The Best New Tracks Released in the Past 60 Days

1. “Beggin’” – Madcon [1-13-09]. A previously released R&B track by hip-hop group that perfectly blends pop with rap for prime danceability.

2. “Feel It” – DJ Felli Fel feat. T-Pain, Sean Paul, Flo Rida and Pitbull [2-10-09]. A monster line-up of hip-hop stars showcase their collaborative talent on this big sounding club banger.

3. “Jailer” -- Asa [1-27-09]. A smooth and modern fusion of R&B, soul and African jazz from siren out of Nigeria.

4. “I Don’t Know” – Lisa Hannigan [2-3-09]. A spare, pretty and simple song featuring melt-your-heart vocals from former Damien Rice side-kick.

5. “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” – Pitbull [2-24-09]. Dance-able, hippity-hop backbeat, along with the sing-along “uno, dos, tres quarto”lyrics charges this track from Cuban-American-emcee rapper.

6. “So Human” – Lady Sovereign [2009]. A rip on the cult classic alt-rock tune form the 80’s, done by sassy Brit rapper.

7. “I Love College” – Asher Roth [1-13-09]. A white boy rap applauding the indulgences of sex, drug, drinking and rock and roll that goes down in college.

8. “Airstream Driver” – Gomez [3-2-09]. A highly-textured alt-rock single singing the praises of the big rig girl driver a la the Brit guitar band from North England.

9. “The Hazards of Love” – The Decemberists [3-24-09]. The title track from the forthcoming album features dramatic vocals with acoustic background for a sweeping “folk opera-like” narrative track.

10. “ABC’s” – K’naan [1-27-09]. Punchy and aware, this hip-hop track by rising Somalia-born star is filled with old school backbeat -- raps traded with Chubb Rock -- and a big back-up chorus.

...THE BEST OF THE REST…

11. “Boom Boom Pow” – Black Eyed Peas [to be released June 9]. The lead single from their forthcoming album is eerily spare, clubby and synthed-R&B featuring Will.i.Am and Fergie vocals in ways you’ve never heard before.

12. “Day Dreaming’” – DJ Drama feat. Akon and Snoop Dogg [1-12-09]. Akon and Snoop Dogg (-- one version includes T.I. as well! -- ) carry the tune for this underground hip-hop track that features a “g” who ponders his fantasy girl, a go-go dancer.

13. “You Can Get it All” – Bow Wow featuring Johnta Austin [unreleased]. An easy R&B track, over a groovin’ backbeat with big vibrato background vocals.

14. “Dreamgirl” – Tay Dizm featuring Akon [1-9-09] Another clean R&B pop single with Akon carrying the fluffy melody and “Nappy Boy” making punctuating cameos.

15. “Black Velvet” – Ferry Corsten [1-27-09]. One of the founding fathers of Dutch trance launches this clubby melodramatic electro-dance track with comic-strip-character female vocals.

16. “Brandy of the Damned” – Nickel Eye [1-17-09]. Nikolai Fraiture, bassist from The Strokes, works his guitar through a repetitive pub rock refrain “Don’t Let Them Get you Down, They’ll Step on you to Get to Higher Ground.”

17. “No Line on the Horizon” – U2 [3-3-09]. The lead track from the newest album from a la The Boys from Ireland is heavy on the arena-sounding guitar and Bono’s bigger-than-life vocals.

18. “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” – Morrissey [1-20-09]. More than anything, it’s good to hear from Morrissey again – on this hit single from his forthcoming album -- flinging and repetitive, but upbeat.

19. “The Heartbreak Rides” – A.C. Newman [1-20-09]. From the prolific musician of New Pornographers fame, this solo effort fully embraces the indie alternative genre with dueling guitars and shared harmonies.

20. “From the Hips” – Cursive [3-10-09]. Typical of this indie band’s varying tempos, moods and style, this track swings from lilting opening to rocking meat-in-the-sandwich.

21. “Walking on a Dream” – Empire of the Sun [un-released]. Aussie duo pumps out an upbeat electro-charged pop dance tune.

22. “Blood Bank” – Bon Iver [1-20-09]. Wisconsin troubadour Justin Vernon’s easy vocals and mellow acoustic guitar mark his sophomore solo effort.

23. “Wake Up” (Afro – Fantabulous Mix) – Beef Wellington with Eugene Snowden, Swamburger from OPEN Remix, benefiting IntraHealth OPEN (2009). Swirling with tropical percussion and horns and yummy guitars, alive with soulful vocals and lyrics from the Orlando native.

24. “37 Stitches Acoustic Demo” or “Shame” – Drowning Pool [3-3-09]. A kitty-cocktail dose of this alt-metal group’s usual butt-kicking, but a palatable, gritty acoustic rocker nonetheless.

25. “Sugar Lee” – Damon Fowler [1-27-09]. The kind of song that fills up the dance floor and brims with electric blues jams.

26. “The Power of One (Change the World)” – Israel Houghton [3-24-09]. An inspiring contemporary Christian track from this southwest soul singer who’s gone solo from his group New Breed on his forthcoming album.

27. “Unreachable” – John Frusciante [1-20-09]. An almost-eerie, moody psychedelic indie track from Red Hot Chili Pepper rocker.

28. “Heartbroken, in Disrepair” -- Dan Auerbach [2-10-09]. – Big electric bluesey-rocker; a solo effort from Black Keys frontman.

29. “The Future’s Nothing New” – The Alternate Routes [2-10-09]. Heavy on the electric guitar and slightly repetitive, but a solid alt-rock number from this foursome out of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

30. “Block Party” – Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes feat. Shawty-Lo [1-27-09]. From her final album – EYE LEGACY -- before her tragic death in 2002 and only now released in the U.S., this track is re-worked and retro-fitted with the help of Lil Mama.

31. “Like a Hobo” – Charlie Winston [leaked in U.S., 2-2009]. British singer-song-writer is breaking through in France with the title track of his new blues-soul-pop album HOBO.

32. “How Your Heart is Wired” – Bell X1 [3-3-09]. Smooth and mellow vocals overlaid on electro-synth backdrop from indie Irish rock quartet.

33. “Bare Bones” – Madeleine Peyroux [3-10-09]. The mellow title track to her cover-free newest album shows off this French-American singer’s rootsy, jazz-influenced adult pop skillz.

34. “When She’s Near” – Fiction Family [1-20-09]. A short and sweet vocal-acoustic debut from Switchfoot singer Jon Foreman and Nickelcreek guitarist Sean Watkins.

35. “No You Girls” – Franz Ferdinand [1-24-09]. A catchy dirty pop track from the post-punk Glasgow quartet.