Brant's November 2015 Playlist

They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  Every year I'm late with the November playlist, due to Halloween.  This year I decided to end the madness by posting November's music EARLY.  That way I can spend the rest of the weekend enjoying Halloween (and recovering on November 1st).

I'm not sure if it's because most of October was rainy, or if it's because I was thinking of those lazy moments after Thanksgiving as you recline on the couch in a turkey coma - but this month's list is on the mellower side.  Hope you enjoy!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Forgotten Coast (James McMurtry) - Toe tappin' Americana from a folk favorite

2.  Carry Your Own Weight (Buika with Jason Mraz) - Spanish singer partners with American Grammy winner for this beautiful duet.  Sounds like a lost track from the Lion King soundtrack.

3.  Trip Switch (Nothing But Thieves) - English alt-rock band picks up the pace a bit with this tasty jam.

4.  Electric Love (BØRNS) - At age 23, Garrett Borns has already been in the business for 13 years!  He started out as a magician, but lucky for us he migrated towards music.  I'm totally digging the glam rock vibes from this tune!

5.  Hello /Paul Damixie Remix/ (Adele) - Unless you've been in a coma, you're probably aware that Adele has released her newest single,  basically breaking the internet in October.  She definitely didn't need me to call attention to the song, but I did want to give a shout out to this nice remix.

6.  Everything We Touch (Say Lou Lou) - Angelic voices over a catchy electronic landscape

7.  You Just Don't Know People (Rumer) - Did somebody say 'angelic voices'?  It's hard to beat Rumer.  Here's her latest, and she sounds like the love child of Karen Carpenter and Roberta Flack.  Perfect for sipping a chai latte as you watch the autumn leaves falling.

8.  Don't Let Me Let You Go (Jamie Lawson) - British songwriter is the first artist signed to Ed Sheeran's new record label!  Looking forward to hearing more from him.

9.  Worse Things Than Love (Timeflies) - Catchy pop from Boston duo!

10.  Still a Thrill (Angela Bofill) - It's been a while since I posted a throwback song, but I just found out Bofill's album "Teaser", which has been out of print for years, is now available on CD.  Proceeds from the purchase were going towards her medical expenses (she's had some health problems), and considering how much I loved this album back when it came out in 1983 - buying it was kind of a no-brainer.   Sexy R&B/dance track from the talented singer.

11.  Lucifer's Eyes (T.O.L.D.) - Easy-going electronica that has a tropical feel to it (are those steel drums?!?!)

12.  Gasoline (Houndmouth) - Gorgeous, haunting Americana from Indiana band

13.  iT (Christine and the Queens) - Back in 1985, Book of Love released one of my all-time favorite songs, called "Boy".  It describes the frustration of a woman who loves a boy who loves boys.  Christine and the Queens seems to be picking up that storyline (at least in my head) with this mid-tempo ditty about a woman who has found something (I won't hazard a guess) that can make a "she" into a "he".  Not that Christine cares either way - she came out as pansexual in 2014.

14.  Good Intentions (Chainsmokers featuring BullySongs) - I didn't love "#Selfie", but I appreciated the timeliness of the song.  This tune has a great, uplifting chorus (despite the somewhat pessimistic lyrics) that I can't resist.

15.  Downtown (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis with Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz) - Another one I can't resist.  I was already a fan of Eric Nally from his Foxy Shazam days - but then to add all of these great hip hop legends into the mix as well???  TAKE MY MONEY MACKLEMORE.   Why hasn't someone else featured these guys before now (I'm looking at you Jay Z)???

16.  Summertime When I'm With You (the Mavericks) - These guys have been around since 1989, but somehow I've missed them until now!  Love the retro-ska feel to this tune!!!

17.  Beautiful Life (Judith Hill) - Prince produced this song for up-and-coming singer, who's been featured in "20 Feet From Stardom" and "The Voice".  With a voice like hers and support from Prince - she should be a household name by the end of 2016.

So that's November!  Hope everyone has a safe Halloween, and a festive holiday season.  I'll see ya next month with more music!

Brant's October 2015 Playlist

October is off to a rocky start!  I'm a day late with this month's playlist, and Hurricane Joaquin is threatening to douse the East Coast in a plenteous parcel of precipitation.  But at least while we're struggling to stay dry, we can have some new music.  Here's some stuff I've been groovin' to lately.  Enjoy!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Witchcraft (Sarah Vaughan) - I was looking for a fun Halloween song to start us off, and this one seemed to do the trick.  I love the big band treatment that feels very true to Frank Sinatra's original version.

2.  Kiss Me Quick (Nathan Sykes) - More big band goodness from member of UK boy band the Wanted.

3.  I'm In Love With My Life (Phases) - Worst album cover EVER, but I do like this song!

4.  No Sleeep (Janet Jackson with J. Cole) - I just caught her on her Unbreakable tour, and Miss Jackson has still got it.  She's back with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and this slinky slow jam is as good as anything they originally created back in the 80s/90s!

5.  Stressed Out (Twenty One Pilots) - Kinda alt-rock, kinda trip hop tune from Ohio band.

6.  Roll with the Changes (REO Speedwagon) - Songwriter and guitarist Gary Richrath died this past month, so wanted to include a Speedwagon song on this month's playlist.  RIP

7.  Duet (Diane Coffee with Felicia Douglass) - More delicious 1970s vibes from Foxygen's Diane Coffee - bringing to mind the great duets by Elton John and Kiki Dee, Chris Norman and Suzi Quatro, and others.

8.  Blank Space (Ryan Adams) - Who would have predicted quirky indie god Ryan Adams would cover Taylor Swift's ENTIRE "1989" album???  The stripped-down production really does call attention to T. Swizzle's mad songwriting skillz, though.

9.  To Love Somebody (Lizz Wright) - Another great cover!  Lizz Wright's husky vocals give the Bee Gee's classic a jazzy reinvention.

10.  Supergirl (Anna Naklab feat. Alle Farben and YOUNOTUS) - Not sure if this has anything to do with the new TV show, but since it's a cover of a 2000 song I'm guessing not.  Easy, melancholy dance tune.

11.  Sanity (Boulevards) - Funky old-school feels from a Carolina artist!

12.  S.O.B. (Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats) - My friends Katherine and Jeff turned me on to this.  Fabulous 1950s barn-stormer that brings to mind great bands like the Coasters.

13.  Take Your Time (Sam Hunt) - Country songwriter is finding great success as an artist in his own right - AND may be dating Miranda Lambert.  Well done.

14.  Kiss This (the Struts) - Seems like every playlist lately features a fantastic garage band from the UK.  Here's this month's offering.

15.  Leather Jacket (Thunderbitch) - Alabama Shakes vocalist ventures out on a bold side project.  This tune reminds me of some of the stuff Meatloaf did back in the 1970s.

16.  Baby Love (Petite Meller) - Coquettish vocals over a frenetic dance beat, from French artist.

17.  Werewolves of London (Widespread Panic) - I figured I'd close with one last Halloween song.  Stumbled across this cover of the Warren Zevon standard, by American jam band.

So that's October's list!  Hope everyone manages to stay safe and dry during this Joaquin mess.  See you in November!