Brant's January 2011 Playlist

1. Wake Up Everybody (Thelma Houston) - 30 years after her iconic "Don't Leave Me This Way", Thelma sounds as good as ever. This seemed like an appropriate message to start the New Year.
2. Here He Comes Again (Cheetah Whores) - I'm pretty sure it was Jill who turned me on to this band. I already love female garage rock, and this band was bad-ass enough to be on the "Sharktopus" soundtrack!
3. Tell Me I'm a Wreck (Every Avenue) - Fun, catchy emo rock
4. Hey Soul Sister (Glee cast) - Train's sublime song gets the Glee treatment, with glorious results
5. Fallin (Jay Z and Marvin Gaye) - Aneesha called this to my attention. It's a mash-up of "Fallin" from Jay Z's "American Gangster" album and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Free download at http://www.jayandmarvin.com/.
6. Exception of Love (the Truth) - Found this in the Used CD store. I vaguely remember them from the 1980s but listening to them again I'm pleasantly surprised how well it's held up over time. Reminds me of Style Council and The Jam.
7. Time Machine (Robyn) - Robyn continues her pop onslaught with "Body Talk Pt. 3".
8. All the Bugs Are Growing (Wussy) - I can't remember how I stumbled across this Cincinnati band, but they always make me smile. Also check out "Motorcycle" and "God's Camaro".
9. Outside (the Black Ryder) - These guys opened for the Cult on their most recent tour. Kinda shoe-gaze, but they were great live.
10. Buzzin' (Mann) - Never thought I'd hear Nu Shooz sampled in a rap song, but it works!
11. I Am a Song (Electric Six) - Imagine Steppenwolf with Lou Reed's backup singers, repackaged for the new Millennium.
12. We R Who We R (Aer) - Ke$ha gets kidnapped by stoner straight boys who force her to chill the f*ck out! Free download at http://pumpthebeat.com/?s=aer.
13. Big Wave (Jenny & Johnny) - Jenny Lewis ditches the Watson Twins for boyfriend Jonathan Rice, to serve up some tasty surf rock.
14. Shell Games (Bright Eyes) - Didn't see this coming! Conor Oberst returns to his original band. Has a New Wave feel to it, but still 100% Conor.
15. Stereo Love (Edward Maya featuring Vika Jigulina) - Sirius has been playing the heck out of this but it's catchy. Makes you feel like you are in a quaint European cafe' somewhere.
16. I Buried a Bone (Blind Pilot) - Heard this on the "Cyrus" soundtrack and was thrilled to find it as a free download on Daytrotter.
17. Make It Hot (Teena Marie) - When she died last month, I started going through her most recent recordings - which I'm embarrassed to admit I hadn't paid much attention to previously. Hard to believe this is a woman in her 50s singing. Lady T was HOT right up to the end. She will be missed.
18. One Step Closer to Something Good (Linkin Park vs. Utah Saints) - Another mash-up, this time with a Kate Bush sample added to the fun. Jeff turned me on to this. Free download at http://www.mediafire.com/?vwoizcmzbmb.
19. Like OMG, Baby (DJ Earworm) - Third and final mash-up, this time of 2010 pop hits! Free download at http://djearworm.com/.
20. Point of View (DB Boulevard) - This month's throwback. This song was on every self-respecting gay man's stereo when it came out in 2002 (it was even featured in a "Sex & the City" episode), then it disappeared. Not sure what made me think about it, but decided to track it down. Still sounds great!