1) “That’s Not My Name” – The Ting Tings [5-20-09]. A sassy girl-tune by indie British pop duo insists on getting her name right. But what IS her name???
2) “Gunpowder” – Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears [3-17-09]. A big, boomin’ blues jam – you’re right there in the front row, shaking your money-maker – jammin’ with the boys from Austin, TX, who are behind the vintage blues and old school R&B. Who’s ready??
3) “Million Bucks” – Maino featuring Swizz Beats [6-30-09]. A feel-good rap track from forthcoming album – an I-wanna-give-away-a-million-bucks away – from Brooklyn rapper who’s made his name on the mix-tape circuit.
4) “Brothers” – Smashproof (lead single, yet to be released in US). Funky R&B single from New Zealand group, layering female vocals with hip-hop from debut album which refers to a recent controversial case in which a business man stabbed a teenage grafitti “tagger” to death.
5) “Successful” – Drake feat. Yung Chris and Trey Songz (promo single). An experimental new rap sound from Weezy protégé, Drake – a Toronto-born MC -- that pairs Kanye West-sounding raps against harmonic Trey Songz, all with an avant garde dissonant backbeat with poetic vibe.
6) “I’m The One” – Mary J. Blige feat. Drake [6-9-09]. The R&B Groove Goddess from The Bronx joins Drake’s rap to give it all she’s got, demanding that her boy stop lookin’ elsewhere.
7) “Sun Come Up” -- Baby & Rick Ross Featuring Glasses Malone [5-12-09]. An easy hip-hop collaboration led by a gritty Ross with Malone carrying the harmonious hook.
8) “Make Her Say” – Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West [6-9-09]. A star-packed, somewhat theatrical and typically off-tune hip-hop duet with Lady GaGa moving “Poker Face” as the background backbeat.
9) “Fences” – Phoenix [5-26-09]. Original alternative sound from French indie-rock band who recently gained pop cred a la SNL appearance.
10) “Major Tom” – Shiny Toy Guns [5-5-09]. A contemporary, sythn-pop electro-clash version of the David Bowie original from alternative group out of California.
11) “So Fine” – Sean Paul (leaked). Latest hit from Jamaican dancehall superstar features big, danceable beats and Paul’s signature vocals.
12) “Craigslist” – Weird Al Yankovic [6-16-09]. Weird Al jumps on today’s sordid headlines and comes up with this track, an Ode to Craig’s List, done a la The Doors.
13) “Back Again” – Reflection Eternal (unreleased). After a decade hiatus DJ Hi-Tek and Talib Kweli make spare, fringe poetry raps.
14) “Light My Fire” – Mr. Capone-e featuring Snoop Dogg [5-12-09]. An easy hip-hop duet by Chicano rapper out of Southern Cali teaming up with Big Snoop who brings on the star power.
15) “Fresh Blood” – Eels [6-2-09]. A delightfully frisky, hungry-like-the-wolf alt track from singular singer-song-writer, Mark Oliver Everett, from Virginia.
16) “Shadows” – Au Revoir Simone [5-19-09]. Contemporary-sounding track from Brooklyn indie-pop outfit features dreamy-sweet, female vocals.
17) “Life is Good” – DJ Deckstream feat. Mos Def [MySpace] – A positive message from Japan’s infamous DJ featuring easy duet hip-hop harmonies on top of melancholy jazz piano.
18) “All Up to You” – Aventura [6-9-09]. A danceable rural Dominican sound mixed with pop and hip-hop from Bronnx-based bachata group.
19) “One Red Thread” – Blind Pilot [6-9-09]. An earnest, indie acoustic rocker from duo out of Portland, Oregon.
20) “Good Girls Go Bad” – Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester [5-8-09]. A shameless pop, shout-it-out bash of a song by hard-to-resist NY band with minimal lyrics beyond “good girls go bad” – but summer starbound -- and a shout-out to NY GG -- Blair Waldorf!
21) “Don’t Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)” – Noisettes (un-released). A disco-flavored track by UK pop-rock band from their forthcoming sophomore album to be released this summer.
22) “Patron Tequila” – Paradiso Girls [5-12-09]. It’s all about being fu*#’ed up -- on patron, tequila, drunk on margaritas – and throwing up at the club as far as this all-girl-mamacitas pop R B band is concerned, led by Eve and with Lil Jon growling in the background.
23) “Quitter” – NOFX [4-28-09]. A short and stabbing punk track pointing the finger at The Quitter – no one likes you! -- by the outfit that formed out of Berkeley, CA, back in 1983.
24) “Virtual Diva” – Don Omar [4-28-09]. On this cross-over smash hit, the Puerto Rican king of Urban Latino radio does it all, combining reggaeton, dance, hip hop and pop.
