The songs that Al submitted this month had a theme. Phoebe’s songs largely (and unwittingly) fell into the same theme. And the eleven songs that ended up in the playlist this month are very much about… ambition. What do you think?
Show notes from our March 2024 Spotify Podcast:
We started with Phoebe’s ten submissions and Al’s ten submissions, but our finished, 11-song playlist is put in an order that we think makes sense musically. Which is not same same order that we pick the songs during the picking ceremony heard during our podcast.
Song notes (Quotes are from song lyrics):
- “You got the answer, and it makes me glad, when I’m feeling slow, you gimme rock ‘n roll, and then I feel laid back”
Labi Siffre is a Phoebe find – and quite a find he is. We hope you love the groove of “I Got The…” as much as we do! - “If you ever wanna search for better days, well I, I think you should, I think you should.”
Christopher Paul Stelling is another new find this month. He’s a fantastic guitar player, and we love the positive lyrics in “Better Days”. - “May you find your river, may it take you all the way, may it whisper all the little things I couldn’t say”
Humbird is one of Al’s finds this month. Siri Undlin has a hypnotic voice that deserves a lot of attention. - “Part of me’s still trying to figure out who I want to be”
Son Of The Velvet Rat is a so-called “folk noir” band from Austria. They’re teaming up here with our old friend Jolie Holland on their song “Rosary”. - “I’ve been wishing things had been different, but I guess the cards, they fall the way they’re meant”
We’ve submitted Valerie June to our playlist a few times before, but “Call Me A Fool” is the first time she’s gotten in. We love her vocal style and presence. - “You’ve got great hips, I’ve been shaking ever since”
No playlist whose theme is “ambition” should be without Black Country, New Road. They’re back for their third appearance with us with “Track X”. - “Dusk is dead, the sun gone down, Danny’s boy lies in the ground, guitar on the dead boy’s chest, the devil’s granted last request”
We’re very happy to have the Calexico and Iron & Wine collaboration, “Red Dust”, in our playlist. We always love collaborations like this! - “I wanna break your heart, I wanna break your head, so I guess this means we can’t be friends”
This month had a lot of really fun and talented newcomers. Lorene Scafaria’s “We Can’t Be Friends” is a smart and thoughtful song, and we hope we hear more from her. - “We all have dreams we forget, When you’re alone, you’re so alone”
Dark Dark Dark is one of Al’s favorite new bands he’s found for the playlist, and Phoebe had them on her radar as well. You’ll likely be hearing more from this band in the future. - “I love you, forgive me, my suitcase is empty, I lost all the things that I am, like kissing you tenderly, right off the highway, the back of a gold Astrovan”
Anna Tivel’s “Astrovan” is another fun newcomer to our playlist. Al used to drive a gold astrovan too, so this song feels very comfortable to have parked in the driveway. - “Outside I look lived in, like the bones in a shrine, how am I forgiven, O’ I’ll give it time”
We have a long-term love and respect for Wilco, and “One Sunday Morning” is among their most beautiful and compelling tunes.
Both our Spotify playlist and our podcast are updated and released around the first of each month. We’re recorded monthly in the warm and cozy hug of the OML Studios in lovely downtown Manchester, Richmond, Virginia.
Thanks to Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for help in recording this month. Theme music is from “Red Eye” by E’s Jammy Jams, accordion music by Andrew Huang. Country Butter by Blue Dot Sessions. Golden Grass by Blue Dot Sessions. Our Only Lark by Blue Dot Sessions. Basketliner by Blue Dot Sessions. Lumber Down by Blue Dot Sessions.
Featured image: Our bosses, probably discussing whether or not we have a future with the company.
If you have questions or suggestions, please drop us an email.
See you next month!
