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.

January 27, 2008

2Pac - Dear Mama [Remix] /ft. Anthony Hamilton

Album: Best Of 2Pac-Part 1:Thug

He is the hardest working dead artist... ever. Last month, he released two albums; Best Of 2Pac-Part 1:Thug and Best of 2Pac-Part 2:Life. As the album title suggests, they are mostly compilation of his previous hits (like California Love) but also has a couple of previously unreleased songs and new remixes like this one.

Against Me! - Stop

Album: New Wave

Panic! At the Disco recently stated that they will be dropping "!" from their name, but Against Me! will be keeping theirs. Their album was produced by Butch Vigg (drummer of Garbage) who also produced Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins in early 90s. Against Me! is one of my favorite new bands right now.

Daft Punk - Around The World / Harder Better Faster Stronger [Live]

Album: Alive 2007

Daft Punk's last year's "Alive" tour was voted as one of the best concert of 2007. How could two electronic DJs have the best show? Do a quick search on YouTube for some of the clips, and it looks amazing. I wish I had gone. This song mixes two of their biggest hits "Around the World" and "Harder Better Faster Stronger" which Kanye West sampled recently on his hit single, "Stronger".

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - Apologies

Album: This Is Somewhere

Good solid performance from Grace Potter and her band. The music is a little like Norah Jones with the piano in the background. Good chill out song.

Kanye West - Flashing Lights /ft. Dwele

Album: Graduation

Another single off of Kanye's third album, Graduation. The beat reminds me a lot of Justin Timberlake's "My Love." The music video for this song ends quite abruptly, making people wonder what happens next?

The Hives - Try It Again

Album: Black And White Album

The Swedish rock band was in Seattle just a few months ago, and they will be back in February again. This song cleverly samples cheerleaders chanting.

Janet Jackson - Feedback

Album: Discipline

Ms. Janet didn't have such a good time after exposing her breast on national TV a couple of years ago and her album not selling so much. This time, she changed her label, and she's hoping to make a comeback. It's a good dance track from her upcoming album, Discipline.

Jenny Owen Youngs - Hot In Herre

Album: The Take Off All Your Clothes EP

She looks a bit like Lindsay Lohan, but sings much better. This video was featured on VH1 as their new music video. It's silly but does a good job of covering hip-hop into folky rock.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E

Album: Cross

I got this song as a free download from iTunes 6 months ago and thought it was kind of annoying. But now it's a big hit in the electro-dance community, and their album appeared in most music magazines' top 10 albums of the year. Like Daft Punk, Justice is two French guys that likes to mess with electro beats. I just can't get over the kid's not-so-great singing voice. But it is kind of catchy after a few listen.

M.I.A. - Paper Planes

Album: Kala

A lot of music magazines in US and UK (including Rolling Stone) named M.I.A.'s second album, Kala as the best album of 2007. This Sri Lankan-British girl makes weird, artistic songs that are catchy and annoying at the same time.

Mark Ronson - Toxic /ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Tiggers

Album: Version

Mark Ronson single handly brought the neo-soul movement back by producing Christina Aguilera and Amy Winehouse albums. Last year he released his solo album with lots of superstar guests. This one smoothly incorporates Ol' Dirty Bastard's rap into one of Britney's biggest hits this decade.

Ne-Yo - Do You /ft. Utada

Album: Do You (Single)

A few months ago, Ne-Yo announced that he will be selecting best female singers from various countries and record a duet version of songs off of his recently album, Because of You. From Japan, he selected, Utada, no doubt the country's biggest popstar who also happens to share same label as Ne-Yo when she released her US debut album a few years ago (which bombed despite Timbaland producing it). Utada is said to be working on a second US album. Hopefully that will be better than "easy breezy Japanesey" song she had.

OneRepublic - Stop And Stare

Album: Dreaming Out Loud

They suddenly became famous after Timbaland remixed their song, "Apologize" and added to his debut album, which turned out to be a huge hit. Now OneRepublic tries to prove that they can do without Timbaland on their debut album, Dreaming Out Loud. Sounds pretty good to me.

Puddle Of Mudd - Psycho

Album: Famous

They will be performing in Seattle at a very small venue in early February. Decent rock song. It is being used a lot for CBS drama commercials.

Radiohead - Bodysnatchers

Album: In Rainbows

Last year in October, Radiohead released their latest album on their website, and fans could buy the album at whatever price they offered, which was the first time anything like that had been done. Now that album is being officially released and is even available on iTunes (the only Radiohead album available digitally so far).

Rise Against - The Good Left Undone

Album: The Sufferer & The Witness

This is the third single from Rise Against's fourth full-length album, The Sufferer And The Witness. It's a good solid rock song.

Rivers Cuomo - Lover In The Snow

Album: Alone- The Home Recordings Of Rivers Cuomo

The lead singer of Weezer released his first solo album last month. The album consisted of songs he recorded in his basement in the past 10 years. Some are covers, some actually got used on Weezer albums. Since they are recorded in his basement, the songs are stripped down. But it's very Weezer-ish. Speaking of which, Weezer will be releasing a new album sometime this spring.

Sheryl Crow - Love Is Free

Album: Detours

The music sounds a lot like Jack Johnson - happy and laid back, which she hasn't done much lately. It's nice to hear her do this kind of song again.

Wu-Tang Clan - Take It Back

Album: 8 Diagrams

Their first single, "The Heart Gently Weeps" was more popular for Beatles sampling and George Harrison's son playing the guitar. But this track sounds more like good ol' Wu-Tang (minus Ol' Dirty Bastard of course).

Wyclef Jean - Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) /ft. Akon, Lil Wayne & Niia

Album: Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant

Wyclef released the album, "Carnival Vol. II" sequel to "Carnival" which was released 10 years ago. This time he gets help from big stars on pretty much every track from Paul Simon, Norah Jones to Will.i.Am and Shakira (hoping for another "Hips Don't Lie" but that song was weird). This is his lead single.