Brant's April 2019 Playlist

This Cheese Challenge is totally ruining my Easter pics. 
And here I thought the pollen was the worst thing I'd have to deal with...

We are deep into pollen season, so obviously I'm spending as much time INDOORS as possible.  Bad for my tan, but good for my playlists.  Last month was R&B heavy, so this month I found myself leaning into rock.  I also found a few African and reggae jams that got me movin'!  So let's go ahead and dive in.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Lo/Hi (the Black Keys) - Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are back with more muscular classic rock to get your Camaro revved up!

2.  Little Bit of Lovin' (Elle King) - Another act I've been impatiently awaiting, and there is no sign of a sophomore slump here.  Gospel overtones in this tune bring to mind the Rolling Stones' classic "You Can't Always Get What You Want" but it's nowhere near as wistful.

3.  Get Out and Get It (Devon Gilfillian) - After hearing this African funk jam, I was shocked to find out the artist was from Nashville!  According to an NPR story, Gilfillian loves "Nigerian psychedelic Afro-rock" and decided to incorporate those sounds into his new single.

4.  Goodie Bag (Still Woozy) - I heard this on Aidy Bryant's fantastic new show "Shrill" and had to have it!  Funky slow jam from Oakland, CA artist Sven Gamsky.

5.  Mr. Telephone (the Mowgli's) - We had "Norman Rockwell" on last month's playlist, but their new EP was too good not to include another tune!  Sunny pop from LA band.

6.  Tears (Nilüfer Yanya) - Jazzy New Wave pop from young Londoner.

7.  Only Us (Ben Levi Ross and Taylor Trensch) - I finally saw "Dear Evan Hansen" last month and loved it (even though it's a serious tear-jerker!).  Soon after, a friend shared a video with me of lead actor Ben Levi Ross singing one of the most well-known songs from the show with his partner Taylor Trensch (who ALSO plays the lead, but in the NYC production).  It's not on Spotify, but definitely worth checking out.  Soooooo adorable!  It should be a bonus track for the show's soundtrack.  You can see it HERE.

8.  Saying Goodbye (JS Ondara) - Kenyan artist gives us all the feels with this gorgeous ballad.

9.  Spinout /the Math Club Remix/ (Glen Campbell) - You would think the words "Glen Campbell" and "remix" would never be found in the same recording - but this loungy remix of one of his lesser known songs is a total banger!!!

10.  Now That I Found You (Carly Rae Jepsen) - Carly is back with more exuberant pop and we all (well, at least I) am rejoicing!

11.  Taxman /Live/ (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) - Because it's tax season, and because both George Harrison and Tom Petty were awesome.

12.  Everywhere (Roosevelt) - Brantworld fave covers the amazing and underrated Christine McVie!

13.  Things Are Changing (Gone Gone Beyond and the Human Experience) - Soulful vocals over chill electronica.

14.  What She's Done to Your Mind (the Three O'Clock) - I adore this band and the Paisley Underground, so I was thrilled to see a new compilation album of these bands covering their favorite tunes from this era.  Highly recommend the whole album!  Here, the Three O'Clock cover the Rain Parade classic from 1983.

15.  She Work Very Hard (Ibibio Sound Machine) - Slamming afro-funk from London band.  It's like Donna Summer meets Manu Dibango!

16.  Foolish Love (the Green) - Hawaiian reggae band serves up acoustic jam with a side of delicious harmonies!

17.  Fake Smile (Ariana Grande) - Pop stars are so much more interesting when their lives fall apart!  I never paid attention to Ariana until her breakup with Pete Davidson, but it's given her some great material for her music!  Here, she samples Wendy Rene's 1964 song "After Laughter Comes Tears" while singing of the struggle to put on a happy face in public while your heart is broken.

18.  Tenderness (General Public) - We lost Ranking Roger in March, so I had to include one of my fave songs from his band.  RIP.

19.  Bellevue Bridge Club (Andrew Bird) - Indie rocker closes us out with a slow-burning anthem about confrontations and close relations.  Not exactly cheery, but it is a great song!

