Brant's April 2019 Playlist

This Cheese Challenge is totally ruining my Easter pics. 
And here I thought the pollen was the worst thing I'd have to deal with...

We are deep into pollen season, so obviously I'm spending as much time INDOORS as possible.  Bad for my tan, but good for my playlists.  Last month was R&B heavy, so this month I found myself leaning into rock.  I also found a few African and reggae jams that got me movin'!  So let's go ahead and dive in.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Lo/Hi (the Black Keys) - Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are back with more muscular classic rock to get your Camaro revved up!

2.  Little Bit of Lovin' (Elle King) - Another act I've been impatiently awaiting, and there is no sign of a sophomore slump here.  Gospel overtones in this tune bring to mind the Rolling Stones' classic "You Can't Always Get What You Want" but it's nowhere near as wistful.

3.  Get Out and Get It (Devon Gilfillian) - After hearing this African funk jam, I was shocked to find out the artist was from Nashville!  According to an NPR story, Gilfillian loves "Nigerian psychedelic Afro-rock" and decided to incorporate those sounds into his new single.

4.  Goodie Bag (Still Woozy) - I heard this on Aidy Bryant's fantastic new show "Shrill" and had to have it!  Funky slow jam from Oakland, CA artist Sven Gamsky.

5.  Mr. Telephone (the Mowgli's) - We had "Norman Rockwell" on last month's playlist, but their new EP was too good not to include another tune!  Sunny pop from LA band.

6.  Tears (Nilüfer Yanya) - Jazzy New Wave pop from young Londoner.

7.  Only Us (Ben Levi Ross and Taylor Trensch) - I finally saw "Dear Evan Hansen" last month and loved it (even though it's a serious tear-jerker!).  Soon after, a friend shared a video with me of lead actor Ben Levi Ross singing one of the most well-known songs from the show with his partner Taylor Trensch (who ALSO plays the lead, but in the NYC production).  It's not on Spotify, but definitely worth checking out.  Soooooo adorable!  It should be a bonus track for the show's soundtrack.  You can see it HERE.

8.  Saying Goodbye (JS Ondara) - Kenyan artist gives us all the feels with this gorgeous ballad.

9.  Spinout /the Math Club Remix/ (Glen Campbell) - You would think the words "Glen Campbell" and "remix" would never be found in the same recording - but this loungy remix of one of his lesser known songs is a total banger!!!

10.  Now That I Found You (Carly Rae Jepsen) - Carly is back with more exuberant pop and we all (well, at least I) am rejoicing!

11.  Taxman /Live/ (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) - Because it's tax season, and because both George Harrison and Tom Petty were awesome.

12.  Everywhere (Roosevelt) - Brantworld fave covers the amazing and underrated Christine McVie!

13.  Things Are Changing (Gone Gone Beyond and the Human Experience) - Soulful vocals over chill electronica.

14.  What She's Done to Your Mind (the Three O'Clock) - I adore this band and the Paisley Underground, so I was thrilled to see a new compilation album of these bands covering their favorite tunes from this era.  Highly recommend the whole album!  Here, the Three O'Clock cover the Rain Parade classic from 1983.

15.  She Work Very Hard (Ibibio Sound Machine) - Slamming afro-funk from London band.  It's like Donna Summer meets Manu Dibango!

16.  Foolish Love (the Green) - Hawaiian reggae band serves up acoustic jam with a side of delicious harmonies!

17.  Fake Smile (Ariana Grande) - Pop stars are so much more interesting when their lives fall apart!  I never paid attention to Ariana until her breakup with Pete Davidson, but it's given her some great material for her music!  Here, she samples Wendy Rene's 1964 song "After Laughter Comes Tears" while singing of the struggle to put on a happy face in public while your heart is broken.

18.  Tenderness (General Public) - We lost Ranking Roger in March, so I had to include one of my fave songs from his band.  RIP.

19.  Bellevue Bridge Club (Andrew Bird) - Indie rocker closes us out with a slow-burning anthem about confrontations and close relations.  Not exactly cheery, but it is a great song!

So that's April!  May the Easter Bunny AND the IRS be good to everyone.  Watch out for flying cheese.  See you next month!

Brant's March 2019 Playlist

Dang it.  I forgot to ask if this tuxedo gown is water resistant!

