Brant's August 2021 Playlist

And just like that, it's time for a new playlist!  

How is it August already???  Crazy how the summer snuck up on us...kinda like the Delta Variant except there's no vaccine for summer humidity.  Anyway, I've got another playlist ready to go!  It seems like the theme of this month's songs is collaboration!  We've got remixes and multiple artists galore!  So let's dig in.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.  

1.  Solar Power (Lorde) - New Zealander gets us started with this slow simmering new hit.  

2.  Can You Handle My Love? (Walk the Moon) - I never get tired of this energetic Indie band!  If the only song of theirs that you know is "Shut Up and Dance", I highly encourage you to check out their other music!  

3.  Love If You Need It /Mousse T's Classic Shizzle/ (Horse Meat Disco feat. Fi McCluskey) - Jeff turned me on to this.  Gotta say, I don't dig their band name, but if Mousse T is on board - sign me up!  

4.  You Should Be Dancing (Dee Gees/Foo Fighters) - This has been the Song of the Summer 2021, and deservedly so!  Foo Fighters doing the Bee Gees!!!  

5.  Feel the Way I Want (Caroline Rose) - We had her on our March 2018 playlist, and now she's back with some 80s-styled funk!  

6.  Sanctuary (Slim Jeff, Annabelle McGinnis, and CAPYAC) - This is giving me Kaytranada vibes and I'm not mad about it!  

7.  Same Page, Different Book (Prince) - Every now and again, I seem to be at odds with the critics.  Everyone is raving about "Welcome2America", the 2010 Prince album that has surfaced posthumously.  I didn't love it.  But this song was okay.  Shelby J's slammin' rap is the best part.  

8.  On Top (Dan Croll) - British singer-songwriter serves up some Supertramp-influenced rock.  

9.  Tiger (Sparkle Moore) - 1950s rockabilly singer is getting some long overdue attention on the music blogs, and I'm so thankful to have finally found her!  

10.  Made to Love (Imelda May with Ron Wood, Gina Martin, and Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu) - Okay, I almost got carpal tunnel from typing in all the people who sang on this, but in the end - it's a great song!

11.  Never Take It (Twenty One Pilots) - Twenty One Pilots definitely don't need a shout out from me, but I liked the message on this tune:  beware of the rampant misinformation that is out there!

12.  Call On Me (Raye) - I think we have an emerging pop princess on our hands!  Ava Max and Kim Petras better watch their backs. 

13.  Move Into Me /Roosevelt Remix/ (Bad Sounds feat. Broods) - I pretty much love anything Roosevelt does, including this remix.  

14.  My Baby Just Cares for Me (Ledisi and Metropole Orkest) - Great take on a great Nina Simone tune.  She did sing other stuff besides "Feelin' Good", y'know!!!

15.  All the Little Things (Winston Surfshirt feat. Ramirez) - Easy-going summer beats perfect for relaxing at the beach...in a (wait for it)...surfshirt! 

16.  Missing Piece (Vance Joy) - The latest epic anthem from Australian artist.

17.  Faster (Samantha Fish) - Samantha is serving a Shania Twain rock vibe on this that is totally working for me!  

18.  I Want Love /Two Colors Remix/ (Jessie J and Billy Porter) - Eric turned me on to this!  Total diva runway-struttin' disco!  

So that's August!  Everyone stay safe, wear a mask, and if you haven't gotten vaccinated yet...DO IT!!!

Brant's July 2021 Playlist

Puttin' the boogie in our boogie boards!

I wouldn't dream of sending everyone into the holiday weekend without some new music!  This month's playlist has a little bit of everything, but with (hopefully) a summer vibe - lots of concert-ready rock and easy summer beats.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE. 

1.  Drinking Wine (Oscar Lang) - Teenage rocker gets us off to a strong start, but I can't help but wonder what he knows about drinking wine!  Isn't he underage???

2.  Believer (Black Honey) - British Indie band keeps the good vibes going with this party anthem! 

3.  Paprika (Japanese Breakfast) - Michelle Zauner is back!!!  She cited Kate Bush as an inspiration in a recent interview, and I can totally hear it in this festively eclectic single.  

4.  15 Minutes (Julian Lamadrid) - We had him on last December's playlist, and the Brooklyn artist is back with a danceable ditty.  Madonna and Justin Timberlake asked for 4 minutes - Julian needs 11 more.  

5.  Complicated (Leela James) - Another welcome return!  Leela doing the smooth R&B that she does best!

6.  Dancing in the Kitchen (LANY) - West Coast band serves up a new dose of their signature dream pop.  

7.  A Dream with a Baseball Player (Faye Webster) - Barack Obama loves her, and so do I!  

8.  The Edge of Glory (Years & Years) - I feel like Olly Alexander is on the Edge of Glory!  He just starred in the hit HBO Max show "It's a Sin", and now he's hand-picked by Lady Gaga to record this tune for the 10 Year Anniversary of her album "Born This Way"!  Not bad for a dude who just turned 30!  

9.  Shade of Yellow (Griff) - Poached from Gary's summer playlist (with his blessings, of course!).  

10.  Enough (Tiggs Da Author) - Summery world beats from Tanzanian artist.

11.  Making a Fire /Mark Ronson Re-Version/ (Foo Fighters) - Mark Ronson takes the Foo Fighters' stadium anthem and reworks it into a Southern Rock jam!  

12.  Dear Saint Cecelia (Iceage) - Energetic punk from Denmark!  

13.  Waste My Time (Sanya N'kanta) - Soulful ballad from Jamaican-born, Carolina-residing  singer/songwriter.  

14.  Superstar (Tennis) - A delightful update on the Carpenters' classic!  

15.  Early Morning Breeze (Kishi Bashi) - 60s folk vibes from American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.  

16.  Lose My Mind (Anthony Ramos) - "Hamilton" and "In the Heights" star drops the beats (and the F-bombs) in this latest banger!  

17.  Thank You (Diana Ross) - An unexpected and extremely welcome new song from a living legend!!!  Can't wait to hear the rest of the new album.  Eric turned me on to this. 

18.  Pale Blue Light (Jessie Ware) - Jessie's most recent album was chock full of disco, so this 80s style ballad really stood out for me.  Reminds me of some of Berlin's best slow jams.  

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

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!