Selecting 20 songs each month - Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, etc (with big 500x500 pixel album covers)
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.
Sasquatch concert festival is at end of the month! Although I won't be able to attend this year, I thought I would select some of the highlights and guide for this year's performers. Sunday is headed by none other than Lollapalooza founder, and recently reunited, Jane's Addiction. Nine Inch Nails is also worth seeing. If any of you go, please let me know which act shined on the stage!
I'm not quite sure why, but The Walkmen never seem to get the credit they deserve. The singing style is reminiscent of Bob Dylan from the 60s. Four Provinces is a track from their fourth album, You & Me, released in fall of 2008.
The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight
Here is another band that has a violinist in a group. This band was started by a writer Mikel Jollett. One day he gave up his day job as a freelance writer, and decided to form a band. It paid off, and this track was a #4 rock track last year. U2's Adam Clayton has even stated in an interview that this was his favorite album of the year. The music does sound similar to U2 style.
This track is probably TV On The Radio's most popular track. It comes from their third album, Return to Cookie Mountain, released in 2006. This album was named Spin magazine's best album of the year in 2006. Their current new album, Dear Science, was also named best album of the year by Spin Magazine in 2008.
All I can say about this group is that they are weird and unique. Fronted by charismatic and energetic Kevin Barnes, who performs as his alter ego, Georgie Fruit. Although his alter ego appears to be gay on stage, Barnes is actually married to a woman and has a daughter. Their music reminds me of Scissor Sisters.
Nine Inch Nails - 1,000,000 The Slip B001CFOPMQ Nine Inch Nails is still giving away their latest album for free on their website. All you have to do it register your email. They are currently touring along with reunited Jane's Addiction. Trent Reznor is also supposedly producing Jane's Addiction's new album.
The bass player Eric Avery finally agreed to reunite with the band that he walked out from in 1991. They are currently touring the US, and also headlining Chicago's Lalapalooza, which was founded by lead singer, Perry Farrell. They released an album six years ago without Avery, titled Strays but that didn't generate any hit, like their debut album in 1988, Nothing's Shocking.
Sasquatch concert festival is at end of the month! Although I won't be able to attend this year, I thought I would select some of the highlights and guide for this year's performers. Similar to last year, Monday brings in mixture of acts. Ben Harper and his new rocking backing band, Relentless7 will be taking the final main stage. If any of you go, please let me know which act shined on the stage!
Is her name Santogold or Santigold? She started out as Santogold, but now she's going by Santigold, which is closer to her actual name, Santi White. The reason for the name change is that she was sued by filmmaker, Santo Gold. It will be a pain going back to my iTunes to change her name, so I will change my database from her next album. Having said that, her debut album is a brilliant one. This track was sampled by Jay-Z on the track, "Brooklyn Go Hard"
I had dismissed Fleet Foxes when I heard them the very first time, because their music put me to sleep, but on the second listen, I realized how brilliant their songs were. Hailing from Seattle, they sure know how to put together a great vocal harmony songs. This track is available for free download from Amazon MP3.
Sounding a lot like Outkast, the brothers from New Orleans are good at putting together funky hip-hop songs. Unlike most hip-hop groups, Krispy Kream and Rah Almillio used to belong to a marching band, and can play multiple instruments.
California band, Silversun Pickups are often compared to Smashing Pumpkins. The music does sound quite similar. "Panic Switch" is the lead-off single off of their second album, Swoon, which was just released last month.
Don't be fooled by the name. Girl Talk is not all female pop band. Girl Talk is Gregg Gillis, who is capable of mashing up hundreds of pop hits into one three minute song that actually flows and sounds good. It's amazing what he can do, and I'll bet his live show will be just as crazy as his latest album, Feed The Animal.
It was odd to see her name announced at this year's Sasquatch lineup, but she should bring nice cool laid back performance around the sunset time. I never knew this until recently, but she has a kid with Andre 3000 of Outkast. Although she tends to have slow songs on her albums, her live shows tend to be a little more upbeat.
Ben Harper & Relentless7 - Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)
What happened to Ben Harper's other backing band, The Innocent Criminals? "Dude, I've been with the Innocent Criminals a long time, and I'll always be with the Innocent Criminals," Harper says. "And everything I do now helps further what I do with them. But for the moment, it's just time to do something else." Relentless7 came together like a cinderella story (sort of). One day when Ben Harper was heading to the venue for his gig, a guy driving the van put on his personal band's music, and Harper was blown away. The new album with Relentless7 is a lot more rocking. Personally I like it better.
