Brant's June 2021 Playlist

 

Admittedly, it's been a year since we've been able to travel -
but I just don't remember this as how "tourists" normally behaved...  

Happy Pride Month!  I hope everyone fastened their seatbelts, because May was a bumpy month.  Congressman Andrew Clyde said the rioters at the Capitol building on January 6th were basically "tourists", and Senator Mitch McConnell must have agreed (do most tourists want to hang the vice president?!?) because he shot down an investigation of the events from that day.  But enough politics!  We've got a new batch of songs to enjoy.  June is traditionally LGBTQ Pride Month, so I found myself leaning into that theme.  We've got tons of queer artists to get you in the spirit, as well as some familiar faces and songs to keep the good vibes going.  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE. 

1.  It's a Sin (Elton John and Years & Years) - Two generations of gay men teaming up to cover a gay anthem!  

2.  Miss Chatelaine /St. Tropez Mix/ (kd lang) - Another LGBT legacy gets the remix treatment.  Perfect for any summer/Pride/poolside playlist!  

3.  You (Regard, Troye Sivan, and Tate McRae) - Mid-tempo dance track to keep your feet tappin'!

4.  Down (St. Vincent) - We had Annie Clark/St. Vincent on last month's playlist, but there was too much yummy stuff on her latest album not to add a new song! 

5.  Persephone (Allison Russell) - Chicken soup for the (lesbian?) Americana soul! 

6.  Deep Breath (Riley Downing) - Bluesy 70s vibes that I find completely irresistible! 

7.  Stay in the Car (Bachelor) - Psychedelic garage rock from Jay Som and Palehound collaboration.

8.  Let's Go Home Together (Ella Henderson with Tom Grennan) - Another collaboration, this time from two British artists.  

9.  Stop Making This Hurt (Bleachers) - Jack Antonoff takes time away from producing everybody else to make his own kind of music!  

10.  Ahead of the Game (Gary Kemp) - Unexpected (for me, at least!) and welcome solo release from the Spandau Ballet guy!  

11.  Running Up That Hill (Georgia) - More 80's goodness, this time with a Kate Bush cover.  

12.  Pony (Tender Games) - Smooth R&B reboot of the Ginuwine classic.

13.  Feels Right (Biig Piig) - We had Biig Piig on our August 2020 playlist, and she's back with more peppy introspective beats!

14.  Head Rush (Art d'Ecco) - I love me some glam rock, and this totally fits the bill!

15.  What Am I Living For (Cat Clyde with Jeremie Albino) - Folksy duo can really belt out a tune!  

16.  I Can't Afford Her (the New Twentys) - Energetic English alt-rock.

17.  In My Blood (the Veronicas) - This is a far cry from their earlier stuff, but no less catchy!  

18.  Music Saved My Life (Dmitri from Paris feat. Fiorious) - Nothing like some old-skool style disco to fill up the dance floor at your Pride Party!  

19.  BONUS TRACK:  Big Mouth (the Linda Lindas) - Alt-rock "It" Girls cover the Muffs' 1993 hit.  I'd happily pay to own this, but for some weird reason I can't find it available to purchase!!!

So that's June's list.  Hope everyone has a safe and happy Pride and I'll see ya in July!  

Brant's May 2021 Playlist

There's nothing like Cher-ing a hammock with your bestie on a beautiful Spring day!  

What a month it's been!  I got my first and second Pfizer vaccines, and survived another season of pollen.  My lungs are cautiously optimistic.  So now we can focus on new music.  This month found me gravitating towards power pop and alternative rock.  There are lots of familiar faces this month, but hopefully enough new stuff to keep it interesting.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Companion (The Night Game feat. Elle King) - We had an Elle collaboration with Miranda Lambert on March's playlist.  This is nothing like that, but still rocks!  

2.  Million (Fickle Friends) - English Indie band keeps the party vibe going with this latest offering.

3.  Please (Jessie Ware) - Jessie had so many grooves to offer that she has expanded her "What's Your Pleasure?" album into a Platinum Pleasure Edition!  Can't wait to hear the rest of it!

4.  Blushing (Video Age) - New Orleans band serves up some easy beats that remind me of "Ballad of Dorothy Parker" by Prince.  

