Brant's January 2017 Playlist

I opted for something simple and homemade to wear for New Year's Eve

Well, the craptastic year that took Prince, David Bowie, George Michael, and countless others from us is finally over.  Here's hoping 2017 is much kinder to us and the musicians we love.  Speaking of music, we've got some new songs!  I saw an article posted online the other day that says after age 33, the majority of people don't listen to new music anymore.  I'm happy to be bucking this trend, and hope some of you are too.  Life is too short to simply rehash your old playlists, no matter how great they are.  To listen to this month's list on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Tell My Heart (Nora En Pure) - We had the instrumental of this song, called "Lake Arrowhead", on last September's playlist!  Looks like somebody wrote some lyrics and added vocals by Dani Senior.  Seemed like a fun, upbeat way to start the year off.

2.  Indecision (Shura) - English singer/songwriter keeps the party going with some 80s flavored dance pop.

3.  Heavydirtysoul (Twenty One Pilots feat. Mutemath) - Mutemath takes Twenty One Pilots from the lounge and into the arena, expanding the sound of the original and making it even more epic!

4.  Gold (the Shelters) - Breezy, 60s style rock from LA band.

5.  Bullets (Kaytranada feat. Little Dragon) - Trippy beats and Yukimi Nagano's airy vocals combine to create the most blissed out anti-gun anthem ever!

6.  Radiate (Rockets) - Not sure where I stumbled across this, but it's the 80s version of trippy beats and bliss.  From the French band's 1981 album Pi Greco, 3,14.

7.  Sexual (Neiked feat. Dyo) - Gary turned me on to this one.  Perky Euro-Pop to get your body moving, both vertically and horizontally!

8.  I Knew You Were Waiting for Me (George Michael and Aretha Franklin) - The latest artist to be taken from us too soon.  D@mn you, 2016!  George Michael has a huge catalog of songs from which to choose, but ultimately I landed on this one - a duet with the Queen of Soul from 1987 which went on to chart at Number One in multiple countries, and win a Grammy!  RIP

9.  Redbone (Childish Gambino) - Some people are so talented it makes me feel like an invertebrate.  Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, started out as a comedy writer for 30 Rock before moving into music.  Two Grammy nominations later, he's back with this slinky slow jam clearly influenced by Prince.

10.  I Always Knew/Hotline Bling (the Struts) - I love hearing bands cover tunes that they love.  Here, the always engaging band The Struts covers the Vaccines and Drake in an unexpected mashup.  Not on Spotify, but you can watch the video HERE.

11.  Name on a Matchbook (Springtime Carnivore) - I heard this on the soundtrack to Crazyhead and immediately had to download it!  It has a great retro feel to it, like Nancy Sinatra meets the "Monster Mash".

12.  Not Easy (Alex da Kid with Wiz Khalifa, X Ambassadors, and Elle King) - With a lineup like this, it's no surprise this song is so awesome!  A glorious conglomeration of cowboy folk, hip hop, and electronica.

13.  Shakedown Street (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) - Another hybrid that perhaps shouldn't work, but does.  UMO provides a funky cover of the Grateful Dead's classic tune from the album of the same name.

14.  To Be Without You (Ryan Adams) - Fresh off his album of Taylor Swift covers, the prolific North Carolina-born artist returns with this gorgeous ballad.

15.  Blue Moon (Pink Martini feat. Rufus Wainwright) - After a great collaboration on "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again" (featured on my October 2013 playlist!), the Oregon band partners with Wainwright once more to make magic.

16.   It's Over (Julaiah feat. Brothers Nalbandyan) - Taken from Hed Kandi's Serve Chilled 2016 compilation.  Sophisticated club beats and silky vocals that will go perfectly with whatever you're drinking to toast the New Year.

17.  United State of Pop 2016 (DJ Earworm) - An end-of-year mashup of some of 2016's hottest pop music, courtesy of DJ Earworm.  Also not on Spotify, but you can find it on Soundcloud.

So that's our first list of 2017.  Hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve, and that 2017 brings health and happiness for all!  See ya next month!