Assignment 23 -- Andrew Thompson

That perfect playlist for blasting music way too loudly in the car to get yourself hyped up but only when no one is around because you don't want them to look over and see you head banging and then call 911 because your head banging is eerily similar to seizing and is also a nice life message playlist (or TPPBMWTLCGYHUBOWNIABYDWTLOSYHBTCNBYHBESSANLMP for short):

1. Everything Everything - To the Blade: We want to start the list off hard, but not too hard, so while this song has some of the loudest and most impactful moments on the list, they are offset by the soft and vulnerable falsettos speaking of tragedy and confusion. Gets you appropriately hyped.

2. Everything Everything - Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread: I know, I know, another Everything Everything song, but the first half of their latest album is just absurdly good and the themes line up pretty well, with more of this tragic events stuff. We reign it in a bit with this song, but it is irresistibly groovy, and the lyrics contrast interestingly with the mood of the song. You can't help but get down to a story of a baby getting spattered by a man's freshly hammered head.

3. OK GO - Turn up the Radio: This song is maybe a little out of place with its really indie-tronica feel, but I think it fits in pretty nicely. We are sticking with this upbeat mood with a song about forgetting about the aforementioned tragedy and doom and gloom and just letting loose. This is also the only good song I could think of with this message, but it is a blast-able song.

4. PUP - DVP: But after a night of letting loose comes some regrets, which make up the content of this song. PUP is my latest obsession. They are the absolute best at putting together angsty screams, infectious hooks, and whole band choruses, keeping it lighthearted while tacking heavy subjects. This is undoubtedly the most hype-inducing song on the list and is a bit on the extreme punk-rocky side.

5. John Rosenstock - The Lows: And rounding it all out is a song that embodies all of the previous ones. With the lows in life come the highs. Happiness seems to slip through the cracks and keeps us confident that good times are ahead. This song has the pop rock-iness of Everything Everything, the pop-iness of OK GO, and the punk-iness of of PUP all in one. The final act is guaranteed to get you hyped for life.