Brant's March 2014 Playlist

Soooo...I had two goals for March.  One was to get this playlist out on time (Done!  Yay, me!).  The second was to put some different stuff on this month's list.  Sometimes I wonder if all of my playlists are starting to sound the same, so this month I put some genres of music towards which I don't usually gravitate - country, trip-hop and even some ragtime!  Hope you like!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.


1.  Sunshine and Whiskey (Frankie Ballard) - It doesn't get more country than this, but still makes me look forward to warm weather!

2.  Ghost (Jeremy Messersmith) - Indie singer/songwriter with an angelic voice and beautiful instrumentation to round it out.

3.  Girl You Look Amazing (Nicole Atkins) - Sassy strong vocals from former Charlottean (my hometown)!

4.  Dreams and Sounds (Chulius and the Filarmonicos) - Lead singer of Grammy-winning Venezuelan band Los Amigos Invisibles releases a side project of funky electronica.

5.  Stayin' Alive in the Wall (Wax Audio) - Genius mashup of the Bee Gees and Pink Floyd!  Listen and download for free HERE.

6.  Luv, Hold Me Down (Drowners) - Wistful alt rock with jangly guitars and relentless drums keeping everything from getting too somber!

7.  Rental Love (Lake Street Dive) - I had them on my August 2013 playlist, and they're already back with another album!  Hope Spotify picks this up soon so everyone can hear it.  Lead singer Rachael Price has an incredible voice!!!

8.  Clouds (Zach Sobiech) - Sad story behind this.  Zach Sobiech was diagnosed with terminal cancer in May 2012, recorded this song, posted the video on YouTube, and died a year later in May 2013.  The song has gone viral, though, and the video has had over 9 million views!

9.  Dying to Start Again (Lovelife) - Up and coming band is working on their first full-length album, but has released this and a few other singles.  Can't wait to hear the whole album!  Mid-tempo alt rock.

10.  Going Out (apl.de.ap featuring Damien Leroy) - One of the OTHER Black Eyed Peas, apparently!  Dance pop to get your weekend started.

11.  Deja Vu (Cibo Matto) - Wacky trip hop that sounds like a 60s movie soundtrack getting scrambled by an outer space broadcast.  Kinda feels like what Deee-lite ("Groove Is In the Heart") might be doing if they were still around.

12.  I Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Melanie Doane) - This is an oldie from 1998, but it was new to me.  I've been watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" on Netflix, and this was a song Willow and Tara were slow dancing to at the Bronze!

13.  Popular Song (MIKA with Ariana Grande) - It never takes much arm-twisting to get me to put MIKA on a playlist!  The original version of this song was on his 2012 album "Origin of Love".  For the single, the song was reworked with a faster tempo and new vocals added by "It" girl Ariana Grande (replacing Priscilla Renea).

14.  Hit It (American Authors) - Exuberant pop from Brooklyn band's latest album.

15.  It's All Over Now (Blair Crimmins and the Hookers) - Awesome ragtime music from a great band!  Suzi and I caught them last month, and they're returning to Charlotte in April!

16.  So Many Nights (Biters) - If someone had told me this was Thin Lizzy, I would have believed them!  Great 1970s rock swagger.

17.  I Just Do (the Feeling) - More 1970s vibes, but this is more Elton John or Supertramp than Thin Lizzy.  A lush piano-driven ballad.

18.  Take It Like a Man /Dany Cohiba Remix/ (Cher) - I didn't love Cher's most recent album.  It felt like too many things at once, almost as if she'd used outtakes from every album she ever recorded.  Dany Cohiba wisely strips down the music on this one track, letting Cher's powerful pipes do the work!  Don't know many 67 year olds who can belt out a song like this!


So that's March!  Here's wishing every one a safe and joyous month.  Beware of pervasive pollen and lascivious leprechauns!

Brant's February 2014 Playlist

Wouldn't you know it?!?  The shortest month of the year and I'm late with the playlist.  Sorry folks.  A winter cold had me out of commission, but now I'm lucid enough to get this done.  There's only 24 days left to enjoy, so let's get started!  To listen on Spotify click HERE.


1.  Paint a Smile on Me (Black Yaya) - If there's a God this will become a summer anthem in a few months.  Love its retro 1970s sound.  The best song Stealers Wheel never released!

2.  Forever (Youngblood Hawke) - I had "Say Say" on my June 2013 playlist.  Now the California band is back with this peppy ditty.

3.  Running for Cover (Ivan & Alyosha) - Folk pop from Seattle, WA band

4.  Long Time, Wrong Time (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings) - The Goddess is baaaaaack!!!  After a bout with cancer, Sharon Jones is back in the driver's seat with her classic soul sounds.

5.  Love Sublime (Tensnake feat. Nile Rodgers and Fiora) - Is it fair to say disco is back?  With releases like "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk (also featuring Chic's Nile Rodgers) and "Take Back the Night" by Justin Timberlake, I think it's a safe statement.  Viva la Disco!!!  This sublime tune by Tensnake sounds like an out-take from a Chic album.

6.  Cheating (John Newman) - Young Englishman belts out some powerful pop!

7.  Wasting My Young Years (London Grammar) - This reminds me of a band called Clannad that I used to listen to with my college roomie!  Younger folks will likely be reminded of the also excellent Florence and the Machine.  Great vocals!!!

8.  Good Red Wine (Stephen Kellogg) - Not sure how I came across this one, but it has really poignant lyrics about relationships, communication, etc.   And wine...he also mentions wine.

9.  All I Have to Do Is Dream (the Everly Brothers) - We lost Phil Everly and Pete Seeger this past month!  This is my In Memoriam tune in their honor.  The Everly's harmonies still hold up well almost 60 years later!

10.  Overstand (Dead Prez) - The latest from the controversial NYC hip hop act.

11.  Digital Witness (St. Vincent) - Wacky musician returns with another quirky hit.  Remember when Prince was going through his experimental phase (circa Lovesexy)?  That's kind of what this reminds me of, but definitely contemporary sounding.

12.  Millionaire (Scouting for Girls) - Easy breezy pop from the group's "Greatest Hits" compilation.

13.  Runaway Daydreamer (Sophie Ellis-Bextor) - "Murder on the Dancefloor" diva is back but she's traded her retro-dance stylings for a more atmospheric 1960s sound.  Move over, Petula Clark!

14.  Riptide (Vance Joy) - Bouncy acoustic folk from Australian singer-songwriter.

15.  Dreaming Without You (Bleached) - Delicious California garage-rock.  Someone on iTunes described this as "The Ramones meet the Ronettes"!

16.  Time for a Change (Elephanz) - Hmmmm...wish I could tell you something about this band, but all their promo stuff is in French.  They're a French band.  And they play great New Wave music!

17.  Elizabeth (the Airborne Toxic Event) - Figured since this was February, I'd end with a love song!  Well, it sounds like a love song.  He's never known love so this is his "best guess".


So that's February!  Hope everyone has a great one and I'll see ya in March!