I discussed in my Apple Music review my playlist methodology that I originally started on Spotify back in 2012. I really enjoy my workflow for discovering new music. I also find being able to go back in time to see what was hot or what I was into during that period of time shows me how my music taste has evolved. I go through major shifts of music moods and it's interesting to take a look back and see what I was enjoying during that period of time.
A few of my upcoming posts are going to stick to a similar "My Favorites" theme. Feel free to add my playlists to your Apple Music account. The only thing I hate about playlist sharing is the lack of social features such as playlist collaboration and being able to see who has subscribed to your list. Hopefully Apple strengthens the social aspect of Apple Music in future updates.
The Playlists
As previously discussed my playlists are yearly lists containing tracks that I discovered that particular year or was simply digging during that period of time. I typically like 20-30 track "mixtape style" playlists but for these averaging 100 tracks, it allows me to shuffle and listen to over 3 hours of music at a time. Especially good for the gym or get togethers. Here are my playlists as shared on Apple Music with links to each one.
2012 - The interesting thing about this playlist is the mixture of hipster rock and hip hop. I was really enjoying Sean Parker's "Hipster International" Spotify playlist at the time and a lot the tracks were pulled from that playlist. This was also the year I was glad to discover Phantogram. Standout tracks: Santigold - Disparate Youth, Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar, Danny Brown - Grown Up and A$AP Rocky - Goldie.
2013 - This playlist is hip hop heavy. It was the year of Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Drake and Danny Brown. New discoveries: Jonwayne and Joey Bada$$. Standout tracks: U.O.E.N.O Black Hippy Remix, Danny Brown - Molly Ringwald, Robert Glasper - Dillalude #2, Action Bronson - The Rockers, Phantogram - Black Out Days.
2014 - This year I did a lot of discovery using a combination of Sirius/XM and Shazam. I was really addicted to the Sirius/XM Chill channel and was Shazaming tracks and adding them directly to a playlist on Spotify called Sirius/XM Chill. The choice cuts were transferred over to my 2014 playlist. Standout tracks: Purity Ring - Push Pull, Hail Mary Mallon - Jonathan, Arctic Monkeys - Arabella, Run the Jewels - Blockbuster Night Part 2.
2015 - The work in progress. I've discovered some amazing tracks this year. While this playlist is again hip hop heavy I've been quite addicted to a view choice cuts that have been in constant rotation. Standout tracks: David Zowie - House Every Weekend, Crooked Colours - Another Way (GRMM Remix), Thundercat - Them Changes, Beck - Dreams, ZRO FOX - Might Not (Ft Sasha Go Hard).
Here are some of the Apple curated playlists I have discovered.
I hope you enjoy the playlists. Feel free to add them to your My Music or find me on Spotify to subscribe to them there. If you have any good playlist recommendations feel free to leave them in the comments.