So that's April!  May the Easter Bunny AND the IRS be good to everyone.  Watch out for flying cheese.  See you next month!

Brant's March 2019 Playlist

Dang it.  I forgot to ask if this tuxedo gown is water resistant!

Welp, March is upon us and the only thing I can say is that at least all the rain is keeping the pollen out of the air.  Fortunately, consecutive days indoors gave me plenty of time to browse new music.  This month's playlist is ret 2 go - so let's dive in!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Hard Place (H.E.R.) - We've had Gabi Wilson (aka H.E.R.) on other playlists, but after seeing her perform this song on the Grammys I HAD to start us off with it.  She won two well-deserved Grammys for her music this year.

2.  Norman Rockwell (the Mowgli's) - Sometimes a band slips off my radar only to gloriously show up again!  I put their song "Great Divide" on my March 2013 playlist.  Six years later they're back with this easygoing ode to existential ennui. 

3.   Dearly Departed (Aaron Carter) - I just caught Aaron a few weeks ago when he came through Charlotte, and I found the songs from his comeback album to be really solid.  This particular tune had the entire crowd on their feet!  Easily could've been a Justin Bieber song.

4.  No More Darkness, No More Light (Amos Lee) - I don't think anyone who came of age in the 80s did so without listening to Paul Simon's "Graceland", and that's what I get from this song.  Upbeat, South African instrumentation and vibes! 

5.  Faceplant (Ruston Kelly) - I'll be honest.  Kacey Musgraves bores me.  Her husband, however, does not.  Tales of self-destruction like they used to do in classic country songs.

6.  Heads Gonna Roll (Jenny Lewis) - Another singer who never disappoints.  'Nuff said.

7.  Not Ready to Go (Diane Coffee) - I adore this new artist.  He's always engaging on social media, and I love everything he's recorded.  Hopefully he will have a long, lucrative career.  This plaintive, New Wavey song is off his upcoming album "Internet Arms".

8.  Follow Your Heart (Rat Boy) - Another new artist I'm currently enjoying.  This tune is more in the punk/British genre.  Think Billy Idol.

9.  Only You and Me (Lack of Afro feat. Wax, Alyssa Marie, and Camila Recchio) - A glorious mashup of old school disco, perhaps a dash of Janet Jackson, and hip hop!

10.  It Makes You Forget (the Orielles) - Frenetic and psychedelic Indie rock from young English band!

11. You Got What You Wanted (fDeluxe) - Last month we had St. Paul Peterson on the list.  Upon digging a tad deeper into his catalogue, I found this jazzy funk ditty he recorded with members of his old band The Family.  Thought I'd share it!

12.  Bag Pipe Blues (Gunhild Carling) - Okay, I know bag pipes are more traditionally associated with Scotland - but Ireland has them too!  Tossing this song into the mix as my St. Paddy's Day offering, and also because I love Gunhild.

13.  Medicated Goo (P.P. Arnold) - I adore her version of "First Cut Is the Deepest", so I was intrigued when I read that a previously unreleased 1967 album (produced by Barry Gibb and Eric Clapton!!!) by P.P. Arnold was going to be released.  It totally lived up to the hype.  Here, she covers Steve Winwood/Traffic with stellar results!

14.  Life on Mars? (Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real) - Willie Nelson's son and his band are kicking butt these days.  First, they backed Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in "A Star Is Born" and now they've released this delightful cover of the David Bowie classic.  Can't wait for what's next!  Thanks to my college fraternity bro Al for turning me onto them.

15.  What About Us (Gary Clark Jr) - Guitar aficionado comes storming back with his latest socially conscious album!

16.  Love Is Light (Yola) - Newcomer shines on her country-flavored debut, with an assist from The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.

17.  Golden Hour (Oliver Heimach) - Somewhere in that Bee Gees/Scissor Sisters realm that always makes me smile.  Disco beats and falsetto vocals that are perfect to get you in the mood to go out on a weekend night.

