Pen to Paper
A blog by Quarterly
Albums I Love from Start to Finish
Albums I Love from Start to Finish
In What If Joy Is the Whole Point?, I wrote that riding in the car with the windows down on a perfectly crisp 70-degree day, blasting an album from start to finish, is pure joy.
So here are the albums I actually play front to back, arranged in the order I found them, followed by a longer list of albums I loved at different points in my life (and yes, this is where my millennial shows).
Olivia Dean
The Art of Loving (2025)
One of my newest favorites. This album makes me wish I’d found her sooner.
Listen Now
Billie Eilish
Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024)
Maybe I’m hanging out with too many millennials, but this album feels so underrated. It’s the one that made me a Billie fan.
Listen Now
Miley Cyrus
Endless Summer Vacation (2023)
I’m a huge Miley fan, but this was the first of her albums I’d listened to in full, and it hit.
Listen Now
Harry Styles
Harry's House (2022)
Every song feels like sunlight through a window. Definitely my favorite Harry album.
Listen Now
Taylor Swift
folklore (2020)
I love more than one Taylor album, obviously, but this is the one I was hooked on from the first listen.
Listen Now
Black Pumas
Black Pumas (2019)
Retro soul that feels timeless. It reminds me how good music can be.
Listen Now
Kacey Musgraves
Golden Hour (2018)
Pure warmth from start to finish. It took me back to the days when you’d listen to an album all the way through.
Listen Now
Norah Jones
The Fall (2009)
Hands down my favorite Norah Jones album. I could listen to it on repeat.
Listen Now
John Mayer
Continuum (2006)
The album that taught me a Sunday afternoon and a good guitar riff can fix almost anything.
Listen NowAlbums That Take Me Back
Fireworks & RollerbladesBenson Boone
30Adele
25Adele
Coming HomeLeon Bridges
El CaminoThe Black Keys
Mind Over MatterYoung the Giant
Walk the MoonWalk the Moon
Boys & GirlsAlabama Shakes
The LumineersThe Lumineers
My Head Is an AnimalOf Monsters and Men
All This Bad BloodBastille
The Head and the HeartThe Head and the Heart
Days Are GoneHAIM
I Love You.The Neighbourhood
For Emma, Forever AgoBon Iver
More Blog Posts
-
Seeking Joy
What If Joy Is the Whole Point?
Over the course of building to get here, I haven’t always been the most productive with my time. I’ve allowed myself to rest after 15 years of the grind in the corporate world. I’ve given myself some flexibility with two kids, because they are the...
-
Quarterly Reflections
The end of a quarter is the perfect time to pause. Before you start planning what’s next, take a moment to look back at the last 13 weeks: what went well, what didn’t, and what you want to carry forward. The last page of your...
-
Goal Setting
How to Set Intentional Goals
Set your values & intentions, vision statement and transform into goals.
-
Entrepreneurship
What Got Me Here
I actually didn’t intend to start a planner and notebook brand. I landed here accidentally. But after loving notebooks and planners all my life, I’m not surprised I’m here. In fact, I would call myself a notebook connoisseur, so I’m undoubtedly qualified to be here.
