Saturday, July 30, 2022

Brant's August 2022 Playlist

You never know what that new Webb Telescope is going to find out there! 

It's a Saturday, and summer is in full swing.  After meeting a friend at his pool yesterday and deciding it was too hot to be outside - I decided to spend this afternoon finishing up August's playlist.  Usually I steer towards Indie artists and those performers people may not know, but there have been so many A-list artists putting out great music that I went ahead and added them in.  So, for every up-and-comer we have a BeyoncĂ©, Harry Styles, Lizzo, etc.  Anyway, here's this month's list, published early so you can enjoy it as part of YOUR weekend (be it indoors or outdoors).  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.


1.  Killing Me (Coin) - We had "Chapstick" on January's playlist, and now they're back with another peppy alt-rocker.  I'll be paying attention to this Nashville band moving forward! 

2.  The Girls (Albertine Sarges) - This tune reminds me of the quirky female-led songs from artists like Lene Lovich and the B-52s back in the 80s.  

3.  Wake Up (Young the Giant) - The latest anthemic offering from California rockers!  

4.  Music for a Sushi Restaurant (Harry Styles) - Harry's new album seems to vacillate between peppy horns-forward ditties and yacht rock.  I'm mostly favoring the former.  

5.  Everybody's Gay (Lizzo) - Viva La Lizzo!!!

6.  Hi-Fidelity (Lava La Rue feat. Biig Piig) - Easygoing funk collab between non-binary poet/artist/musician and Irish artist Biig Piig. 

7.  You're No Good (Weyes Blood) - Okay, it's starting to look like I'll have this entire "Minions" soundtrack on a playlist somewhere, but there are so many good songs!  Here's Weyes Blood covering Linda Rondstadt! 

8.  No Mistakes (Sarah Shook & the Disarmers) - I loved this song the first time I heard it.  What a pleasant surprise to see she's a North Carolina native!  She's serving "country punk and twang" and I am HERE for it! 

9.  (Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You (Watkins Family Hour feat. Fiona Apple) - Fiona follows her muse wherever it leads, and I like that.  For this number, she joins Sara and Sean Watkins (formerly of Nickel Creek) to do their rendition of a Johnny Cash standard.  

10.  Waiting by the Window (mokina, carbeau) - From American country to Brazilian bossa nova!  I always enjoy a lil' bossa nova in the summertime.  

11.  Different Colors x Pride (Walk The Moon feat. Jake Wesley Rogers) - My friend Lynn turned me on to Jake Wesley Rogers.  What a treat to hear him do this song with frequent Brantworld listees Walk The Moon for last month's Pride! 

12.  Never Really Loved Me (Kygo feat. Dean Lewis) - I don't know who Dean Lewis is, but I love this man's voice!  Kygo always manages to find quality vocalists for his stuff. 

13.  Life's Too Short (Adesha feat. Vincent Kwok) - Eric turned me on to this lady, and I'm digging the 80s old-school vibes she delivers.

14.  Sneakers (ITZY) - This K-pop group is giving me Spice Girl nostalgia.  Unapologetically exuberant and youthful.  

15.  sheluvme (Tai Verdes) - Cool R&B performance from handsome Californian.  I wish it were longer!  Can we go back to songs that are more than 3 minutes long, pleeeeeeease???

16.  Cuff It (BeyoncĂ©) - I'd be remiss if I didn't have something from Bey's new album!  I fully expect to be hearing selections from "Renaissance" on dance floors for the rest of the year (and beyond)!  

17.  Like I Never Left (Kid Bloom) - Trippy psych-rock from young West Coast artist.

18.  Back On My Love (Pure Shores) - Another song to get you back on the dance floor! 

19.  Let's Get It On /Flight Facilities Remix/ (Marvin Gaye) - Remixing Marvin Gaye is a bold undertaking, but I think these guys nailed it!  Flight Facilities build on the original without completely bastardizing something that really didn't need changing.  

So that's August!  Stay cool, and I'll (hopefully) see you next month!

Sunday, July 3, 2022

Brant's July 2022 Playlist

I couldn't hear the Horn in the West, but I 
can definitely hear this month's playlist!

Sometimes life gets in the way of putting together these playlists, but I guess that's not all bad.  It was just a super-busy month at work, and then the holiday weekend crept up and here we are 3 days into July and I'm just now pulling this all together!  Anyway, this month's list is a mix of good stuff - some folk-rock, some summery vibes, and because after all the nonsense coming out of the Supreme Court I wasn't feeling especially patriotic - I just threw in a kickass protest song from Nina Simone.  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.


1.  Broken Shadow (Karen Elson) - Gorgeously haunting folk from the former Mrs. Jack White.

2.  Shine a Light (Paolo Nutini) - This sounds nothing like "New Shoes" but is still quite appealing! 

3.  Shining Star (Brittany Howard and Verdine White) - I'm really digging this new Minions soundtrack!  We had Diana Ross last month, and now we've got Brittany Howard teaming up with founding member of Earth, Wind, and Fire for a powerhouse reboot of their classic 1975 hit.

4.  She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Cole Swindell) - Another fun reboot - this time of Jo Dee Messina's 1996 country hit!  

5.  In the Mirror (the Interrupters) - Summer always puts me in the mood for some reggae and ska, and this will do quite nicely! 

6.  Butterfly Wings (Felivand) - Percolating R&B from Australian artist.  

7.  The Highs and The Lows (Chance the Rapper feat. Joey Bada$$) - Jazzy rap from Chicago artist.

8.  Potion (Calvin Harris feat. Dua Lipa and Young Thug) - Dua Lipa is having her moment!  I'm not surprised Calvin Harris recruited her to sing on his latest.

9.  Just Sayin' (JayWood feat. Ami Cheon) - I can't remember where I heard this, but really digging this summery soul vibe from Canadian artist.  

10.  Mighty Cloud (Wooze) - This is wacky and muscular and just one of those kinda goth, kinda New Wave songs that reminds me of the Pterodactyl Club in 1980s/1990s Charlotte!  

11.  Give It to Me Baby (Jarina de Marco) - Slinky remake of the Rick James classic.

12.  Show Me Love (Tove Styrke) - Very 60s-styled girl group ballad from Swedish singer/songwriter. 

13.  The Funeral (YUNGBLUD) - Frequent Brantworld listee is back with some peppy alt-rock.

14.  That's Where I Am (Maggie Rogers) - New Wave beats and earnest vocals from Harvard Divinity School graduate.  

15.  Sometimes (MUNA) - From the Fire Island soundtrack.  A delicious Britney Spears cover. 

16.  Suburbia (NoSo) - Smooth electronica from Korean American artist.

17.  In the Dark /Extended Mix/ (Purple Disco Machine feat. Sophie & the Giants) - Fantabulous disco from the aptly named Purple Disco Machine!  

18.  Dream (Madison McFerrin feat. Photay) - This sounds like the Andrews Sisters after a few edibles (in all the best ways!).  And yes, she's Bobby McFerrin's daughter.

19.  Backlash Blues (Nina Simone) - Nina kicking ass and taking names, as only she can! A great protest song.  I first heard it in the excellent Academy Award-winning "Summer of Soul" movie.  

20.  Out of Time (the Weeknd) - Easygoing pop from versatile Canadian star.


So that's July's playlist!  Y'all stay safe out there.  And remember, if you're road-tripping with someone who recently lost an election - don't give them any bad news if they're within arm's reach of the steering wheel!  #SafetyFirst