Brant's August 2017 Playlist

It's back to school time - you grab the lunch box and I'll grab the boombox!  

Is it time for a new playlist already???  July went by fast - but not as fast as Scaramucci's stint as Communications Director at the White House.  The Mooch is out, but great music is always IN!  Let's get to it.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  When We Were Young (Andy Black and Juliet Simms) - Adele gets the Emo Power Ballad treatment!  I'm sure some folks will be mortified this recording exists, but I'm loving it.  Reminds me of slow dances at the prom.

2.  Automatic (Mondo Cozmo) - More arena rock vibes, this time from Philadelphia artist Josh Ostrander.  We also featured him on February's playlist.  Can't wait for the entire album to drop!

3.  Green Light /Chromeo Remix/ ( Lorde) - You know how sometimes something shouldn't work but then it totally works???  Chromeo turns Lorde's teen angst into a thumpin' 80s dance jam.

4.  We Could Run (Beth Ditto) - As promised, more from Beth Ditto's excellent solo album.

5.  Sleepwalking (Nicole Atkins) - Former Charlottean serves up some East Coast beach music.

6.  Brass Beam (Waxahatchee) - Confessional grrrrrl rock from Indie artist.

7.  Seems I'm Never Tired Lovin' You (Lizz Wright) - Talented vocalist takes Nina Simone to church with this delicious gospel-tinged cover!

8.  Paper Wings /Demo/ (Gillian Welch) - Two decades after the release of her debut album, Welch treats us to a collection of bootlegs and outtakes from the recording sessions.  I kinda like this straightforward reading/demo of this song from the original album.

9.  Unpredictable (Olly Murs and Luisa Johnson) - Olly is becoming my go-to for fun, danceable pop.  His latest does NOT disappoint.

10.  The Maze (Manchester Orchestra) - More gospel flavahs from Georgia Indie band.

11.  Systemagic /Hannah Holland Remix/ (Goldfrapp) - Thank goodness my friend Josh tipped me off that there was a new Goldfrapp album.  This one flew in under my radar.  Love the Euro-Disco vibe that Hannah Holland brings to the original.

12.  Drench Me With Your Lust (AMiR) - London based producer channels Michael Jackson for this toe-tappin (but kinda grossly titled) soul tune!

13.  Weakness (Margo Price) - Retro-country goddess is back with more old-school confections!

14.  Holding On (The War on Drugs) - This one kind of reminds me of 80s Grateful Dead, and I'm good with that.

15.  Wouldn't You Love to Love Me? (Taja Sevelle) - I guess the only good side of Prince passing is that stuff he worked on his bubbling up again.  30 years ago, Michael Jackson was working on his follow up to the legendary Thriller album.  As one of the biggest artists of that decade, Prince was asked to duet on the title song of Jackson's new album, "Bad".  Prince passed on that, but instead offered a song he had written for Jackson to record.  Jackson passed, but the song ended up on R&B singer Taja Sevelle's debut album.  It's not available on Spotify, but you can hear it HERE.  Would have loved to hear what MJ could have done with this song, though.

16.  Love On Hold (Aeroplane feat. Tawatha Agee) - One of those old-school sounding jams that immediately makes me perk up my ears!  Lead singer Tawatha Agee was previously lead singer for the Mtume hit, "Juicy Fruit", which may be why I was instantly drawn to this song.  The Dimitri from Paris remix comes with everything but roller skates and a disco ball!

So that's this month's batch of songs!  Hope everyone is having a great summer, and I'll see ya next month!

Brant's October 2026 Playlist

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Long time, no see!  As expected, August and September were crazy busy.  THREE (3) trips to see various friends and places, as well as other to-do items!  Anyway, I'm back and actually a few days early for October's playlist!  We've got some spooky holiday jingles, a couple of returning faves, and of course we're grieving the loss of Dolly Parton (I'm still processing that one).  So anyway, let's dig in.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Touch Touch (Haute & Freddy) - Halloween is all about costumes and fun and being playfully weird, and I can't think of another musical act that captures that better than these two!  Perfect timing with a welcome return!

2.  Push N Shuv (Lava La Rue) - This one is giving me Tom Tom Club vibes in all the right ways! 

3.  Everyday Is Halloween (LVCRFT) - Our first holiday song!  It's not the Ministry version, but still an upbeat way to get into the (pun intended) spirit!

4.  That's Fine (Baby Queen) - There are a lot of "Baby" acts out there - Baby Nova, Baby Rose, da Baby!  Anyway, this is Baby Queen, a South African/British singer more than capable of keeping the party going!

5.  Buzz (Almost Monday) - This isn't their usual dance-pop, but I like it!  And the harmonies would make Crosby, Stills and Nash proud!

6.  Who Loves the Sun (Matt Berninger & Roseanne Cash) - Completely unexpected pairing to cover a Velvet Underground classic!  

