Brant's July 2019 Playlist

TFW people seem more interested in Instagramming the road trip than listening to your latest playlist!

I'm a few days behind on this month's playlist - mainly because June kicked my arse.  The a/c went out along with a few other issues - so browsing music had to take a back seat.  Anyway, I've managed to keep things afloat for at least a little while longer, so here's a soothing mix of cool tunes and interesting covers to enjoy in your climate-controlled living space.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Human Beings (the Wind and the Wave) - One of my fave bands is back, so it seemed only natural to have them get us going.  Plaintive vocals over a New Wavey beat that reminds me of Aimee Mann's Til Tuesday days. 

2.  Sisyphus (Andrew Bird) - Another selection (see April's playlist) from Andrew Bird's latest!  This one is giving me classic John Lennon vibes. 

3.  Head Over Heels (Japanese Breakfast) - Cover song #1.  Michelle Zauner sings Tears for Fears! 

4.  Far Away (Tom Rush) - The man credited with introducing Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Jackson Browne to the world reminds us that he's a pretty awesome songwriter in his own right!  Glad to see he's still around and still making great music. 

5.  Juke on Jelly (Cory Wong) - Minneapolis-based artist recorded this easy-going funk number with members of Prince's old band, New Power Generation! 

6.  Stayin' Alive (Lizzo) - Cover song #2.  Lizzo does disco with a fun remake of the Bee Gee's anthem.

7.  Baby You're a Trip (Prince) - Speaking of Prince, his estate has released an album of demos for songs he gave to other artists.  I think I'm still partial to Jill Jones' version (the horn section she has really makes the song pop), but it was fun to hear Prince's take on this underrated tune. 

8.  Talk (Khalid) - Eric turned me on to this, just this morning!  Yummy collaboration with the guys from Disclosure! 

9.  Landslide (Antony aka Anohni) - Cover song #3.  This is from 2012, but it turned up in the recent Netflix reboot of Tales of the City and I immediately recognized the voice!  Gorgeous rendition of Stevie Nicks' ballad. 

10.  Late September (Mandolin Orange) - My friend Page had posted about this band, so I had to check out their latest, and I was not disappointed.    Americana folk duo from Chapel Hill, NC.

11.  Broken Bones (Wingtip) - Up and coming electronic artist I stumbled upon and enjoyed!  Drowsy vocals and a choir lift your spirits before the beat drops and things really get hoppin'!

12.  religion /you can lay your hands on me/ (Shura) - I've been wondering when Shura would drop a new album.  If it's as good as this early single, I will be playing it all summer.

13.  Love 4 Love /Joey Negro Extended Remix/ (Change) - Some groovy disco for your next pool party!

14.  Super Cool (Beck feat. Robyn and the Lonely Island) - Yes, this is from the new Lego movie, but what fun to hear Beck and Robyn together!!!

15.  Loner (Queen Zee) - I do love a fun punk band, and these Liverpool rockers fit the bill perfectly!

16.  Dissolve /acoustic version/ (Absofacto) - Dreamy acoustic ballad by Michigan-based artist. 

17.  Love Again (Daniel Caesar with Brandy) - 2019 Grammy winner teams up with another Grammy-winner and 90s pop star for this jazzy new slow-jam! 

18.  Higher Love (Kygo feat. Whitney Houston) - Cover song #4.  Kygo takes a rare Steve Winwood cover from the 1990s and repackages it as a delicious contemporary dance-pop ditty! 

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

Brant's June 2019 Playlist

Domo Arigato, Mr. Gelato!

Technically, summer doesn't start for three weeks but it already feels like it to me.  The weather is warm, the days are long, and my favorite gelato store is already crowded.  This month's list is very pop heavy - because there's always that ONE pop song that seems to encapsulate the summer season each year, and I found myself gravitating towards those types of tunes.  Catchy hooks, upbeat lyrics, and melodies that are just meant to be the soundtrack to your summer.  To check them out on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Cool (Jonas Brothers) - Is any contemporary group more "pop" than the Jonases???  They are giving me Weezer vibes on this song, and I happily receive them (especially since Weezer is busy making Toto karaoke songs at the moment).

