was minuscule compared to the first time, but it didn't make the experience any less hypnotizing. The Backseat Lovers are a force to be reckoned with, proving their musical prowess with each new release.

My favorite tracks: "Viciously Lonely", "Growing/Dying", "Snowbank Blues."