As kids, a lot of times we identify socially by liking a certain genre of music. As a teen in the late 90s, I was a punk. Nowadays, I don't know what I am, and I like it a lot better that way. Even if I don't identify with music in the same way, though, it is still one of the most powerful forces in my life.

As a work-from-home writer who lives alone and travels by subway, I have headphones on pretty much all day long. When people ask me what kind of music I listen to, I don't really have a good way to describe my favorite musical genres. Well okay, I do, but it doesn't make sense to many other people but me.

Sure I love Rock and Roll, but not all of it. I'd rather say I like "Epic guitars and over-excited keyboards," or "Angry females with poppy hooks," or "Universally relatable ballads." The other day my friend Kyle (who has an amazing music podcast, and I'm not just saying that because we cool) posted a video of one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands of the past few years, The Tallest Man on Earth, with the following description:

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Here's the video, and he's exactly right:

"Music to Listen to in the Middle of the Night on an Empty Train Going Over a Bridge" is my second favorite musical genre, behind "Spring Anthems." What's a Spring Anthem? It's the first song you want to hear after you've walked out of your apartment in the morning wearing a jacket, and then stopped on the stoop to take it off and stuff it into your backpack. It's early enough in the season that you don't go back to put it in your apartment, because the weather could change, but you certainly don't need it right now. What song did you just think of? Here are my 5 current favorites Spring Anthems:

The Tallest Man on Earth, 'The Dreamer'

Robyn, 'Get Myself Together'

Lauryn Hill, 'Doo Wop That Thing'

David Bowie, 'Queen Bitch'

Shovels and Rope, 'Gasoline'

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