Brant's December 2021 Playlist

Playlist?  Check.  Jet Ski?  Check. 
Okay, who's ready to do some Christmas shopping?!?

The last playlist of the year!  I'm still not sure how I feel about 2021 - it wasn't as bad as 2020 but it also wasn't a great year.  Covid variants.  Supply Chain breakdowns.  Marjorie Taylor Greene.  One can only hope that the New Year will be better.  In the meantime, here's one last batch of songs to close us out!  It's a hodge-podge, but hopefully you'll find a few tunes on here that you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.  

1.  My Universe (Coldplay with BTS) - 2021 brought us a lot of surprises, and seeing these two completely different musical acts collaborate was one of the more pleasant ones!  I figured it was a happy way to kick things off.  

2.  Once More for the Ocean (Slothrust) - I'm not clear on whether this band's name is pronounced Sloth-Rust or Slow-Thrust.  Either way, I do dig this rock jam with the Cher-styled autotune!  

3.  (Feels Like) Heaven (Roosevelt) - A new Roosevelt song always feels like a Christmas present!  And what a bonus to have him cover one of my fave 1980's tunes by Fiction Factory!  

4.  Paul Newman Daytona Rolex (Brett Dennen) - I imagine most of us won't get the $5,475,000 Paul Newman Daytona Rolex for Christmas, but at least we can purchase a song about it for $1.29.

5.  Hello (Kes) - True story:  I heard this while taking a Lyft ride home after a boisterous night with friends.  I texted the song to myself because it was fun and now it'll remind me of a joyous evening.  Hopefully, you'll like it too!  Celebratory Trinadadian calypso for your Christmas Island party.  

6.  Enough (Appleby) - Groovy electronica that is perfect for Après Ski or Holiday cocktails.  

7.  Christmas Time in New Orleans (Lars Edegran and his Santa Claus Revelers) - It felt rude not to include a Christmas song or two, but considering radio stations started playing them at the end of October - I'm kind of sick of them.  Anyway, this is one that we probably haven't heard a million times!  

8.  All Night Parking (Adele with Erroll Garner) - Adele's new album will ALSO be overplayed, but I do salute her sampling Jazz Master Erroll Garner on this slow jam.  

9.  Love Me Now (Kygo feat. Zoe Wees) - I caught Zoe performing in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and liked her.  I wasn't surprised to see Kygo had already enlisted her for a collaboration!  

10.  Disconnect (Melissa B) - Lordy this reminds me of jamming to Midnight Star on my carpool rides home after school!  Let's hope we hear more from this R&B artist. 

11.  Changes, Pts 1 & 2 (Neal Francis) - Love the mid-70s vibes we get from this Chicago rocker.  He's got a new album out, but I was still enjoying this 2019 offering at the time I compiled this playlist.  

12.  Our House (the Head and the Heart) - Americana cover of the CSNY classic.  

13.  Always on My Mind (Nané) - Easygoing rock with soaring vocals from Austin, TX band.

14.  I Feel Like Dancing (the Night Game) - We had them working with Elle King on our May 2021 playlist, and now they're back flying solo with this upbeat ditty.  

15.  Dysfunctional (Kaytranada and VanJess) - Nigerian-American duo teams up with Canadian DJ/producer for some slick funk that would make Soul II Soul proud!

16.  New Shapes (Charli XCX with Christine and the Queens) - Soooooo glad to hear Charli doing pure pop again.  A little bit of her PC Music/experimental stuff goes a long way for me.  

17. It's So Easy (Margo & Mac) - Toe-tappin' loungey groove with a 1960s vibe! 

18. Can't Let Go (Robert Plant and Alison Kraus) - Two musical giants team up again to cover another musical giant - Lucinda Williams!  I smell a Grammy Award coming... 

19.  Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis (Tom Waits) - Here's another Christmas song you probably won't hear on the radio, which is a shame because it's AWESOME.  I've been on a Tom Waits kick lately, so this seemed like a perfect choice to close us out.  

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!  I guess if the last two years have taught us anything, it's that there are no guarantees - but perhaps we shall all meet again in 2022!  Until then!  

Brant's November 2021 Playlist

Nothing's more fun than a turkey with a turntable! 

One year, I'm actually going to get November's playlist out on time.  This will not be THAT year.  October is such a busy (and festive) time - it's hard to sit still and browse music (even though I obviously enjoy that too).  Anyway, here's this month's list.  It's the usual potpourri of stuff - some pop, some Americana, some noteworthy remakes.  Enjoy!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.  

1.  I Don't Live Here Anymore (War on Drugs) - Cheerful pop rock that's giving me a Traveling Wilburys vibe!  

2.  Set the Fairlight (Islands) - Canadian rockers keep the beats going with a dash of angst.

3. Wide Open Spaces (Soccer Mommy) - The Chicks Formerly Known as Dixie get a delicious reboot from Indie artist.

4.  Willow /90s Trend Mix/ (Taylor Swift) - A retro-electronic remix of one of TSwizzle's quarantine tunes.

5.  Calling All Angels (Chelsea Cutler feat. Quinn XCII) - Breezy pop from Connecticut chanteuse.  

6.  4ever After (Kero One feat. Ace Hashimoto)  - Can't remember where I heard this, but I was digging the R&B and jazz influences!  

