About This Site
Each month I select 20 songs (10 songs twice a month) that I am either hooked on or am curious about. Most of the music I select are rock, hip-hop, R&B and pop songs.
My song selection comes from 20-30 CDs I get from various sources each month, as well as recommendations from iTunes and Amazon. I also check out the charts in US, UK and Japan.
Alex Gaudino is an Italian DJ that cleverly mashed up the vocals from Crystal Waters’ song “Destination Unknown” (2004), and the addictive saxophone sampling from Danish DJ Rune RK’s “Calabria” (2003). This mash up track reached #4 in UK.
Personally, this song isn’t as good as her first single, “You Know I’m No Good” but this song is becoming a bigger hit. I can see that as it is really catchy and it seems like going to rehab is “in” for a lot of celebrities nowadays.
The 21 year old rapper from New Orleans, Baby Boy Da Prince’s debut album, Across the Water was released last month. The album was produced by Mannie Fresh. The track is a little slow, but the beat is catchy and gets stuck in your head.
Beyonce is re-releasing her album, B’day as a deluxe edition with a few new tracks, and this is one of them. When you get the biggest star in North America and South America together, you would expect a really awesome song, but this one just lacks something. At least the video is hot.
I have never heard of this band before until I learned that my new favorite band, The Fratellis was opening up for them. It’s not very often that I know the opening band, but not the main act, but after checking out their albums, I kind of liked it. This song is from their fourth album, Baby 81.
I know it’s still early, but so far Bone Thug’s new album, Strength & Loyalty is one of the best hip-hop album of the year. It’s been five years since their last release and they have definitely matured more as artists. “I Tried” is their lead off single from the album, featuring Akon, but the rest of the album is also worth checking out.
“Well Enough Alone” is a first single from Chevelle’s fourth album, Vena Sera, which just came out earlier this month. I liked their second album, Wonder What’s Next, which contained a hit single, “Send the Pain Below” but wasn’t a huge fan of their third album, This Type of Thinking. I think this album is better than their last one.
I’m not really digging Ciara’s new album, The Evolution that came out late last year. It feels slower tempo than her debut album, which had more hip-hop influence. I like the violin sampling on this song, but it still lacks something compared to her other hits like “Goodies”.
The Cinematics are a Scottish band. I learned of them through iTunes free single of the week. Their debut album, A Strange Education (same name as the single) came out earlier last month.
This is one of those songs that it a hit in a club for a few months and it will disappear and in two years nobody will remember it. With that said, Crime Mob consists of four rappers (two males and two females). The production has the dirty south feel to it as they are from Atlanta.
Fergie already has three hit singles from her debut solo album, The Dutchess. Like her lead off single, “London Bridge” this single has also reached #1 on Billboard Hot 100.
Maybe J-Lo should sing in Spanish all the time. She is not known for being a good singer, but on this song, she actually sounds pretty decent. J-Lo released all Spanish album, Como Ama Una Mujer last month. With my limited Spanish skill from a couple of years in highschool, I can’t really understand what she’s singing, but I feel something, which probably means J-Lo is doing a decent job singing.
Linkin Park’s anticipated third album Minutes to Midnight will be released next month, and this is their lead off single. This track doesn’t feature any vocals from Mike Shinoda. According to some interviews, Linkin Park is supposedly staying away from nu-metal sound. I wonder if that means Mike Shinoda doesn’t get to rap much in their new album. This music video was directed by DJ Joe Hahn of the band.
In 2003, they had a couple of hits, notably “Bring ‘Em In” which was popular in Japan at the time. Mando Diao is a rock band from Sweden. Although their third album, Ode to Ochrasy was released last summer in Sweden, it is finally getting a release here in the US this month. The first single from the album, “Long Before Rock'N'Roll” is catchy good rock song.
It’s been 5 years since their mega-successful debut album, Songs About Jane. Their new album, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long will be released next month, but the lead single is on sale already. The vocalist, Adam Levine has mentioned that the new album is going to be a lot more upbeat, so I was expecting harder edge song, so I was surprised to hear a little disco influence on this song. It is still a good song that will probably get the ladies on the dance floor.
I’m not quite sure why, but this song was released as a single in UK, but not in the US. Contrary to their other hits, this is a power ballad song. You can check out this music video on their official website.
Ne-Yo’s second album of the same name will be release next month. This lead off single is more upbeat than his previous efforts like “So Sick”. I never knew this, but Ne-Yo is apparently part Chinese.
This song was originally written for Bow Wow’s album, The Price of Fame. But it was remixed for R. Kelly’s 11th album, Double Up, and ended up being the first single. The music and R. Kelly’s verse is the same on both versions, but on the remix, T.I. and T-Pain are featured.
This remix is included on Grand Hustle label’s compilation album. The album itself isn’t that great, but this remix is done really well with T.I. and Young Jeezy shining. I’ve never heard of Big Kuntry King or B.G. before.
Tiesto is a world famous DJ from Netherland and was voted as World’s #1 DJ for three years in a row from 2002 to 2004. He also performed live at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This track features vocal from Christian Burns, whom I’ve never heard of before. Also on this album is a remix to Pirates of the Caribbean theme song, titled, “He’s A Pirate (Tiesto Remix)” which is worth checking out.
The 21 year old rapper from New Orleans, Baby Boy Da Prince’s debut album, Across the Water was released last month. The album was produced by Mannie Fresh. The track is a little slow, but the beat is catchy and gets stuck in your head.
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