5.  Friends (Bent) - Tropical beats and wistful vocals that seem perfect for the first summer sunset.  

6.  Young Americans (Durand Jones & the Indications) - A soulful cover of the David Bowie hit.  

7.  Hey Gringo (Kaleo) - These poor guys have been dealing with delays on their latest album since last year!  So glad it was worth the wait.  This reminds me of the Rolling Stones at their cockiest.  

8.  Antibodies (Tensnake feat. Cara Melín) - They kinda had me at the title, since we're still in the midst of a pandemic, but the song has an appealing groove I probably would've gravitated towards anyway!  

9.  Bottle Rocket (Briston Maroney) - Young Tennessee rocker is off to a strong start with this debut album.  Looking forward to hearing more from him. 

10.  This Ain't the Life (Lauren Housley) - I would've sworn this British artist was straight out of Detroit with this retro soul ditty!  

11.  Shades of Blue (Paul Weller) - Former Style Council and The Jam singer is still going strong!

12.  Supernovas (k-os) - Supernovas are the new black!  First we had Kylie Minogue singing about them in January, and now Canadian artist k-os keeps the interstellar party going with this danceable groove!  

13.  Like a Ghost (Nomi Ruiz & Sam Sparro) - Don't touch that dial, there's jam on it.  Nomi Ruiz and Sam Sparro team up for what we used to call Quiet Storm soul.  

14.  All About You (the Knocks with Foster the People) - Two great bands banding together for a soaring summery choral canticle.  

15.  The Melting of the Sun (St. Vincent) - I saw this quirky chanteuse on SNL and had to have this song!  Annie Clark is one of those artists you can't take your eyes off:  always engaging and original.  

16.  Bad News (Aaron Frazer) - Jazzy soul from Durand Jones and the Indications (see #6!) member.

17.  Only Wanna Dance with You (Zac Tenenbaum feat. ÁSDÍS) - Peppy pop from multi-cultural ("born in Tijuana and raised in a Jewish orthodox community in Paris", according to Google) singer.  

18.  Starstruck (Years & Years) - Another personal fave of mine is back, just in time for summer!!!  

So that's May's list.  Hope everyone has a great month.  GET VACCINATED.  Concert season is almost here!!!  See ya next month (I hope).

Brant's April 2021 Playlist

When you want to take an inspirational COVID vaccine photo, 
but you're also afraid of needles...

It's the last day of March, but since I got my COVID vaccine today it also feels like the first day of post-pandemic life.  I've still got one shot to go (Pfizer, in case anyone's curious), and need two weeks to build up antibodies - but the end is (hopefully!) in sight.  I guess time will tell.  In the meantime, I do have a new playlist!  It's a mix of everything but sometimes the variety is the fun part.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE. 

1.  Ancestors (Miko Marks and the Resurrectors) - Country singer returns after a 14-year hiatus, with some heartfelt, gospel-tinged Americana.

2.  Seventeen (Sharon Van Etten and Norah Jones) - We had the original version of this song on my August 2019 playlist, but I liked this Norah Jones collaboration so much I had to include it!  

3.  Smile (WizKid and H.E.R.) - H.E.R. is another artist whose collaborations I tend to enjoy.  Here, she teams up with Nigerian singer WizKid for some rhythmic Afrofusion. 

4.  This Is Heaven (Nick Jonas) - Catchy pop from handsome Jonas Bro!  I love the 80s-influenced sax solo. 

5.  Unknown Song (Joe Goddard and Hayden Thorpe) - Hot Chip member goes solo and the output sounds like a slightly hip-hop-tinged Erasure!  

6.  Everybody's Down (Anna Fox Rochinsky) - I was in the mood for something catchy and out-of-the-ordinary.  This definitely fit the bill!  

7.  Power Ranger (Pikes) - I couldn't find out much about this artist, but I like the song!

8.  I Need You (Jon Batiste) - Stephen Colbert's bandleader delivers some retro-flavored jitterbug-ready pop! 

9.  One's on the Way (Loretta Lynn and Margo Price) - An all-time fave teams up with one of my fave newcomers, to revisit one of Loretta's classic tunes.  