Welp, March is upon us and the only thing I can say is that at least all the rain is keeping the pollen out of the air.  Fortunately, consecutive days indoors gave me plenty of time to browse new music.  This month's playlist is ret 2 go - so let's dive in!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Hard Place (H.E.R.) - We've had Gabi Wilson (aka H.E.R.) on other playlists, but after seeing her perform this song on the Grammys I HAD to start us off with it.  She won two well-deserved Grammys for her music this year.

2.  Norman Rockwell (the Mowgli's) - Sometimes a band slips off my radar only to gloriously show up again!  I put their song "Great Divide" on my March 2013 playlist.  Six years later they're back with this easygoing ode to existential ennui. 

3.   Dearly Departed (Aaron Carter) - I just caught Aaron a few weeks ago when he came through Charlotte, and I found the songs from his comeback album to be really solid.  This particular tune had the entire crowd on their feet!  Easily could've been a Justin Bieber song.

4.  No More Darkness, No More Light (Amos Lee) - I don't think anyone who came of age in the 80s did so without listening to Paul Simon's "Graceland", and that's what I get from this song.  Upbeat, South African instrumentation and vibes! 

5.  Faceplant (Ruston Kelly) - I'll be honest.  Kacey Musgraves bores me.  Her husband, however, does not.  Tales of self-destruction like they used to do in classic country songs.

6.  Heads Gonna Roll (Jenny Lewis) - Another singer who never disappoints.  'Nuff said.

7.  Not Ready to Go (Diane Coffee) - I adore this new artist.  He's always engaging on social media, and I love everything he's recorded.  Hopefully he will have a long, lucrative career.  This plaintive, New Wavey song is off his upcoming album "Internet Arms".

8.  Follow Your Heart (Rat Boy) - Another new artist I'm currently enjoying.  This tune is more in the punk/British genre.  Think Billy Idol.

9.  Only You and Me (Lack of Afro feat. Wax, Alyssa Marie, and Camila Recchio) - A glorious mashup of old school disco, perhaps a dash of Janet Jackson, and hip hop!

10.  It Makes You Forget (the Orielles) - Frenetic and psychedelic Indie rock from young English band!

11. You Got What You Wanted (fDeluxe) - Last month we had St. Paul Peterson on the list.  Upon digging a tad deeper into his catalogue, I found this jazzy funk ditty he recorded with members of his old band The Family.  Thought I'd share it!

12.  Bag Pipe Blues (Gunhild Carling) - Okay, I know bag pipes are more traditionally associated with Scotland - but Ireland has them too!  Tossing this song into the mix as my St. Paddy's Day offering, and also because I love Gunhild.

13.  Medicated Goo (P.P. Arnold) - I adore her version of "First Cut Is the Deepest", so I was intrigued when I read that a previously unreleased 1967 album (produced by Barry Gibb and Eric Clapton!!!) by P.P. Arnold was going to be released.  It totally lived up to the hype.  Here, she covers Steve Winwood/Traffic with stellar results!

14.  Life on Mars? (Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real) - Willie Nelson's son and his band are kicking butt these days.  First, they backed Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in "A Star Is Born" and now they've released this delightful cover of the David Bowie classic.  Can't wait for what's next!  Thanks to my college fraternity bro Al for turning me onto them.

15.  What About Us (Gary Clark Jr) - Guitar aficionado comes storming back with his latest socially conscious album!

16.  Love Is Light (Yola) - Newcomer shines on her country-flavored debut, with an assist from The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.

17.  Golden Hour (Oliver Heimach) - Somewhere in that Bee Gees/Scissor Sisters realm that always makes me smile.  Disco beats and falsetto vocals that are perfect to get you in the mood to go out on a weekend night.

18.  Glass House (Kyle Dion) - More falsettos, but this time with a decidedly 80s R&B influence.

19.  One Breath Away /Paul Oakenfold Remix/ (Billy Idol) - Did someone mention Billy Idol???  Sean turned me on to this, and it's been on repeat ever since!  Oakenfold takes a late-career ballad from Idol's catalog and turns it into a darkly gorgeous dance floor anthem!

So that's March. Hope it eventually dries up and that my sinuses will do the same.  Have a safe and festive St. Paddy's Day, and I'll see you in April!