A cousin’s neighbor’s uncle’s half brother’s best friend’s study buddy of mine actually knows Kid Sister.  True story.   Knowing that I could potentially be best friends with a musical genius, I decided to explore Kid Sister’s melodious workings.  I decided she’s pretty good.  So now you can say a cousin’s neighbor’s blah blah blah knows Kid Sister and you guys are pretty much best friends.

Eliza Doolittle – “Rollerblades”

Do you hear that? It sounds a bit like lemonade stands, swimming pools, and freeze pops. Eliza Doolittle has a few intriguing and enjoyable hits which include this little delight with “Rollerblades.” I’ll support anyone who tries to creatively bring back a token of my childhood. This song even inspires me to lace up the ‘ol inline skates and practice by backwards couple skate maneuvers. Memories.

Iron and Wine – “Boy With a Coin”

Iron and Wine… like liver and Cabernet or shrimp and Merlot OR this singer-songwriter from South Carolina. The clapping paralleling with the guitar strumming in this song inspires for me an immediate reaction of toe tapping and enjoyment. Plus, he plays a banjo. Banjos have and will always be fun. If you dare to argue I’ll thumb wrestle you…to death.

The best part about this song is the dramatic, instrumental breakdown where if you owned a colorful ribbon attached to stick you could wave it back and forth in joyful celebration.  If you’ve yet to purchase your ribbon wand, then you can simply use your first in pounding gestures to show your enthusiasm for what this dynamic duo,  Galt Aureus (pronounced galt AWR-ee-uhs) has done with the song “Citadels.”

Rev Theory – “Hell Yeah”

The title of this song sends you the immediate disclaimer that it may induce whip lash…you know from head banging. If you’re not into head banging a faster paced toe tap will get the job done. It’s one of those songs where you may not remember any other lyrics aside from “Hell Yeah” but you remember it made you feel motivated…or sore…you know, from head banging.

Esmee Denters – “Love Dealer”

“Is that…no it can’t be…but it looks just like him.” Yes, it is Justin Timberlake showing his support for the equally talented Esmee Denters in this hip-hop single. Not sure why this song hasn’t blow up big on the Top 40 charts yet, but it gives us the opportunity to share it with you first.

We’ve all had that single dollar bill just burning in our pockets with no additional bill or coin friends to share the space.  That dollar just longs to find its meaning in life.  Well, Aloe Blacc wants to help.   Aloe Blacc politely asks for a dollar the way he knows best: via song in this soul/R&B/jazz number.   It’s also the intro number for the HBO show How to Make It in America, so it’s paving its way into the hearts of many.

Plan B – The Recluse

I like rap.  I like soul.  I like boys.  Combine those three and there really is no reason why I wouldn’t like Plan B’s “The Recluse.”  Plan B’s full name is Benjamin Paul Balance – Drew which helps to explain his reasoning behind the shorter, less confusing, artist name.   This song is catchy and, if you close your eyes, you can imagine a high intensity scene from a movie where the main character is running away from something…maybe it’s the cops, maybe its humanity in general…maybe you should just take a listen.

Britt Nicole – Walk On Water

We all need a little inspiration now and then, and sometimes that inspiration comes in the form of a beautiful melody with some tinkling piano in the background.  I first heard Britt Nicole’s “Walk On Water”  while watching an intensely emotional episode of “Biggest Loser.”  Thanks to the lovely phone app Shazam, I was able to lock down just who sang the song and here were are.  Grab some free weights and prepare to be motivated.

If you think these guys’ sound is a little familiar, cue up an episode of “Community” and enjoy the theme song. Does that settle your little earworm? Good. Now I can provide you with a brand new one with “They Ought To See You Know,” a crazy fun, upbeat rock track that sounds like something that could play alongside Smash Mouth and Fastball on a late ‘90s pop-rock mix. There’s no way to hate this song, even if you don’t love it. But I think you’re gonna love it. Love away:

Frankie J – I Need You

While I can’t deny the fact that occasionally there are club/dance tracks that I do thoroughly enjoy, it should be stated that they have to fit a certain number of criteria. For one, the beat has to be hot and grindy (“I Need You” is), the artist doing the vocals has to be legitimately talented (Frankie J is), and it has to be something that incites me to break out in a full-bodied dance, even while driving a car (check). If it can’t do all those things, I’m not interested, but I’m interested in this song because, ya know, it does do all those things.

