Happy Thanksgiving!

In case you need a playlist for your Thanksgiving dinner or cocktail hour, I've got you covered. I created this playlist for Atelier Armbruster's November newsletter which is the architecture and interior design firm where a work. It was such a thrill to share my love of music with a new audience. This playlist is an eclectic mix of music released this year - including songs from Beyoncé, Charli XCX, Remi Wolf - alongside some timeless favorites from INXS, Brian Eno and John Cale, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Arthur Russell, Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield, Chaka Khan and David Bowie.

You will also find a more recent but older track from Caroline Polachek and one from Argentinian artist Juana Molina. Of course, there are some indie favorites here too like Feist, Blood Orange and Stereolab. I hope this playlist adds a little extra joy to your Thanksgiving. Wishing you a warm and happy holiday!

Feist - Mushaboom

Beyoncé - BLACKBIIRD

Blood Orange - Best to You

INXS - The One Thing

Charli XCX - Apple featuring the japanese house

Brian Eno & John Cale - Spinning Away

Juana Molina - Cosoco

Ryuichi Sakamoto - energy flow

Arthur Russell - That's Us/Wild Combination

Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield - What Have I Done to Deserve This?

Remi Wolf - Soup

Caroline Polacheck - So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings

Stereolab - Wow And Flutter

Chaka Khan - Fate

David Bowie - Sound and Vision

xo, Julie

Y2K

Apparently, Y2K is back. This was completely unknown to me until my teen asked if I had any Y2K clothes that I had kept. What did Y2K clothing even look like? I think my brain merged early Aughts fashion with '90s looks because all I could think of were crop tops and baby tees. Y2K music is much more in my lane. In fact, the only Y2K clothing I kept are t-shirts from artists that I worked with at the time. So in honor of Y2K’s big comeback, here is my latest playlist. 

The intro track is from the Liverpool band, Clinic, whose acclaimed debut album Internal Wrangler was released in the UK in 2000. I first saw them live opening for another band on this playlist, Radiohead, in Victoria Park in London in the fall of 2000. I would have never guessed that a year later I would be part of the press team working on this record in the States. Musically, Broadcast transition seamlessly from Clinic. Their mix of electronic and psychedelic music are a mood. Their album, The Noise Made By People, is beautiful and haunting as is the track “Echo's Answer.”

Another debut album released in 2000 is Australian band The Avalanches' Since I Left You which features the innovative track “Frontier Psychiatrist,” built from a seemingly infinite blend of unique samples. “The Crystal Lake” is from Grandaddy’s highly acclaimed sophomore album The Sophtware Slump. 

The next three artists and songs are feminist favorites.  “All Hands On The Bad One” is the title track from the fifth album by Sleater-Kinney. Chicks on Speed and Peaches are two of the three Y2K t-shirts that I still have. I was part of the press team on both these releases as well. Munich-based electronic art collective Chicks on Speed’s cover of Malaria!’s song “Kaltes Klares Wasser” and “Sucker” is from the Canadian artist Peaches from her beloved album Teaches of Peaches.  

Outkast’s Stankonia blew everyone away when it was released in 2000. “B.O.B. - Bombs Over Baghdad,” was the explosive first single from the album and is an exciting blend of musical styles. PJ Harvey’s Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea and the track “Good Fortune” is her sonic homage to New York City. Many of the songs from the album were inspired by the English artist’s time living here. 

Scotland's The Delgados and their song “Accused of Stealing” kick off the indie pop portion of the playlist, followed by “Way You Walk” from Boston’s Papas Fritas and “Once Around The Block” by English singer-songwriter Damon Gough, better known as Badly Drawn Boy. 

Bringing the mood down for a couple songs are Mojave 3 with the melancholy folk of “Return To Sender” followed by Johnny Cash’s poignant cover of Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s “I See A Darkness” with Will Oldham (a.k.a Bonnie) providing backing vocals. 

Closing out my Y2K playlist is “Mastermind” from Deltron 3030, the project of Dan the Automator, Del The Funky Homosapien and Kid Koala. The group's self-titled concept album features an impressive line up of guest artists, including Blur’s Damon Albarn, Prince Paul and Sean Lennon. Yo La Tengo’s album And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out is probably my favorite of their brilliant and extensive body of work. I chose the song “Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House” not only because it is amazing amazing but also because my husband did drum programming for the track. Playlist favoritism? Perhaps.