Anberlin is a rock band from Florida. They had been around since the early 2000s, but they recently signed to the major label. New Surrender marks their major debut (fourth overall), and the single, “Feel Good Drag” had been released since last summer, but it took 29 weeks to get to the top of the rock chart (and to come to my attention, and my local rock radio station to start playing it). It’s a good solid rock song.
Asher Roth was one of the most talked about rappers in early 2009 (along with Kid Cudi). It’s hard to find an article that doesn’t compare him with Eminem, because he’s a white rapper. Roth is flattered by the comparison, but claims he’s not as angry as Slim Shady, and that he’s a laid back kid from the suburbs that likes to party. He even has a song called “As I Em”. His single, “I Love College” is getting a lot of attention, but I didn’t think that song showcased any rapping (more or less he’s just talking). His debut album has solid songs, and Roth is a decent rapper, but on a song that features Busta Rhymes (“Lion’s Roar”), the difference between a seasoned rapper and newcomer clearly shows. This track from the album was one of my favorites, and has great hook sung by Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-Lo.
I don’t know much about this band, other than it was offered as one of the free singles of the week from iTunes a few weeks back. From the first listen, I was intrigued. And after reading their bio, the band also seems to be surprised at this lighting speed of getting global attention. Based in London, the three piece band has both male and female lead singers. The music is simple yet catchy like those of The White Stripes.
Wrong! Wrong! This is the type of song that stays in your head for a while. Check out the creepy music video. Even before watching the video, I felt that this sounded like an entrance music for The Joker from Batman (though I’ve never seen the movie). I had not really checked out their music since the 80s and early 90s (“People Are People” and “Personal Jesus” come to mind), but they seem to be still popular in the UK. Link to music video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bsXOcK9_Cw
Fastball hit big time in 1998 with hits like “The Way”, “Out of My Head” and “Fire Escape.” I didn’t even know that they had released two albums after that. I came across this album by luck when I was surfing along Amazon Music page. They are on tour, playing at small clubs/bars so if you used to like their music it might be a good time to go check them out for under $20.
Green Day must’ve been under a lot of pressure after the huge success of American Idiot. That album was one of the biggest selling rock albums. How do you follow after that kind of success? Well, they tried to distract themselves by pretending to be another band called Foxboro Hot Tubs last year. Now they are launching their real new album, this time produced by Butch Vigg (he’s a member of Garbage, and also produced Nirvana’s Nevermind). Since I had such high expectation, the first time I heard this song, I was slightly disappointed. But the more I listen to it, it grew on me. I’ve seen hundreds of bands live, and I still have to say that they put on the most entertaining show. They really know how to work the crowd. They are touring this summer, and I’m definitely going to be there.
The first time I heard this song, I thought it was Chris Rock singing. I thought it was part of Madagascar soundtrack (in which Chris Rock does the voice of the zebra). I was impressed how well he could sing. But later I found out that this song is done by a group called Madcon from Norway! This track was already a huge hit in their native country Norway, as well as other European nations including France, Germany and UK. This song is finally getting the US release. It’s a great track that samples Frankie Valli’s song.
This indie rock band from Canada sounds a lot like Veruca Salt and Juliana Hatfield. The lead singer Emily Haines belongs to several bands such as Stars and Emily Haines and Soft Skeleton, but the band got together again for their third album. It’s a slick indie rock album, and this is one of my favorite tracks, except it could’ve been maybe a minute shorter.
The Swedish rock band had an international success in 2006 with a song, “Young Folks” that featured lots of whistling and bongo drums (or I think that’s what it’s called). They are back with new album. The new single, “Nothing to Worry About” has addicting hook, but what got me hooked was the music video that features Japanese rockabilly punk dancers at Yoyogi Park near Harajuku. The first time I saw the video, I thought “what the…” but the more I listen to the song, the song fits the video very well.
What do you get when you mix Smashing Pumpkins, Fountains of Wayne, Cheap Trick and Hanson? Well, you get Tinted Windows. I have to admit, it’s a pure pop power rock album that makes you want to sing “woooahh” and “yay yay” along with them. I’m a huge fan of Adam Schlesinger’s songwriting, (particularly on films That Things You Do and Music & Lyrics). The guitar you hear is definitely from ex-Pumpkin’s James Iha. I can’t say that I know enough Cheap Trick music to recognize the particular drumming. When I first heard that the lead singer is going to be one of the Hanson brothers (the second one), I was a little hesitant, but I guess he’s not a boy any more (that would be freaky considering those days were over 10 years ago), and he does a good job with the vocal task.
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