Kelly’s Top Tracks of the Week, Ed. 2

This week, yet again, has been a decidedly random music-listening week. Without ado, here are my top 5 picks of the week:

 

1. Intro, The XX. Pitched for a perfectly paced warm-up, this song has enough winding chords to get you in that “I train to feel sexy” mood while also encouraging a good flex, stretch, and jog.

2. That’s Not My Name, The Ting Tings.  I realize this pick might be geared towards a more female audience, but I had a rather strong run to this song earlier today. Give it a try. (Some of you may remember this from the Victoria Secret Fashion Show a few years back.)

3. Can’t Stop, Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Here, friends, is my all time favorite exercise song ever. The bridge hits right when you’re about to die from running too fast or lifting too much weight, and for me, it has a perfect tone for revival. Also, the video is wicked. Watch it.

4. 212, Azealia Banks feat. Lazy Jay. Be warned, this song is not at all safe for work but it is most definitely a fool-proof pump-up song. I use it mostly for circuit training and weight lifting sets. Don’t tell my mother that I’m learning to rap it.

5. Recurring, Bonobo. If you find yourself at a loss for good yoga/Pilates/stretching music, look no further. A sweet melody begins the song, immediately lulling you into a state of electro-dream while the up-tempo beat 30-or-so seconds in helps keep you motivated to push stretches and downward facing dogs further.

One-Woman-Dance-Party Song of the Day: Rosie, The Kooks.

 

Dance, push-up, run, train, twist away!

Kelly’s Top Tracks of the Week, Ed.1

Music is the greatest. Good for the soul, for life and especially for working out*. You have to set the right atmosphere. I like to run to certain music, do circuits to different music, and do weight lifting to different music still. Here are a few tracks I can’t stop repeating this week (and what I use them for):

1. Lose It, Austra. Not only is the name fit for a burn, but this was my number-one-go-to-best-song-ever for running the blocks and avenues of NYC last year. It’s had a recent resurgence this week for me even though I now run in a very, very different setting. I now run here:

2. Stereo Hands, White Panda. Again, perfect for a run. Specifically, the end of a run. Stereo Love in the background instantly transports me back to “that awesome night of drinking and dancing and staying out way too late.” And all that makes the rest of the run seem worth the effort. Not to mention, the beat is perfectly timed for a steady running pace.

3. Dashboard, Modest Mouse. Don’t think I don’t know how random this song is for a workout, but I love it in real life and for some reason it helps motivate me through terrible lunge/leg circuits. Give it a try sometime.

4. New York, Angel Haze. For weight lifting. No further description needed.

5. Tremel, Glasser (Jamie XX Remix).  This song keeps me going long enough to get a good stretch in without lowering my heart rate, so it doesn’t encourage nap time when I find myself in child’s pose.

One-Woman-Dance-Party Song of the Day:  Winter in the Hamptons, Josh Rouse.

*Disclaimer: For workouts, I almost always listen to music I can dance to. Dancing makes me feel good and feeling good is always a strong motivator for a hard workout, no?