The next Playlist in our ongoing series features A Loss For Words, Koji, and Brian Marquis. All three bands are about to head out on a special acoustic tour together, so we thought it’d be great to match them together. Check out the Playlists and listen to the songs while reading everyone’s thoughts!

(Click on image to listen in Spotify)
Sunny Day Real Estate - Pillars
There is nothing to say about this song other than you just have to put your headphones on and close your eyes and listen. This is the intro to my mixtape. Enjoy.
Smashing Pumpkins - Mayonaise
This is one of my favorite songs off of one of my all time favorite albums. This song reminds me of middle school into high school, a simpler time, and it just makes me feel good and nostalic. At this time I had really started getting serious about learning guitar and I tried to learn a lot of the songs off this album but never actually got to Mayonaise until this past year when I started learning it on acoustic. The guitar tone alone on this song and album is just killer; thick and fuzzy and squeely. I plan to start playing my acoustic cover of this song soon.
Cave In - Requiem
I was one of the few people who could not only (eventually) get over Cave In’s seemingly 180 degree genre switch from metal to prog indie rock but I love them both equally. Of course I was a bit pissed and thrown off that they switched it so abruptly since Until Your Heart Stops is still my favorite heavy record but Jupiter became a monumental album for me and my guitar playing, use of guitar effects and dynamics. This song is one you just listen to with headphones and close your eyes and it just engulfs you. I also love the fact that this whole album was recorded and tracked live with no overdubs – something rare nowadays and even back then.
Failure - Stuck on You
Without Failure, there would be no Cave In - period. Steve Brodksy, singer of Cave In, would always mention Failure as an influence in interviews and I finally checked them out one day with the album Fantastic Planet and it was blaringly obvious Cave In had taken a huge influence not only from Failure but especially from this album. But instead of this being a negative thing it seemed more of a homage to an amazing and underrated band from the mid 90s. Ken Andrews vocals lull you into a daze in the verses and then right into a heavy guitar laden wall of sound at the chorus. So heavy. Great song.
Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
My friend Adam turned me onto Muse just after Absolution came out. At the time you could only buy it as an import cd for $30 and it was worth every penny (I was really pissed when it was on sale at Newbury Comics years later for $8.99 when they finally got US distribution). This record was everything I could want in a rock band. Epic, huge guitars, musically intelligent, intense vocals, dynamics and heavy as fuck. This song always got my blood pumping and the end is so damn heavy I love it. Such a climactic song. Intense.
Mars Volta - The Widow
Beautiful song. When the Mars Volta are coherent enough for me to enjoy I love them. This song is a brief moment when they let their instruments breathe. Cedric’s vocal performance is one of my favorites from any Volta record. Then half way through the song the acid kicks in and well, there goes that sweet song…
Live - T.B.D.
The bassline of this song just sets the tone of the lyrics so well. This is a deep track in a record that had so many great radio hits but none of them compare to this one for me. I love the way it builds and builds with suspense and finally lets loose and then – relief.
Kid:Nap:Kin - (Lovely Day for a) Parade
One of my favorite Boston bands. Highly underappreciated but such is life. This band and this song in particular mix so many great influences. I’d describe them as Jeff Buckley singing for At the Drive-In. The chorus is intense as fuck and Dan Ellis’ chipmunk vocal highs are ridiculous. Great song and great guitar work.
Radiohead - Everything in its Right Place
Turn this one up loud. That is all.
Jeremy Enigk - World Waits
Jeremy Enigk’s vocals will be the bookends of this mixtape, it seemed fitting that way. This is one of those albums that I wish I made. It’s a great complete album but this closing track about heartache really just sinks it’s teeth into your heart. Jeremy’s sandpapery whiskey soaked vocals just ring with sincerity and honesty. I was lucky enough to have my band open for him on this album’s tour and just hearing him soundcheck with this song made me choke up. Truly a great one. - Brian Marquis

(Click on image to listen in Spotify)
Dead End Path - Never Have Heaven Ever
A$AP Rocky - Trilla Ft. A$AP Twelvy & A$AP Nast
Clipse - Gangsta Lean
D’Angelo - Left and Right
Ghostface Killah - Nutmeg
Freeway - What We Do Ft. Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel
The Roots - Proceed
Outkast - Return Of The “G”
Lauryn Hill - Ex-Factor
Daylight - Selfish
Miles Davis - Pharaoh’s Dance
Frank Ocean - Swim Good
Minority Unit - C.M.F.
If you know, then you know. - Koji

(Click on image to listen in Spotify)
AFI - Leaving Song
I remember one of my best friends griff made a legit mixtape not cd with bands such as cave-in, lagwagon, no use for a name, etc… And this song was on it and I was addicted to it and very quickly became a very big AFI fan!
Acceptance - Take Cover
I would have to say that overall acceptance full length phantoms is my overall favorite record!! So smooth and catchy! Reminds me of a loss for words first tour that was 4 weeks with maverick! We jammed this cd all the time.
Alkaline Trio - Private Eye
This cd never gets old! I could listen to any alkaline trio record from front to back any day. Reason is the lyrics are so untouchable, matt and dan I look up too for sure! They are the realist band out. Also this is the anthem to my best friends basement party’s throughout high school. Band practice, skateboarding, partying, bridge jumping, shows, relationships, and playing air guitar/sing alongs with all my best friends! To be honest my life hasn’t changed much! Haha
Junction 18 - Sweet Steps
If you don’t know this band I really suggest you check them out! They were one of the original bands on fearless records back in the day! These guys grew up in my town so my band really looked up to these guys. Andy (vocalist) is still to this day one of my good friends and still the dude I go to when I need advice. So many memories playing and seeing these guys over the years! Rest in peace MIKE G. Aka POOPA. 
City & Colour - Body In A Box
First off Dallas green is the best solo artist hands down in my opinion. This song helped me deal with one of my best friends Jeremy Michael russell passing away. It’s the song that makes me think of him! Great record, great song.
New Found Glory - Hit Or Miss
This song I think speaks for it self! This is what got me into “pop-punk” and is the reason I’m in a band today! Love watching this band live, never gets old! 
BANE - Some Come Running
Boston hardcore at it’s finest! Remember going to see the give blood cd release in 2001 or 2002 with reach the sky, xsucide filex, glasseater(didn’t show up and I’m still bummed), xfilesx, and the heart in that room that day is something that still is in me! Will never forget my roots and where I came from! Boston hxc
The June Spirit - Roundabout
I remember seeing them at mass art with brand new in 2002 and was blown away! Vocalist was awesome! He is actually the singer that I taught myself to sing too! Never did get to see them play again… But still gets a lot of play time on my I-pod.
Miguel - All I Want Is You
This song is done perfect Miguel has such a soulful voice influenced a lot by prince I’d say! It features j. Cole who is a great hip hop artist. This song is about the struggle of a relationship and as you can tell the chorus has the catchiest hook! I recommend it.
Boyz II Men - Still Of The Night
They did a cover of this song that was sang by them in a movie called new jack city! And their is so much soul into their harmonies it’s insane. Their is no group that sings better then boyz II men that’s a fact! First kiss was to I’ll make love to you back in middle school! Still crush on that girl but I think she is married now! Haha…
Bonus:
I got to give a shout out to B.I.G - Juicy And 2Pac changes. It’s not even an argument that these 2 rappers were the best there was and that will ever be! I have the most respect for them as artists and as people for all that they did in their short life’s here on earth! Their stories and upcoming in the game is just timeless.- Matty Arsenault