10.  I Can't Stop Thinking About You (the Shadowboxers) - This one reminded me of the synth ballads we used to hear back in the 1980s.  It'd fit perfectly on an album by the Cars.  

11.  Real Groove /Studio 2054 Initial Talk Remix/ (Kylie Minogue and Dua Lipa) - Dua Lipa makes everything better!  Even Kylie!  

12.  Tigress and Tweed (Andra Day) - This is from the soundtrack of "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" and Andra is fantastic in the lead role!  Catch it if you can.  

13.  Womxn (Låpsley) - Easygoing world-beats from English singer.

14.  Flowers (Aaron Taylor) - Contemporary R&B from London.  

15.  What a Day (Ben Howard) - The guys from the National seem to be everywhere!  First, they give Taylor Swift an assist on her two quarantine albums, now they're helping out singer-songwriter Ben Howard! 

16.  Want You to Want Me (Alex Mills) - This isn't the Cheap Trick song, but it does have a retro-vibe to it.  I'd say it's more 1990s than 1970s though!  

17.  Hold Me Down (the Happy Fits) - Vibrant alt rock from New Jersey band!

18.  Long Violent History (Tyler Childers) - Sympathetic roots-Americana in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  This seemed like a great way to wrap things up as policeman Derek Chauvin is currently being tried for the murder of George Floyd.  

So that's April's list.  I'm not feeling 100% after this vaccine, so I think I'm going to hit the hay early tonight.  Hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter (those who celebrate), and I'll see you next month!  

Brant's March 2021 Playlist

 

When I said I needed a Lyft, this wasn't what I had in mind...

After two late playlists in a row, I was determined to get this one published on time!  Mission accomplished.  This time around, I found myself gravitating towards slick R&B and electronic beats - probably trying to get one last dance in before the pollen knocks me on my toosh!  But as always there's a mix of stuff I've found in the last month.  So let's dive in!  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Time (SG Lewis feat. Rhye) - UK artist has worked with everyone from Dua Lipa to LANY!  Here, he teams up with Canadian R&B act (and frequent Brantworld playlistee) Rhye for some runway-ready funk.  

2.  Flowers /Sunship Radio Edit/ (Sweet Female Attitude) - I heard this slick soul track on the soundtrack to the excellent "I May Destroy You" and immediately had to download it!  

3.  Does It Make You Feel Good?  (Joesef) - We had his cover of Sister Sledge on last month's playlist, so I decided to check out some of Joesef's own material and was immediately hooked.  It feels like an updated Philly soul tune.   

4.  Out of Love /Harrison Remix/ (Busty and the Bass feat. Macy Gray) - It makes me happy to know Macy is still out there doing her thang, but it also makes me happy to know there's a band out there called Busty and the Bass!  

5.  Antidote (Nao feat. Adekunle Gold) - Lord knows in the middle of a pandemic, we all need an antidote, and happily Nao and Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold were willing to provide one.  Smooth vocals over delicate percussion. 

6.  Up All Night (Aaron Lee Tasjan) - This is giving me Traveling Wilburys vibes and I'm loving it. 

7.  Auburn (Goody Grace) - Indie rock from young Canadian.

8.  Gasoline (HAIM feat. Taylor Swift) - The Haim sisters get a vocal assist from T-Swizzle, who has to be the busiest woman in quarantine these days!!!  Thanks, Zach, for bringing this tune to my attention.  

9.  It's Never Been a Fair Fight (Craig Finn) - Hold Steady frontman releases a collection of outtakes, demos, and other solo recordings.  It's mellower than the Hold Steady stuff, but no less entertaining.  

10.  My Window (Lucky Daye feat. Mahalia) - I love a good R&B duet and this tune certainly fits the bill!  

11.  Big (Rita Ora feat. Gunna, David Guetta, and Imanbek) - Rita teams up with several artists remotely during quarantine and the results sound as good as anything she could've done in person.  Technology is amazing.

12.  Echoes (Roosevelt) - The new Roosevelt album is here and I am rejoicing!  This tune especially stood out, with it's spacey 1980s vibes.  Perfect for watching the Mars rover explore the Red Planet.  