7.  Freedom (Christine and the Queens) - People will either love or hate this George Michael cover!  Personally I love it.  

8.  It'll Never Happen Again (Lady Blackbird) - Eric turned me on to Lady Blackbird, and once I read that she was the "Grace Jones of Jazz" I was even more intrigued.  I especially adore her cover of this Tim Hardin deep cut.  

9.  Coming Home (the Green) - There's always room for some Hawaiian reggae!  We had them on our April 2019 playlist and they're back again with more islandy grooves.  

10.  Runaway (R3hab, Sigala, and JP Cooper) - From the island to the dance floor, we're covering a lot of ground this month!  

11.  Don't Freak (the Aces) - Indie band is back with a disco-tinged tune about mental health stigma! 

12.  Paradise (Alan Walker, K-391, and Boy in Space) - British Norwegian DJ serves up some happy tropical beats.  

13.  Jazz on the Autobahn (the Felice Brothers) - This is one of those turn-up-the-car-stereo driving songs perfect for your holiday road trips!  

14.  Piece of Mine (Lilli Lewis feat. Gina Forsyth) - Intense Americana/folk harmonies from New Orleans divas.  

15.  Keep Walking (Moonlight Breakfast)  - Funky minimalist disco from Euro band.

16.  Who's Hurting Who (Jack Savoretti feat. Nile Rodgers) - Did someone say "disco"?  Soulful British vocalist teams up with the King of Disco!  

17.  Coming Back (Domo Genesis with Mac Miller) - I honestly wasn't familiar with Mac Miller (even as Ariana Grande's boyfriend!) but when his drug dealer pled guilty to fentanyl overdose charges last week I explored his catalog of music.  I enjoyed this offering from 2016.

18.  Everywhere (Smallpools with Emily Vaughn) - Every few years it seems somebody covers this 1987 Christine McVie classic, and every few years I always enjoy it.  It's a timeless song.  

19.  Why the Bright Stars Glow (Valerie June) - A beautiful love song to close us out and get us set up for the holidays.  

So that's November's list!  Hope everyone has a great month, and remember to brush your teeth after bingeing on all that leftover Halloween candy!  

Brant's October 2021 Playlist

Who wants to be the one to tell them that Starbucks Vampire Frappuccino
doesn't contain real blood?  

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!  And this year, it looks like we may actually get to celebrate Halloween (fingers crossed).  To that end - we've got another playlist ready to go.  This one has some Halloween tunes, as well as some familiar faces, to get your party started.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Time Warp (Tenacious D) - By the time this came out last year, I had already published October's playlist - so I had to sit on it for a year!!!  But it's a great tribute to Rocky Horror.  

2.  Yes Sir, I Can Boogie (the Fratellis) - We lost María Mediola from Baccara last month, so I thought this was a great way to honor the original band as well as showcase a fun and unexpected cover tune!  

3.  Alone Star (the Vaccines) - More upbeat New Wave/alt rock to keep the celebratory vibes going.  

4.  Get Closer (Twin Shadow) - Slightly tropical rock feels from Dominican-American artist.

5.  Sweet Sunshine Wine (Pearl Charles) - Pearl definitely spent some time listening to her mother's 1970s vinyl collection.  Last month, it was ABBA-influenced pop, now it's Fleetwood Mac-inspired soft rock.  And I love it all!  

6.  Back Into Your Arms (RINSE feat. Hatchie) - Light and airy dream pop from Brisbane artist.

7.  I Can't Go to the Party (Rozzi) - Discovered by none other than Maroon 5's Adam Levine - I have a feeling she'll be going to a lot of parties in the near future!  

8.  No Rules (Kyle Dion) - Funky soul from up and coming R&B star.

9.  Eyes Without a Face (Angel Olsen) - Spooky but faithful interpretation of the Billy Idol classic.

10.  If You Ever Leave, I'm Coming with You /Roosevelt Remix/(the Wombats) - Heaven forbid I go a month without Roosevelt!  

11.  Future Starts Now (Kim Petras) - For me, there's nothing nicer than somebody making me a mix tape or putting together a playlist for me.  My friend Bruce did just that for my birthday last month.  This was one of the selections he included - which I (of course) loved.  Thanks, Bruce!  

12.  Candied Tangerines (Jon Bryant) - I don't recall where I heard this, but it's a great song and the titular fruit seems like a great Halloween party snack!  

13.  Daddy's Home (St. Vincent) - I know she's got another album out already, but I'm still enjoying this one!  

14.  Darlin' I Won't Tell (Blacktop Mojo) - Some old-school classic rock from Texas band.

15.  Dried Up River (the Lone Bellow) - More old school rock, this time from Brooklyn!  I hope something hasn't happened to the Hudson!

16.  Stupid (Deb Never) - Grunge/emo ditty from West Coast artist

17.  Song for Zula (Phosporescent) - They played this during the series finale of "Superstore" and I had to include it!  Great song for a great show.  

18.  I Put a Spell on You /Original Full Disco Mix/ (M Diggo feat. Eddie Johns) - One last Halloween party tune!  A glorious 1978 disco reboot of the 1956 "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins song.  

