THE EAST OF 8TH IT OUGHTA BE AUTUMN PLAYLIST

It’s been a hot minute since I posted a playlist (and when I say “hot minute” I’m not joking, we’re all melting here).  I’ve been listening to a variety of music lately, some new songs, some oldies, and all have helped me endure this oppressively hot Tennessee summer.  I hope that you enjoy the playlist, and that you will be inspired to hear more from the artists represented.  You can access/follow the playlist on Spotify here….and we’re off!

1.  Heart It Races by Architecture in Helsinki, as played by Dr. Dog:  I’ve been on a Dr. Dog kick lately, and this cover of Heart It Races is one of my favorites.  With its groovy beat and funky bass line, it makes me want to roll the windows down and play it loud…when it gets a little cooler outside.

2.  Take It As It Comes by J. Roddy Walston and The Business:  There’s something innately southern about J. Roddy’s sound.  You may be asking, “What do you mean Susan?  What does ‘southern’ sound like?”  To me, it’s that gritty/bluesy/swampy kind of rock and roll that seeps down into your bones and makes you either want to dance like you mean it or laze in the heat, and you just don’t care how sweaty you get.  This is currently my favorite song from this band, but I like them all.

3.  The Lengths by The Black Keys:  This oldie but goodie has been on the rotation a lot lately; it’s got a lazy groove and this soaring lap steel that sings to my soul.  Delicious.

4.  Last Forever by Fenech-Soler:  Meet British synth pop outfit Fenech-Soler…I get excited when I hear this song on the radio, it makes me want to get up and dance like Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club.

5.  Left Hand Free by alt-J:  I’ve been waiting for alt-J to release some new material, and it appears that the time has come.  This song, the second single from the This Is All Yours LP due out in September, is infectiously funky and fantastic, and a slight departure from the sound of 2012’s award-winning An Awesome Wave LP.  I’m really excited to hear the rest of the album.  They are going on tour to support it, sans bass guitarist and Andy Warhol doppleganger Gwil Sainsbury, and it seems they are skipping over the Music City.  If that really disappoints you, feel free to put your feet up and enjoy my review of the last time they were in Nashville.

6.  Mother and Father by Broods:  This is New Zealand duo Broods’ second appearance on an East of 8th playlist; I love lead singer Georgia Nott’s breathy vocals.  Just listening to this song makes me cooler…and I’m mostly referring to temperature here.

7.  Slow Motion by PHOX:  I can’t get enough PHOX in my life.  Their self-titled album has been my summer soundtrack.  You can read more about it here!

8.  How Long Must I Wait by Dr. Dog: Another oldie, and another Dr. Dog selection…remember how I mentioned I was on a Dr. Dog kick?  I am such a fan of their earthy/fuzzy sound and the way the contrasting guitar and bass tones dance around each other in this song.

9.  Wait Up For You by The Belle Game:  I have recently been turned on to Canada’s dark-pop quintet The Belle Game.  They have this reverb-y retro sound full of textures and layers, with lead singer Andrea Lo’s smokey vocals, when all blended together, really speaks to me.  They’ve agreed to let me interview them, so check out their music, and stay tuned!

10.  Matchstick by American Royalty:  This tune starts out with simple vocals over a funky piano riff (reminiscent of the beginning of Same Love” by Macklemore) that escalates into a digitally psychedelic overflow of sound.  Say that three times fast.

11.  Hacienda Motel by Pickwick:  Another groovy, roll-down the windows and turn up the radio kind of ditty that will make you dance in your chair.

12.  Dearly Departed by Shakey Graves (feat. Esme Patterson):  Oh Shakey.  I love you so.  He has a new album coming out, and a tour on the horizon, and guess who has tickets? This girl does.  If you haven’t experienced the greatness of this one-man operation, you need to crawl out from under the rock where you are hiding.  You won’t regret it.