13.  Uh-huh (Litany) - Funky, minimalist beats from London artist.

14.  Faith Healer (Julien Baker) - Young, introspective Tennessee singer packs an emotional wallop on this latest offering.

15.  Kicking Over Bottles (Beach Slang) - I missed this when it came out last year, so here 'tis!  Vibrant alt rock to shake off your angst. 

16.  I Could Spend a Lifetime (Begonia, E.GG and deadmen) - Trippy beats and jazzy vocals are basically the equivalent of aural Xanax (in all the best ways). 

17.  Glam! (Allie X) - The best 80s pop song to come out in 2021!  Gary turned me on to this and it was the first tune I set aside for March.  

18.  Drunk and I Don't Wanna Go Home (Elle King with Miranda Lambert) - I have loved both of these women individually, so it's no surprise that I love them together.  And the video is a delight!  

19.  Hold On (Yola with the Highwomen feat. Sheryl Crow) - This is another example of fantabulous women teaming up to make fantabulous music!  Soulful gospel-country vibes to close us out.  

So that's March's playlist!  Hope everyone has a great month, and let's hope the COVID vaccines are coming soon.  I miss concerts and live music.  See ya next month!

Brant's February 2021 Playlist

When the #ThenAndNowChallenge takes you from Bunny to Bernie!

How has it only been one month since the last playlist?!?!  It feels like six.  We lost Cloris Leachman and Cicely Tyson, had an insurrection at the Capitol, and got a new President!  We've also got a new playlist.  I guess with all the chaos, I was leaning towards easy grooves and comforting folk-rock.  Anyway, here 'tis, and to listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Balenciaga (New West) - Aspirational dream pop to get us started on a positive note!

2.  Officer of Love (Caamp) - Athens, Ohio folk band keeps the mellow vibes going.

3.  In the Air (the California Honeydrops) - Oakland band serves up some 1970s soft rock vibes. 

4.  Dance Alone (Tayla Parx) - "Thank U, Next" songwriter steps up to the mike and proves she can do catchy pop all by herself!

5.  Strangers (Roosevelt) - 2021 will be gifting us a new Roosevelt album, so at least we have that to look forward to!  This is an early release from the new album.  

6.  Lifetime (Romy) - Reminds me of the early 90s club tunes I used to enjoy back in the day!

7.  On the Lookout (Neil Frances feat. Rafaella) - Percolating pop from West Coast duo. 

8.  Sword from a Stone (Passenger) - Melancholy folk from English singer/songwriter.

9.  Smalltown Boy (Orville Peck) - Unexpected Bronski Beat cover from up and coming Canadian artist! I would never have thought to put a Country and Western twist on this tune, but it works!  

10.  What a Magical Night (Gunhild Carling) - I love me some Gunhild!  Old school jazz flavors to pair with your Valentine's Day celebration.  

11.  What Makes Me Think About You (Nicolas Godin) - I loved Air back in the day!  Now one of the original members has gone solo, and offers up this robotic, atmospheric delight.  

12.  Not My Life (Nolie) - Indie pop star sings about going through the motions but not really being okay, which seems pretty relevant as we enter Year Two of the pandemic!

13.  Incapable /Dmitri from Paris and Aeroplane Remix/ (Róisín Murphy) - We had Róisín on last month's playlist, and I'm still digging tracks off her new album - including this deelish remix!  

14.  <Insert Girls Name Here> (the Luka State) - Energetic rock from Cheshire band

15.  On It (Jazmine Sullivan and Ari Lennox) - Apparently "WAP" opened the floodgates for sex-positive female anthems!  And the R&B vocals are impeccable!  

16.  In the Morning (MOKS feat. Kepler) - I couldn't find out much about this Dance artist, but heard it on Pandora and liked it!  

17.  Holy (Rhye) - Canadian R&B act gets an angelic assist from the Danish National Girls' Choir!   

18.  Run It (My Morning Jacket) - From cherubs to classic rock!  Brantworld is home to all.

19.  Right On (Devon Gilfillian, Nickie Conley, and Davie) - What better way to celebrate Black History Month than a spot-on cover of a Marvin Gaye deep cut!  I'll definitely be keeping an eye on future projects by Devon Gilfillian!

