RollnSmokeRecords Presents: Best Songs Released in Past 60 Days

1) “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.

2) “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.

3) “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???

4) “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.

5) “Mama Do” – Pixie Lott [6-8-09 in UK]. Keep an eye out for this emerging young siren out of the UK – forthcoming album called TURN IT UP -- in the vein of Amy Winehouse and Duffy, with a rich, bold, ballad-worthy voice. Of note: The Linus Love Mix of tise song is particularly cool in a club-electronica way.

6) “Fences” – Phoenix [5-26-09]. Original alternative sound from French indie-rock band who recently gained pop cred a la SNL appearance.

7) “So Fine” – Sean Paul (5-26-09). Latest hit from Jamaican dancehall superstar features big, danceable beats and Paul’s signature vocals.

8) “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.

9) “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.

10) “Back Again” – Reflection Eternal (unreleased). After a decade hiatus DJ Hi-Tek and Talib Kweli make spare, fringe poetry raps.

11) “Feel Like Taking You Home” – Brendan Benson [to be released 8-18-09]. The sinbger/songwriter and member of the Raconteurs delivers an alt-rock solo set on Dave Matthews’ record label.

12) “Pale Horses” – Moby [6-30-09]. Also released as an EP in advance of his latest album, this lead track is a short, sulky, mellow number with farmed-out female vocals and familiar haunting repetition that is all Moby.

13) “Periodically Double or Triple” – Yo La Tengo [leaked]. Kooky and retro-sounding issue with groovy organs and smooth percussion from one of indie’s longest-running, most beloved acts.

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) “That Look you Give that Guy” – Eels [6-2-09]. A lot like the 70’s track “Alone Again, Naturally,” this pitiful ballad is irresistible.

16) “Dimestore Diamond” – The Gossip [6-23-09]. This alt-dance number – spare and gritty -- is a major label debut for this indie garage band.

17) “Shadows” – Au Revoir Simone [5-19-09]. Contemporary-sounding track from Brooklyn indie-pop outfit features dreamy-sweet, female vocals.

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) “One Day” – Matisyahu [to be released 8-29-09]. Typically classic reggae sound from Hasidic Jew out of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

21) “It’s Alright” – 311 [6-2-09]. An easy, listing pop track from the band out of Seattle with big, encouraging choruses and electric guitars shot through with a distant reggae motif.

22) “Paradise Cove” – Pete Yorn [6-23-09]. With his most recent album produced by Rick Rubin, Pete Yorn’s got his game back, especially on this pretty, primarily-acoustic, bossa-nova-like track.

23) “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.

24) “You’re Goin’ Down” – Sick Puppies [5-19-09]. Alternative rockers from Australia lay it on hard in this big sounding, riffing track.

The Following Tracks are Among the Best Tracks Released in the Past 60 Days but are currently unavailable on Playlist.com …

1) “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 man stop lookin’ elsewhere.

2) “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.

3) “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.

4) “Auditorium” – Mos Def [6-09-09]. Gritty, underground hip-hop that’s really musical stream-of-consciousness but at the same time pulls off a curious and compelling harmony.

5) “Diaraby Magni” – Vieux Farka Toure [5-26-09]. Enchanting contemporary dub reggae from distinctive Malian guitarist and rising West African star.

6) “Listen to the Darkside” – Charlie Mars [6-9-09]. A pretty and simple song -- as the refrain suggests -- “if you want to come over, come over and get high, and listen to ‘The Dark Side of the Moon.’” And why not? With this handsome crooner who sings rock-soul (think Jason Mraz) from Oxford, Mississippi.

7) “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.

8) “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.

9) “The Sufferer” – The Aggrolites [6-9-09]. Good, contemporary, dirty-reggae-ska from seasoned group out of L.A.