So that's October's playlist!  Hope everyone has a spook-tacular Halloween season and I'll see you next month! 

Brant's September 2021 Playlist

If Spencer Elden doesn't want to be on the cover of Nirvana's album anymore,
I'm happy to step in!  

Happy Virgo Season!  As always, I'm looking forward to the cooler weather and fewer bugs.  I thought with my birthday around the corner, I'd try to have some upbeat party songs.  Unfortunately, I had trouble finding those.  So I settled for some cozy Americana, some oldies, and a few random other things that made me smile.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Just What You Want (Grouplove feat. Surfbort) - Okay, I slipped in one punk rock song before we get to the Americana!  

2.  See the World (Brett Dennen) - I wish we could!  Unfortunately, the USA got bumped off the "safe travel" list since we can't seem to get COVID-19 under control.  

3.  Take Back the Radio (Katy J. Pearson) - Can a singer from West Country England sing Americana?  Yes she can, and very well I might add!  

4.  Jamaica Say You Will (Los Lobos) - This band has popped on and off my radar since they debuted in the 1980s, but I was very happy to have them back with this exquisite Jackson Browne cover!  

5.  Three Flights Up (Nanci Griffith) - We lost Nanci last month, so I definitely wanted to include one of my favorite songs of hers - from the classic Other Voices Other Rooms album.  RIP

6.  Boy (Maisie Peters) - Ed Sheeran protégée (he co-wrote this with her, and signed her to his record label) seems destined for great things!  

7.  Nasty Girl /Riffs & Rays Extended Mix/ (Inaya Day) - Jeff turned me on to this particular mix of Inaya's 2004 hit.  It sounds like something from Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" years!  

8.  August /Shura Remix/ (Jimmy Smash) - Norwegian duo gets a delicious remix courtesy of English artist Shura.  

9.  Worth It (Amber Mark) - Affirming R&B groove from Grammy nominee.

10.  Waiter, Make Mine Blues (Anita O'Day) - One of my fraternity bros turned me on to Anita and I'm so thankful he did.  Classic jazz performance from 1961.  

11.  Time Out of Mind (Lou Hayter) - Covering a Steely Dan classic is a bold move, but when the results are as good as this - I am here for it!  

12.  Me Myself and Dollar Hell (Mild High Club) - Speaking of Steely Dan, this sounds like listening to Steely Dan while on an acid trip (and I mean that as a compliment!). 

13.  Quiet Town (the Killers) - Brandon Flowers and co didn't rest on their laurels during the lockdown!  They're back with another full album, almost exactly a year to the day after their last one.  

14.  Summertime Thing (Chuck Prophet) - I don't know where I recently heard this 2002 track, but it was new to me and I loved it, so here it 'tis!  

15.  You Get Whatcha Paid For (Moses Patrou and Soul Tune Allstars) - Versatile singer/songwriter serves up some retro-soul!

16.  Only for Tonight (Pearl Charles) - This was giving me ABBA vibes!  

17.  Butter /Megan Thee Stallion Remix/ (BTS) - I would never have expected to see MTS on a BTS song, but it works!  

18.  Say Something (Kylie Minogue) - This is from last year, but Kylie makes me happy!  

19.  Knock Knock (Mell Hall feat. Thandi Phoenix) - A loungey dance track to close us out!  

So that's September's playlist!  Hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day weekend, and I'll see ya next month.  

Brant's August 2021 Playlist

And just like that, it's time for a new playlist!  

How is it August already???  Crazy how the summer snuck up on us...kinda like the Delta Variant except there's no vaccine for summer humidity.  Anyway, I've got another playlist ready to go!  It seems like the theme of this month's songs is collaboration!  We've got remixes and multiple artists galore!  So let's dig in.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.  

1.  Solar Power (Lorde) - New Zealander gets us started with this slow simmering new hit.  

2.  Can You Handle My Love? (Walk the Moon) - I never get tired of this energetic Indie band!  If the only song of theirs that you know is "Shut Up and Dance", I highly encourage you to check out their other music!  

3.  Love If You Need It /Mousse T's Classic Shizzle/ (Horse Meat Disco feat. Fi McCluskey) - Jeff turned me on to this.  Gotta say, I don't dig their band name, but if Mousse T is on board - sign me up!  

4.  You Should Be Dancing (Dee Gees/Foo Fighters) - This has been the Song of the Summer 2021, and deservedly so!  Foo Fighters doing the Bee Gees!!!  

5.  Feel the Way I Want (Caroline Rose) - We had her on our March 2018 playlist, and now she's back with some 80s-styled funk!  

6.  Sanctuary (Slim Jeff, Annabelle McGinnis, and CAPYAC) - This is giving me Kaytranada vibes and I'm not mad about it!  

7.  Same Page, Different Book (Prince) - Every now and again, I seem to be at odds with the critics.  Everyone is raving about "Welcome2America", the 2010 Prince album that has surfaced posthumously.  I didn't love it.  But this song was okay.  Shelby J's slammin' rap is the best part.  

8.  On Top (Dan Croll) - British singer-songwriter serves up some Supertramp-influenced rock.  

9.  Tiger (Sparkle Moore) - 1950s rockabilly singer is getting some long overdue attention on the music blogs, and I'm so thankful to have finally found her!  

