These days, in general I'm really digging folk/Americana/bluegrass-inspired music. My long-time favorites Crooked Still, Iron & Wine & Calexico, The Ditty Bops, Chris Thile (Nickel Creek/Punch Brothers as well as his solo albums), Sarah Jarosz, the Goat Rodeo Sessions album, and Alison Krauss/Union Station are frequently on my playlist.
Through Pandora I've also discovered a couple albums and groups that I like - The Bills, Old School Freight Train's "Pickin' on Coldplay" album, Hot Buttered Rum, Elephant Revival, Horse Feathers, Strength in Numbers, Mike Marshall's Big Trio, Norman Blake. I've also dipped my toes into rockabilly with The Caravans.
(This isn't all that I listen to in general - my musical tastes are best described as eclectic, ranging from dance music to classical, though my playlist is usually more heavily leaning towards indie pop and rarely without at least one Beatles song somewhere in the mix - but these days I'm leaning towards gorgeous, upbeat harmonies and incredibly skillful, energetic acoustic music. Perhaps it's a response to stress?)
When I really want to laugh out loud I listen to Flight of the Conchords, Jonathan Coulton, and The Lonely Island. And Great Big Sea always makes me smile.
What's on your playlist these days?
