Brant's September 2014 Playlist

IT'S BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!  September is the month I usually give myself a little more leeway to be self-indulgent.  Instead of focusing on new music, I'll create a themed playlist (60s girl groups, 80s club music) or just pepper the list with some personal faves.  I pride myself on paying pretty close attention to the music that is out there, but every now and then I realize something has escaped my notice.  This month I've included a few of these tunes that somehow I missed the first time around.  I figure if I overlooked them, maybe you did too!  Here goes!  To listen on Spotify click HERE.

1.  Long Hot Summer (Keith Urban) - Not gonna lie.  I didn't really pay much attention to Keith.  I wrote him off as the pretty boy singer who married Nicole Kidman.  After seeing him in concert with Julie and Gary, I must say he's pretty good.  The man knows his way around a guitar and a catchy melody.  He landed in the Country Music genre but I think he could have easily been a rocker.

2.  The Joker (Ace Frehley) - Speaking of rockers, a 1970s rock legend pays tribute to another 1970s rock legend here.  I imagine some of the purists will hate this glam rock treatment of Steve Miller's signature song, but I'm kinda diggin' it!

3.  Born Under a Good Sign (the Suburbs) - I wondered if this was the same punk band from the 80s, and it is!  The guys are back with an awesome album of new jams.  This one kind of spoke to me since (as you remember, no doubt) September is birthday month.  And Virgo is a very good sign.

4.  Uptight Downtown (La Roux) - Still loving their new album!  This one has some David Bowie flavors mixed in with Elly Jackson's delicious vocals.

5.  Step Back in Time /Original 12" Mix/ (Kylie Minogue) - My friend Jeff texted me in ecstasy over the new Kylie Minogue song, which is a throwback to the sounds of the great 1990s club music.  Upon further examination, we realized that the song actually WAS from the 1990s.  We both had just missed it and were hearing it for the first time.  It's still a fun song, so I'm including it.  Not on Spotify but the video is HERE.

6.  #ThisCouldBeUs (Doug Locke) - Saw the video for this floating around on social media and liked it.  It's a heartbreaking depiction of lost love and what might have been.  Pop/R&B from Houston actor/singer.

7.  Oh Babe, What Would You Say (Cass Elliot) - I'd heard the Hurricane Smith version of this song, but had NO idea Mama Cass (who recorded under her Mama Cass name as well as her given name) sang this!  Gotta say the arrangement suits her well.  A great talent that was taken from us too soon. 

8.  Beat of the Music (Brett Eldredge) - This guy opened for Keith Urban at the concert we attended!  I think we all were swooning when he serenaded us with his deep baritone.  He's definitely one to watch.

9.  Get On Home (U.S. Royalty) - Indie band from Washington, DC delivers some stunning folk-rock.

10.  Right Now (SR-71) - Another one that I missed the first time around.  Heard this on the internet radio and immediately went to download it.  This was originally released in 2000.

11.  Make Me Smile (Duran Duran) - Janique turned me on to this!  I had never heard it, but a consummate Duran Duran fan like Janique was more than happy to school me.  A tasty cover of the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel classic from 1975 (which I HAD heard, and have on my iPod!). 

12.  There She Goes (Michelle Phillips) - We couldn't have one Mama without the other!  After Mamas and Papas split up, Mama Cass immediately went solo.  Michelle dabbled in acting and then eventually came back to the recording studio.  Her first recordings were with Papa John Phillips (her ex-husband), but she scrapped those and started over with producer Jack Nitsche.  Happily a new CD has been released that houses ALL of her recordings.  Personally I like the stuff she did with Papa John better, but maybe that's just me.  Not on Spotify (or YouTube) either, unfortunately. 

13.  Tripwire (Suzi Chunk) - Missed this one the first time around too (it's from 2012), but luckily Spotify recommended her to me.  Very 1960s garage band style, which of course I totally love!

14.  Endless Summer (the Jezabels) - I had them on my May 2014 playlist, but also went through their back catalogue and found some other tunes, such as this one, that I enjoyed.  Hope we continue to hear more from them!

15.  Ghost (Ella Henderson) - British "X-Factor" singer debuts here in the US of A!  It seems like the U.K. is overflowing with great female vocalists, while the Americans are just shaking their butts.  Hmmmmm...

