Brant's December 2020 Playlist

"Can you send back a Christmas tree once it's been chopped down?!?"

The last playlist of the year!  Considering what a rotten year 2020 was, I guess we're lucky to have made it here at all.  Anyway, Melania may not have any Christmas spirit, but I was feelin' it.  Along with the usual mix of new stuff, we've got some holiday songs!  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.  

1.  Experience (Victoria Monét with Khalid) - Songwriter for Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony steps into the spotlight, with an assist from Khalid!  

2.  Night Walking (Lazarus Kane) - Peppy dance pop from charismatic new artist.

3.  Proxima B (Benjamin Gibbard) - Solo rock tribute to the closest planet outside of our solar system, from lead vocalist/guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie.

4.  Christmas Valentine (Ingrid Michaelson with Jason Mraz) - Our first Christmas tune is an enjoyable duet from two songwriting icons.  

5.  Words of a Fool (Barry Gibb with Jason Isbell) - Two other accomplished songwriters team up for this country-flavored ballad.  This is not your mama's Bee Gees.  Thanks to Jill for bringing it to my attention!  

6.  Anyway (May Erlewine and Woody Goss) - Michigan singer/songwriter seems to be channeling Christine McVie in this awesome folk-pop effort.  

7.  Gum (Emily Krueger) - Instagram star seems destined for pop stardom, if songs like this are any indication of her talent!

8.  Edge of Midnight /Midnight Sky Remix/ (Miley Cyrus vs Stevie Nicks) - Miley teams up with one of her influences for this energetic mashup.  

9.  That's Rock and Roll (Billie Joe Armstrong) - Shaun Cassidy has alwasy been a guilty pleasure of mine.  I never thought about anyone actually covering his songs, but if I had -  I think I'd agree that Green Day/Billie Joe Armstrong is a solid choice!  It's retro and new at the same time.  If only it were safe to go to the roller rinks, I'd adjust my rainbow-striped suspenders, slap on my neon lime high-top skates, and ask the DJ to play this as loudly as possible!  

10.  Cotton Candy (Yungblud) - Halsey's ex-boyfriend serves up some sticky-sweet pop-rock!  

11.  Lucid (Rina Sawayama) - British pop star is back and she does not disappoint with this exuberant dance ditty.

12 . Christmas Without You (Ava Max) - For whatever reason, I was not expecting a Christmas song from Ava "Sweet But a Psycho" Max!  I'm happily surprised AND entertained!  

13.  Get Me Some (Tokimonsta feat Drew Love and Dumbfoundead) - Jazzy lounge beats from proliferate LA producer and brain surgery survivor!  

14.  Hang Them on the Tree (June Christy) - I love this woman's voice.  June is no longer with us, but her spirit lives on in her recordings.  This is another selection from her 1961 holiday album ("The Merriest" being best known).  Considering the year we've had, a song about making lemons into lemonade seemed apropos!

15.  Pure Shores (Eliza Shaddad) - Groovy beats from London UK artist.

16.  Cigarette (Julian Lamadrid) - Bold alt rock from young Brooklyn-based Mexican artist.

17.  Harlem River Blues (Steve Earle) - We lost Justin Townes Earle back in August.  His father, Steve Earle, decided to record an album of JTE's songs, with proceeds going into a trust for the daughter Justin left behind.  A worthy cause that enables the rest of us to enjoy some great music.  

18.  Christmas Song (Phoebe Bridgers with Jackson Browne) - Indie rocker closes us out with this melancholy holiday song, assisted by the legendary Jackson Browne.

So that's December's playlist.  Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.  Here's hoping 2021 brings us better times, better leaders, and a COVID vaccine!  May we meet again in the New Year!  

Brant's November 2020 Playlist

 

It's the day before the U.S. election, and tensions are running high!  They're putting a fence around the White House, gun sales are up, and any leftover Halloween candy has been devoured in bouts of stress-eating.  I did manage to pull together a playlist for this month, even though I'm a day late.  If there's any theme to this month's list, I'd have to say it's the 1970s.  We've got the retro-rock of The Lemon Twigs, some dynamite covers of 70s songs, and even Bruce Springsteen and Elton John!  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Hog (the Lemon Twigs) - We had them on September's playlist, and I still can't get enough of the D'Addario brothers' twisted 1970s excess!  This would easily fit on the Rocky Horror soundtrack.  

2.  Black Myself (Our Native Daughters) - Talk about dream teams!  This is Rhiannon Giddens and Leyla McCalla of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Amythyst Kia, and Allison Russell powerfully singing some ol' time folk-rock.  

3.  Thirteen (Bedouine, Waxahatchee, and Hurray for the Riff Raff) - Another great all-female collaboration, this time covering Big Star's 1972 ballad.

4.  Cascades (Denai Moore) - Dreamy electronic beats and harmonies from Jamaican/London artist.  

5.  Feels Right (Roosevelt) - German singer blesses us with a new album next year!  

6.  Day and Night (Dabuell with Holybrune) - I know I promised 1970s vibes, but this one falls distinctly into 1980s territory (and I'm not complaining!). 

7.  Under Pressure (Karen O and Willie Nelson) - Here's a duo I never expected to see!  Country legend teams up with the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to cover Queen and David Bowie!  

8.  Ghosts (Bruce Springsteen) - The Boss is back after 6 years and sounding as great as ever!

9.  Gameplay (the Brooks) - Some retro-70s style funk that brings to mind Average White Band.

10.  Crying at the Discotheque (Sophie Ellis-Bextor) - How has it been 20 years since Alcazar first released this song??? I loved it then, and I love SEB's cover of it!  

11.  Fou (L'Impératrice) - Did somebody mention the discotheque?  J'adore me some French disco.  Thanks to Gary for letting me know L'Impératrice had new music out!  

12.  Elevator Girl (Shura feat. Ivy Sole) - Sexy R&B jam from frequent Brantworld artist Shura.

13.  Be Mine (Ro James) - I'm definitely getting a 1980s Minneapolis Soul vibe here, and I am digging it!

14.  Straight to the Morning (Hot Chip feat. Jarvis Cocker) - Veteran English rocker teams up with veteran synth-pop act for this danceable ditty!

15.  Trouble's Coming (Royal Blood) - Peppy British alt-rock

16.  Ramble on Rose (Wynonna with Bob Weir) - It's always fun when you hear an artist cover something completely unexpected!  Here, Wynonna Judd joins a founding member of the Grateful Dead to cover one of their signature songs from 1972.

17.  Come Down in Time /Jazz Version/ (Elton John) - Elton released this version of a song off his classic Tumbleweed Connection album to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.  Hearing him in his early years, you can see why he was destined for greatness.  Thanks Eric for bringing it to my attention!

18.  Lonely in My Grief (the War and Treaty) - Speaking of acts that are destined for greatness - holy moly!  This husband/wife duo can SANG!!!  If Ray Charles is listening up in heaven, he's smiling.  Thanks to Andrea for introducing me to this couple.

So that's November's playlist.  Here's hoping whatever happens with tomorrow's election, that the country is able to pull together and move forward.  2020 has been bad enough without a Civil War.  Hopefully I'll be around next month with more music.  Stay safe out there!