2000 was really a great year for music. There were so many more songs that I could have included. Sorry Britney, The Sea & Cake & Smog. At 17 tracks long, it is pretty clear that I struggled whittling this playlist down. Now it is your turn to share your favorite Y2K songs and albums. 

Clinic - The Second Line

Broadcast - Echo's Answer 

The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist 

Grandaddy - The Crystal Lake 

Sleater-Kinney - All Hands On The Bad One 

Chicks On Speed - Kaltes Klares Wasser 

Peaches - Sucker 

Outkast - B.O.B. - Bombs Over Baghdad

Radiohead - Idioteque 

PJ Harvey - Good Fortune 

The Delgados - Accused Of Stealing 

Papas Fritas - Way You Walk 

Badly Drawn Boy - Once Around The Block 

Mojave 3 - Return To Sender 

Johnny Cash - I See A Darkness 

Deltron 3030 - Mastermind 

Yo La Tengo - Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House

xo, Julie

Bummer Summer

Did anyone else have a bummer summer? For us at least, chaos seemed to rule the season. Things could have been so much worse but it is what it is (and what it was was a bit of a bummer). 

Through the uncertainty, music remained a high point and, with that inspiration, I put together a playlist of mostly new music, rounded it out with a few older tracks. So many excellent songs have been released over the second half of this year, it is hard to keep up. 

I chose Remi Wolf’s catchy pop-funk song “Cinderella” as the opener. The track is from her second album Big Ideas, which came out in July.  Last week SOPHIE’s posthumous single “Exhilarate,” which features Bibi Bourelly, was released. As excited as I am to hear the insanely talented producer and songwriter’s new album, it is bittersweet after her tragic accidental death in 2021. The album will be released on September 27th. For those that are not familiar with SOPHIE, in addition to her own material she has collaborated with Charli XCX, Kim Petras, Vince Staples and Madonna, amongst many others.

Following up SOPHIE is UK singer-songwriter Amber Bain who records under the name The Japanese House and her breezy track “:).” Singer-Songwriter Clairo released her third album Charm in July and my favorite track is the album opener, “Nomad.” Speaking of charm, Sabrina Carpenter’s new album Short n’ Sweet sure does have a ton. This verse from “Slim Pickins” makes laugh every listen: 

Jesus, what’s a girl to do? 

The boy doesn’t even know 

The difference between “there,” “their” and “they are” 

Yet he’s naked in my room 

Missing all the things he’s missin’ 

God knows that he isn’t livin’ large 

Taking it back to old school post-punk, Mo-Dettes released their song “White Mice” in 1979. Spanish indie band Hinds will release their fourth full-length Viva Hinds this week. “En Forma” is their first Spanish language single and I think they should do more. It is my favorite of the singles they have released so far and that includes the track featuring Beck. The next song is a throwback from the UK trio Soho, who were led by identical twin sisters.  “Hippychick” got a lot of radio play on my college radio show in the early ‘90s as it is hard to resist that “How Soon is Now” sample. 

The hip hop R&B nominee for “song of the summer” has to be Tinashe’s “Nasty.” Released in August, Quantum Baby is Tinashe’s seventh full-length album. You all know who Frida is, right? One quarter of the Swedish pop group ABBA? Phil Collins produced her first solo album and so very obviously plays drums, especially prominent on her hit single “I Know There’s Something Going On.”  Whatever about Phil, Frida and this track are both fantastic. I have been wanting to put the Jessica Pratt track “Life Is” on a playlist since her album Here in the Pitch was released in May. I think the beat pairs well with Frida. 

Finally, one big summer highlight for me was winning the lottery for tickets to see the hilarious play Oh, Mary! for their Broadway run. The playlist that they play before the show is an absolute delight. I pulled the Cass Elliot song “Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By” and think it is the perfect song to wrap up my Bummer Summer playlist. 

With that inspiration, I am ready to welcome a new season and hoping this one has less chaos. In an election year? I know, wishful thinking. Bring it on. 

Remi Wolf - Cinderella 

SOPHIE featuring Bibi Bourelly - Exhilarate 

The Japanese House - :)

Clairo - Nomad 

Sabrina Carpenter - Slim Pickins 

Mo-Dettes - White Mice 

Hinds - En Forma 

Soho - Hippychick 

Tinashe - Nasty 

Frida - I Know There’s Something Going On 

Jessica Pratt - Life Is 

Cass Elliot - Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By 

xo

Julie