Friday, March 4, 2011

Brant's March 2011 Playlist

Advanced warning - this is a weird one. I think I'm just bored with a lot that is out there, so I was searching ALL over for interesting stuff.

1. Get Some (Lykke Li) - Swedish chanteuse doesn't need a ring on it. She's a prostitute.

2. Helena Beat (Foster the People) - upbeat follow up to their excellent "Pumped Up Kicks". Can't wait for their full length CD to drop.

3. Hold My Hand (Michael Jackson feat. Akon) - As creepy as it is to release songs after people die, I have to admit I like this one. I just wish I could feel confident that the folks who decided to release this record were doing it to share the music and not just reap some final profits.

4. I'll Be Waiting (Adele) - Adele gets her Janis Joplin on for this soulful performance. Love the horns!

5. Cut It Loose (Nic Cowan) - Country tinged stomper that sounds like John Cougar Mellencamp

6. Blue Skies Again (Jessica Lea Mayfield) - this was a free download on iTunes. I didn't like it at first but it's growing on me. Can a song be peppy and gloomy at the same time?

7. Simon Simon (Dale Bozzio) - stumbled across this while looking through some 80s stuff. Dale was lead singer of Missing Persons. After she left the band, she cut this single and a solo album. It seemed like a no brainer that she'd do great as a solo artist, but for whatever reason it never happened for her.

8. Triangle Walks /Rex the Dog remix/ (Fever Ray) - Side project of Karin Andersson from the Knife. The Knife's stuff is really weird and trippy, but this is...well, still weird and trippy - but you can dance to it.

9. Hey Alli (Runner Runner) - catchy boy band pop

10. September (Full Flava feat. Chantay Savage) - mid tempo cover of the Earth Wind & Fire song with Chantay's tasty vocals

11. Sweetest Taboo (the Watson Twins) - Jill had this on her playlist last month. It's a great interpretation of the Sade song. Free on Daytrotter

12. Girlfriendz (Drizabone Soul Family) - 1990s UK act returns with this smooth soul record

13. In the Ashes (Late Night Alumni) - LNA return with a spooky dance track. The Tuned Logic remix is good too, and a free download at http://soundcloud.com/tunedlogic/in-the-ashes-tuned-logic-remix

14. New Touch (Jimmy Edgar) - Funky outer space robot jam!

15. Work That Fat (Prince) - Unreleased Prince track I stumbled across while trolling the music blogs. Not very PC but can't argue with the beat. Prince is still playing with the vocal distortions on this tune - sounds like an out-take from Diamonds & Pearls.

16. One Last D.A.N.C.E. (5 & A Dime) - Ever go out and get blasted and dance your butt off, and the whole evening is a blur? That's what this mash up reminds me of. Your whole evening condensed into 3 minutes & 42 seconds. Free on PumptheBeat.com

17. Leaving It Up to You (Colleen Green) - the alt rock Donny & Marie cover song you never knew you wanted (but now you do!)

18. Bar (Sonia Leigh) - Imagine if Hank Williams Jr's soul got put in a skinny, butch 20 year old girl. She opened for Loretta Lynn and was great live.

19. Calling All Friends (the Low Stars) - A Facebook friend had this on her wall and I loved the song. Sounds like classic Cat Stevens to me.

20. Make Me Lose Control (Eric Carmen) - This month's throwback is a guilty, guilty pleasure that came on the other day while my iPod was on shuffle. Total 80s cheese, but it always makes me smile. I have to admit, when Eric sings "turn the radio up" I usually do.