Brant's January 2023 Playlist

Happy New Year!!!  Wait, why does Dorothy look so apprehensive?
Does she know something I don't???

Well, Happy New Year!  Considering I spent most of December sick with Covid (better now!), I can honestly say I'm ready for 2023.  Let's hope it's a kinder gentler year than its predecessor.  There's no real pattern to this month's playlist.  It's just some stuff I've found and liked - some of it from TV and movie soundtracks, some familiar artists, and some of it I don't even remember where I found.  Hopefully you'll enjoy!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.  

1.  Six Ways (the Jack Moves) - I figured a little party song would be a great way to kick off the new year!  This Newark band never disappoints.  

2.  It's Been a Little Heavy Lately (Joesef) - Indie Scottish singer keeps the disco vibes going with his latest!  

3.  Freakalizer (Sudan Archives) - West Coast violinist is not your Mama's classical musician, as this funky ditty attests! 

4.  Killing Me (Omar Apollo) - Best New Artist Grammy nominee serves up some sexy soul. 

5.  I Want to Ta-Ta You Baby (Johnny "Guitar" Watson) - Lordy, they don't make songs like this anymore, and that's a shame!  I heard this on a movie soundtrack and had to track it down.  From 1976 but sounds as fresh as ever.  I suspect a lot of people Ta-Ta'd to this song. 

6.  Soul Sweet Song (Tedeschi Trucks Band) - Another band that never disappoints!  I caught them last time they came through Charlotte and love their bluesy-rock sound.  

7.  Elegy (Theo Kandel) - Indie singer/songwriter delivers some airy acoustic pop.  

8.  Abigail (Chatham Rabbits) - Another band I caught live and have followed ever since.  The backstory on this is pretty cool:  Singer Sarah McCombie wrote the song about the Pack Horse Library Initiative of 1935, where women were paid to deliver books to rural communities that might not otherwise have them!  A great tune about a great program!

9.  Many Mirrors (Alvvays) - Soaring dream pop from Canadian Indie band.  There was a lot of good stuff on their latest album!  Don't be surprised if more of them shows up on future playlists. 

10.  Ciao Ciao (La rappresentante di Lista) - This was on the soundtrack for Season 2 of "White Lotus" and I will always picture a coked-up Jennifer Coolidge dancing to it now whenever I play this!  

11.  Something About Your Love (SG Lewis) - Daft Punk-inspired lounge beats from English artist.

12.  Makin' Memories (Melissa Carper) - Some more roots Americana from Arkansas bassist and songwriter. 

13.  Ain't Bad for a Good Ol' Boy (Mo Pitney) - I have no idea how I stumbled across this Country musician, but so far I'm digging him.  Definitely one to watch. 

14.  Smartest Man (Homeschool feat. Samia) - This was giving me Weezer vibes in all the right ways! Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tom D'Agustino teams up with touring partner Samia for some tasty pop. 

15.  And That's Saying a Lot (Christine McVie) - I went down the Christine McVie rabbit-hole after her death last month, and was pleasantly surprised to see she had recorded a solo album prior to her Fleetwood Mac years, under her maiden name Christine Perfect.  This is from that 1970 album.  

16.  Blutooth (Blu DeTiger feat. Chromeo) - NYC musician teams with funkmasters Chromeo for this danceable ditty.

17.  Honey (the Lone Bellow) - This reminds me of the New Wave-tinged country anthems by groups like Cock Robin and Lone Justice in the 1980s!  

18.  When You Stole the Sun from the Sky (Mamas Gun) - British soul band has obviously been studying some of the great R&B bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s!  This screams "Age of Aquarius"!

19.  United State of Pop 2022 (DJ Earworm) - It's been a while since I've had one of these End-of-Year mashups on a playlist, so I figured "why not?"  It's not available on Spotify, but you can find it on YouTube!

So that's our first playlist of the New Year!  Hope everyone has a safe and happy celebration and I'll see you in February!