10.  Made to Love (Imelda May with Ron Wood, Gina Martin, and Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu) - Okay, I almost got carpal tunnel from typing in all the people who sang on this, but in the end - it's a great song!

11.  Never Take It (Twenty One Pilots) - Twenty One Pilots definitely don't need a shout out from me, but I liked the message on this tune:  beware of the rampant misinformation that is out there!

12.  Call On Me (Raye) - I think we have an emerging pop princess on our hands!  Ava Max and Kim Petras better watch their backs. 

13.  Move Into Me /Roosevelt Remix/ (Bad Sounds feat. Broods) - I pretty much love anything Roosevelt does, including this remix.  

14.  My Baby Just Cares for Me (Ledisi and Metropole Orkest) - Great take on a great Nina Simone tune.  She did sing other stuff besides "Feelin' Good", y'know!!!

15.  All the Little Things (Winston Surfshirt feat. Ramirez) - Easy-going summer beats perfect for relaxing at the beach...in a (wait for it)...surfshirt! 

16.  Missing Piece (Vance Joy) - The latest epic anthem from Australian artist.

17.  Faster (Samantha Fish) - Samantha is serving a Shania Twain rock vibe on this that is totally working for me!  

18.  I Want Love /Two Colors Remix/ (Jessie J and Billy Porter) - Eric turned me on to this!  Total diva runway-struttin' disco!  

So that's August!  Everyone stay safe, wear a mask, and if you haven't gotten vaccinated yet...DO IT!!!

Brant's July 2021 Playlist

Puttin' the boogie in our boogie boards!

I wouldn't dream of sending everyone into the holiday weekend without some new music!  This month's playlist has a little bit of everything, but with (hopefully) a summer vibe - lots of concert-ready rock and easy summer beats.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE. 

1.  Drinking Wine (Oscar Lang) - Teenage rocker gets us off to a strong start, but I can't help but wonder what he knows about drinking wine!  Isn't he underage???

2.  Believer (Black Honey) - British Indie band keeps the good vibes going with this party anthem! 

3.  Paprika (Japanese Breakfast) - Michelle Zauner is back!!!  She cited Kate Bush as an inspiration in a recent interview, and I can totally hear it in this festively eclectic single.  

4.  15 Minutes (Julian Lamadrid) - We had him on last December's playlist, and the Brooklyn artist is back with a danceable ditty.  Madonna and Justin Timberlake asked for 4 minutes - Julian needs 11 more.  

5.  Complicated (Leela James) - Another welcome return!  Leela doing the smooth R&B that she does best!

6.  Dancing in the Kitchen (LANY) - West Coast band serves up a new dose of their signature dream pop.  

7.  A Dream with a Baseball Player (Faye Webster) - Barack Obama loves her, and so do I!  

8.  The Edge of Glory (Years & Years) - I feel like Olly Alexander is on the Edge of Glory!  He just starred in the hit HBO Max show "It's a Sin", and now he's hand-picked by Lady Gaga to record this tune for the 10 Year Anniversary of her album "Born This Way"!  Not bad for a dude who just turned 30!  

9.  Shade of Yellow (Griff) - Poached from Gary's summer playlist (with his blessings, of course!).  

10.  Enough (Tiggs Da Author) - Summery world beats from Tanzanian artist.

11.  Making a Fire /Mark Ronson Re-Version/ (Foo Fighters) - Mark Ronson takes the Foo Fighters' stadium anthem and reworks it into a Southern Rock jam!  

12.  Dear Saint Cecelia (Iceage) - Energetic punk from Denmark!  

13.  Waste My Time (Sanya N'kanta) - Soulful ballad from Jamaican-born, Carolina-residing  singer/songwriter.  

14.  Superstar (Tennis) - A delightful update on the Carpenters' classic!  

15.  Early Morning Breeze (Kishi Bashi) - 60s folk vibes from American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.  

16.  Lose My Mind (Anthony Ramos) - "Hamilton" and "In the Heights" star drops the beats (and the F-bombs) in this latest banger!  

17.  Thank You (Diana Ross) - An unexpected and extremely welcome new song from a living legend!!!  Can't wait to hear the rest of the new album.  Eric turned me on to this. 

18.  Pale Blue Light (Jessie Ware) - Jessie's most recent album was chock full of disco, so this 80s style ballad really stood out for me.  Reminds me of some of Berlin's best slow jams.  

So that's July's playlist!  Hope everyone has a safe and festive Independence Day and I'll see you next month!  

Brant's June 2021 Playlist

 

Admittedly, it's been a year since we've been able to travel -
but I just don't remember this as how "tourists" normally behaved...  

Happy Pride Month!  I hope everyone fastened their seatbelts, because May was a bumpy month.  Congressman Andrew Clyde said the rioters at the Capitol building on January 6th were basically "tourists", and Senator Mitch McConnell must have agreed (do most tourists want to hang the vice president?!?) because he shot down an investigation of the events from that day.  But enough politics!  We've got a new batch of songs to enjoy.  June is traditionally LGBTQ Pride Month, so I found myself leaning into that theme.  We've got tons of queer artists to get you in the spirit, as well as some familiar faces and songs to keep the good vibes going.  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE. 