7.  A Little More Time for Love (Mica Millar) - Eric turned me on to this singer!  I would've sworn this was a Natalie Cole song when I first heard it!  A great R&B offering from UK singer.

8.  Already Gone (Orville Peck) - Going sober hasn't slowed down this Country star!  Exciting to have some new music from him! 

9.  Baby I'm Burning (Dolly Parton) - What can I say about Dolly?  She was one of those rare people who walked the walk as well as talked the talk.  When you Google "genuine" her photo needs to be the first thing that pops up!  I'm SO glad I got to see her perform in person.  The world is a colder place without her in it.  Of all the songs I could've picked, this was the one that has been a personal favorite over the years!  I don't think it was ever a big hit, but I'm fine with that.  It's a hit with me.  RIP

10.  Who Are You Going to Worship Now? (Goldie Boutilier) - Groovy, Fleetwood Mac-adjacent vibes from Canadian artist.

11.  Who's That (the War on Drugs) - Another welcome return from frequent Brantworld listee!  

12.  You Could Have Died There on the Dancefloor (Westside Cowboy) - English band serves up some Classic Indie rock.

13.  Baby You're a Haunted House (Gerard Way) - Another Halloween ditty from My Chemical Romance singer!

14.  Amalfi Coast (Carly Rae Jepsen) - This fuzzy, dark tune seems off-brand for CRJ - but maybe that's the point!  She covers a lot of ground on her new double-album, and recorded most of it while pregnant!  Call Me Productive (Maybe)! 

15.  Vogue (Wasia Project) - This reminds me of the minimalist work Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer did back in the day!  Great for late-night dancing in your best Halloween costume!

16.  Serial Kisser (Devon Cole) - 2023 Juno Award winner keeps the great pop songs coming with this latest single!

17.  Pá Bailar (Elvis Crespo & Beéle) - Sept 15/October 15 is also Latin American Heritage Month, so I was happy to include this merengue ditty on this month's list.  

18.  Stars (Guille Wheel) - Laid back groove for your chilly Autumn mornings...pumpkin spice optional!

19.  Baby Kool/Evelyn (Nothing But Thieves) - Okay, I'm really leaning into the English and Canadian bands this month!  Not sure why - but here we are!  This is the latest from British rock band NBT! 

20.  Harmony (Role Model) - I've very much enjoyed watching this up and coming artist develop a personal style!  This is the third song from his latest album to find itself on a Brantworld playlist!  

21.  Spooky /Halloween Mix/ (Kid Montana) - I figured we'd end on one last Halloween song!  The song is a pop standard at this point, but it's fun to hear this Belgian band really lean into the supernatural theme!

So that's October's playlist!  Hopefully, I'll get November and December out on schedule as we finish out the year.  Have a great Halloween, and I'll see ya next month!  

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 March 2022 Playlist

CURRENT MOOD (well, except for maybe the twigs in my hair)

Oof.  February was NOT a good month.  No need to get into it, but I'm glad to be done.  Anyway, this month's playlist is pretty random.  It was just stuff with a happy vibe that felt like chicken soup to my soul, with a dash of escapism.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.  

 1.  Forecast (Diane Coffee feat. Deep Sea Diver) - I love Diane Coffee.  Just knowing Shaun Fleming is out there doing his thang makes me smile.  Can't wait for the new album.  

2.  First in Flight (Don McCloskey) - Brooklyn singer-songwriter seems to be channeling Graceland-era Paul Simon and I am here for it!!! 

3.  I've Been Over It (Geowulf) - We had them on our May 2020 playlist, and this Australian duo is back with more sunny Indie pop.  

4.  Love Came Down (Yebba) - Chance the Rapper brought her to everyone's attention, but she is fully in command of the stage at this point!  I'm getting Florence + the Machine vibes from this anthem.  

5.  Beg for You (Charli XCX feat. Rina Sawayama) - Two powerhouse pop divas team up for this new single from Charli's upcoming album!  

6.  L.O.V.E. (Blue Hawaii) - I love me some minimalist disco, and this funky bop from Canadian duo is just what the doctor ordered! 

7.  Foreign Things (Amber Mark) - A frequent Brantworld listee returns with a 90s-style pulsating jam.  

8.  Strawberry Lady (Judi Jackson) - Groovy, psychedelic jazz from London UK artist.

9.  Outta Time (Orville Peck) - I was all set to see Orville in 2020, until the pandemic forced him to cancel his tour.  Hopefully he'll be back this year - and now we've got some new tunes to hear him play!  This Southern-rock vibe is perfectly suited to his rustic voice.   

10.  Pretending That You're Dead (Sam Fender) - Another repeat offender from October 2019!  This young Englishman is becoming very popular overseas.  Hopefully his success will transfer to the colonies if he continues to offer up great alt-rock tunes like this.  