16.  I Can't Describe (Jennifer Hudson feat. T.I.) - Okay, here is one exception to the previous statement.  Sultry soul that would make Evelyn "Champagne" King proud!

17.  Romeo's Tune (Keith Urban) - I figured I'd close with another great song from Keith.  File this under songs I NEVER thought anyone would cover, but I'm glad they did!

So that's September!  Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend and month.  I'll see you for more spook-tacular tunes in October!

Brant's August 2014 Playlist

Well, it's pouring rain as I write this - but I still approached August with Summer and sunny days in mind.  This month is loaded up with lots of islandy beats and driving-with-the-windows-open-and-the-stereo-blasting selections.   Hopefully the weather will catch up with the music.  Enjoy!  To listen on Spotify click HERE.

1.  Mr. Tembo (Damon Albarn) - In my head, this is the love-child of Paul Simon's "Graceland" album and Arrested Development's "Mr. Wendall".  From the latest solo outing of Blur/Gorillaz' lead singer.

2.  My Diamond (Timothy Bloom) - Songwriter for Ne-You and Chris Brown strikes out on his own with all-new material.  Sounds like Lenny Kravitz jamming with Santana!

3.  Budapest (George Ezra) - British songwriter has a folksy 1970s vibe.

4.  Call (Francesco Yates) - Plucked from my friend Robert's Facebook wall.  Young Canadian looks like Leo Sayer and sounds like Chris Isaak!   And Pharrell is a fan!

5.  Sexotheque (La Roux) - Elly Jackson is baaaaaack!!!  5 years after La Roux's debut, new material is finally here - and worth the wait.  So are "Sexotheques" a thing, and why haven't I heard of them before now?  SPOILER ALERT:  Expect more La Roux on future playlists!

6.  Lovers on the Run (Echo and the Bunnymen) - Another unexpected comeback!  Ian McCullough's voice sounds EXACTLY the same!!!  So true to their original sound that I had to double-check to make sure this wasn't unreleased material from the 1980s.

7.  Loves Me Not (Cris Cab) - Speaking of double-checking, I was sure this was Sting or the Police when I heard it on the internet radio.  Turns out it's Miami native Cris Cab!

8.  Skinny Love (Birdy) - This was a no-brainer.  With a combination of Birdy's angelic vocals, and a song by Bon Iver - how could it not be fantastic???  J'adore it.

9.  Stay High /Hippie Sabotage Remix/ (Tove Lo) - One of our chillin'-on-the-porch jams that my neighbor Dave turned me on to.

10.  Killer on the Streets (the Raveonettes) - Jangly guitars and tons of feedback make for a dancing-in-my-chair tune about loving the wrong person (and savoring every minute of it).

11.  Rather Be (Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne) - This has been around for a few months, but I still love its feel-good vibe and great vocal performance.

12.  Rainy Day Woman (Kat Edmonson) - Okay, this song suits today's rainy weather!  Great mix of old school jazz (does anyone else hear Billie Holiday?) and 1960s soul.

13.  Can't Say Goodbye (Cary Ann Hearst) - Jill had this on her last playlist and I loved it.  Sassy country that would make Wanda Jackson proud.

14.  High (Young Rising Sons) - Are these the new Jersey Boys???  Great falsetto vocals and catchy chorus, and they're actually from New Jersey!

15.  Let Your Hair Down (Magic!) - Josh sent me this and I immediately downloaded it.  Easy reggae that makes me think of sunsets by the sea and sipping Red Stripe beer.

16.  After All This (Jay Brannan) - Confessional songwriting in the style of Ani DiFranco or Jewel.  Going to see his show later this month - can't wait!  (And he "liked" when I responded that I was attending his show on Facebook - that's class.)

17.  Call Me (St. Paul and the Broken Bones) - Fantastic soul from Alabama band!

18.  True Love /Soledrifter Remix/ (Corduroy Mavericks feat. EmTre) - Groovy poolside beats prove that there's more than just bluegrass coming out of Kentucky.

So that's August!  Next month is birthday month - so not exactly sure what I'm going to put together.  I always allow myself a little more creative license as a birthday indulgence.  See you then!  Enjoy the rest of your summer!!!