1.  It's a Sin (Elton John and Years & Years) - Two generations of gay men teaming up to cover a gay anthem!  

2.  Miss Chatelaine /St. Tropez Mix/ (kd lang) - Another LGBT legacy gets the remix treatment.  Perfect for any summer/Pride/poolside playlist!  

3.  You (Regard, Troye Sivan, and Tate McRae) - Mid-tempo dance track to keep your feet tappin'!

4.  Down (St. Vincent) - We had Annie Clark/St. Vincent on last month's playlist, but there was too much yummy stuff on her latest album not to add a new song! 

5.  Persephone (Allison Russell) - Chicken soup for the (lesbian?) Americana soul! 

6.  Deep Breath (Riley Downing) - Bluesy 70s vibes that I find completely irresistible! 

7.  Stay in the Car (Bachelor) - Psychedelic garage rock from Jay Som and Palehound collaboration.

8.  Let's Go Home Together (Ella Henderson with Tom Grennan) - Another collaboration, this time from two British artists.  

9.  Stop Making This Hurt (Bleachers) - Jack Antonoff takes time away from producing everybody else to make his own kind of music!  

10.  Ahead of the Game (Gary Kemp) - Unexpected (for me, at least!) and welcome solo release from the Spandau Ballet guy!  

11.  Running Up That Hill (Georgia) - More 80's goodness, this time with a Kate Bush cover.  

12.  Pony (Tender Games) - Smooth R&B reboot of the Ginuwine classic.

13.  Feels Right (Biig Piig) - We had Biig Piig on our August 2020 playlist, and she's back with more peppy introspective beats!

14.  Head Rush (Art d'Ecco) - I love me some glam rock, and this totally fits the bill!

15.  What Am I Living For (Cat Clyde with Jeremie Albino) - Folksy duo can really belt out a tune!  

16.  I Can't Afford Her (the New Twentys) - Energetic English alt-rock.

17.  In My Blood (the Veronicas) - This is a far cry from their earlier stuff, but no less catchy!  

18.  Music Saved My Life (Dmitri from Paris feat. Fiorious) - Nothing like some old-skool style disco to fill up the dance floor at your Pride Party!  

19.  BONUS TRACK:  Big Mouth (the Linda Lindas) - Alt-rock "It" Girls cover the Muffs' 1993 hit.  I'd happily pay to own this, but for some weird reason I can't find it available to purchase!!!

So that's June's list.  Hope everyone has a safe and happy Pride and I'll see ya in July!  

Brant's May 2021 Playlist

There's nothing like Cher-ing a hammock with your bestie on a beautiful Spring day!  

What a month it's been!  I got my first and second Pfizer vaccines, and survived another season of pollen.  My lungs are cautiously optimistic.  So now we can focus on new music.  This month found me gravitating towards power pop and alternative rock.  There are lots of familiar faces this month, but hopefully enough new stuff to keep it interesting.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Companion (The Night Game feat. Elle King) - We had an Elle collaboration with Miranda Lambert on March's playlist.  This is nothing like that, but still rocks!  

2.  Million (Fickle Friends) - English Indie band keeps the party vibe going with this latest offering.

3.  Please (Jessie Ware) - Jessie had so many grooves to offer that she has expanded her "What's Your Pleasure?" album into a Platinum Pleasure Edition!  Can't wait to hear the rest of it!

4.  Blushing (Video Age) - New Orleans band serves up some easy beats that remind me of "Ballad of Dorothy Parker" by Prince.  

5.  Friends (Bent) - Tropical beats and wistful vocals that seem perfect for the first summer sunset.  

6.  Young Americans (Durand Jones & the Indications) - A soulful cover of the David Bowie hit.  

7.  Hey Gringo (Kaleo) - These poor guys have been dealing with delays on their latest album since last year!  So glad it was worth the wait.  This reminds me of the Rolling Stones at their cockiest.  

8.  Antibodies (Tensnake feat. Cara Melín) - They kinda had me at the title, since we're still in the midst of a pandemic, but the song has an appealing groove I probably would've gravitated towards anyway!  

9.  Bottle Rocket (Briston Maroney) - Young Tennessee rocker is off to a strong start with this debut album.  Looking forward to hearing more from him. 

10.  This Ain't the Life (Lauren Housley) - I would've sworn this British artist was straight out of Detroit with this retro soul ditty!  

11.  Shades of Blue (Paul Weller) - Former Style Council and The Jam singer is still going strong!

12.  Supernovas (k-os) - Supernovas are the new black!  First we had Kylie Minogue singing about them in January, and now Canadian artist k-os keeps the interstellar party going with this danceable groove!  

13.  Like a Ghost (Nomi Ruiz & Sam Sparro) - Don't touch that dial, there's jam on it.  Nomi Ruiz and Sam Sparro team up for what we used to call Quiet Storm soul.  

14.  All About You (the Knocks with Foster the People) - Two great bands banding together for a soaring summery choral canticle.  

15.  The Melting of the Sun (St. Vincent) - I saw this quirky chanteuse on SNL and had to have this song!  Annie Clark is one of those artists you can't take your eyes off:  always engaging and original.  

