January Favorites

So I haven't been the best with weekly favorites! (As in I've literally just posted one then promptly proceeded to never post again). From now on they will be monthly, and I'll really post them this time or so help me I might as well just stomp all over 2017, stuff it in a garbage bag, place it next to 2016, and call it a year - because I'm actually doing things this year, as in following through with everything I tell myself I'll do. I feel like I'm too content with breaking promises to myself - it's time for a change.

Songs: 

"Happy Pills" by Weathers

Weathers, while not necessarily mainstream, are relatively new and off to a great start. As of now they have only two released singles - the "Happy Pills" lyric video contains over a YouTube million views, and "I Don't Want to Know" contains half a million views. Both singles were released within the last year. Weathers are an up and coming band that the world is sure to hear more from, it's only a matter of time before they break into the mainstream music scene and make the charts. 

"The Courtyard" by LOLO

LOLO began releasing music in 2013, but did not gain momentum until 2014 when her song "Hit and Run" took off with a little over one million YouTube views. Her song "The Courtyard" is not among her most popular songs, perhaps for its calmer demeanor, but it holds emotion and beautiful vocals - making it one of my favorites. 

Book:

The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski - The Winner's Curse, The Winner's Crime, The Winner's Kiss

Rutkoski breaks hearts and pulls at reader's frustration (via almosts). Just when I couldn't think of any possible outcome other than those of the inevitable Rutkoski would throw a curve ball. These books can easily be finished within a week, but not due to length. Be ready to clear your schedule when you start this trilogy, once you start you won't stop. 

Other: Movie

Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange has become my new favorite superhero of all time (and I'm totally not just saying that because it was the last superhero movie I watched). The movie combines elements of astrology and the space-time continuum, combining physical reality to that of the spirit. The main actor Benedict Cumberbatch was the perfect candidate for the role of Allen Strange - I can think of no one more fitting to play the stony yet likable persona throughout the entirety of the movie. For those who stayed past a bit of the credits for the snippet with Thor, I hope you stayed just a little longer to the end for the clip that contains info on what Mordo has in store for his fellow sorcerers. 

*It took all my self control to not pick Ed Sheeran's new singles, Castle on the Hill and Shape of You, for this week's favorites. But they've already made it to the top 2 on the U.S. charts - Go, Ed!

Weekly Favorites

Songs:

"Gambling Man" by Mike Waters:

Mike Waters is a relatively new artist in terms of the music scene. In May of 2015 he released his first album titled Life featuring 4 songs with "Gambling Man" being my personal favorite. This month he released his single, "Them Dirty Bones" (10/10 would recommend giving this song a look as well). Waters definitely deserves a larger following. No doubt if he keeps it up, he'll earn one. 

"Swim" by EPISODE

This band is extremely underrated. They maintain less than 50,000 views and monthly listeners on both Youtube and Spotify. Currently, they posses only two released songs along with a few features. HOWEVER, both these songs were released in the beginning of 2016, so fingers crossed for a few 2017 releases! 

Book:

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Recently, it's taken a lot for a book to make me cry - Tiger Lily, however, had no trouble making me do just that. I'm not sure it's even meant to be a "make-you-cry" book, but I found myself so wound into the protagonist, everything she felt I seemed to have feel twice as deep. The story is one of first love, adventure, and growth. A coming of age tell of sorts. It's set in Neverland, tied to the Peter Pan series, and yet the magical aspect doesn't seem all that far fetched. It's a quick, easy read, and while I found it a while back it's remained my favorite book for months. 

Other: App

Medium

A more wordy Pinterest. Medium allows anyone to post stories which range from news to tips to philosophy and more. The feed is designed to your interest, and yet you're still able to search for anything you'd like. The search allows you to browse stories, people, publications, or tags. While I have yet to fully explore the app or publish anything myself, I'm excited to delve into it.


I plan on posting weekly favorites every Sunday. The songs will be featured on the post with a poll located on the far right sidebar in which you can cast a vote for your favorite pick. 

Till next week! X.