25) “You’re Goin’ Down” – Sick Puppies [5-19-09]. Alternative rockers from Australia lay it on hard in this big sounding, riffing track.
26) “One Night Stand” – Divide the Night [4-29-09]. A hard rocker from southern California quintet that mixes Sunset Strip attitude with cowboy swagger and gets to the heart of the bed matter.
27) “Alleye Need” – Tanya Morgan [5-12-09]. A smart, fringe indie hip-hop track from [all-male] hip-hop group that came from a Cincinnati-Brooklyn internet music connection.
28) “War/No More Trouble” – Playing for Change [4-28-09]. A cover of the great Bob Marley track, done with a combination of fluid voices, simple guitar scales, bongos and even violin.
29) “Dancin’ On Me” – Jim Jones and Webstar [4-28-09]. Spare beast with simple synth, filled-in with a smattering of plain duo raps, ready for the grind.
30) “Diaraby Magni” – Vieux Farka Toure [5-26-09]. Enchanting contemporary dub reggae from distinctive Malian guitarist and rising West African star.
31) “One Day” – Matisyahu [leaked]. Typically classic reggae sound from Hasidic Jew out of West Chester, Pennsylvania.
32) “Fire” – Kasabian [6-5-09]. An alt-indie tune from Brit rock band who switches multiple gears in the course of just over 4 minutes.
33) “Califonia’s Burning” – Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women [5-26-09]. Cali roots rocker turns in a spirited rush of new folk and bluegrass-inspired tracks with big back-up from first-rate, all-female cast of groove goddesses.
34) “Dimestore Diamond” – The Gossip [6-23-09]. This alt-dance number – spare and gritty -- is a major label
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
RollnSmokeRecords Presents: The Best New Music Released in the Past 60 Days ...
1) “The Best Revenge” – Fischerspooner [4-21-09]. A danceable track with driving beats and vocals from the innovative New York electronica duo’s latest album.
2) “All I Really Want” – Rick Ross feat. The-Dream [4-21-09]. Ross is still rough but here he’s got flow as his hip-hop flows over a re-synthed disco sample.
3) “Heartless” -- The Fray [4-7-09]. Denver-based band churns out a more dramatic alt-indie cover of Kanye Wests’s pop hip-hop smash hit from last summer.
4) “Fences” – Phoenix [5-26-09]. Original alternative sound from French indie-rock band who recently gained pop cred a la recent SNL appearance.
5) “Major Tom” – Shiny Toy Guns [5-5-09]. A contemporary, sythn-pop electro-clash version of the David Bowie original from alternative group out of California.
6) “I’ve Got Friends” – Manchester Orchestra [4-21-09]. A harder indie-rock sound from young band out of Atlanta.
7) “So Fine” – Sean Paul (leaked). Latest hit from Jamaican dancehall superstar features big, danceable beats and Paul’s signature vocals.
8) “Shadows” – Au Revoir Simone [5-19-09]. Contemporary-sounding track from Brooklyn indie-pop outfit features dreamy-sweet, female vocals.
9) “Panic Switch” – Silversun PickUps [4-14-09]. A heavy-rocker with a boomin’ bass line featuring Brian Aubert’s vocals from the Los Angeles-based rock quartet.
10) “69 Faces of Love” – King Khan and the Shrines [4-21-09]. A retro-sounding band that rocks a psychedelic R&B sound.
... the Best of the Rest ...
11) “Aint No Rest for the Wicked” – Cage the Elephant [4-13-09]. With initial chart success in England, this indie-alt rock band is actually from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and this is the lead track from their self-titled debut album.
12) “French Navy” – Camera Obscura [4-20-09]. A retro-sounding alternative track with a pop sensibility from the sextet from Glasgow, Scotland.
13) “Life is Good” – DJ Deckstream feat. Mos Def [MySpace] – A positive message from Japan’s infamous DJ featuring easy duet hip-hop harmonies on top of melancholy jazz piano.
14) “Good Girls Go Bad” – Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester [5-8-09]. A shameless, pop, shout-it-out bash of a song by hard-to-resist NY band with minimal lyrics beyond “good girls go bad” – but summer starbound -- and a shout-out to NY GG -- Blair Waldorf!
15) “Don’t Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)” – Noisettes (un-released). A disco-flavored track by UK pop-rock band from their forthcoming sophomore album to be released this summer.
16) “Patron Tequila” – Paradiso Girls [5-12-09]. It’s all about being fu*#’ed up -- on patron, tequila, drunk on margaritas – and throwing up at the club as far as this all-girl-mamacitas pop R & B band is concerned, led by Eve and with Lil Jon growling in the background.
