The Playlist – November 2015

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. Got a Spotify account? You’ll find a link to this month’s playlist at the end of the post.

 

Missy Elliott – “WTF”

OMG. Missy sure is taking her time rolling out the new music but it is all worth it when she drops something like this. Nobody brings this much fun to music. Nobody makes me move with carefree abandon like Missy.

 

Adele – “Hello”

Because even if you don’t like her, you should know what you’re hating so that you can at least talk about it with your girl. Or girls. Also, welcome back Adele. Thanks for this.

 

Puscifer – “Galileo”

A little prog rock, a little atmospheric production elements, some percussive strings and select harmonies. Maynard is never boring. Tool’s lead singer’s other other band have just released their third full length. This is trippy and hypnotic and completely made for headphones.

 

Grimes – “Flesh Without Blood”

Not going to lie. I have not connected with her earlier work. I guess I didn’t want to invest the effort? I am not proud. This new song off Grime’s new album caught my attention and it has reminded me about why, for intense personal connections, the best music isn’t always the stuff that goes down easy right from the start. I shouldn’t need to be reminded. So I turned into that guy and it is kind of a drag. But the song? Super fun.

 

Andra Day – Rise Up

I’m just going to stand back and let her do her thing. Because I am feeling this something fierce.

 

Hot Chip – “Dancing In The Dark”

Yes, it’s that song. They have been slaying audiences with this arrangement at their live shows recently and it finally gets a studio release. This is top notch nerd pop from a band that has defied expectations and screwed around with conventional boy band idolatry, buoyed by a sense of humor and some tasty hooks. It’s the perfect bedroom dance party song. By the time they get to the tip of the hat to LCD Soundsystem, I’m an ecstatic sweaty mess. So I hit repeat.

 

Coldplay – “Adventure Of A Lifetime”

Yes, their sound has evolved over the years. Yes they have been very, very successful. Yes, it’s easy to poke fun at them. But they have figured out how to connect with people by writing some memorable songs. And, unmemorable songs. My main concern with this preview of what is being called their last album, is the fact that Chris Martin’s vocals seem buried in the mix a bit.

 

Collective Soul – “AYTA”

Ed Roland has one of the most recognized voices from 90’s modern rock. And he generally used it to bolster well written workingman songs that resonated with the times. The band’s first new album in 6 years finds them doing what brought them success in the first place. Solid songs fleshed out with some bells and whistles. But it is mostly about the songs (as you can check out here).

 

BETWEEN THE GROOVES:

CLASSIC THIN WHITE DUKE: This is the stuff of legends. He made this kind of thing happen over and over. And it changed people. Not even lying.

UNEXPECTED SAD WAVE: Youth Lagoon stopped by Sirius XM U and this happened.

WAIT, WHAT? This was one of the worst ideas in the entire history of bad ideas. So, yeah. Also, there might have been a wee bit of exaggeration going on there. You know the part.

 

Raury – “Friends” featuring Tom Morello

A subtle shout out to the power of those people in your life who keep you where you should be. That have your back. That get you. Those who are with you even if they are never right there with you. “Friends” is just one example of what this kid is up to – his debut disc is nothing if not varied. He constructs a seamless blend of hip hop, modern pop, and big picture social commentary, with a sometimes brooding backing track. This though? This is nothing but positive vibrations, with a guitar solo from a man known for blurring boundaries and not keeping quiet.

 

Celldweller – “Jericho”

New music from a Detroit multi-hyphenate who has been making music for twenty years. This is big stuff. It muscles right along and it is cinematic. Organic strings and electrobeats provide a base for auto-tuned vocals and a series of hooks. Perfect for the gym.

 

Baio – “Sister Of Pearl”

Whereupon Chris Baio, the bassist and backing vocalist for Vampire Weekend steps away from the “Oxford Comma” and unleashes a plinky pop gem. Just weird enough to be engaging but backed up with a hook so ferocious it will not let go.

 

Monika – “Secret In The Dark”

Monika is a superstar in Greece where she had previously released two albums. Following a trip to NYC and time spent with Dap-Kings’ Homer Steinweiss (who produced her new album) she has released the most authentic sounding disco single to come along in forever. Imagine ABBA’s Agnetha and Frida backing up Aimee Mann in the heart of the Studio 54 era – woozy and dated in the best possible way.

 

THE CLASSIC: Dire Straits – “Skateaway”

Once upon a time, this was one of the sexiest songs on the planet.

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

Click here for the Spotify playlist.