Brant's September 2013 Playlist

Where did the summer go?!?!  I can't believe Labor Day is here already.  Well, here's this month's music in case you're looking for some new tunes over the holiday weekend.  Enjoy.  To listen on Spotify click HERE.

1.  All I Know (Washed Out) - Kinda feels like listening to 70s FM radio on while on drugs.  I love the cheesy "Dream Weaver" synthesized flourishes throughout (first one is at 1:22).

2.  I've Got Your Number (She & Him) - I had them on my Christmas 2011 playlist, and they return to help us wrap up our summer.  Loving the 1960s surfer vibes.

3.  I Wish I Knew (Doris) - Jill had Doris on last month's playlist and I was immediately taken with her groovy sound.  This is from her 1970 album which has been re-released on CD and has been called (from Wikipedia) one of the "forty essential funk albums" in music history!  Not bad for a white girl from Sweden.

4.  Bedbugs (the Limousines) - I love this band!!!  More delicious, bouncy New Wave stylings from the band that gave us "Love Is a Dog From Hell".

5.  Another Girl Another Planet (the Only Ones) - Last month I noted that "Video Killed the Radio Star" was a song I didn't realize was a cover tune when it became popular.  Same story this month with this song.  I had only heard the Blink 182 version.  The Only Ones originally cut this in 1978.  This is why I love digging through the bins at the used CD stores.  I find all kinds of stuff out by doing that.

6.  Wrote a Song for Everyone (John Fogerty with Miranda Lambert) - Rock legend revisits some of his classic hits on his latest album, with some friends along for the ride.  Loved this duet with the most excellent Miranda Lambert.

7.  I'm Not Okay (Trent Dabbs) - TV show "Drop Dead Diva" played the Jill Andrews version of this song, which she co-wrote with Dabbs.  Jill's version hasn't been released yet, but the Dabbs version is also really nice. 

8.  The Greatest (Cher + Lady Gaga) - Cher is gonna be super pissed I put this on here, but oh well.  Leaked duet from their upcoming albums.  Jordan turned me on to this.  I'm sure if you Google it, you'll be able to find it out there.

9.  Dance Apocalyptic (Janelle Monae) - Capitalizing on her exposure after singing "We Are Young" with Fun, Monae returns with this catchy pop ditty.

10.  Pumpin' Blood (NoNoNo) - More upbeat pop, complete with whistling chorus!

11.  Crickets (Drop City Yacht Club) - I had my doubts when Spotify suggested this to me - it looked like hard core hip-hop (which doesn't really appeal to me personally).  But I have to give Spotify credit!  Love it.

12.  Hurricane (MS MR) - Spooky chill with sharp female vocals.  Vaguely reminds me of classic Portishead.

13.  California (Miranda Lambert) - Just caught her on her most recent tour in Charlotte, and again was blown away.  I love this woman and how real her music feels.  Was going through her catalogue and found this B-side, which seems a little different than her current material but still appealed to me.

14.  Tools of the Trade (Charlie Worsham with Marty Stuart and Vince Gill) - Newbie jams with some of the old school Country greats!

15.  On Blue Mountain (Foxygen) - I bet these guys are awesome in concert.  More than anyone I know, they seem to really capture that late 1960s psychedelic sound. The tempo speeds up and slows down, but either way - you find yourself enjoying the ride.

16.  No Stranger (Small Black) - Minimalist EDM with haunting vocals.

17.  Best Song Ever (One Direction) - September is birthday month, so I'm gonna indulge myself for these last two songs.  I love me some boy bands, and these guys deliver with this rapturous slice of pop heaven.

18.  Right Back Where We Started From (Maxine Nightingale) - I started thinking, what is my "best song ever" and this one popped into my head.  It ALWAYS puts me in a good mood, and I never get tired of it.  What more can you ask for???


So that's September!  Hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!!!  Start thinking about your Halloween costumes - October is right around the corner.

See you next month!

Brant's August 2013 Playlist

It's August, y'all!  Hard to believe the summer is two thirds over.  Hope everyone has been having a good one.  Here's this month's batch!  To listen click HERE

1.  Dissolve Me (Alt-J) - In my head I picture Fleet Foxes jamming with Laurie Anderson.  Gentle harmonies with a trippy electronic backing. 

2.  Dreams (Passion Pit) - Has it REALLY been 20 years since the Cranberries released this?!?!  Love this cover by Passion Pit.  Pretty sure Pandora shuffled this into my consciousness during a night on the porch with some friends.

3.  Video Killed the Radio Star (Bruce Woolley & the Camera Club) - Discovered this on a recent visit to the Used CD store.  I didn't even know it was a cover when the Buggles did it!

4.  This City's Local Italo Disco DJ Has a Crush On Me (Sally Shapiro) - The title doesn't exactly flow off your tongue, but the easy breezy beats and female vocals remind me of the early 1980's in a Madonna/Tom Tom Club kinda way.

5.  Funny Heartbeat (Kisses) - Bubblegummy pop from LA duo.

6.  Life Is Better With You (Michael Franti & Spearhead) - I guess his Ganja Babe days are behind him, but he's kept his sunny outlook.  I never tire of this guy.  He puts on a great live show if you ever get the chance to see him. 

7.  Life Ain't Fair and the World Is Mean (Sturgill Simpson) - Not quite as sunny in his outlook as Michael Franti, but I'm digging the retro country stylings.  Jill had "You Ain't Dolly" by Ashley Monroe on her last playlist, and it got me in the mood for more of this type of music.

8.  Clear a Space (Lake Street Dive) - This was a Spotify rec, and I liked them.  They also do a great cover of George Michael's "Faith".  The lead singer definitely has been listening to Amy Winehouse and other soul divas.

9.  Second Chances (Gregory Alan Isakov) - Gentle acoustic waltz from Colorado singer/songwriter.

10.  Only In My Dreams (Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti) - Groovy 1960s lo-fi stylings from California band.

11.  The Mother We Share (CHVRCHES) - Complex but catchy Scottish electropop.

12.  Right Action (Franz Ferdinand) - More from Scotland!!!  FF return with their usual sexy alt-rock.

13.  Classic (MKTO) - How can I not like a song that name-checks Prince and Marvin Gaye?!?  J'adore it.

14.  Mysterious (Rodney Hunter) - Robot disco that would make Daft Punk proud!

15.  Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It (Stars) - Canadian band that sounds like New Order with maybe a touch of The Naked & Famous.

16.  Dear Prudence (The Leslie West Band) - Another stream of consciousness selection inspired by Jill.  She had a cover version of one of my fave Beatles' songs ("Dear Prudence") so I surfed around the Interwebz to see who else had done it.  This was a really cool classic Southern rock interpretation from 1976 that I'd never heard before.

17.  The Bottle Let Me Down (Vince Gill & Paul Franklin) - More classic country vibes from legend Vince Gill.

18.  Cry Me a River (Chante' Moore) - Soul siren gives Julie London's signature tune an astounding update!!!  Her voice sounds strong as ever.  Chante's 1992 hit "Love's Taken Over" is one of my all-time favorite slow jams.

19.  Long Hot Summer (The Style Council) - Eric had a SC tune posted a few weeks ago, and he suggested I put them on the August playlist.  It never takes a lot of arm twisting to get me to listen to anything Paul Weller does (the Jam, Style Council).

So that's August!  Best wishes for a great conclusion to your summer.  See ya next month!