Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Brant's August 2018 Playlist

If it's going to rain all the time, you might as well have something fun to wear!  

It's another rainy day in North Carolina.  I think we've had at least a quick thunderstorm every day for the last month.  The upside of all this is that I've had plenty of time to browse music!  We've got some lead-singers-gone-solo, new songs from reliable favorites, and a couple of old school selections worth remembering!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Under the Sun (Roosevelt) - Nothing like getting rained on every day to make you miss the sun!  And I've missed Roosevelt!!!  Totally digging this new song from his upcoming album.

2.  All For You (Years and Years) - Another returning fave serves up some danceable pop!

3.  Kissing Tree (the Spencer Lee Band) - This West Coast talent is giving me shades of Bill Withers with this funky jam!

4.  Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (Susan Tedeschi) - I had the pleasure of catching Susan live with the Tedeschi Trucks Band last month (got rained on, natch!), and was blown away by her cover of this Bob Dylan song.  Definitely see them if they come to your town!

5.  Sad Song Backwards (Jake Shears) - Counting the days until the Scissor Sisters' lead singer's solo album comes out!  Until then, we have this new offering.  Dare I say it reminds me of Tony Orlando and Dawn (and I'm cool with that!)?

6.  My Name Is the Night (Brian Fallon) - The second in our Lead-Singer-Gone-Solo series!  Gaslight Anthem vocalist delivers on this Springsteen-esque rock throw-down.

7.  Sugar Daddy (Macy Gray) - Macy is still out there making music, even if she's not showing up in the Top 40 these days.  Love this playful R&B ditty.

8.  Wanna Be (the Internet) - Jazzy, soulful slow jam from 2015 Grammy nominees.

9.  The War After the War (Mary Gauthier) - Folk singer worked with real life soldiers and their families to tell their stories on her new album, giving them songwriting credits and all!  A tough, but necessary, listen for all Americans.

10.  Heaven Only Knows (Bob Moses) - Canadian duo serves heavenly harmonies over 80s beats.

11.  Metal (Poppy) - American chanteuse covers Gary Numan's 1979 release (B-side to his hit record "Cars").   Craig turned me on to this!

12.  Simplify (Young the Giant) - California alt-rock band is back with a new uplifting single!

13.  Half a Mind (Loretta Lynn) - Country legend covers another country legend, from the upcoming Roger Miller tribute album.

14.  Cyber Stockholm Syndrome (Rina Sawayama) - Japanese/British model makes some pretty awesome R&B music!

15.  Betcha I (Chaka Khan) - Chaka famously covered Prince's "I Feel For You" in 1984, but in 1998 (20 years ago this summer!) they also produced an album together called "Welcome 2 My House".  It's criminally out of print, but I tracked down a copy last month, and love this funky number co-written by Chaka and Prince.   Not on Spotify, but you can listen to it HERE.

16.  Ballistic (Cindy Wilson) - Lead-Singer-Gone-Solo #3.  I caught the B-52's earlier this summer and was thrilled to learn that singer Cindy Wilson had released some solo stuff this past year.  This rowdy number showcases her still-strong-as-ever vocals but places them in a lively electronic/dance format we haven't really seen in her music with the B-52's.

17.  Stardust (Silverland) - Glittery house beats to get your booty moving!

18.  Da B Side (Da Brat feat. The Notorious B.I.G.) - Saw this on a 25th anniversary compilation.  I never knew they collaborated, so what a treat to hear!  From the Bad Boys soundtrack, and reissued on Jermaine Dupris presents So So Def 25.

So that's another month of music!  Hope everyone is staying dry, and we'll see ya in September (hey, that sounds like a song title)!




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