18.  Glass House (Kyle Dion) - More falsettos, but this time with a decidedly 80s R&B influence.

19.  One Breath Away /Paul Oakenfold Remix/ (Billy Idol) - Did someone mention Billy Idol???  Sean turned me on to this, and it's been on repeat ever since!  Oakenfold takes a late-career ballad from Idol's catalog and turns it into a darkly gorgeous dance floor anthem!

So that's March. Hope it eventually dries up and that my sinuses will do the same.  Have a safe and festive St. Paddy's Day, and I'll see you in April!

Brant's February 2019 Playlist

Q.  Does this playlist make me look old?
A.  No, posing with your 21-year old self makes you look old.

The groundhog poked his head out of the dirt and predicted I'd be a day late with this playlist!  It's uncanny how rodents can prognosticate ("hognosticate"?).  Anyway - it's been a busy year for little ol' me and I couldn't pull it together until today!  We've got a little bit of everything on this month's list - so let's just dig in.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  New Brighton (Nakhane feat. Anohni) - South African artist teams up with Anohni (former lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons) for this uplifting single to get us going!

2.  Dylan Thomas (Better Oblivion Community Center) - I pretty much adore anything Conor Oberst touches, so it's no surprise I'm loving this new folk-rock collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers!  

3.  Hazy Shade of Winter (Gerard Way feat. Ray Toro) - Sorry, Weezer!  This is MY favorite cover song of the New Year!  My Chemical Romance guys rocking Simon and Garfunkel!

4.  Juice (Lizzo) - Thank God for friends!  I love Lizzo, but wasn't aware she had a new song out until my friend Anthony gave me the heads up!  Delivered in her usual spunky style, this tune deserves to be played in a convertible packed with your fave peeps while cruisin' your favorite strip.  

5.   Feeling Free (Leisure) - New Zealand is kicking musical butt!  Lorde, Kimbra, and now this funky group!  Whatever they're feeding their kids down there, it's working!  

6.  A Trick of the Light (Villagers) - From New Zealand to another island - this time in the Northern hemisphere!  Irish band serves up some chill Indie folk.

7.   P.S. Be My Valentine (Gunhild Carling) - Not gonna lie - Gunhild is my new obsession.  I'm digging her old school stylings, lately on this delectable Valentine's Day ballad.

8.  Money Is King (Leyla McCalla) - Apparently Rhiannon Giddens isn't the only member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops to go solo!  Talented cellist unearths a Growling Tiger song from the Depression Era and finds it sadly still relevant.  

9.  By Myself (Fidlar) - Rowdy party song with shades of the Beastie Boys!  

10.  Night Creature (Rat Boy feat. Aimee Interrupter) - British Indie artist delivers some psychedelic reggae!

11.  Wasabi (Little Mix) - I was curious about their new album, and found myself gravitating towards this Early 00s-style jam that vaguely reminds me of Britney's "Slave for You".  

12.  You Got 2 Love (St. Paul Peterson) - Prince protégé, member of the Time, and lead singer of The Family is still out there getting his Minneapolis Funk on!  

13.  Ready to Let Go (Cage the Elephant) - Divorce left its scars on lead singer Matt Shultz, but like all great artists - he channeled that pain into his music.  Can't wait to hear the rest of the album! 

14.  King of Everything (Dominic Fike) - My friend Coleman turned me on to this young artist.  Kind of trippy, definitely rocks though!   

15.  When You're Ugly (Louis Cole with Genevieve Artadi) - LA artist makes beautiful music about being homely!  Mellow tongue-in-cheek funk.

16.  Sweet But Psycho (Ava Max) - #1 pop song definitely doesn't need me to call it to people's attention, but it's also really fun so I'm including it anyway!  

17.  we, diamonds (Dawn Richard) - Danity Kane singer is back and as strong as ever!  Uplifting empowerment anthem.

18.  Yah Mo B There (James Ingram) - Another great singer gone.  This 1983 duet with Doobie Brother Michael McDonald earned a Grammy!  RIP

So that's another month of new music!  Hope everyone has a great February and I'll see ya next time!  

Brant's January 2019 Playlist

Shining a spotlight on the best music for your New Year!  