11.  Ex I Never Had (LANY) - Dream-pop trio doing what they do best!

12.  Peur des Filles (L'Impératrice) - Nobody does nu-disco like the French!  Sugary Euro, escapist bliss.  

13.  Company (Melba Moore feat. Carmichael Musiclover) - How cool to see Melba is still out there sounding as awesome as ever!  Back in the day, we called this Quiet Storm R&B.  

14.  Funny Girl (Father John Misty) - Critic darling and former Fleet Foxes member serves up some cinematic crooning that would make Chet Baker proud! 

15.  The Last Goodbye (ODESZA feat. Bettye LaVette) - Whoa!  What a great way to introduce soul legend Bettye LaVette to a new generation!  A sample of LaVette's 1965  "Let Me Down Easy" with some slammin' beats.  I salute the masters!

16.  Pills /Roosevelt Remix/ (Selah Sue) - Roosevelt works his magic again on Belgian singer's latest single.  

17.  Too Late Now (Wet Leg) - British Indie rockers are heavy on the reverb and lightning-fast sometimes spoken/sometimes sung vocals.

18.  Like Exploding Stones (Kurt Vile) - Former War On Drugs guitarist goes solo with some leisurely and trippy/folk rock.  

19.  Fleabag (Yungblud) - Always entertaining rocker and Halsey's ex closes us out with some self-flagellating punk rock.  

*BONUS TRACK:  The Last Resort (Eagles) - Okay, I just saw the Eagles for their 2022 Tour, and they did this track from "Hotel California" with a full orchestra and choir behind them.  It truly was a revelation.  I'd never paid attention to this particular song because their are SO many other great songs on that album - but it gave me a new appreciation for it.  Enjoy.  And catch the tour if you can! 

Brant's January 2014 Playlist

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!  It's great to be back!  I love Christmas music during the holidays, but gotta say it's nice to get back to the regular stuff!  Here's this month's batch!  To listen on Spotify click HERE.

1.  Ordinary Love (U2) - U2's glorious tribute to Nelson Mandela, from the soundtrack to the biography film about him.

2.  Modern Jesus (Portugal. The Man) - The latest from the band that's neither a man nor from Portugal!!!

3.  New Year's Resolution (Camera Obscura) - Seemed appropriate given the timing.  More cool vocal stylings from the Scottish band.  Now to work on my own resolutions...

4.  Let Her Go (Jasmine Thompson) - It feels a little soon for this song to be covered, but Jasmine's vocals are so angelic I don't even care!  To hear the original, check out my November 2012 playlist.

5.  Sonnentanz/Sun Don't Shine (Klangkarussell featuring Will Heard) - One of those groovy little songs I heard on the internet and was happy to see was available in the US.  Apparently this is a huge hit in Europe.

6.  Red Eyes (The War on Drugs) - Kind of sounds like the love child of Bruce Springsteen and Joe Jackson!

7.  I Blame You (Ledisi) - Grammy nominated R&B singer is back and I know I am rejoicing (you should too)!!!

8.  Canary Island (Houndstooth) - This totally sounds like a band I would've dug back in college.  Spooky female vocals over stoner guitars.  Definitely in that Edie Brickell/early 10,000 Maniacs territory.

9.  Dangerous (Big Data) - ÜberCool electronic rock from New York band.

10.  Center Stage (Capital Cities) - Just saw these guys last month during their tour with Fitz and the Tantrums!  Great show if you ever get the chance to see them live.  This song stuck in my head for weeks afterwards!

11.  Time Will Tell (Blood Orange) - Solo project of Dev Hynes, a songwriter/producer who has worked with Florence & the Machine and Solange Knowles.  After hearing this, I'm convinced he has some Ready for the World cassettes stashed away in his closet!

12.  Panic Cord (Gabrielle Aplin) - Another act with angelic voice, who is popular in the UK and now her material is becoming available in the US!  One of her other songs, "Please Don't Say You Love Me", is on my April 2013 playlist.

13.  Never Give In (Will Hoge) - Some yummy Southern rock from Nashville.

14.  Turn It Around (Lucius) - Luscious (lucius?!) 60s girl-group stylings from New York band.

15.  Somebody Loves You (Betty Who) - I was almost done with January's list, but wanted to include an exuberant pop song.  After much searching, I stumbled upon this!  Found it on one of the myriad Best of 2013 lists that always pop up this time of year.

16.  Frontline /Cahill Mix/ (Shaun Baker) - I think this is a few years old, but wanted to end with a good party/club song.

17.  Top of the Pops 2013 (Audiomaniac) - It's always good to take a moment to appreciate the year that's been.  I looked at several mashups for 2013, and ended up choosing the same DJ as last year.  Well played, Audiomaniac.  Well played.  Free download HERE.

So that's the first list of the New Year!  Hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve celebration.  Looking forward to whatever 2014 brings!  See you in February!