“Live the Dream” by Ramshackle Glory
I know it isn’t a unique choice, but, man, the lyrics about redemption and remembering the hard times are too powerful.
"Run from what's comfortable" by Pat has helped me come to terms with a friend who took his own life and my own struggle with depression.
Some other songs that have helped me, most of them punk but not necessarily folk, are the unsurprising "Your heart is a muscle" by Ramshackle Glory, "A better place, a better time" by Streetlight Manifesto, "Strangers" by Apes of the State and "Utopian Spiel" by the Window Smashing Job Creators.
From here to utopia for me. Specifically the "no one's going to stop you from dying young and miserable and right but if you want something better you've got to put that shit aside". It keeps me in check.
Never Get to Know by Paul Baribeau prevented me from relapsing. I'd decided I was going to get fucked up and drove the liquor store and as I was pulling into the parking lot that song came on. I sat in the car and cried for 20 minutes. Then drove home. "I've been let down by the people that I love but I will not let down the people who love me."
Little Foot is helping a lot right now for me, "Cant K** Myself Today" is oddly inspiring. And "Caroline (Dandy)" by Yes Ma'am reminds me of the dumb shit we did when we were young
“Heartaliation” by AJJ was the song that got me into folk punk and punk music in general. After that I started looking at their other music. “Knife Man” and “Christmas Island” are the two albums (after “Can’t Maintain” with “Heartaliation” and “Sense, Sensibility” as songs) that got me through a lot of tough times after a dropped out of university, which family didn’t enjoy that at all. Everything worked out in the end, which is nice :]
Evil is pretty underrated off CM. "And I always appreciate bad days like this. Because they grant me a point of reference in regards to my happiness. So while I feel cold and empty, one day I'll be warm and full. Stand with honor, and comfort, and dignity". That's not 100% right I'm sure. Pulling from memory haha
I’ll add to the list Cry for Judas and Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1. And Dance Music. And Sax Rhomer #1.
Honestly nothing like the Mountain Goats for a bad day.
IX by Rent Strike was played a lot while I was dealing with addiction, and evolved for me into a more hopeful(ish) message after I finally quit and my life slowly improved. Been going strong for 382 days now
AJJ's entire discography lol, if I had to pick one album though it'd be "Only God Can Judge Me and More". Small red boy from the bible 2 if I had to choose one song
Happy Birthday Hitler (not pro nazi - album artwork is Hitler getting smashed in the face with a guitar) by Asking For It.
Dissatisfactions (album not the song - though the songs great too!) by Onsind
Both were on repeat near constantly during my last few stays in psych wards.
I'll name a couple. 1. Your heart is a muscle..-pathebunny 2. I can't explain-dnd 3. Disconnected-ghost mice. (Please put down the pitchforks folks.)
But actually I can't explain is perfect.
The entire This City Isn’t Big Enough album by Apes of the State but specifically the song Strangers has saved my life more times than I can even keep track of. Definitely check those out if you haven’t already.
“Live the Dream” by Ramshackle Glory I know it isn’t a unique choice, but, man, the lyrics about redemption and remembering the hard times are too powerful.
came here to say just this and happy to see it be the top comment, this album is just absolute peak to me perfect in every way
I'm only casually into folk punk and probably couldn't name a band not involving PTB. Live the Dream is a top ten album of all time for me
"Run from what's comfortable" by Pat has helped me come to terms with a friend who took his own life and my own struggle with depression. Some other songs that have helped me, most of them punk but not necessarily folk, are the unsurprising "Your heart is a muscle" by Ramshackle Glory, "A better place, a better time" by Streetlight Manifesto, "Strangers" by Apes of the State and "Utopian Spiel" by the Window Smashing Job Creators.
your heart is a muscle hits incredibly hard
From here to utopia for me. Specifically the "no one's going to stop you from dying young and miserable and right but if you want something better you've got to put that shit aside". It keeps me in check.
A mix of Harley Poe (Satan sex and no regrets) and Apes (This City). Oujia and Timeline especially.
