Brant's April 2012 Playlist

Ahhhhh...or should I say ah-CHOO?! April is upon us, and with the pollen comes a fresh batch of songs. Many of these are not new releases - they are just great tunes I've come across either while hanging out with someone or just by trolling through the internet seeing what's out there. Enjoy!

1. Honestly (Hot Chelle Rae) - Sunny, if brutally frank, pop that has been getting some airplay on Sirius.

2. Wild Horses (Vess) - A Charlotte band that I'm happy to report I've come into contact with! Their most recent single, "10,000 Eyes" is available as a free download at http://vess.bandcamp.com/track/10000-eyes-single

3. Wrote a Song for Everyone (Mavis Staples) - I just caught Mavis live this past Friday and she was awesome! With a production assist from Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, she won a Grammy for "You Are Not Alone", the CD this track is taken from.

4. Stay the Night (James Blunt) - Joyous new tune from singer/songwriter/former Army officer is (thankfully) light years away from his sappy "You Are Beautiful" debut.

5. Family Affair (Lalah Hathaway) - Annetta had Lalah on her Sexy Sistahs playlist, through which I discovered this fantastic "Sly & the Family Stone" cover.

6. Disco Dancer (Lemon) - I keep listening for the irony in this song, but can't say for sure it's there. Perhaps Lemon truly is nostalgic for the mirror balls and lighted dance floors of 1979!

7. Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow (the Monkees) - I'd already put "Daydream Believer" on my June 2011 playlist, so in tribute to Davy Jones' passing, I selected this lesser known tune. RIP Davy!

8. Dead Wrong (Hanni El Khatib) - Just stumbled across this, possibly as a suggestion for people who have downloaded Pete Molinari. Love the 1960s vibes.

9. Running Up That Hill (Isadar) - Funky remake of the Kate Bush classic that somehow is also true to the original.

10. I'm Still Waiting (Kate Bush) - I was searching for new material by Kate Bush, but unfortunately most of it is slow tempo to the point of being comatose. I DID find an EP of outtakes from 1989's "The Sensual World" that included this song!

11. Long Way to Get (Bob Schneider) - Dave turned me on to this song during a recent wine-on-the-front-porch evening.

12. Soldier's Joy (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) - This tune features the late Earl Scruggs on banjo, and is on my list of songs it's impossible to be sad while listening to! RIP Earl!

13. F*ck I Hate the Cold (Cowboy Junkies) - Jill's "Expo Girls" playlist had the Junkies on it, so I was inspired to see what they've been up to lately. This is a bluesy rant off their latest.

14. Hang It Up (the Ting Tings) - Booty shakin' newest from the English duo.

15. Say You Like Me (We the Kings) - Boy Band vocals with upbeat reggae flavahs? Yes, please!

16. That's Understanding (Tami Lynn) - Another song Jill turned me on to. Love the 1970s soul sounds - this was recorded in 1972.

17. Bobby (Youth Lagoon) - 20 year old Trevor Powers recorded this in his bedroom & garage! Haunting groove that I enjoy the more I listen to it.

18. Three Flights Up (Nanci Griffith) - This is a personal throwback from my dental school days. Its easy stylings were great for studying and alleviating grad school stress. Still love it.

19. Notes of the Past /Lovely FM on the Beach Remix/ (Papik) - I saw Daniel listening to this band on Spotify. Love the loungey Swing Out Sister feel of this mix. Makes me want a Mai Tai and a coastal sunset!

Anyway, that's this month's batch! See ya in May!