20.  BONUS TRACK:  Thinking of You (Joesef) - This is apparently a Spotify exclusive, which is a shame because I'd gladly hand over $1.29 to own this fantabulous Sister Sledge cover!  I included it anyway even though I prefer owning versus streaming.  Think of it as my Valentine's gift to you!

So that's February's playlist!  After January, Lord knows what this month has in store for us - but I'll be looking for you on the other side!  Happy Groundhog's Day!  

Brant's January 2021 Playlist

I think everyone is a tad apprehensive about what the New Year brings.

Wow.  Three days late on this one.  I wish I had some excuse for why this playlist took so long, but I don't.  Can't even blame it on a New Year's hangover.  But anyway, here 'tis.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Murphy's Law (Róisín Murphy) - Murphy's Law states that if anything CAN go wrong, it will.  I don't want to be pessimistic about 2021, but that definitely applies to 2020.  Luckily, Róisín's seductive groove makes it easy to forget the bad times. 

2.  Making Love (Sir Woman) - Singer Kelsey Wilson of Texas band Wild Child goes solo and serves up some more sexy grooves.

3.  You've Changed (Studio Rio and Billie Holiday) - I heard this somewhere and immediately recognized Billie Holiday's voice.  The backup band threw me off though, because it sounded so contemporary.  A little research led me to this project from 2014.  Classic vocalists were paired with a modern band for Bossa Nova reboots of some of their most memorable songs.  The entire album is great!  Highly recommended.  

4.  U 2 Luv (Ne-You and Jeremih) - Multiple Grammy-winner teams up with another R&B artist and tosses in an Mtume sample for good measure!  

5.  Work Is a Four-Letter Word (the Smiths) - I love being surprised by cover songs.  This was on a Sire Music Sampler from 1987 I recently acquired, and is the Smiths covering Cilla Black. Apparently, this is one of the songs that broke up the group.  Lead singer Morrissey loved it and guitarist Johnny Marr hated it.  Marr soon left the group, saying "I didn't form a group to perform Cilla Black songs."  

6.  La La Love Me (Lola Lennox) - Annie Lennox's daughter keeps the 1960s vibes going with this ebullient ditty.

7.  Honeybody /Mattsoro Remix/ (Kishi Bashi) - Funky remix of the 2016 Kishi Bashi song.

8.  Supernova (Kylie Minogue) - Kylie never strayed too far from disco, but she really leans into it with this song - right down to the outer space references and robot voices!  

9.  Donuts Mind If I Do (CHAI) - A little sugary Asian persuasion courtesy of Japanese alt-rock band. 

10.  Long Blue Light (Leif Vollebekk) - Pensive ballad from Canadian Indie artist. 

11.  Take the Highway (Blackberry Smoke) - It never takes a lot of arm-twisting to get me to listen to some Southern rock!  Recommended to me by a fraternity bro.  

12.  Born to Be Alive (Amyl and the Sniffers) - Growing up in the 1970s, there was always a thin line between disco and punk rock - with bands like Blondie even doing both!  What a treat to hear this punk band nailing a Patrick Hernandez dance floor classic!  

13.  It's Quiet in Beverly Hills (Yungblud) - I'm digging the new Yungblud album.  We had "Cotton Candy" on last month's playlist.  Here's another fave from the new record.  

14.  That Thing You Do! (Billie Joe Armstrong) - Another repeat from last month (new song, same album).  And a nice homage to Grammy-winning songwriter Adam Schlesinger, who died in April of last year from COVID-19.  

15.  Kerosene! (Yves Tumor) - Trippy psychedelic rock from enigmatic artist.

16.  All We Got /Joel Corry Remix/ (Robin Schulz feat. Kiddo) - Looks like 2021 will be giving us a new album from electronic/dance maestro Schulz!  

17.  Jukebox Johnny (Diane Birch) - Birch seems to be inhabiting the space created by 1970s artists such as Rickie Lee Jones and Joni Mitchell, and I'm not mad about it!  Hope we get more from Birch in the New Year!  PS  I do hate the album cover, though.  Yuck.  

18.  ivy (Taylor Swift) - Don't fix it if it ain't broke.  T. Swizzle follows up "Folklore" with another acoustic album called "Evermore".  If she keeps giving us these piano- and guitar-heavy compilations, she'll have to call her new album "FingersSore"!  