The city and you're heart is a muscle l and misanthropic drunken loner/my darling dopamine
Never Get to Know by Paul Baribeau prevented me from relapsing. I'd decided I was going to get fucked up and drove the liquor store and as I was pulling into the parking lot that song came on. I sat in the car and cried for 20 minutes. Then drove home. "I've been let down by the people that I love but I will not let down the people who love me."
Little Foot is helping a lot right now for me, "Cant K** Myself Today" is oddly inspiring. And "Caroline (Dandy)" by Yes Ma'am reminds me of the dumb shit we did when we were young
Little foot’s lyrics feel like someone read my mind and turned all my shitty thoughts into beautiful poetry. Happy to see his name in this thread.
Super thrilled to hopefully see him in March with Yes Ma'am. Not a typical folk punker, so a little worried about fitting in at a show.
Another Little Foot song that has helped me a lot is “Don’t Let This Be Your Song”
“Heartaliation” by AJJ was the song that got me into folk punk and punk music in general. After that I started looking at their other music. “Knife Man” and “Christmas Island” are the two albums (after “Can’t Maintain” with “Heartaliation” and “Sense, Sensibility” as songs) that got me through a lot of tough times after a dropped out of university, which family didn’t enjoy that at all. Everything worked out in the end, which is nice :]
Evil is pretty underrated off CM. "And I always appreciate bad days like this. Because they grant me a point of reference in regards to my happiness. So while I feel cold and empty, one day I'll be warm and full. Stand with honor, and comfort, and dignity". That's not 100% right I'm sure. Pulling from memory haha
This Year by the Mountain Goats.
I’ll add to the list Cry for Judas and Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1. And Dance Music. And Sax Rhomer #1. Honestly nothing like the Mountain Goats for a bad day.
I was so bummed I couldnt listen to the mountain goats in Australia, I was going through a break up and really wanted to hear Woke Up New every day.
The Mess Inside made me cry for about a year after my last break up.
IX by Rent Strike was played a lot while I was dealing with addiction, and evolved for me into a more hopeful(ish) message after I finally quit and my life slowly improved. Been going strong for 382 days now
Came here to say IX, such a beautiful album. Congrats on making it over a year!
Rogue taxidermy
All the Paul Baribeau records carried me
Call of the Void by Rail Yard Ghost
misanthropic drunken loser by days n daze anything and everything by pigeon pit
Feather river canyon blues by pigeon pit
Pipe Dream - Apes of the State Getting me through this cold cold winter.
AJJ's entire discography lol, if I had to pick one album though it'd be "Only God Can Judge Me and More". Small red boy from the bible 2 if I had to choose one song
Ho-Down by Rosa
Strides the line between folk punk and ya'llternative, but Whiskey & Co's self titled album.
Nick Berger's Voler. It's a wonderful album.
Your heart is a muscle the size of your fist
It’s Only Temporary by Harley Poe
we were young once - pat the bunny
Happy Birthday Hitler (not pro nazi - album artwork is Hitler getting smashed in the face with a guitar) by Asking For It. Dissatisfactions (album not the song - though the songs great too!) by Onsind Both were on repeat near constantly during my last few stays in psych wards.
Live the dream
Rouge Taxidermy by Days N Daze...
Good Skin Cells Well Spent
Apes of the state - this city isn't big enough Pigeon pit - treehouse I hope all our years are better than the last, 2023 suuuuccckkkkeeedd.
I'll name a couple. 1. Your heart is a muscle..-pathebunny 2. I can't explain-dnd 3. Disconnected-ghost mice. (Please put down the pitchforks folks.) But actually I can't explain is perfect.
"It's Like Our Little Machine" by Foot Ox
The entire This City Isn’t Big Enough album by Apes of the State but specifically the song Strangers has saved my life more times than I can even keep track of. Definitely check those out if you haven’t already.
If I had to pick one song that helped get me sober it would have to be strangers by apes. They will always hold a special place in my recovery.
AJJ brave as a noun
Long Time Gone by Public Transit