Some of my favorite older bands are coming out with new albums (Weezer, Offspring, Foo Fighters, and Modest Mouse to name a few). And don’t even get me started about how excited I am for the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s new album to drop. So, because I’m finding such awesome new music I decide to throw it into one big mixtape called New Jams. If you’re looking to shake up your music scene, give these a listen. Some of them you’ve probably heard all over the radio (I’m not the only one who still listens to the radio am I?), but I’m sure there will be a couple wildcards thrown in there for you. And T-Swift’s song “Style” would totally be on here too if she wasn’t boycotting Spotify. Just in case I haven’t convinced you that this playlist is awesome, here are some notes on my favorite songs from this playlist.

Sugar by Maroon 5. If you need a little sweetness in your life, look no further than this lovely soft pop song. This song is such a feel-good jam. Upbeat love songs are one of my favorites, and Adam Levine has the perfect voice to pull off this song. It has a smooth and sweet feel to it, with a few jazzy vibes thrown in. It's no surprise that Sugar is quickly becoming my go-to happy song for so many reasons, but my favorite thing about it is how it makes me think of my sweetheart every time I listen to it. What can I say, I’m a hopeless romantic!

Back to the Shack by Weezer. Alright so this one isn’t totally new (it came out last October), but it’s so freaking good. Weezer fans rejoice, as the band has finally re-found its sound. This song is all about how good it was in the Blue Album days, and even though they’ve released some catchy songs since then, they haven’t put together an album as cohesive has their first one. This song is an unapologetic anthem about where Weezer has been in the last 20 years. Bottom line, Weezer can still bring it and this song rocks, check it out!

Boss Mode by Knife Party. Do you ever have those days where you just feel like quitting your job and running away to join an underground traveling rave circus? (Do one of those even exist and where can I find it?) One listen to Boss Mode and you’ll be instantly lost in the trappy saxaphone-y beat. That’s what I love about good electronic music, it takes you to a new level of dancing and grooving out that no other genre can do. I can’t wait to see Knife Party at this year’s Counterpoint festival, it’s going to be incredible!

I know I'm not the only one who is loving the 70 degree weather we've been having in Atlanta. One of my favorite things to do on sunny days is to go for a drive, roll down all of my windows, and blast my favorite music. There are definitely certain songs that just sound better when the weather is perfect, so I've come up with a mixtape for you to throw on the next time you're enjoying some sunshine. Wether you like to relax on your back porch or go for a joy ride, this mixtape is sure to complement the good mood that comes with good weather. 

Give me some ideas for more mixtapes below! What do you listen to while you're driving? I love talking about music and discovering songs that other people love, so speak up!

Maybe it's because I'm a Red Hot Chili Peppers super fan, but the bass guitar might be my favorite rock instrument. I just love the wildly strange yet mellow sounds of a bass. Bass can really solidify how good a song can be. Without the smooth low pitches of a bass, a song really just feels empty. So, since my ears have been picking up on bass sounds, I decided to share a playlist with some of my favorite basslines. And, since you really can't make a proper bass-centric mixtape without him, I threw in a Bassnectar remix for some balance (hang tight nectar fans, his music is worthy of its own mixtape post in the future). Unlike my last mixtape post, this time I plan on giving you all a little blurb on why each song is worthy of this mixtape. Get ready for some bass in your face!

Pennywise Tribute by Bassnectar. I love when rock and electronic music are brought together. This fast paced bassline will have you grooving all day.

Longview by Green Day. The opening bass riff to this song is iconic to any GD fan. Mike gave the best description of the song's meaning to Rolling Stone.

Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi. I'm proud to say I perfected playing this sharp and edgy bassline on Rock Band. If you're feeling the 80's, go for this song.

Come As You Are by Nirvana. Another punk slow jam,  but no one ever talks about Krist Novoselic. This song revolves around his awesome rhythm.

Riders On The Storm by The Doors. This is one of my favorite Doors songs, and the bassline sounds so right that you can't even tell the Doors had to bring in an outside bassist to do the song.

This Is The Place by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was hard to pick just one RHCP song for this list, but I'm a big fan of how Flea wrote this one.

Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. This song has some of my favorite Zep lyrics, and John Paul Jones' bass is a key piece in portraying the song's dark tone .

Money by Pink Floyd. A total classic, this bass riff is easily recognized for it's smooth and steady strum. And the sax complements it suberbly. 

Say It Ain't So by Weezer. I love how clearly you can hear this heavy, yet slow bassline. Its simple and sort of quiet, but Matt Sharp is able to make it stand out.

Anthem Part Two by Blink-182. Blink's bassist Mark Hoppus isn't the first band member that comes to mind for most people, but he's the reason this song is so catchy. 

This mixtape was so much fun to make. And, it reminds me that someday I really want to learn how to play bass guitar. The only thing more fun than listening to all of these great songs would be playing them myself! Tell me below what some of your favorite bass heavy songs are, and check back soon for more mixtapes. 

These tracks are perfect for a Monday morning (bonus points if it's raining,  because who doesn't love rock n roll in the rain?). It has a little bit of funk, some indie and a whole lot of rock. It's bound to kickstart your morning faster than Starbucks ever could, and your whole week will be on point because of it.

If you're a Spotify buff like I am, feel free to add this mix to your music collection. I also love the album artworks for these songs, so check them out below. Give me ideas for more mixtapes in the comments section, and check back soon for more mixtapes!

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only person left in the world that still makes mixtapes. And no, I don't mean the continuous long-play style mixes many DJs & producers release on the reg. The mixtapes I make have the same concept, though.