Hello again from Colorado! I’ve been coming every summer for the past three years, and I’m still not tired of it. I stay in a different part of Denver every time and then visit a new a town up in the mountains every year. Throughout all the new places I encounter, I can always count on two things: amazing weather and the most beautiful trees.

If you want a quick recap on what I did my first time in Denver, you can find that post here. In there, I link to a Colorado playlist filled with some of the state’s best bands. I decided to give the playlist another listen, and I was surprised at how many of the songs I added a couple years ago have actually become my favorites on my Spotify library. Below are a list of my top 5.

1. Zombies Ate My Neighbors by Single File
   This fun and catchy jam is uplifting, despite talking about the half dead. It’s an iconic pop punk song: rhythmic and upbeat, despite a relatively dark subject. The band met and formed in high school, starting as a jazz band before taking the leap into. the punk pop world. Since then, they’ve toured with some more well known bands like The Fray and Motion City Soundtrack.
2. Shakey Ground by American Haiku
   Shakey Ground sits a little more on Colorado’s grunge-y scene. It’s subtle and quiet. verses are starkly contrasted by the heavy and intense chorus. Another one of my favorite elements in the song is the way vocals are bounced between male and female. It happens so naturally and they mesh together so smoothly that you can barely notice the transition into just male vocals towards the end. Overall the song is very vulnerable, pierced with emotions one very word that is sung. It doesn’t need its heavy chorus to know that it was written out of a place of pain.
3. Young at Heart by Covenhoven
   This tune has grown to be one of my favorites and is one of my go-to’s for when the world feels a little too heavy. It’s sweet and peaceful and grounding. The artist behind this track, Joel Van Horne, draws inspiration from the Rocky Mountains. Like I mentioned in my last post about Denver, I’m sure it’s near impossible not to create such beautiful art and music when you’re surrounded by such breathtaking scenery. This is most likely the track I’ll be listening to at the end of our hike up the Rocky Mountains later this week.
4. Had It All by One Flew West
   Had It All is another fun and uplifting track. A little less punk than Zombie but still a great pop rock anthem. The initial guitar riff is enticing and convinces you stick around for the whole song. The chorus has a deeper quality to it, reminding its listeners that this song is more than just a meaningless slew of notes and lyrics.
5. Sink In by Winter Skin
   This is probably one of the least known bands out of my list. From what I can tell, they’re a duo that isn’t too genre specific. They’re tunes, like Sink In, are mellow and a little haunting. What draws me the most to this particular song is the combination of keys and percussion. They way they are both utilized add such a great depth when coupled with the lyrics of navigating a new relationship.

Do you know of any other great Colorado bands and artists that I should be listening to while I’m here? If so, be sure to comment them down below! I’m slowly growing my Colorado playlist, and I’m eager to add more people to it.

xxRose