Brant's July 2012 Playlist

This month's playlist came out a little heavy on the retro sounds.  Normally throughout the month, I drop songs I like into one "bucket", then spend the last few days of the month listening to everything and whittling the list down to 16-20 favorites.  I try to make sure I have a little of everything (pop, rock, R&B, etc) and usually that works out.  This month, I never really gravitated to the newer sounding stuff.  I finally decided that since our little nation is turning 236, maybe it was okay that a lot of the music on this month's list sounded like years gone by.  At the end of the day - it's still a list that I am excited about sharing.  Enjoy!

1.  Radio (Raphael Saadiq) - Former Tony!Toni!Tone'! member goes solo and sounds like early Stevie (Stevy!Steve'!) Wonder.

2.  Free (Graffiti6) - I had "Annie You Save Me" on last August's list, and this is their latest.  Three Dog Night smiles every time this is played.

3.  Somewhere (Scissor Sisters) - Another band worth repeating (they were also on last month's list).  Reminds me of the sound Giorgio Morodor pioneered with Berlin and other 80s acts.  If you ever get the chance to see them live, DO IT!!!  They put on a fantastic show.  Right, Josh & Adam???

4.  Soul Salvation of Love (Cocktail Slippers) - Norwegian female garage-rockers return with a new song, and establish themselves in my heart as the Go-Go's of the new millennium.

5.  Only You /Imogen Heap mix/ (Joshua Radin) - Imogen Heap teams with Joshua Radin on this lullaby-like remake of the classic Yaz tune.

6.  Good Riddance (Glen Campbell) - Aging country singer sings Green Day.  At first I was like, "Really?!"  Then I was like, "Whoa, this is beyond awesome".

7.  Warrior (Kimbra) - "Somebody That I Used to Know" co-singer steps away from Gotye and into the solo spotlight with this upbeat, uplifting anthem.

8.  Forgive Forget (Caligola) - Swedish band serves up some perky blue-eyed soul.

9.  Two Melodies (Audra Mae & the Almighty Sound) - Judy Garland's great-great niece definitely inherited the family's powerful pipes. Elton John has "Your Song", but Audra Mae's got twice as many to give you!  Boom!

10.  Orange Blossoms (JJ Grey & Mofro) - Jill turned me on to this song.  These guys are always great, and Amazon gives you this download for free!!!

11.  Glitter and Gold (Rebecca Ferguson) - I had her on last month's playlist, and she is also worth a second listen.  Sounds like 1960s/1970s Aretha.

12.  Is That Clear (Nick Waterhouse) - More retro rock sounds!  I don't know anything about this guy except that he totally rocks and appreciates the classic sounds of the 1950s and 1960s.  Will definitely be paying attention to him from now on.  If he and Pete Molinari ever tour together, I'm there!

13.  The A Team (Ed Sheeran) - Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" is still my favorite song about prostitution, but this one isn't bad either.

14.  Greatest Hit (Annie) - Sampling Madonna's 1982 song "Everybody" gives this a charmingly dated sound.  Once again, other people seem to be doing Madonna better than Madonna these days.

15.  Hold Back Love (Kraak & Smaak) - Not sure why the title isn't "Hold Baak Love" given the group's name, but it's some fun straightforward disco.  Is that a cowbell I hear in the background???

16.  Shady (Adam Lambert featuring Sam Sparro and Nile Rodgers) - La Lambert returns with Sam Sparro and the guy from Chic ("Le Freak" and "Good Times").  Glorious, glam, and glad he's back.

17.  Fire Burning (the Urges) - These guys have definitely been listening to their parent's 1960's rock albums.  Another fun band in the spirit of Fitz & the Tantrums and Sonny & the Sunsets.  *NOTE:  they didn't have this song on Spotify, so I subbed it for another fun Urges song - "You Don't Look So Good".

18.  We've Got Tonight (Patti Austin) - Phillip Phillips sang this on "American Idol", so I Googled it to see who else had done it.  Was thrilled to find this version by one of my favorite Jazz singers.

19.  Philadelphia Freedom (Elton John) - Just like some of our best Christmas tunes have been written by Jewish songwriters, one of my favorite American patriotic tunes is performed by a Brit.  Never get tired of it, though.  God Bless America, and the British singers who don't hold the American Revolution against us!

Hope everyone has a safe & fun Independence Day and July!  See you in August!!!