Just think - twenty years ago we were getting ready to party like it was 1999.  Where does the time go?  2019 is literally hours away!  I decided to go ahead and post January's playlist - so that'll be one less thing I have to do in the New Year.  Maybe it's the wet and chilly weather, but I found myself gravitating towards the slow jams and chill tracks.  But we've also got some Indie bands to keep everyone from dozing off!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Aliens in Our Midst (Wussy) - Cincinnati band is back with some of their signature quirky rock! 

2.  Break Out the Champagne (Amanda Shires) - Mrs. Jason Isbell has an extensive repertoire of her own!  This is off her latest album.  My friend Page turned me onto her!  This song feels like she is picking up the baton from Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs with its distinctive vocals and soft rock backdrop.

3.  Bad Guy (Hatchie) - Mellow dream pop from Australian chanteuse. 

4.  Fast Talk (Houses) - Chicago duo faces an existential crises with a sick beat.

5.  While My Heart Is Still Beating (Bryan Ferry) - On his latest album, the former Roxy Music singer reworks his catalog in the style of a 1930s orchestra with surprisingly successful results!  This feels like a night out in Berlin with Christopher Isherwood! 

6.  Just Thought You Should Know (Betty Who) - Much like I said about Olly Murs last month, Betty Who never disappoints!  She's another one of my go-to's when I need some peppy pop! 

7.  Lucia (Roosevelt) - We had "Under the Sun" on last August's playlist.  German electronic artist serves up more sunny beats on this latest tune from his sophomore album. 

8.  Say the Word (Raheem DeVaughan) - R&B crooner is eager to please on this new bedroom jam.

9.  Sufferin' with the Blues (Nancy Wilson) - I never realized how popular Nancy Wilson was until her death this month!  How nice to see all the tributes to this jazz legend on social media.  This was one of my personal favorites of hers.  RIP

10.  Monumental Shame (the Spirit of the Beehive) - Trippy psychedelic rock from Philly band. 

11.  Dumb Blonde (Dolly Parton with Miranda Lambert) - I thoroughly enjoyed the movie "Dumplin'" in its own right, but the soundtrack also exposed me to songs from Dolly Parton's early years.  Here, she remakes one of her first hits, with Country superstar Miranda Lambert. 

12.  Used to You (Foreign Air) - Indie band has gotten some airplay on Sirius/XM with this ambient groove.  They met in Charlotte while touring with different bands! 

13.  Your Nail and Your Hammer (Oh Pep!) - Australian folk duo brings some 1960s girl group flavors to this easy-going jam. 

14.  Chances (Kaytranada and Shay Lia) - Canadian DJ and singer team up for some loungy soul.

15.  TV in the Morning (DNCE) - Maybe it's because I finally tried their family's restaurant in Belmont, NC this month, but I was in the mood for some Jonas music!  Joe Jonas and band explore yacht rock territory on their newest ditty.

16.  Sunday Driver (the Raconteurs) - Jack White and gang serve up some muscular 70s rock!

17.  Grunt Work (Pomplamoose) - Husband/Wife YouTube sensations are known for covering tons of songs.  I can't find out if this is a cover or an original, but I'm digging its 1960s vibes! 

18.  Waiting (Mac Ayres and Chris Anderson) - White boy soul from young NY artist.

19.  Between the Lines (Robyn) - I didn't instantly love Robyn's new album, "Honey", but have to admit it grew on me eventually.  This song especially seems runway-ready.  I fully expect to see drag queens strutting to it in the New Year! 

20.  One Last Time /44 Remix/ (Christopher Jackson, Barack Obama, and Bebe Winans) - Obama does "Hamilton"???  I can't think of a better way to start the New Year!

So that's the first playlist of 2019!  Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!  We'll see you next month. 

Brant's December 2018 Playlist

Bah humbug!  I got visited by THREE spirits and not one of them brought music!  