16.  Bad News (Aaron Frazer) - Jazzy soul from Durand Jones and the Indications (see #6!) member.

17.  Only Wanna Dance with You (Zac Tenenbaum feat. ÁSDÍS) - Peppy pop from multi-cultural ("born in Tijuana and raised in a Jewish orthodox community in Paris", according to Google) singer.  

18.  Starstruck (Years & Years) - Another personal fave of mine is back, just in time for summer!!!  

So that's May's list.  Hope everyone has a great month.  GET VACCINATED.  Concert season is almost here!!!  See ya next month (I hope).

Brant's April 2021 Playlist

When you want to take an inspirational COVID vaccine photo, 
but you're also afraid of needles...

It's the last day of March, but since I got my COVID vaccine today it also feels like the first day of post-pandemic life.  I've still got one shot to go (Pfizer, in case anyone's curious), and need two weeks to build up antibodies - but the end is (hopefully!) in sight.  I guess time will tell.  In the meantime, I do have a new playlist!  It's a mix of everything but sometimes the variety is the fun part.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE. 

1.  Ancestors (Miko Marks and the Resurrectors) - Country singer returns after a 14-year hiatus, with some heartfelt, gospel-tinged Americana.

2.  Seventeen (Sharon Van Etten and Norah Jones) - We had the original version of this song on my August 2019 playlist, but I liked this Norah Jones collaboration so much I had to include it!  

3.  Smile (WizKid and H.E.R.) - H.E.R. is another artist whose collaborations I tend to enjoy.  Here, she teams up with Nigerian singer WizKid for some rhythmic Afrofusion. 

4.  This Is Heaven (Nick Jonas) - Catchy pop from handsome Jonas Bro!  I love the 80s-influenced sax solo. 

5.  Unknown Song (Joe Goddard and Hayden Thorpe) - Hot Chip member goes solo and the output sounds like a slightly hip-hop-tinged Erasure!  

6.  Everybody's Down (Anna Fox Rochinsky) - I was in the mood for something catchy and out-of-the-ordinary.  This definitely fit the bill!  

7.  Power Ranger (Pikes) - I couldn't find out much about this artist, but I like the song!

8.  I Need You (Jon Batiste) - Stephen Colbert's bandleader delivers some retro-flavored jitterbug-ready pop! 

9.  One's on the Way (Loretta Lynn and Margo Price) - An all-time fave teams up with one of my fave newcomers, to revisit one of Loretta's classic tunes.  

10.  I Can't Stop Thinking About You (the Shadowboxers) - This one reminded me of the synth ballads we used to hear back in the 1980s.  It'd fit perfectly on an album by the Cars.  

11.  Real Groove /Studio 2054 Initial Talk Remix/ (Kylie Minogue and Dua Lipa) - Dua Lipa makes everything better!  Even Kylie!  

12.  Tigress and Tweed (Andra Day) - This is from the soundtrack of "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" and Andra is fantastic in the lead role!  Catch it if you can.  

13.  Womxn (Låpsley) - Easygoing world-beats from English singer.

14.  Flowers (Aaron Taylor) - Contemporary R&B from London.  

15.  What a Day (Ben Howard) - The guys from the National seem to be everywhere!  First, they give Taylor Swift an assist on her two quarantine albums, now they're helping out singer-songwriter Ben Howard! 

16.  Want You to Want Me (Alex Mills) - This isn't the Cheap Trick song, but it does have a retro-vibe to it.  I'd say it's more 1990s than 1970s though!  

17.  Hold Me Down (the Happy Fits) - Vibrant alt rock from New Jersey band!

18.  Long Violent History (Tyler Childers) - Sympathetic roots-Americana in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  This seemed like a great way to wrap things up as policeman Derek Chauvin is currently being tried for the murder of George Floyd.  

So that's April's list.  I'm not feeling 100% after this vaccine, so I think I'm going to hit the hay early tonight.  Hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter (those who celebrate), and I'll see you next month!  

Brant's March 2021 Playlist

 

When I said I needed a Lyft, this wasn't what I had in mind...

After two late playlists in a row, I was determined to get this one published on time!  Mission accomplished.  This time around, I found myself gravitating towards slick R&B and electronic beats - probably trying to get one last dance in before the pollen knocks me on my toosh!  But as always there's a mix of stuff I've found in the last month.  So let's dive in!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Time (SG Lewis feat. Rhye) - UK artist has worked with everyone from Dua Lipa to LANY!  Here, he teams up with Canadian R&B act (and frequent Brantworld playlistee) Rhye for some runway-ready funk.  

2.  Flowers /Sunship Radio Edit/ (Sweet Female Attitude) - I heard this slick soul track on the soundtrack to the excellent "I May Destroy You" and immediately had to download it!  

3.  Does It Make You Feel Good?  (Joesef) - We had his cover of Sister Sledge on last month's playlist, so I decided to check out some of Joesef's own material and was immediately hooked.  It feels like an updated Philly soul tune.   

4.  Out of Love /Harrison Remix/ (Busty and the Bass feat. Macy Gray) - It makes me happy to know Macy is still out there doing her thang, but it also makes me happy to know there's a band out there called Busty and the Bass!  

