Brant's March 2013 Playlist

When's the last time we had a good, old fashioned hippie singalong?  Greeting the morning starshine in the Age of Aquarius!  It seems like forever, but your wait is over.  This month's playlist is chock full of groovy 1960's sounds.  I wasn't actively searching for them, but that's what I ended up with.  Several of this month's selections seem to be teaching the world to sing as they channel "Godspell" and the Mamas and the Papas.  I'm not sure if it is the recent success of acts like Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers and The Black Keys - but it seems like Americana and roots rock is also making a comeback.  So why fight it?  Let's strap on our macrame' headbands, put on our brightest tie-dyes, and enjoy!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Buried (Family of the Year) - Catchy vocals espousing hokey spirituality gets us going.  I hope they have a big coffin!

2.  Kissing You Goodbye (The Pierces) - If someone had told me this was a long-lost Mamas & Papas recording, I would have believed them!  Gorgeous harmonies and a great melody from two Alabama sisters.

3.  Because I Know That I Can (Andy Burrows) - I had "Hometown" on January's playlist, and now he's back with this mellow groove from the same album.

4.  Little Numbers (Boy) - Swiss/German band serves up some early-Cure sounding pop (think "Love Cats" with female vocals).

5.  Halleluiah Man (Love and Money) - Every now and then I find a song I missed the first time around.  This showed up on Traxx FM's 80's channel and I loved it.

6.  Sweet Life (Frank Ocean) - The man won a Grammy AND beat Chris Brown!  #winning

7.  Yellow Gold (Andy Allo) - Produced by PRINCE!!!  You can definitely hear his influence on this funky/jazzy tune.  Looks like she got into Sheila E's wardrobe for the album cover!

8.  Middle of the Night (Lilly Wood & the Prick) - I was expecting punk rock when I saw the name of the band, but it's actually disco!

9.  Ten Thousand Angels (Mindy McCready) - This tragic country singer committed suicide last month, following the suicide of her baby-daddy.  This is a re-recording of her 1996 hit, from her final album.

10.  A Case of You (James Blake) - As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm obsessed with the music feed on Facebook.  This was one I saw my friend Desiree listening to - and immediately sought out.  The vocals are very similar to Antony Hegarty (of Antony & the Johnsons), which works perfectly on Joni Mitchell's classic ballad.  Thanks, Desiree!!!

11.  Love Is Easy (McFly) - Because I'd never go a month without a boy-band.  One of the UK's biggest boy bands recorded three new tunes for their Greatest Hits CD, "Memory Lane".  This is the first of them.  J'adore.  NOTE:  If you don't see this on Spotify, but you can listen to it on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/ligia-savoine/love-is-easy-mcfly

12.  Bruises (Train featuring Ashley Monroe) - I wasn't a huge fan of "Drive By", which sounded a little too pop/generic for my tastes.  This is the follow-up single, which sounds a little truer to their legacy of hits like "Hey Soul Sister" and "Calling All Angels", IMHO.

13.  Lost in My Bedroom (Sky Ferreira) - Another poached song - this one is from Zach.  Featuring female vocals over Euro-influenced electronic beats, it kinda reminds me of early Berlin and Terri Nunn.

14.  The Great Divide (The Mowgli's) - Hey, the hippies are back again!  Upbeat, groovy rock in the style of Canned Heat.  Let's hop in the VW Bus and roadtrip!

15.  In It Together (Human Life) - Perfect for strutting down the runway in your fiercest couture (or at least practicing for the day you might).

16.  From Nowhere (Dan Croll) - Icy anthem from Liverpool up-and-comer who has worked with Sir Paul McCartney, while attending the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts!

17.  Circles Around the Sun (Dispatch) - Upbeat folk-rock from recently reunited Boston band.

18.  Restless Heart (Matt Hires) - More adrenaline-charged folk-rock, this time from Tampa, Florida singer-songwriter Matt Hires.

19.  Up Against the Wall (Fiction Family) - Winding down our March playlist is this easy ballad from hybrid band Fiction Family, made up of members from Switchfoot and Nickel Creek.  "Our love is a puzzle that can't be solved..." Been there, done that!

So that's March!  Hope everyone has a great month.  See you in April!