Like Candy Spelling in her gift decorating room after too many Peppermint Mochas, another year is wrapping up fast!  Christmas albums began coming out back in September, but I'm still not ready for them.  Besides, there was plenty of other great music to check out - so let's get to it!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Sylvia Says /Mind Enterprises Remix/ (Charlotte Gainsbourg) - Whether it's Breakbot (who also remixed this particular song!),  dearly departed Avicii, or DJ Snake - Europeans are masters of Electronica.  I'm totally digging this 80's flavored remix of Charlotte Gainsbourg's tune from her critically acclaimed album "Rest". 

2.  Lover Chanting (Little Dragon) - Yukimi Nagano and the gang are back with more trippy European electronica to help you dance off those Thanksgiving calories.

3.  Ride or Die (the Knocks feat. Foster the People) - I really thought after "Pumped Up Kicks" that Foster the People would be a one-hit wonder, but they continue to turn out great music, this time with American duo the Knocks!

4.  Gut Feeling (Ella Mai feat. H.E.R.) - Another powerhouse pairing that has been on heavy rotation since I first heard it.  Two R&B divas join forces for a simmering slow jam!

5.  Dream Operator (Talking Heads feat. Annie McEnroe) - It took him 32 years, but David Byrne has FINALLY released the complete soundtrack to "True Stories"!  I liked the Talking Heads' version, but something about Annie McEnroe's vocals from the film really took this song to the next level for me!  It sounds like a quirky lullaby sung to the world's coolest toddler!  The scene from the movie is probably one of my favorite 1980s movie clips ever!

6.  Winter's Day (Gunhild Carling) - I stumbled across a video of her performing "Bag Pipe Blues" at a jazz festival, and was immediately #obsessed with Gunhild.  What's not to like about a blonde bombshell with a horn???  Here, she welcomes the season with a mix of vocals and trumpet!

7.  Really Gone /Hansa Session/ (Chvrches) - Whoa.  Electronic band goes acoustic with gorgeous string renditions of songs from their latest album.  Perfect for listening as the snow falls.

8.  Flower in the Gun (Michael Franti with Victoria Canal) - One of my favorite live performers is back with a new album, and this earnest plea for world peace. I miss his "Ganja Babe" days, but this'll do in the meantime! 

9.  Messin' with Me (Northern Faces) - Indie band from Albany gets the party going again with this song from their sophomore album!

10.  New Compassion (Haerts) - German duo serves up some anthemic rock with soaring vocals.

11.  Farther Away (Sam Valdez) - LA songwriter reminds me of a female Chris Isaak with her mellow crooning and seductive guitar strumming!

12.  Feel the Same (Olly Murs feat. Nile Rodgers) - Olly is my go-to guy when I want some upbeat pop, and this partnership with Nile Rodgers only increases the fun!

13.  On the Inside (Cindy Wilson) - I'm really digging Cindy Wilson's (B-52s) solo material.  I had "Ballistic" on last August's playlist, but had to showcase this dreamy selection from last year's "Change" album.

14.  All I Needed Was the Rain (Glen Campbell) - Glen Campbell began his career recording demos for Elvis Presley!  Who knew???  Fortunately, someone dug up the recordings from 1964-68 and decided to make them available to the public.  Here, he sounds like Elvis covering a Bobbie Gentry tune!

15.  Get By (Diane Coffee) - California artist, and frequent Brantworld listee, Shaun Fleming is giving me life with this glam rock ditty!

16.  Dance Hall Days (Theophilus London) - Trinidadian-born American performs a solid cover of Wang Chung's classic, warming the original with a tropical flair!

17.  Great (IDLES) - Punk has always been a rallying cry against mainstream culture, so what a thrill to see it utilized here to call out the racist haters in the world by beloved British band IDLES.

18.  Crazy (Taichi Mukai) - I'm really getting into Asian pop!  Here, "Japanesey" artist gets our feet tappin' with some danceable R&B!

19.  Candy Cane Lane (Sia) - I had to include at least one Christmas song!  Since last year's December playlist was all vintage holiday music, I went contemporary for this year's selection.  Sia took a huge creative risk by releasing an album of original material for the season, but I think she did a great job!  I guess time will tell if any of these reach the heights of Mariah's 1994 standard ("All I Want for Christmas Is You").