5.  Antidote (Nao feat. Adekunle Gold) - Lord knows in the middle of a pandemic, we all need an antidote, and happily Nao and Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold were willing to provide one.  Smooth vocals over delicate percussion. 

6.  Up All Night (Aaron Lee Tasjan) - This is giving me Traveling Wilburys vibes and I'm loving it. 

7.  Auburn (Goody Grace) - Indie rock from young Canadian.

8.  Gasoline (HAIM feat. Taylor Swift) - The Haim sisters get a vocal assist from T-Swizzle, who has to be the busiest woman in quarantine these days!!!  Thanks, Zach, for bringing this tune to my attention.  

9.  It's Never Been a Fair Fight (Craig Finn) - Hold Steady frontman releases a collection of outtakes, demos, and other solo recordings.  It's mellower than the Hold Steady stuff, but no less entertaining.  

10.  My Window (Lucky Daye feat. Mahalia) - I love a good R&B duet and this tune certainly fits the bill!  

11.  Big (Rita Ora feat. Gunna, David Guetta, and Imanbek) - Rita teams up with several artists remotely during quarantine and the results sound as good as anything she could've done in person.  Technology is amazing.

12.  Echoes (Roosevelt) - The new Roosevelt album is here and I am rejoicing!  This tune especially stood out, with it's spacey 1980s vibes.  Perfect for watching the Mars rover explore the Red Planet.  

13.  Uh-huh (Litany) - Funky, minimalist beats from London artist.

14.  Faith Healer (Julien Baker) - Young, introspective Tennessee singer packs an emotional wallop on this latest offering.

15.  Kicking Over Bottles (Beach Slang) - I missed this when it came out last year, so here 'tis!  Vibrant alt rock to shake off your angst. 

16.  I Could Spend a Lifetime (Begonia, E.GG and deadmen) - Trippy beats and jazzy vocals are basically the equivalent of aural Xanax (in all the best ways). 

17.  Glam! (Allie X) - The best 80s pop song to come out in 2021!  Gary turned me on to this and it was the first tune I set aside for March.  

18.  Drunk and I Don't Wanna Go Home (Elle King with Miranda Lambert) - I have loved both of these women individually, so it's no surprise that I love them together.  And the video is a delight!  

19.  Hold On (Yola with the Highwomen feat. Sheryl Crow) - This is another example of fantabulous women teaming up to make fantabulous music!  Soulful gospel-country vibes to close us out.  

So that's March's playlist!  Hope everyone has a great month, and let's hope the COVID vaccines are coming soon.  I miss concerts and live music.  See ya next month!

Brant's February 2021 Playlist

When the #ThenAndNowChallenge takes you from Bunny to Bernie!

How has it only been one month since the last playlist?!?!  It feels like six.  We lost Cloris Leachman and Cicely Tyson, had an insurrection at the Capitol, and got a new President!  We've also got a new playlist.  I guess with all the chaos, I was leaning towards easy grooves and comforting folk-rock.  Anyway, here 'tis, and to listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Balenciaga (New West) - Aspirational dream pop to get us started on a positive note!

2.  Officer of Love (Caamp) - Athens, Ohio folk band keeps the mellow vibes going.

3.  In the Air (the California Honeydrops) - Oakland band serves up some 1970s soft rock vibes. 

4.  Dance Alone (Tayla Parx) - "Thank U, Next" songwriter steps up to the mike and proves she can do catchy pop all by herself!

5.  Strangers (Roosevelt) - 2021 will be gifting us a new Roosevelt album, so at least we have that to look forward to!  This is an early release from the new album.  

6.  Lifetime (Romy) - Reminds me of the early 90s club tunes I used to enjoy back in the day!

7.  On the Lookout (Neil Frances feat. Rafaella) - Percolating pop from West Coast duo. 

8.  Sword from a Stone (Passenger) - Melancholy folk from English singer/songwriter.

9.  Smalltown Boy (Orville Peck) - Unexpected Bronski Beat cover from up and coming Canadian artist! I would never have thought to put a Country and Western twist on this tune, but it works!  

10.  What a Magical Night (Gunhild Carling) - I love me some Gunhild!  Old school jazz flavors to pair with your Valentine's Day celebration.  

11.  What Makes Me Think About You (Nicolas Godin) - I loved Air back in the day!  Now one of the original members has gone solo, and offers up this robotic, atmospheric delight.  

12.  Not My Life (Nolie) - Indie pop star sings about going through the motions but not really being okay, which seems pretty relevant as we enter Year Two of the pandemic!

13.  Incapable /Dmitri from Paris and Aeroplane Remix/ (Róisín Murphy) - We had Róisín on last month's playlist, and I'm still digging tracks off her new album - including this deelish remix!  

14.  <Insert Girls Name Here> (the Luka State) - Energetic rock from Cheshire band

15.  On It (Jazmine Sullivan and Ari Lennox) - Apparently "WAP" opened the floodgates for sex-positive female anthems!  And the R&B vocals are impeccable!  

16.  In the Morning (MOKS feat. Kepler) - I couldn't find out much about this Dance artist, but heard it on Pandora and liked it!  