2.  Want You in My Room (Carly Rae Jepsen) - Two more members of Pop Music Royalty!  CRJ teams up with Jack Antonoff for this deliciously seductive bop!

3.  The Power of Love /Joey Negro Power of the Boogie Mix/ (Wardell Piper) - I will follow Joey Negro anywhere.  Here, he unearths a criminally forgotten gem by First Choice singer Wardell Piper and gives it a faithfully disco-fied remix!

4.  Work (Foxygen) - Eccentric California band serves up some thumpin' Indie rock!

5.  The Hill (Wilma Vritra) - Moody, contemplative rhymes with a chorus of angels singing backup.

6.  This Charming Man (Los Stellarians) - Last month we had Morrissey doing a cover tune, and now this month we have someone covering Morrissey!  Love this lighthearted rendition of the Smiths' classic.

7.  Final Fires (Strand of Oaks) - Songwriter Tim Showalter says he wrote this song as part of his midlife crisis.  It sounds like it could potentially be depressing, but Showalter seems to have found some amusement in the realization that "everyone's as completely f#cking lost as you are"!

8.  Have You Both (Wild Belle) - Natalie Bergman (along with her brother Elliot) is less apologetic, but no more willing to give up her two lovers than Mary MacGregor was back in 1976!

9.  Why Did You Run? (Judah and the Lion) - Never has a song about abandonment sounded so uplifting!

10.  Sonja Smokes Me Out (Anjimile) - Trans singer/songwriter finds solace in that one friend who's always willing to light up with her.

11.  Oh Me Oh My /I'm a Fool for You Baby/ (Barbara Howard) - Another lost treasure (see #3), this time reissued by Colemine Records.  Barbara Howard never found stardom, but her sole album from 1968 has apparently been sought after by collectors for years.  After hearing this powerful rendition of Lulu's classic, I can understand why!

12.  Thinkin Bout You (Ciara) - Ciara is back with some tasty pop to keep the summer party going strong!

13.  Valley Girl (Neon Valley) - Groovy funk that reminds me of the days of Midnight Star and other 80s R&B bands.

14.  Something Strange (Vicetone feat. Haley Reinhart) - Dutch electronic artists team up with an American Idol alum for this potential summer anthem!

15.  House in the Trees (Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness) - Latest project by former Jack's Mannequin songwriter.

16.  Boat /Rameses B Remix/ (Zoë Phillips) - I believe this is from 2012, but I missed it the first time around.  It's kinda reggae, kinda chillstep, but consistently enjoyable.  The original piano version is also great!

17.  To Rise You Gotta Fall (Nicki Bluhm) - I can't remember where I heard this, but it immediately got my attention!  Sounds like Dusty Springfield covering a Bonnie Raitt tune!

18.  You Had Your Soul with You (the National feat. Gail Ann Dorsey) - People seem to be loving or hating the new National album!  Apparently the addition of female vocalists seems to be the dealbreaker for folks.  Personally, I'm digging it.  This tune especially reminds me of the complex and ecclectic duets you'd hear from the likes of Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel.

So that's June's playlist!  Hope everyone's summer is off to a great start and I'll see you next month!

Brant's May 2019 Playlist

It's gonna be May!  Which means it's gonna be time for some new music.  

I debated about posting a playlist today, since we had ANOTHER mass shooting yesterday (this time in my own hometown of Charlotte, at the local university), but since there's not much I can do about that and this is something I CAN do - I decided to move ahead.  We've got a little bit of everything this month - some 1960s vibes, a few familiar faces, and one delicious 1990s throwback.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Coasting (Ten Fé) - I'm getting shades of the Grateful Dead and Fleetwood Mac on this song.  These former London subway buskers shouldn't have to play for donations any longer!

