Oh, the solitude. I'm doing my best to follow the stay-at-home regimen, but after 6 months it's really driving this extrovert crazy. Apparently I'm not the only one. This month's playlist is full of collaborations. I don't know if these were recorded remotely or prior to the pandemic - but it's always interesting to see who teams up. We've also got some second and third generation artists proving the proverbial apples don't fall far from the tree! To listen on Spotify, click HERE.
1. Magnolia Road (the Allman Betts Band) - The sons of the Allman Brothers Band founders team up and demonstrate that a talent for Southern Rock runs in the family. The baton has officially been passed.
2. Moon (the Lemon Twigs) - Glorious 70s rock in the style of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman!
3. Vienna (Ben Platt) - This Billy Joel song wasn't really on my radar until I heard Platt cover it on "The Politician". Ariana Grande also does a nice rendition.
4. Move Over Mama (Justin Townes Earle) - We lost JTE, son of country singer Steve Earle, this month from a "probable drug overdose". 2020 strikes again. This is from his debut album.
5. More /Quiet Storm Version/ (Electric Guest) - Easy-going remix perfect for those end-of-summer sunsets.
6. Slow Down (Skip Marley feat. H.E.R.) - Another legacy makes an appearance! This time it's Bob Marley's grandson, teaming up with Grammy winning H.E.R. for some reggae.
7. Malibu (Kim Petras) - German pop singer drops a new summery single!
8. Dynamite (BTS) - I know it can be somewhat contrived and bubble-gummy - but if loving K-Pop is wrong, I don't want to be right.
9. Dionne (the Japanese House feat. Justin Vernon) - Trippy vocals and effects that bring to mind Imogen Heap's output from the 00's.
10. For Sure (Future Islands) - American synthpop band serves up some New Wave.
11. My God (the Killers feat. Weyes Blood) - I love it when my favorite artists collaborate! I would never have paired them up on my own, but the results are spectacular.
12. Legends Never Die (Orville Peck feat. Shania Twain) - A country up-and-comer partners with one of the Queens of Country! That DOES impress me much!
13. Drop Dead (Holly Humberstone) - Young British singer gives us an emotional piano-driven ballad.
14. Dancing in the Moonlight (Toploader) - Another tune I heard for the first time on Netflix! This cover of King Harvest's 1973 classic was featured in a scene from "The Umbrella Academy".
15. Night Time (Borneland feat. Falcon Punch) - Jazzy beats from Copenhagen duo.
16. Levitating /the Blessed Madonna Remix/ (Dua Lipa feat. Madonna and Missy Elliott) - Funky remix featuring Misdemeanor and TWO Madonnas!
17. Another Hit of Showmanship (the Struts feat. Albert Hammond Jr) - Anthemic Britpop to keep the party going!
18. Smiling /F9 Club Remix/ (Alanis Morissette) - Alanis can be a tad intense for my tastes, but this remix is like a Xanax to take the edge off!
19. Comet Song (Bright Eyes) - After numerous outside projects, Conor Oberst returns to his roots and sounds like he never left (in all the best ways)!
So that's September's list. Hope everyone has a safe Labor Day weekend, and I'll see ya next month.