19.  Birmingham (Ryan Adams) - I debated putting this song on my playlist.  Adams has been accused of sexual misconduct and emotional abuse by several women.  He has since apologized and is working to do better.  At the end of the day, I liked the song, and until we have reason to believe that he is NOT trying to improve himself - I decided not to cancel him. 

So that's our first playlist of the New Year.  Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season, and let's hope 2021 is a vast improvement over its predecessor.  

Brant's December 2020 Playlist

"Can you send back a Christmas tree once it's been chopped down?!?"

The last playlist of the year!  Considering what a rotten year 2020 was, I guess we're lucky to have made it here at all.  Anyway, Melania may not have any Christmas spirit, but I was feelin' it.  Along with the usual mix of new stuff, we've got some holiday songs!  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.  

1.  Experience (Victoria Monét with Khalid) - Songwriter for Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony steps into the spotlight, with an assist from Khalid!  

2.  Night Walking (Lazarus Kane) - Peppy dance pop from charismatic new artist.

3.  Proxima B (Benjamin Gibbard) - Solo rock tribute to the closest planet outside of our solar system, from lead vocalist/guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie.

4.  Christmas Valentine (Ingrid Michaelson with Jason Mraz) - Our first Christmas tune is an enjoyable duet from two songwriting icons.  

5.  Words of a Fool (Barry Gibb with Jason Isbell) - Two other accomplished songwriters team up for this country-flavored ballad.  This is not your mama's Bee Gees.  Thanks to Jill for bringing it to my attention!  

6.  Anyway (May Erlewine and Woody Goss) - Michigan singer/songwriter seems to be channeling Christine McVie in this awesome folk-pop effort.  

7.  Gum (Emily Krueger) - Instagram star seems destined for pop stardom, if songs like this are any indication of her talent!

8.  Edge of Midnight /Midnight Sky Remix/ (Miley Cyrus vs Stevie Nicks) - Miley teams up with one of her influences for this energetic mashup.  

9.  That's Rock and Roll (Billie Joe Armstrong) - Shaun Cassidy has alwasy been a guilty pleasure of mine.  I never thought about anyone actually covering his songs, but if I had -  I think I'd agree that Green Day/Billie Joe Armstrong is a solid choice!  It's retro and new at the same time.  If only it were safe to go to the roller rinks, I'd adjust my rainbow-striped suspenders, slap on my neon lime high-top skates, and ask the DJ to play this as loudly as possible!  

10.  Cotton Candy (Yungblud) - Halsey's ex-boyfriend serves up some sticky-sweet pop-rock!  

11.  Lucid (Rina Sawayama) - British pop star is back and she does not disappoint with this exuberant dance ditty.

12 . Christmas Without You (Ava Max) - For whatever reason, I was not expecting a Christmas song from Ava "Sweet But a Psycho" Max!  I'm happily surprised AND entertained!  

13.  Get Me Some (Tokimonsta feat Drew Love and Dumbfoundead) - Jazzy lounge beats from proliferate LA producer and brain surgery survivor!  

14.  Hang Them on the Tree (June Christy) - I love this woman's voice.  June is no longer with us, but her spirit lives on in her recordings.  This is another selection from her 1961 holiday album ("The Merriest" being best known).  Considering the year we've had, a song about making lemons into lemonade seemed apropos!

15.  Pure Shores (Eliza Shaddad) - Groovy beats from London UK artist.

16.  Cigarette (Julian Lamadrid) - Bold alt rock from young Brooklyn-based Mexican artist.

17.  Harlem River Blues (Steve Earle) - We lost Justin Townes Earle back in August.  His father, Steve Earle, decided to record an album of JTE's songs, with proceeds going into a trust for the daughter Justin left behind.  A worthy cause that enables the rest of us to enjoy some great music.  

18.  Christmas Song (Phoebe Bridgers with Jackson Browne) - Indie rocker closes us out with this melancholy holiday song, assisted by the legendary Jackson Browne.

So that's December's playlist.  Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.  Here's hoping 2021 brings us better times, better leaders, and a COVID vaccine!  May we meet again in the New Year!