17) “Houses” – Great Northern [4-14-09]. Lead single from alternative group’s newly-released sophomore album features electric guitar and rockin’ Liz-Pahir-like vocals by keyboardist Rachel Stolte.
18) “Hey You” -- 311 [4-12-09]. The first track off latest album extols virtue of music-as-friend from band out of Omaha, Nebraska, who traditionally mix reggae with rap-metal.
19) “Help, I’m a Alive” – Metric [4-14-09]. A pop-rock, new-wave sounding lead track from the Canadian quartet’s latest album with new wave, Blondie-like vocals a la Emily Haines from Broken Social Scene.
20) “Quitter” – NOFX [4-28-09]. A short and stabbing punk track pointing the finger at The Quitter – no one likes you! -- by the outfit that formed out of Berkeley, CA, back in 1983.
21) “Chillin’” – Wale featuring Lady Gaga [4-18-09]. From the self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Rap for The Capital” (pronounced Wall-ay) teams up with a very-M.I.A.-sounding Lady GaGa for a hip-hop track plastered over na,na,na,na, hey-hey, good-bye.
22) “Virtual Diva” – Don Omar [4-28-09]. On this cross-over smash hit, the Puerto Rican king of Urban Latino radio does it all, combining reggaeton, dance, hip hop and pop.
23) “Say It” – Blue October [3-24-09]. An honest, hard-rocker that gets to the heart of pride and a relationship gone sour from alt-rock Texas quintet.
24) “You’re Goin’ Down” – Sick Puppies [5-19-09]. Alternative rockers from Australia lay in on hard in this big sounding, riffing track.
25) “Mercy Angel” – Brian Blade [4-21-09]. Jazz musicina from Louisiana – drummer, singer-songwriter and bandleader – is behind beautiful, soulful mellow track from his latest album.
26) “War/No More Trouble” – Playing for Change [4-28-09]. A cover of the great Bob Marley track, done with a combination of fluid voices, simple guitar scales, bongos and even violin.
27) “Be By Myself” – Asher Roth feat. Cee-Lo [4-20-09]. Asher Roth is still the self-lovin’ college stoner who’s taking rap for spin but with the help of Cee Lo & friends, this track from his debut album actually grooves soul.
28) “Sea of Tears” – Eilen Jewell [4-21-09]. Rising Boston singer-songwriter blends rootsy folk rock and blues on the title track of her newest album.
29) “Dancin’ On Me” – Jim Jones and Webstar [4-28-09]. Spare beat with simple synth, filled in with plain duo raps, ready for
2) “All I Really Want” – Rick Ross feat. The-Dream [4-21-09]. Ross is still rough but here he’s got flow as his hip-hop flows over a re-synthed disco sample.
3) “Heartless” -- The Fray [4-7-09]. Denver-based band churns out a more dramatic alt-indie cover of Kanye Wests’s pop hip-hop smash hit from last summer.
4) “Fences” – Phoenix [5-26-09]. Original alternative sound from French indie-rock band who recently gained pop cred a la recent SNL appearance.
5) “Major Tom” – Shiny Toy Guns [5-5-09]. A contemporary, sythn-pop electro-clash version of the David Bowie original from alternative group out of California.
6) “I’ve Got Friends” – Manchester Orchestra [4-21-09]. A harder indie-rock sound from young band out of Atlanta.
7) “So Fine” – Sean Paul (leaked). Latest hit from Jamaican dancehall superstar features big, danceable beats and Paul’s signature vocals.
8) “Shadows” – Au Revoir Simone [5-19-09]. Contemporary-sounding track from Brooklyn indie-pop outfit features dreamy-sweet, female vocals.
9) “Panic Switch” – Silversun PickUps [4-14-09]. A heavy-rocker with a boomin’ bass line featuring Brian Aubert’s vocals from the Los Angeles-based rock quartet.
10) “69 Faces of Love” – King Khan and the Shrines [4-21-09]. A retro-sounding band that rocks a psychedelic R&B sound.
... the Best of the Rest ...
11) “Aint No Rest for the Wicked” – Cage the Elephant [4-13-09]. With initial chart success in England, this indie-alt rock band is actually from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and this is the lead track from their self-titled debut album.
12) “French Navy” – Camera Obscura [4-20-09]. A retro-sounding alternative track with a pop sensibility from the sextet from Glasgow, Scotland.
13) “Life is Good” – DJ Deckstream feat. Mos Def [MySpace] – A positive message from Japan’s infamous DJ featuring easy duet hip-hop harmonies on top of melancholy jazz piano.
14) “Good Girls Go Bad” – Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester [5-8-09]. A shameless, pop, shout-it-out bash of a song by hard-to-resist NY band with minimal lyrics beyond “good girls go bad” – but summer starbound -- and a shout-out to NY GG -- Blair Waldorf!