So that's our last list for 2018!  Hope everyone has a festive holiday season - and stay warm!  I'll see you in the New Year!

Brant's November 2018 Playlist

New music always gets a thumbs up!  Mitch McConnell?  Not so much.  

Okay - now that Halloween is behind me and I've voted - time for a new playlist!  I actually had a tough time pulling together this month's list, due in part to the fact that all the new music seemed to be Christmas albums!!!  It's not even December, people!  Let's give everyone time to put away their Halloween decorations and enjoy Thanksgiving before we start breaking out the holly.  Plus, I always like to have had my flu shot before I start kissing people under the mistletoe.

Anyway - here's this month's list.  Last month was R&B heavy, so this month I found myself leaning towards the rock offerings.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  You're the One (Greta Van Fleet) - I'm starting to notice some pushback from music lovers, who report that this young band's Led Zeppelin sound is starting to feel rote.  I certainly see their point, but good songs are good songs - and I'm digging this one.  Can't wait to catch them live on this current tour.

2.  Blue Again (Weakened Friends) - Maybe it's because I grew up in the age of Punk and Grunge Rock, but there will always be a place in Brantworld for this kind of unhinged female vocals and growling guitars!  Nothing weak here!

3.  Resting Bitch Face (Boy George and Culture Club) - I was lucky enough to catch them this summer on tour, and it was worth the wait.  Boy George's voice is shockingly lower in register, but all of the feeling still comes through.  The band has always been known for tackling different genres of music (bluegrass with "Karma Chameleon" and the gentle reggae of "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"), but to my knowledge they've never done anything with this Memphis Soul vibe.  At a time when so many of the stars of the 80s are no longer with us, we're fortunate to have Boy George still around and still taking chances with his music.

4.  The Wave (Lion Babe with Leikeli47) - Funky soul workout from American duo.

5.  Tongue Tied (Earl) - This popped up on a streaming app and I was instantly #obsessed.  The swing sound of the last millennium gets a 21st century update, with glorious results! 

6.  Strawberry Lover (Mazarati) - My quest to own everything Paisley Park continues!  Mazarati is best known for the song they didn't get - Prince's signature song "Kiss".  They still managed to put together a solid album back in 1986, however.  This psychedelic soul ditty (with lyrics by Prince!) was a standout for me.  Not on Spotify, but you can listen to it HERE.

7.  Boogie All Night (Chic with Nao) - Nile Rodgers is still going strong, serving up fun, danceable grooves - this time with an assist from British singer Nao.  BTW - why did we EVER stop saying "boogie"???   

8.  Best Years of My Life (Pistol Annies) - Country supergroup returns with gorgeously despondent harmonies and tales of suburban ennui.

9.  We Might As Well Dance (Madeleine Peyroux) - I had "Party Tyme" on last month's list, but I can't get enough of Peyroux's latest album chronicling life in the modern era!  "Party Tyme" had a snarky, ironic tone - but this one soothes us with quiet resignation.

10.  1999 (Charli XCX and Troye Sivan) - Not to be confused with the Prince song "1999" (which looked forward),  this duet looks back with nostalgia at the last year of the previous millennium.  Percolating pop from two of today's most engaging artists.

11.  make you feel pretty (lovelytheband) - Handclaps and singalong chorus from LA indie band.

12.  Not Many Miles to Go (Rosanne Cash) - Introspective lyrics and a toe-tapping melody, from well-respected songwriter and Country music royalty.

13.  Are You Okay? (Winnetka Bowling League) - Wistful dream pop from LA band (Gossip Alert:  singer and songwriter Matthew Koma is Hilary Duff's baby daddy!!!).

14.  (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang (LCD Soundsystem) - Well-known Brooklyn band covers Heaven 17's frenetic political hit, which is sadly relevant again!

15.  Before You Get a Boyfriend (Phony PPL) - Delicious R&B vocals with a dash of hip hop.

16.  Heart to Break (Kim Petras) - Transgender German pop diva delivers some fearless danceable sass to burn off those Thanksgiving calories!