2.  Follow My Name (Mattiel) - Where was this song when Goldie Hawn was looking for something to dance to while wearing go-go boots on "Laugh In"???

3.  Wedding Bell Blues (Morrissey) - Remember back in June 2017 when I posted "Tango 'til They're Sore" and talked about how much fun it is when an artist you love covers another artist you love?  Of course you do!  Well, it's happened again!  This time, Morrissey covers the nonpareil Laura Nyro - and I adore it.  I'd marry either one of them.  Thanks Page for bringing this glorious song to my attention.

4.  Baby Boy (Kevin Abstract) - Talented musician and filmmaker is back with some mellow hip-hop.

5.  Doubt (Diane Coffee) - My latest obsession.  Gender-bending rocker Shaun Fleming serves up some 80's glam to get us moving again.

6.  In New Europe (Shout Out Louds) - Gorgeous, icy escapism from Swedish band.

7.  Jerome (Lizzo) - From escapism to a kiss-off!  The incomparable Lizzo schools her boy toy.

8.  I Was Doing Alright (Holly Cole with Wycliffe Gordon) - It's amazing how well Gershwin has held up.   80+ years after its debut, this delightful song sounds as fresh as ever.  I don't think Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong ever recorded this together (they both did record it separately, though), but that's who I hear when I listen to this!

9.  Need Ur Love /Japanese Wallpaper Remix/ (Charli XCX) - Australian musician takes a Charli XCX banger and reinvents it as a lullaby!

10.  Frequency (Jacklndn) - I lifted this from one of my friend Gary's playlists!  Groovy beats and mellow vocals.

11.  Andrei Rublev (the Vryll Society) - This is the kind of atmospheric rock I used to immerse myself in during my college days.  Can't wait to hear more from this new band!

12.  Rockin' My Paw (Summer Salt) - Do people surf in Texas?  Because that's what I think of when I hear this song.  Sounds like a lost Jan and Dean track.

13.  This Life (Vampire Weekend) - One of those songs that seems perfect for summer cookouts (well, until you listen to the lyrics!).  Either way - it's still a solid tune.

14.  The One (Betty Who) - Oops!  Betty did it again!  A delicious tribute to the pop songs of the 90s.

15.  The Mirror (the Limiñanas feat. Kirk Lane) - French band is giving me a Lou Reed vibe with this spoken word performance.

16.  The Thing Is (Foxygen) - These guys went to high school with Shaun Fleming (see #5) and he even played drums for the band!  Here, they sound like an unhinged Bruce Springsteen - in all the best ways!

17.  Get Down (Leela James and the Truth Band) - If you've never seen Leela in concert - I highly recommend it.  For her new project, she ditches the R&B sounds she's best known for to explore a more rock-oriented vibe. I think she could give Janis Joplin and Tina Turner a run for their money!

18.  We Appreciate Power (Grimes feat. HANA) - It's about time we got some new Grimes!  It's just as chaotic, danceable (check out the Nightcore Remix), and epic as I had hoped.

19.  Crush (Yumi Zouma) - New Zealand band brings us back down to earth with some easy, pool-side friendly beats.

So that's May!  Hope everyone has a great month and I'll see you in June. Also - I noticed today that I just hit the 25,000 page-views milestone!  Thanks to any and all of you who take the time to read these posts!  It's a labor of love for me, but it's also great to know someone else out there is reading these. 

Brant's April 2019 Playlist

This Cheese Challenge is totally ruining my Easter pics. 
And here I thought the pollen was the worst thing I'd have to deal with...

We are deep into pollen season, so obviously I'm spending as much time INDOORS as possible.  Bad for my tan, but good for my playlists.  Last month was R&B heavy, so this month I found myself leaning into rock.  I also found a few African and reggae jams that got me movin'!  So let's go ahead and dive in.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Lo/Hi (the Black Keys) - Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are back with more muscular classic rock to get your Camaro revved up!

