The Playlist – December 2013

Music is a little like food and clothes. These are areas where it’s probably worthwhile for one to explore & expand their tastes. The Playlist is assembled each month by Dappered’s very own music correspondent, Tim Johnstone. Tim is a former Virgin Records Label Rep & current award winning Program Director at KRVB, which was awarded the FMQB AAA station of the year markets 50+. You can also catch his work on Fridays when he assembles the Weekend Dossier. 

 

!!! – And Anyway It’s Christmas

!!!,  (pronounced chk-chk-chk) ditches their dance punk tendencies for a mostly earnest synth-pop holiday jam. It’s pretty fun stuff. “But I’ve been ’round the world/Seen all kinds of girls/And I’ve seen nothing better/Than you in that sweater.”

 

Beyoncé – Drunk In Love

First things first: this song is explicit and frankly with all the jiggling going on here, the video is probably NSFW. And you just clicked anyway. I’m not sure you would ever see a Katy or a Miley even attempt something as sophisticated as this. This is not built around typical pop sensibilities. But Beyonce pulls it off. The production is nails. And this one is pretty terrific too.

 

Bad Religion – Christmas Songs

For those who prefer some power chords with your peace on earth. I can’t say I didn’t see this coming since the band previously offered up some holiday cheer back in the day. It’s everything you would expect from a Bad Religion Christmas record. In fact, were for some reason you to imagine how a Bad Religion album would sound, this would be it exactly. But it’s also strange fun given the inherent strangeness of punk rock holiday songs. And it succeeds where this did not.

 

Shearwater – Fellow Travelers

I don’t know what it is exactly, but I am immediately drawn to Jonathan Meiburg’s voice. It’s tenor. It’s tone. It’s ability to draw me into each song he sings. His band Shearwater have just released Fellow Travelers, a cover’s record that redefines tracks by Coldplay, Folk Implosion, Xiu Xiu, and Baptist Generals among others.

 

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – “Ain’t No Chimneys In The Projects”

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings serve up some old fashioned R&B heartbreak on this new Christmas original. Having received a clean bill of health following treatment for breast cancer, Sharon and the guys (who are so damn great live) will release a brand new full-length next year.

 

Beck – “Gimme”

I’m going to be honest. I don’t know what to think. But it’s noteworthy for the fact that this finds Mr. Hansen playing with beats and song structures again. I think I like it. I don’t know If I like it.

 

Todd Sloan – “Winter Wheat”

This is one of those perfect original holiday songs. It’s lovely and melancholic with pathos and warmth and a really memorable melody.

 

Childish Gambino (Featuring Chance The Rapper) – “The Worst Guys”

Donald Glover is a talented guy. Writer, Actor, and hip hop star via Childish Gambino. For those of you stuck inside with the Winter blues, this should warm you up.

 

The Killers (With Dawes) – “Christmas In LA”

Every Christmas The Killers release a new holiday original as a benefit single. This season finds Brandon Flowers hooking up with Los Angelinos Dawes for a lonely-this-Christmas themed song. Dawes provides the perfect foil for Brandon’s Americana-esque story telling. For some reason, the video features Harry Dean Stanton and Owen Wilson.

 

ROYAL BLOOD – Come On Over

Yes. I know I just posted their debut single recently. But this b-side is every bit as good if not better. I’m thinking better. Also, why isn’t this available for sale yet digitally?

For previous editions of The Playlist, see the growing archive here. Top Photo Credit.