17.  Holy (Rhye) - Canadian R&B act gets an angelic assist from the Danish National Girls' Choir!   

18.  Run It (My Morning Jacket) - From cherubs to classic rock!  Brantworld is home to all.

19.  Right On (Devon Gilfillian, Nickie Conley, and Davie) - What better way to celebrate Black History Month than a spot-on cover of a Marvin Gaye deep cut!  I'll definitely be keeping an eye on future projects by Devon Gilfillian!

20.  BONUS TRACK:  Thinking of You (Joesef) - This is apparently a Spotify exclusive, which is a shame because I'd gladly hand over $1.29 to own this fantabulous Sister Sledge cover!  I included it anyway even though I prefer owning versus streaming.  Think of it as my Valentine's gift to you!

So that's February's playlist!  After January, Lord knows what this month has in store for us - but I'll be looking for you on the other side!  Happy Groundhog's Day!  

Brant's January 2021 Playlist

I think everyone is a tad apprehensive about what the New Year brings.

Wow.  Three days late on this one.  I wish I had some excuse for why this playlist took so long, but I don't.  Can't even blame it on a New Year's hangover.  But anyway, here 'tis.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Murphy's Law (Róisín Murphy) - Murphy's Law states that if anything CAN go wrong, it will.  I don't want to be pessimistic about 2021, but that definitely applies to 2020.  Luckily, Róisín's seductive groove makes it easy to forget the bad times. 

2.  Making Love (Sir Woman) - Singer Kelsey Wilson of Texas band Wild Child goes solo and serves up some more sexy grooves.

3.  You've Changed (Studio Rio and Billie Holiday) - I heard this somewhere and immediately recognized Billie Holiday's voice.  The backup band threw me off though, because it sounded so contemporary.  A little research led me to this project from 2014.  Classic vocalists were paired with a modern band for Bossa Nova reboots of some of their most memorable songs.  The entire album is great!  Highly recommended.  

4.  U 2 Luv (Ne-You and Jeremih) - Multiple Grammy-winner teams up with another R&B artist and tosses in an Mtume sample for good measure!  

5.  Work Is a Four-Letter Word (the Smiths) - I love being surprised by cover songs.  This was on a Sire Music Sampler from 1987 I recently acquired, and is the Smiths covering Cilla Black. Apparently, this is one of the songs that broke up the group.  Lead singer Morrissey loved it and guitarist Johnny Marr hated it.  Marr soon left the group, saying "I didn't form a group to perform Cilla Black songs."  

6.  La La Love Me (Lola Lennox) - Annie Lennox's daughter keeps the 1960s vibes going with this ebullient ditty.

7.  Honeybody /Mattsoro Remix/ (Kishi Bashi) - Funky remix of the 2016 Kishi Bashi song.

8.  Supernova (Kylie Minogue) - Kylie never strayed too far from disco, but she really leans into it with this song - right down to the outer space references and robot voices!  

9.  Donuts Mind If I Do (CHAI) - A little sugary Asian persuasion courtesy of Japanese alt-rock band. 

10.  Long Blue Light (Leif Vollebekk) - Pensive ballad from Canadian Indie artist. 

11.  Take the Highway (Blackberry Smoke) - It never takes a lot of arm-twisting to get me to listen to some Southern rock!  Recommended to me by a fraternity bro.  

12.  Born to Be Alive (Amyl and the Sniffers) - Growing up in the 1970s, there was always a thin line between disco and punk rock - with bands like Blondie even doing both!  What a treat to hear this punk band nailing a Patrick Hernandez dance floor classic!  

13.  It's Quiet in Beverly Hills (Yungblud) - I'm digging the new Yungblud album.  We had "Cotton Candy" on last month's playlist.  Here's another fave from the new record.  

14.  That Thing You Do! (Billie Joe Armstrong) - Another repeat from last month (new song, same album).  And a nice homage to Grammy-winning songwriter Adam Schlesinger, who died in April of last year from COVID-19.  

15.  Kerosene! (Yves Tumor) - Trippy psychedelic rock from enigmatic artist.

16.  All We Got /Joel Corry Remix/ (Robin Schulz feat. Kiddo) - Looks like 2021 will be giving us a new album from electronic/dance maestro Schulz!  

17.  Jukebox Johnny (Diane Birch) - Birch seems to be inhabiting the space created by 1970s artists such as Rickie Lee Jones and Joni Mitchell, and I'm not mad about it!  Hope we get more from Birch in the New Year!  PS  I do hate the album cover, though.  Yuck.  

18.  ivy (Taylor Swift) - Don't fix it if it ain't broke.  T. Swizzle follows up "Folklore" with another acoustic album called "Evermore".  If she keeps giving us these piano- and guitar-heavy compilations, she'll have to call her new album "FingersSore"!  

19.  Birmingham (Ryan Adams) - I debated putting this song on my playlist.  Adams has been accused of sexual misconduct and emotional abuse by several women.  He has since apologized and is working to do better.  At the end of the day, I liked the song, and until we have reason to believe that he is NOT trying to improve himself - I decided not to cancel him. 

So that's our first playlist of the New Year.  Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season, and let's hope 2021 is a vast improvement over its predecessor.