2.  Little Bit of Lovin' (Elle King) - Another act I've been impatiently awaiting, and there is no sign of a sophomore slump here.  Gospel overtones in this tune bring to mind the Rolling Stones' classic "You Can't Always Get What You Want" but it's nowhere near as wistful.

3.  Get Out and Get It (Devon Gilfillian) - After hearing this African funk jam, I was shocked to find out the artist was from Nashville!  According to an NPR story, Gilfillian loves "Nigerian psychedelic Afro-rock" and decided to incorporate those sounds into his new single.

4.  Goodie Bag (Still Woozy) - I heard this on Aidy Bryant's fantastic new show "Shrill" and had to have it!  Funky slow jam from Oakland, CA artist Sven Gamsky.

5.  Mr. Telephone (the Mowgli's) - We had "Norman Rockwell" on last month's playlist, but their new EP was too good not to include another tune!  Sunny pop from LA band.

6.  Tears (Nilüfer Yanya) - Jazzy New Wave pop from young Londoner.

7.  Only Us (Ben Levi Ross and Taylor Trensch) - I finally saw "Dear Evan Hansen" last month and loved it (even though it's a serious tear-jerker!).  Soon after, a friend shared a video with me of lead actor Ben Levi Ross singing one of the most well-known songs from the show with his partner Taylor Trensch (who ALSO plays the lead, but in the NYC production).  It's not on Spotify, but definitely worth checking out.  Soooooo adorable!  It should be a bonus track for the show's soundtrack.  You can see it HERE.

8.  Saying Goodbye (JS Ondara) - Kenyan artist gives us all the feels with this gorgeous ballad.

9.  Spinout /the Math Club Remix/ (Glen Campbell) - You would think the words "Glen Campbell" and "remix" would never be found in the same recording - but this loungy remix of one of his lesser known songs is a total banger!!!

10.  Now That I Found You (Carly Rae Jepsen) - Carly is back with more exuberant pop and we all (well, at least I) am rejoicing!

11.  Taxman /Live/ (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) - Because it's tax season, and because both George Harrison and Tom Petty were awesome.

12.  Everywhere (Roosevelt) - Brantworld fave covers the amazing and underrated Christine McVie!

13.  Things Are Changing (Gone Gone Beyond and the Human Experience) - Soulful vocals over chill electronica.

14.  What She's Done to Your Mind (the Three O'Clock) - I adore this band and the Paisley Underground, so I was thrilled to see a new compilation album of these bands covering their favorite tunes from this era.  Highly recommend the whole album!  Here, the Three O'Clock cover the Rain Parade classic from 1983.

15.  She Work Very Hard (Ibibio Sound Machine) - Slamming afro-funk from London band.  It's like Donna Summer meets Manu Dibango!

16.  Foolish Love (the Green) - Hawaiian reggae band serves up acoustic jam with a side of delicious harmonies!

17.  Fake Smile (Ariana Grande) - Pop stars are so much more interesting when their lives fall apart!  I never paid attention to Ariana until her breakup with Pete Davidson, but it's given her some great material for her music!  Here, she samples Wendy Rene's 1964 song "After Laughter Comes Tears" while singing of the struggle to put on a happy face in public while your heart is broken.

18.  Tenderness (General Public) - We lost Ranking Roger in March, so I had to include one of my fave songs from his band.  RIP.

19.  Bellevue Bridge Club (Andrew Bird) - Indie rocker closes us out with a slow-burning anthem about confrontations and close relations.  Not exactly cheery, but it is a great song!

So that's April!  May the Easter Bunny AND the IRS be good to everyone.  Watch out for flying cheese.  See you next month!

Brant's March 2019 Playlist

Dang it.  I forgot to ask if this tuxedo gown is water resistant!