17.  Love Like Ours (Estelle with Tarrus Riley) - London singer closes us out with some easy reggae.

So that's November's list!  Hope everyone has a great month, and get out there and VOTE today!!!  If you need transportation - many car, bike, and scooter sharing companies like Lyft and Lime are offering discounted rides to the polls.  Or if you know a Mark Harris supporter - maybe he'll loan you his servant wife so she can drive you.  See you next month!

Brant's October 2018 Playlist

New music.  Some sweet new headphones.  What could possibly go wrong?

Well, here we are with September behind us, and only three months left in 2018.  What's been going on?  Brett Kavanaugh is pursuing his seat on the Supreme Court like Michael Myers pursuing Jamie Lee Curtis, which is surprisingly on point since "Halloween" premiered 40 years ago this month.  I've also got some killer new songs to share.  This month I seemed to gravitate towards jazz and R&B numbers, so grab some candy corn and settle in for some smooth beats and funky basslines.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Love Just Ain't Enough (Kara Marni) - London artist emotes over tribal beats and a cowbell!

2.  Whathegirlmuthafuckinwannadoo (the Coup with Janelle Monáe) - I would follow Janelle Monáe anywhere!!!  Here she's serving groovy old-school soul that would make Betty Wright proud!

3.  You're Somebody Else (flora cash) - Husband and wife duo made their American TV debut with this song on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" back in August.  Dreamy vocals over minimal instrumentation.

4.  Party Tyme (Madeleine Peyroux) - Peyroux is another artist I've grown to love over the years.  Her new album "Anthem" deals with the challenges of modern-day life, and this one is a slightly dark/slightly humorous take on life in rehab.

5.  Tieduprightnow (Parcels) - German band has clearly been listening to their parents' Nile Rodgers/Chic disco records!

6.  Count on Me (Jefferson Starship) - Founder and lead singer Marty Balin died this month.  He had a tempestuous history with the band, but there's no denying they made great music together!  RIP.

7.  Run Run (RAY BLK) - Reggae-tinged song details the singer's experiences on the streets of London.

8.  Adeus America (Susannah McCorkle) - I'm not sure where I heard this song, but Pandora or Spotify or somebody suggested it to me and I was immediately hooked to its easy samba beats.  Sad to hear the singer committed suicide back in the early 2000s.

9.  You Used to Hold Me So Tight /Club Mix/ (Reel People feat. Angela Johnson) - One of my fave Thelma Houston songs gets a fantastic update!

10.  Comeback (Ssion) - I had "Tell Me About It" on last month's playlist, but there was too much deliciousness on Ssion's newest album not to include another selection for October.

11.  New Birth in New England (Phosphorescent) - References to beer?  Tropical beats?  I think it's fair to compare this to Jimmy Buffett, in all the best ways!

12.  Here I Am (Dolly Parton with Sia) -  I would never have put these two together, but they make magic!!!  An update of Dolly's 1971 ballad.

13.  Dope Queen Blues (Adia Victoria) - Nashville-based singer delivers some bluesy soul.

14.  100 Miles and Running (Logic feat. Wale and John Lindahl) - I don't usually put a lot of hip hop on my lists, because frankly I don't feel like I'm a good judge of it - but I do know what I like!  Logic and friends serve up some lightning-fast rhymes over Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache".

15.  Dust /Dimitri from Paris vs Cotonete Discomix/ (Gizelle Smith) - French collaborators Dimitri from Paris and Cotonete transform Gizelle Smith's funky soul workout into a sizzling disco jam that would've gotten the Studio 54 crowd moving!

16.  Lucretia My Reflection (Sisters of Mercy) - I always like to have a Halloween song on my October playlists, and pretty much any Sisters of Mercy song fits the bill.  FULL DISCLOSURE:  I used to think the chorus was saying, "Vampire down!!!"  (It's really saying "Empire down")  Still works for Halloween, though, since they later ask to "dance the ghost with me"!

So that's October.  Hope everyone has a safe and spooky Halloween, and I'll see you next month!