Now that I’m working from home, I almost always have the TV on in the background, and I almost never ride in the car. Unless I’m traveling the 5 minutes to go to the dentist, get a latte, or to do some yoga in the park, I very rarely leave the house.

When Dan and I took a bit of a longer drive a few weeks ago out of a desperate need for custard, I played my music on the drive, and wow did I forget how much music affects me. I put on a playlist of songs that particularly speak to my soul and was dancing in the passenger seat all the way to the custard stand and all the way home. I’ve missed music so much and have started playing it on all of my car rides as well as sometimes when I play Animal Crossing.

Since I’ve been missing music so much in my life, I thought I would create a list of my favorite albums of all time, and I very excitedly asked my blogging buddy Bill to do the same! While I love making a great playlist, I also love albums that I can listen to straight through. A good album is almost like an extended hug — familiar, predictable, and comforting. These are the albums that I love to listen to all the way through (give or take a few songs) and never get tired of. This list is in no particular order because I didn’t have it in me to rank them. I hope you understand.

I do want to note that this is not a list of my favorite songs of all time, but a list of albums that speak to me and flow seamlessly. If I were to do a list of songs specifically, there would be a lot of Billy Joel…like maybe I just need to do a post about Billy Joel songs…

Behind the Eyes — Amy Grant

When I was younger, my dad used to only play Christian songs and Christian artists in his car. While this album doesn’t really have overt Christian themes, Amy Grant is best known as a Christian singer. We used to listen to this album all the time when I was younger. I actually think that my dad still has this CD in his “CD player alarm clock” so that it played when the alarm went off (you know, before our cell phones ran our lives). This album is so 90s, and I love it. The songs all tell really interesting stories. While I don’t listen to it often, I know that I can always count on it to give me the nostalgia feels.

Hello and Pulses — Karmin

Karmin is one of my favorite artists of all-time. I’ve always enjoyed (attempting) rapping along with Amy and singing along with their cocky lyrics. They have the perfect amount of sass and cleverness. If you want to hear some mind-blowing rapping, listen to “I Told You So” on the album Hello. It blows me away every time. Each of these albums has excellent flow and unique sounds. I highly recommend listening to them and everything else Karmin (now Qveen Herby) does, ever.

Demi — Demi Lovato

My friend Rachel had this CD in her car’s CD player for our road trip to Salem, Massachusetts, and that’s when I really got acquainted with it. During all of the long hours that we spent in the car. Over and over and over. As is Demi Lovato’s style, these are all songs that you can scream passionately at the top of your lungs and feel in your soul. Her voice is amazing and her songs are full of attitude. I am particularly fond of the song “Nightingale” which will make an appearance if I ever do a post about my favorite songs.

The Blessed Unrest — Sara Barellies

Okay, so I said that I wasn’t going to rank the albums, but this is my absolute favorite album of all time. I defy anyone to listen to this album and feel absolutely nothing. I’m honestly not sure that there is any song on this album that I haven’t cried to at least once. Years after I first discovered it, the songs still move me. I listen to it when I really need to reconnect with myself. The songs are all so unique, but still somehow fit together? Amazing. The one song, “Cassiopeia” spoke to me so deeply that I’ve considered getting a tattoo of the constellation.

Fitz and the Tantrums — Fitz and the Tantrums

This album is definitely different from the others on this list. I don’t often go for songs this club techno-y, but this album is, dare I say, lit af. I was enticed to listen to this album after hearing the hit “Handclap” on the radio, and as it turns out, the whole album is great and has great flow! I also haven’t heard much more by Fitz and the Tantrums, but what I have heard is very very different from this album. Gotta love a group with range!

My Head is An Animal and Beneath the Skin — Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men has a folksy-er sound than I usually go for, but I just love them. I recommended them recently for the calming background music and awesome vocals they provide. I’ve heard several songs from their albums playing in coffee shops because they have that nice, homey vibe. While I usually go for faster, dancier music, this band is on the top of my list when I just want to chill out.

Night Visions  — Imagine Dragons

Wow. Just wow. I remember first listening to this album and thinking about how every song is anthemic. I feel like all of them are so charged with emotion and can be sung at the top of your lungs. I also felt as though their sound was reminiscent of pop bands that I enjoyed in the 90s, so this album gave me the nostalgic feels, even when it was brand new. This is one of the albums that got me through my time studying abroad in France. I can still remember waking up from a restless night’s sleep because “Hear Me” had been playing at top volume in my head all night.

In Between Dreams — Jack Johnson

I’m not usually a Jack Johnson fan, but this album is really special to me. Back when I used to route trucks in my previous position at work, I used to come in, put on this album, and just go for it. I’d have this chill music playing in the background to help keep me from stressing too much about work. After a few weeks of listening to it, it just became my routing music. If you’re looking for some easy listening, it really doesn’t get any easier than this.

Bad Blood — Bastille

If you’ve heard the song “Pompeii” and didn’t immediately fall in love, I’m not sure that I understand you. I found the sound throughout this album to be pretty unique and very enjoyable. This album is full of some deliciously deep and dark themes sung in some amazing British voices. The songs are truly a rollercoaster of emotions. My friend actually came up with the idea to try to sing Bastille songs with an American accent. Feel free to try it — the results are pretty hilarious.

Now that you’ve read all about my favorite albums (or most of them, at least…I may need to write another post with more…), I encourage you to go give them a listen. Well, right now everyone should be listening to Christmas music (that’s right, another Bill Fonda collab!), so you know, wait until the new year.

Also, don’t forget to stop by Bill’s blog to read about his favorite albums, too!

Any albums on this list that you love too? What are some of your favorites?

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