Welp, March is upon us and the only thing I can say is that at least all the rain is keeping the pollen out of the air.  Fortunately, consecutive days indoors gave me plenty of time to browse new music.  This month's playlist is ret 2 go - so let's dive in!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Hard Place (H.E.R.) - We've had Gabi Wilson (aka H.E.R.) on other playlists, but after seeing her perform this song on the Grammys I HAD to start us off with it.  She won two well-deserved Grammys for her music this year.

2.  Norman Rockwell (the Mowgli's) - Sometimes a band slips off my radar only to gloriously show up again!  I put their song "Great Divide" on my March 2013 playlist.  Six years later they're back with this easygoing ode to existential ennui. 

3.   Dearly Departed (Aaron Carter) - I just caught Aaron a few weeks ago when he came through Charlotte, and I found the songs from his comeback album to be really solid.  This particular tune had the entire crowd on their feet!  Easily could've been a Justin Bieber song.

4.  No More Darkness, No More Light (Amos Lee) - I don't think anyone who came of age in the 80s did so without listening to Paul Simon's "Graceland", and that's what I get from this song.  Upbeat, South African instrumentation and vibes! 

5.  Faceplant (Ruston Kelly) - I'll be honest.  Kacey Musgraves bores me.  Her husband, however, does not.  Tales of self-destruction like they used to do in classic country songs.

6.  Heads Gonna Roll (Jenny Lewis) - Another singer who never disappoints.  'Nuff said.

7.  Not Ready to Go (Diane Coffee) - I adore this new artist.  He's always engaging on social media, and I love everything he's recorded.  Hopefully he will have a long, lucrative career.  This plaintive, New Wavey song is off his upcoming album "Internet Arms".

8.  Follow Your Heart (Rat Boy) - Another new artist I'm currently enjoying.  This tune is more in the punk/British genre.  Think Billy Idol.

9.  Only You and Me (Lack of Afro feat. Wax, Alyssa Marie, and Camila Recchio) - A glorious mashup of old school disco, perhaps a dash of Janet Jackson, and hip hop!

10.  It Makes You Forget (the Orielles) - Frenetic and psychedelic Indie rock from young English band!

11. You Got What You Wanted (fDeluxe) - Last month we had St. Paul Peterson on the list.  Upon digging a tad deeper into his catalogue, I found this jazzy funk ditty he recorded with members of his old band The Family.  Thought I'd share it!

12.  Bag Pipe Blues (Gunhild Carling) - Okay, I know bag pipes are more traditionally associated with Scotland - but Ireland has them too!  Tossing this song into the mix as my St. Paddy's Day offering, and also because I love Gunhild.

13.  Medicated Goo (P.P. Arnold) - I adore her version of "First Cut Is the Deepest", so I was intrigued when I read that a previously unreleased 1967 album (produced by Barry Gibb and Eric Clapton!!!) by P.P. Arnold was going to be released.  It totally lived up to the hype.  Here, she covers Steve Winwood/Traffic with stellar results!

14.  Life on Mars? (Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real) - Willie Nelson's son and his band are kicking butt these days.  First, they backed Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in "A Star Is Born" and now they've released this delightful cover of the David Bowie classic.  Can't wait for what's next!  Thanks to my college fraternity bro Al for turning me onto them.

15.  What About Us (Gary Clark Jr) - Guitar aficionado comes storming back with his latest socially conscious album!

16.  Love Is Light (Yola) - Newcomer shines on her country-flavored debut, with an assist from The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.

17.  Golden Hour (Oliver Heimach) - Somewhere in that Bee Gees/Scissor Sisters realm that always makes me smile.  Disco beats and falsetto vocals that are perfect to get you in the mood to go out on a weekend night.

