Jan 2017 Playlist – Foals, The Strumbellas, Kaleo
I haven’t done one of these for a while, mostly because it just takes hours to put one together, so I thought I’d post a playlist I did late last summer that is still in heavy rotation. You can find it on Spotify, where all of my playlists live now.
One of my favorite bands, these guys are great at deep feeling songs with lyrics you’ll ponder over and over again. This one is a perfect summation of the different stages of love, good and bad.
I have no idea what this song is really about but I like to think of it as all of the competing desires you have in life and that never-ending desire to do something, anything that’s different from yesterday.
If I had any musical talent at all, this would be the band I’d want to be in. These guys are such great musicians and this song is just gorgeous. My favorite lyric in this playlist is in this one – “And I don’t feel nothing at all and you can’t feel nothing small.”
Another one of my favorite bands (and you must see them live) and this is the best video on the playlist, totally interactive and a little trippy. I had not heard of Math Rock (non-standard time signatures) before these guys and I think that it’s the reason for my deep love for them – imperfect, complicated and unique.
The only super popular song on this playlist, I’ll admit after hearing this on TV and the radio constantly for a couple of months, I’d kinda discarded it. When it popped up on my suggestions, I gave it a good listen for the first time – there’s a lot to love here, totally worth a second chance.
Such a fun song, like dancing dervish, singing at the top of your lungs song.
Crystals – Of Monsters and Men
How can you not love these guys? Their voices and harmonies alone are just delicious and there is something addictive about this one, I could listen to it over and over again.
An amazingly good debut album but this one is definitely the stand out. How that voice comes out of that super pretty man, I do not know, that’s a lot of gritty hard living in there. I’m really looking forward to hearing more from them.
I have to admit that if you can play the banjo like this you’ll have my heart forever, I can’t explain it at all, must be my southern roots. This is another lovely, catchy fun song made for dancing.
Speaking of great banjo players, Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock is amazing. Actually, all of the guys in this band are so talented but Tom Peloso is my favorite. This song doesn’t really feature either BUT it’s a great song and fit perfectly here.
Handclap – Fitz and The Tantrums
Another great song for getting up and shaking some booty. It’s just fun, catchy and perfectly peppy. I’m sure it’s a workout playlist favorite.
This is actually the song I started this playlist with. It’s one of my go to fuck it all songs that I play whenever I need a little pick me up. The video doesn’t really do these guys justice and while this isn’t the oldest song here it’s definitely one that I’ll be listening to for years to come.
Esprit De Escalier 