15) “Don’t Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)” – Noisettes (un-released). A disco-flavored track by UK pop-rock band from their forthcoming sophomore album to be released this summer.
16) “Patron Tequila” – Paradiso Girls [5-12-09]. It’s all about being fu*#’ed up -- on patron, tequila, drunk on margaritas – and throwing up at the club as far as this all-girl-mamacitas pop R & B band is concerned, led by Eve and with Lil Jon growling in the background.
17) “Houses” – Great Northern [4-14-09]. Lead single from alternative group’s newly-released sophomore album features electric guitar and rockin’ Liz-Pahir-like vocals by keyboardist Rachel Stolte.
18) “Hey You” -- 311 [4-12-09]. The first track off latest album extols virtue of music-as-friend from band out of Omaha, Nebraska, who traditionally mix reggae with rap-metal.
19) “Help, I’m a Alive” – Metric [4-14-09]. A pop-rock, new-wave sounding lead track from the Canadian quartet’s latest album with new wave, Blondie-like vocals a la Emily Haines from Broken Social Scene.
20) “Quitter” – NOFX [4-28-09]. A short and stabbing punk track pointing the finger at The Quitter – no one likes you! -- by the outfit that formed out of Berkeley, CA, back in 1983.
21) “Chillin’” – Wale featuring Lady Gaga [4-18-09]. From the self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Rap for The Capital” (pronounced Wall-ay) teams up with a very-M.I.A.-sounding Lady GaGa for a hip-hop track plastered over na,na,na,na, hey-hey, good-bye.
22) “Virtual Diva” – Don Omar [4-28-09]. On this cross-over smash hit, the Puerto Rican king of Urban Latino radio does it all, combining reggaeton, dance, hip hop and pop.
23) “Say It” – Blue October [3-24-09]. An honest, hard-rocker that gets to the heart of pride and a relationship gone sour from alt-rock Texas quintet.
24) “You’re Goin’ Down” – Sick Puppies [5-19-09]. Alternative rockers from Australia lay in on hard in this big sounding, riffing track.
25) “Mercy Angel” – Brian Blade [4-21-09]. Jazz musicina from Louisiana – drummer, singer-songwriter and bandleader – is behind beautiful, soulful mellow track from his latest album.
26) “War/No More Trouble” – Playing for Change [4-28-09]. A cover of the great Bob Marley track, done with a combination of fluid voices, simple guitar scales, bongos and even violin.
27) “Be By Myself” – Asher Roth feat. Cee-Lo [4-20-09]. Asher Roth is still the self-lovin’ college stoner who’s taking rap for spin but with the help of Cee Lo & friends, this track from his debut album actually grooves soul.
28) “Sea of Tears” – Eilen Jewell [4-21-09]. Rising Boston singer-songwriter blends rootsy folk rock and blues on the title track of her newest album.
29) “Dancin’ On Me” – Jim Jones and Webstar [4-28-09]. Spare beat with simple synth, filled in with plain duo raps, ready for
Thursday, June 4, 2009
RollnSmoke Reviews: THE BOSTONIANS
THE BOSTONIANS by Henry James (MacMillan, 1886).
Written during James’ “Middle Period,” this story centers on an unlikely love triangle between Olive Chancellor – a spinster Bostonian “nihilist radical” -- who befriends young and charming Verena Tarrant who sports a “mystic faculty” to speak on behalf of the cause of Women’s Emancipation. Along comes Basil Ransom, a Post-Civil War Mississippian without means, who moves to NYC and interferes with Olive’s plan to keep Verena “in the single sisterhood; to keep her, above all, for herself.” Told from a vague first person omniscient narrator, the story is dated, the language often drawn-out (“farinaceous,” “lucubrations,” “pusillanimous”) and the drama somewhat redundant. Ultimately, given Verena’s independent nature and Basil’s chauvinism, the pairing is improbable (6.5/10).
Written during James’ “Middle Period,” this story centers on an unlikely love triangle between Olive Chancellor – a spinster Bostonian “nihilist radical” -- who befriends young and charming Verena Tarrant who sports a “mystic faculty” to speak on behalf of the cause of Women’s Emancipation. Along comes Basil Ransom, a Post-Civil War Mississippian without means, who moves to NYC and interferes with Olive’s plan to keep Verena “in the single sisterhood; to keep her, above all, for herself.” Told from a vague first person omniscient narrator, the story is dated, the language often drawn-out (“farinaceous,” “lucubrations,” “pusillanimous”) and the drama somewhat redundant. Ultimately, given Verena’s independent nature and Basil’s chauvinism, the pairing is improbable (6.5/10).
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