18.  Glass House (Kyle Dion) - More falsettos, but this time with a decidedly 80s R&B influence.

19.  One Breath Away /Paul Oakenfold Remix/ (Billy Idol) - Did someone mention Billy Idol???  Sean turned me on to this, and it's been on repeat ever since!  Oakenfold takes a late-career ballad from Idol's catalog and turns it into a darkly gorgeous dance floor anthem!

So that's March. Hope it eventually dries up and that my sinuses will do the same.  Have a safe and festive St. Paddy's Day, and I'll see you in April!

Brant's February 2019 Playlist

Q.  Does this playlist make me look old?
A.  No, posing with your 21-year old self makes you look old.

The groundhog poked his head out of the dirt and predicted I'd be a day late with this playlist!  It's uncanny how rodents can prognosticate ("hognosticate"?).  Anyway - it's been a busy year for little ol' me and I couldn't pull it together until today!  We've got a little bit of everything on this month's list - so let's just dig in.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  New Brighton (Nakhane feat. Anohni) - South African artist teams up with Anohni (former lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons) for this uplifting single to get us going!

2.  Dylan Thomas (Better Oblivion Community Center) - I pretty much adore anything Conor Oberst touches, so it's no surprise I'm loving this new folk-rock collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers!  

3.  Hazy Shade of Winter (Gerard Way feat. Ray Toro) - Sorry, Weezer!  This is MY favorite cover song of the New Year!  My Chemical Romance guys rocking Simon and Garfunkel!

4.  Juice (Lizzo) - Thank God for friends!  I love Lizzo, but wasn't aware she had a new song out until my friend Anthony gave me the heads up!  Delivered in her usual spunky style, this tune deserves to be played in a convertible packed with your fave peeps while cruisin' your favorite strip.  

5.   Feeling Free (Leisure) - New Zealand is kicking musical butt!  Lorde, Kimbra, and now this funky group!  Whatever they're feeding their kids down there, it's working!  

6.  A Trick of the Light (Villagers) - From New Zealand to another island - this time in the Northern hemisphere!  Irish band serves up some chill Indie folk.

7.   P.S. Be My Valentine (Gunhild Carling) - Not gonna lie - Gunhild is my new obsession.  I'm digging her old school stylings, lately on this delectable Valentine's Day ballad.

8.  Money Is King (Leyla McCalla) - Apparently Rhiannon Giddens isn't the only member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops to go solo!  Talented cellist unearths a Growling Tiger song from the Depression Era and finds it sadly still relevant.  

9.  By Myself (Fidlar) - Rowdy party song with shades of the Beastie Boys!  

10.  Night Creature (Rat Boy feat. Aimee Interrupter) - British Indie artist delivers some psychedelic reggae!

11.  Wasabi (Little Mix) - I was curious about their new album, and found myself gravitating towards this Early 00s-style jam that vaguely reminds me of Britney's "Slave for You".  

12.  You Got 2 Love (St. Paul Peterson) - Prince protégé, member of the Time, and lead singer of The Family is still out there getting his Minneapolis Funk on!  

13.  Ready to Let Go (Cage the Elephant) - Divorce left its scars on lead singer Matt Shultz, but like all great artists - he channeled that pain into his music.  Can't wait to hear the rest of the album! 

14.  King of Everything (Dominic Fike) - My friend Coleman turned me on to this young artist.  Kind of trippy, definitely rocks though!   

15.  When You're Ugly (Louis Cole with Genevieve Artadi) - LA artist makes beautiful music about being homely!  Mellow tongue-in-cheek funk.

16.  Sweet But Psycho (Ava Max) - #1 pop song definitely doesn't need me to call it to people's attention, but it's also really fun so I'm including it anyway!  

17.  we, diamonds (Dawn Richard) - Danity Kane singer is back and as strong as ever!  Uplifting empowerment anthem.

18.  Yah Mo B There (James Ingram) - Another great singer gone.  This 1983 duet with Doobie Brother Michael McDonald earned a Grammy!  RIP

So that's another month of new music!  Hope everyone has a great February and I'll see ya next time!  

