January: The Playlist

Every month I'll be putting together a playlist of tracks that may be my most played, most interesting, most whatever. Basically it just gives me a reason to look back at the month in music and share some of my favorites with you. Some songs are new, some are old, some you've heard on here before, but one thing's for sure... taking some time to listen to January: The Playlist is a lot more constructive than twittering about what you're having for dinner or masturbating to internet porn.



January: The Playlist
1. Freelance Whales- "Generator 1st Floor"
It just doesn’t feel like kids we grew up with should be this free, so we figure this five-piece has been transported from some alternate universe or simpler time when being gleeful was more important than anything else. They’ve got a lot of dreamy, lemonade vibes to share.

2. Joy Formidable- "Cradle"
Touring alongside Passion Pit has done a lot for these guys, not that they needed anyone's help. One listen to this song and you can easily see their bound for glory.

3. "What You Know About Little Secrets" Mashup
Speaking of Passion Pit....Here's a mashup featuring the beantown boys and pre-prison T.I.

4. jj- "My Way"
You've heard this one here before. Charles Manson opening, Weezy spittin' rhymes, and jj's unique ghostly sound combines for a track as unforgettable as contracting herpes.

5. B.o.B- "Haterz" Feat. Rick Ross, Juvenile, & Big Kuntry
Off B.o.B's The Features mixtape. The buildup to the release of The Adventures of Bobby Ray is redic. Mixtape count up to 5 and each one sounds better than the last.

6. Lissy Trullie- "Boy Boy"
Seriously, go download all of this foursome's stuff over at RCRDLBL.

7. Gucci Mane- "Dangers Not a Stranger" Diplo Remix
As heard here earlier this month. Download the entire mixtape FO' FREE.

8. inbirdseye- "They Won't See"
I just wrote about these guys about a week ago and this song has been in heavy rotation since. The draws to Band of Horses are inescapable and I love it.

9. Delphic- "Doubt"
Is there even an ocean between the United States and the United Kingdom? Half of today’s best acts seem to be coming from England, and you may as well lump Manchester trio Delphic into that mess. Infectious overlapping of electronica and dreamy vocals.

10. Broken Bells- "Vaporize"
I think I've written about Broken Bells 742 times so far this year and will probably do so another 2,000 before the year ends. I can't get enough.

11. Calvin Harris- "Ready for the Weekend"
I just had to throw this on here simply because it helps me get through any rough Friday. Push play at 4pm any Friday and things become immediately 1,000 times better. That infectious chorus get me ready to jump in the middle of any dance party.

12. The xx- "Crystalised" Rory Phillips Remix
Appropriately hyped band of late 2009, The xx, had their share of takers on the remix circuit. Most fell short, but Rory Phillips does a nice job of not taking a complete 180 by throwing a simple house beat over the duo's song.

13. Two Door Cinema Club- "Undercover Martyn" Jupiter Remix
One of my favorite tracks from the U.K. Heatseekers. These guys are gaining a LOT of steam across the pond, so expect a lengthy stay here in states sometime soon.