1) “She Wolf” – Shakira [7-10-09]. A huffing, howling, dangerous, shameless pop tune, warning about the she-wolf in your closet! -- by Columbian-born, very game Latina. Yoowwwwwoooooooo -- You go, girl.
2) “Feel Like Taking You Home” – Brendan Benson [to be released 8-18-09]. The singer/songwriter from Nashville and member of the Raconteurs delivers an alt-rock solo set on Dave Matthews’ record label.
3) “True No. Bo. 9 Blues (True Romance)” – Golden Silvers [7-7-09]. A big retro, grooving, organ-backed sound with jazzy percussions from Londoner’s debut album.
4) “Million Dollar Bill” – Whitney Houston [8-31-09]. In classic Whitney-diva fashion, the lady lays an easy dance groove down on this lead track from her latest comeback album.
5) “She’s Got You High” – Mumm-Ra [7-10-09] Included on the “500 Days of Summer Soundtrack,” this well-formed alt-indie song gets you boppin’ your to the pop-hook, from now- defunct group of England.
6) “Hold My Hand (I’ll Be There)” – Sean Paul featuring Keri Hilson [8-18-09]. An easy R&B duet featuring the dancehall king from Jamaica with streaming harmonies and an upbeat refrain.
7) “I and Love and You” – The Avett Brothers [7-7-09]. Reportedly Rick Rubin’s favorite new band, these North Carolina brothers play hard-to-resist old school in this mellow, alt-folk ballad, which is pretty and full of angst.
8) “Celebration” – Madonna [7-21-09]. The Queen Diva of Pop comes out with guns loaded on this clubby track from her forthcoming Best of Album.
9) “Party in the USA” – Miley Cyrus[8-11-09]. The Queen of teen-pop belts out an irresistible, upbeat pop track stepping out in LA from Nashville.
10) “Million Bucks” – Maino featuring Swizz Beats [6-30-09]. A feel-good rap track from latest album – an I-wanna-give-away-a-million-bucks away – from Brooklyn rapper who’s made his name on the mix-tape circuit.
11) “Wanted” – Jessie James [5-12-09]. A female pop-rocker – twangy, and on the verge of country – but holding her own with big guitar and a come-hither refrain.
12) “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.
13) “Heads Will Roll” – Yeah, Yeah Yeahs [7-14-09]. A new favorite in the dance club scene (and therefore with a litter of re-mixes!) with a big, pulsing beat by garage rock revival band out of New York City urging dance, dance, dance til you’re dead.
14) “It Don’t Move Me” – Peter Bjorn and John [7-21-09]. A spare, electro- indie pop EP from Swedish trio.
15) “Shining Down” – Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos [7-7-09]. The lead single from his forthcoming album is a slightly different sound for Chicago-based Muslim hip-hop MC which adds a twist of rock in with the R&B.
16) “Whiskey Hangover” – Godsmack [6-30-09]. You’ve got to go in for the harder alt-metal rock, but if you can, then hold on to your socks! This guy is partying and you’d better get out of his way because he’s alright with his whiskey hangover.
17) “Dirty Robot” – The Lemonheads featuring Kate Moss [6-23-09]. An abstract, somewhat punk cover from post-Hukser Du rock band out of Boston.
18) “Back Again” – Reflection Eternal (unreleased). After a decade hiatus DJ Hi-Tek and Talib Kweli make spare, fringe poetry raps.
19) “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.
20) “No Other Love” – John Legend featuring Estelle [7-3-09]. Legend’s smooth groovin’ soul sound slides over a reggae-like background with Estelle’s backup.
21) “First Train Home” – Imogen Heap [8-25-09]. The opening track/lead single from her new album is the best shot yet for the Lady Brit to achieve radio play and is full and pretty and mellow.
22) “Vanilla Twilight” – Owl City [7-28-09]. A sweet, easy track with young, hopeful, idealistic vocals by Minnesota electronica project.
23) “Halleluja” -- The Killer and the Star [7-14-09]. An eerie track with electrified vocals from debut alt-rock band out of Jacksonville, Florida.
24) “Manos Al Aire” – Nelly Furtado [6-30-09]. The new, alt-rock-sounding (and less R&B) lead single by beautiful Canadian rock star from forthcoming all-Spanish language album.
25) “Girls Were Made to Love” – Sugar Ray [7-21-0-9]. Plain reggae set against a 50’s-sounding melody proclaiming that girls, girls, girls were made for love.
26) “One Day” – Matisyahu [to be released 8-29-09]. Typically classic reggae sound from Hasidic Jew out of West Chester, Pennsylvania.
27) “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.
28) “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.
29) “Dimestore Diamond” – The Gossip [6-23-09]. This alt-dance number – spare and gritty -- is a major label debut for this indie garage band.
30) “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.
...The Following Tracks are Among the Best Tracks Released in the Past 60 Days but are currently unavailable on Playlist.com …
1) “She Ain’t Got Shit on Me” – LeToya Luckett [to be released 8/4/09]. A girl-power R&B dance track, ruff on edge, just needing to know about this chick “who’s all that” from 1/3 of Destiny’s Child.
2) “Lagerfeld Lady” – Fritz Helder and The Phantoms [7-6-09]. Part of the Dance Club tracks scene, this off-beat, quirky number from Canadian collective has been released on the new Best of Album and is sure get your groove on.
3) “Ecstasy” – JJ [7-1-09]. Ripping addictive threads from Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” and Will Smith’s “Miami,” Swedish electronic act JJ extols the virtues of club drug scene in this haunting, atmospheric track.
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) “First Time” -- Josh X-An-Tus [7-14-09]. Sweet, spare love ballad off forthcoming debut album from emerging, young R&B artist – native New Yorker, Julliard-trained – discover this fresh, new voice.
6) “Me Fui” – BeBe [6-30-09] With a gravelly voice that slides across easy guitar and percussion, this Spanish-born alternative Latina offers up an original groove.
7) “Kandi” – One eskimO [7-14-09]. A mellow, pretty lost-love lament from new Brit-indie, Tori Amos opener-band.
8) “On Vacation” – Aimee Allen [6-23-09]. Suspiciously like “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” this light pop-rock track makes for a footloose and carefree break-up by a versatile new singer out of Montana.
9) “Be the One” – Jack Penate [8-18-09]. With a Cure-like sound and full of Philly-soul, this British R&B rocker lays it on in this lead single from his latest album.
10) “Moonlight” – Rebelation [8-4-09]. A slow, romantic pop-reggae love song from laid-back, beach groovers out of Santa Barbara, California.
11) “I Ain’t Hidin’” – Black Crowes [to be released 9/1/09]. A great vintage-Rolling-Stones-like-rock number, heavy on guitar riffs and packed with roaring vocals by Chris Robinson.
12) “All of the Pleasures of the World” – The Crayon Fields (yet to be released in US). From forthcoming sophomore album to be released in September by Melbourne indie-pop group, this song moves a mellow flow with plain broad groove-appeal.
13) “Shark in the Water” – V.V. Brown [7-13-09 in UK]. The modelesque English singer-songwriter releases upbeat, pop lead single off debut set by on Island Records label.