Brant's January 2019 Playlist

Shining a spotlight on the best music for your New Year!  

Just think - twenty years ago we were getting ready to party like it was 1999.  Where does the time go?  2019 is literally hours away!  I decided to go ahead and post January's playlist - so that'll be one less thing I have to do in the New Year.  Maybe it's the wet and chilly weather, but I found myself gravitating towards the slow jams and chill tracks.  But we've also got some Indie bands to keep everyone from dozing off!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Aliens in Our Midst (Wussy) - Cincinnati band is back with some of their signature quirky rock! 

2.  Break Out the Champagne (Amanda Shires) - Mrs. Jason Isbell has an extensive repertoire of her own!  This is off her latest album.  My friend Page turned me onto her!  This song feels like she is picking up the baton from Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs with its distinctive vocals and soft rock backdrop.

3.  Bad Guy (Hatchie) - Mellow dream pop from Australian chanteuse. 

4.  Fast Talk (Houses) - Chicago duo faces an existential crises with a sick beat.

5.  While My Heart Is Still Beating (Bryan Ferry) - On his latest album, the former Roxy Music singer reworks his catalog in the style of a 1930s orchestra with surprisingly successful results!  This feels like a night out in Berlin with Christopher Isherwood! 

6.  Just Thought You Should Know (Betty Who) - Much like I said about Olly Murs last month, Betty Who never disappoints!  She's another one of my go-to's when I need some peppy pop! 

7.  Lucia (Roosevelt) - We had "Under the Sun" on last August's playlist.  German electronic artist serves up more sunny beats on this latest tune from his sophomore album. 

8.  Say the Word (Raheem DeVaughan) - R&B crooner is eager to please on this new bedroom jam.

9.  Sufferin' with the Blues (Nancy Wilson) - I never realized how popular Nancy Wilson was until her death this month!  How nice to see all the tributes to this jazz legend on social media.  This was one of my personal favorites of hers.  RIP

10.  Monumental Shame (the Spirit of the Beehive) - Trippy psychedelic rock from Philly band. 

11.  Dumb Blonde (Dolly Parton with Miranda Lambert) - I thoroughly enjoyed the movie "Dumplin'" in its own right, but the soundtrack also exposed me to songs from Dolly Parton's early years.  Here, she remakes one of her first hits, with Country superstar Miranda Lambert. 

12.  Used to You (Foreign Air) - Indie band has gotten some airplay on Sirius/XM with this ambient groove.  They met in Charlotte while touring with different bands! 

13.  Your Nail and Your Hammer (Oh Pep!) - Australian folk duo brings some 1960s girl group flavors to this easy-going jam. 

14.  Chances (Kaytranada and Shay Lia) - Canadian DJ and singer team up for some loungy soul.

15.  TV in the Morning (DNCE) - Maybe it's because I finally tried their family's restaurant in Belmont, NC this month, but I was in the mood for some Jonas music!  Joe Jonas and band explore yacht rock territory on their newest ditty.

16.  Sunday Driver (the Raconteurs) - Jack White and gang serve up some muscular 70s rock!

17.  Grunt Work (Pomplamoose) - Husband/Wife YouTube sensations are known for covering tons of songs.  I can't find out if this is a cover or an original, but I'm digging its 1960s vibes! 

18.  Waiting (Mac Ayres and Chris Anderson) - White boy soul from young NY artist.

19.  Between the Lines (Robyn) - I didn't instantly love Robyn's new album, "Honey", but have to admit it grew on me eventually.  This song especially seems runway-ready.  I fully expect to see drag queens strutting to it in the New Year! 

20.  One Last Time /44 Remix/ (Christopher Jackson, Barack Obama, and Bebe Winans) - Obama does "Hamilton"???  I can't think of a better way to start the New Year!

So that's the first playlist of 2019!  Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!  We'll see you next month.