The January Playlist

Unknown to everyone, I create a monthly playlist and have done since January 2013. I thought I'd share these with the world from this month onwards.

January is a reflective month and, post holidays, can be solemn so my selection is mostly soulful, acoustic, and great to stay in and write/read to. I also found a few alternative covers to old school pop songs, which I've really enjoyed over the holidays.

On the new music scene, listen to Tennyson's With You. They're a electronic duo from Canada and they include some jazz, which makes it a very versatile track. I can see it at a party yet here I am listening to it at home alone.

My favourite of the covers has to be the Springsteen cover by Ruth Moody. She is the anti-Springsteen and that makes this cover a completely different entity to the original. Take away those rumbustious drums and that eighties synth, spruce it up with a perky violin and a plucky guitar, soften those beautiful lyrics with a soothing female vocalist and it is a great version, almost unrecognisable and worth a listen.

On the artist watch, look out for Novo Amor. From our own shores, Ali Lacey (as he's really known) is being labelled the British Bon Iver. His vocals are definitely comparable in style to those of Justin Vernon, but in complete musical terms, I would say he is halfway between the aforementioned Bon Iver and Kodaline. My outlandish prediction therefore is that, when he releases a full length album, it could replicate Kodaline's mainstream success of In a Perfect World, featuring in the UK Top 5 Albums.

The Playlist

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) Sleeping At Last (originally The Proclaimers)
The Well Imaginary Future
Glimpse of a Time Broken Twin
We All Die Trying to Get It Right Vance Joy
Brandy Alexander Feist
Red Daniel Merriweather
From Gold Novo Amor
Ancient Light Allman Brown
Candle in the Wind Ed Sheeran (originally by Elton John)
At Moment's Grace Boy & Bear
Meet Me There Nick Mulvey
Vanishing Act Early Winters
Faux Novo Amor & Ed Tullett
Dancing in the Dark Ruth Moody (originally by Bruce Springsteen)
Coffee Sylvan Esso
Heart Skipped a Beat The xx
How Long Will I Love You Ellie Goulding (originally by The Waterboys)
With You Tennyson
To Build A Home The Cinematic Orchestra
Rewind Paolo Nutini
Vapour Vancouver Sleep Clinic
Stay Alive Jose Gonzalez
Higher Love James Vincent McMorrow (orignally by Steve Winwood & Chaka Khan)
Mexico The Staves
Calendar Girl Stars
Song for Zula Phosphorescent
Run Steve Moakler
22 Night Beds
All I Want Dawn Golden
The Great Exhale Great Lake Swimmers
Here With Me Susie Suh
My Old Friend Sam Amidon
Will You Daniel Wilson
Song For You Alexi Murdoch
1000 Years Liza Anne
I Don't Blame You Cat Powers
Small Things Ben Howard
It Must Have Been Love Kathleen Edwards (originally by Roxette)
Mushaboom Feist
You're The One That I Want Angus & Julia Stone (originally from Grease)
Another Love Tom Odell
Your Song Ellie Goulding (originally by Elton John)
Smother Daughter

If you have Google Play Music Unlimited, you can find the playlist here.