Brant's June 2022 Playlist

Inflation really took a bite out of the special effects in
 "Jurassic World 3", didn't it?

The early bird gets the...cyclist?  I guess because I was home sick all weekend (not Covid, thank goodness), I was able to complete June's playlist a little early!  June is Pride Month, so in hopes that I will NOT be sick and that I will get to do some fun stuff during the next 30 days - I leaned into the party vibes:  lots of dance, R&B, and synth pop.  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Daydreaming (Harry Styles) - This glorious mix of Styles' charisma and a slammin' Brothers Johnson sample kicks us off!  It seems destined to be one of the "Songs of the Summer" for 2022.  

2.  Down (Hot Chip) - Eclectic, Grammy-nominated alt-dance artists serve up more peppy beats.

3.  Don't Forget My Love (Diplo and Miguel) - Two West Coast greats team up to create some night club magic!  

4.  Slow Song (the Knocks feat. Dragonette) - This was giving me Fleetwood Mac vibes in all the right ways!  

5.  Heartbursts (Lucius) - Dare I say...luscious (and Lucius!)  female vocals over tasty Indie pop?  Yes, please!

6.  You Make Me Mad (Aquilo) - Slick alt-rock from English duo.

7.  Ominira (Angelique Kidjo) - Beninese legend delivers some tropical vibes perfect for the upcoming season. 

8.  At the Hotel (Eunice Collins) - I heard this on an episode of "Atlanta" and had to have it.  A rare and nearly lost R&B recording from 1974.  Haven't we ALL felt a little "motel" at the "hotel" at some time or another?

9.  Quicksand (Hatchie) - Dreamy pop from Australian singer.

10.  Broken (Alfie Templeman) - We had Alfie on last month's playlist, and one song was not enough!  

11.  One Second (Pink Skies) - Easygoing psychedelic rock from Oakland, CA artist

12.  Against All Odds (Jenevieve) - Unexpected but welcome R&B cover of an 80s anthem.  

13.  Skyline (Khalid) - Sunny dance tune from one of my favorite contemporary soul singers. 

14.  girl ur so pretty (Ambar Lucid) - Young Indie singer dabbles in some Sapphic sensuality. 

15.  Meteorite (Anna of the North & Gus Dapperton) - Peppy pop from Norwegian artist

16.  Passion (Roosevelt feat. Nile Rodgers) - This combo was destined to happen!  Roosevelt is clearly influenced by 70s and 80s dance and disco music, and Nile Rodgers is well, Nile Rodgers!  I can't believe it took this long for them to collaborate!

17.  About Damn Time /Purple Disco Machine Extended Remix/ (Lizzo) - Did someone say "disco"???  This had BETTER be on EVERY Pride Playlist moving forward! 

18.  Hurts But It Goes Away (The Head and The Heart) - Latest from the Seattle Indie folk-rockers

19.  Turn Up the Sunshine (Diana Ross & Tame Impala) - Minions make strange bedfellows!  I never in a million years would've put Diana Ross in the recording studio with Tame Impala, but they sound pretty great on this tune from the "Minions:  Rise of Gru" soundtrack!

20.  Strut Your Funky Stuff  /Original 12" Version/ (Frantique) - It wouldn't be Pride without some disco, and I recently discovered this band on a Disco Discharge compilation!  Strut your funky stuff, y'all!

So that's June's playlist!  Hope everyone has a safe and HEALTHY month - and I'll see you in July! 

Brant's May 2022 Playlist

Okay, I survived the Spring pollen.  Now I just need to be ready for the Summer bugs!  

It's hard to believe May is here!  I guess the allergy-induced haze I've been in for the last two months has distorted my perception of time.  Anyway - I'm a day late but here is a new playlist.  We've got some unexpected covers, some poolside beats, and a few artists I hope to catch over the summer concert season.  Enjoy!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Stacking Chairs (Middle Kids) - Upbeat Indie rock from down under to kick us off!

2.  Nervous at Night (Charlie Hickey) - Young artist signed to Phoebe Bridgers' record label!  

3.  Too Young to Remember (Christone "Kingfish" Ingram) - Young Grammy winner will hopefully have a long career ahead of him!  It's nice to hear some old school blues. 

4.  C'mon Baby Cry (Orville Peck) - Orville is back on tour, so I'm hoping to catch him this summer!  In the meantime, I'm digging this retro-Country offering. 

5.  Puppy and a Truck (Jenny Lewis) - Her opening line is "My 40s are kicking my ass, and handing it to me in a margarita glass!"  I hate to tell her what the 50s will be like...

6.  Steal My Sunshine (Portugal. The Man with Cherry Glazerr) - First unexpected cover!  Psychedelic Rock darlings Portugal. The Man cover Len's 1990s hit (which in itself had a delicious Andrea True sample!).  

7.  About Damn Time (Lizzo) - Lizzo is baaaaaaack!!!  And there is much rejoicing! 

8.  Colors (Thunder Jackson) - Powerful vocals over a groovy beat to keep the party going.  

9.  Rocket on My Feet (St. Lucia) - Many artists have adopted the 80s sound, but this tune nailed it for me.  It sounds like one of those mid-tempo club tunes you'd hear at every cocktail lounge you visited.  Perfect for sipping your blue caracao cocktail and trying not to worry that the valet is going to scratch your DeLorean.  

10.  Beatmaker (Matt Berry & Emma Noble) - Unexpected cover #2!  The guy from "What We Do in the Shadows" does a fantabulous cover of the Doris classic!

11.  So Lonely (PJ Morton feat. Wale) - Great summer vibes from Maroon 5 keyboardist and Grammy winner.

12.  Sharks (Diane Coffee) - So excited to have a new Diane Coffee album!  And there's a tour this summer so I may try to catch that as well.  Shaun Fleming never disappoints.  

13.  Wild One (Bobby Rydell) - We lost Bobby last month, so I wanted to include one of his biggest hits.  For giggles, you can check out the disco version from 1976!  It's also added as a Bonus Track on Spotify.  

14.  Colour Me Blue (Alfie Templeman) - It's impossible to be sad while listening to these upbeat 1960s vibes from this up-and-coming UK artist!  

15.  Pogo (Skeleten) - Easygoing electronica from Sydney band.  

16.  Landline (Little Boots) - English pop singer is back with this disco-tinged tribute to the days before wireless!

17.  As I Try Not to Fall Apart (White Lies) - Another English artist serves up some post-punk New Wave beats.  

18.  Used to Know Me (Charli XCX) - Charli had me at the Robin S sample.  Can we get an extended version please???  2.5 minutes is not nearly long enough!

19.  Dark Rain (DRAMA) - Breathy vocals over a mid-tempo beat to ease us into the final song.  

20.  Inside My Arms (Gabrielle Cavassa with Braxton Cook) - 'Transportive' is the only word I can use to describe this jazzy conclusion to May's playlist.  Hearing it, I immediately feel like I'm in some hole-in-the-wall cabaret in a big city.  

So that's May's list.  Hope everyone has a great month, and I'll see you in June!