Agnes Obel – Riverside

Do a Google image search on Danish singer Agnes Obel and what pops up are loads of picture that feature what seems to be a pretty cute blonde with gorgeous blue eyes dressed in the kind of gear you’d expect to be worn by the Little Women or the House on the Prairie girls. Maybe that’s her shtick. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter, because even if she draped herself in seaweed and stepped into steel-toed combat boots, “Riverside,” would still be a haunting and gorgeous song.

This song is so simple, it just might work.  Enjoy sweeping vocals and a simple acoustic guitar melody.  Perfect for that fall day that just won’t quit.  I’m not even sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it.

Amazon Music

The Aggrolites – “Firecracker”

Funky fresh?  Check.  Silky smooth?  Check.  Hippity Hoppity? Check.  You’ll get it all with this tasty jam from The Aggrolites.  You’ll be up and out of your chair in 10 seconds flat.

Amazon Music

Kids of 88 – “My House”

Retro and rockin’, this jam from Kids of 88 will take you back to the days of synthesizers and reckless youth.  Super trendy drum beats and a catchy chorus are enough to have anyone humming this bad boy.  Check it before you wreck it.

Amazon Music

The third single off of the third album for Cartel, “Faster Ride” is one of the better songs the Georgian band has put out since “Honestly,” which was five years ago. The new record is solid overall, but this latest single is our personal fave from the album.

Donnellshawn – “Learning Love”

This is unapologetic pop R&B, but it’s exactly the sort of unapologetic pop R&B that, if given the air time, ends up getting pimped by Ryan Seacrest on Sunday morning radio. Donnellshawn is a new artist about which not a whole lot is known (his tweets are “protected” for cripe’s sake.), but we’re digging the guy. This right here is a good track. Give her a gander…

Peedi Crakk & Li’l Cease featuring Black Rob – “I Don’t Know”

Long-time readers will know that there are a few artist and groups who can do no wrong in our eyes, and The Roots are one of them. So if they love Peedi Peedi, I’m going to love Peedi Peedi, too, and this new track featuring hip-hop mainstays Li’l Cease (formerly of Junior) and Black Rob (Whoa!) is right up the alley of rap super-sweetness, as we’d expect. The instrumental sounds like something from the Robin Hood/Braveheart era but with bass and a beat, and the hook is oddly catchy, hitting unexpected minor chords in a high-pitched chipmunk voice. All awesome. The whole caboodle.

We love The Blanks.  We have known the guys for several years and we know them as straight up mad musical geniuses.  If you need proof of their musicality and comedicality , you can check out our exclusive video interview with this band of merry men.

Their original homage to Halloween, through the aptly titled “Happy Halloween”, is hil-ari-ous.   Pumpkins rule!

Buy “Happy Halloween”

Amazon Music

“Monster” – Kanye West

Let’s keep the Halloween theme going with this track about monsters.  Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, And Bon Iver join Kanye West on this ghoulish hard hitting track.  I must admit, something about Nicki Minaj captivates me.  She makes me laugh and freaks me out all at the same time.  “Monster Mash” of 2010?

Buy “Monster”

“Dead Man’s Party” – Oingo Boingo

We go back to the 80′s to unearth this little gem.  With Halloween this week it is only fitting we break out some New Wave music, right?  Plus, the track was recently featured on NBC’s Chuck, so that totally reminded me of how awesome the song is.  If you can’t get out to the Buy Mart, you can click below for the digital shopping equivalent.

Buy “Dead Man’s Party”

Amazon Music

I know a lot of people enjoy rocking out as long as the lyrical themes are hardcore and frightening and angst-ridden, but Skillet has made a name for themselves by rocking out rather positively and optimistically. “Awake and Alive” is something I’d let my kids listen to, had I children of appropriate music-listening ages.

Ne-Yo – “Everything’s Alright”

Ne-Yo is the kind of unapologetic pop R&B that’s usually plastered all over top 40 radio, but “Everything’s Alright” is too good to ignore. If you hurry, you can enjoy this one for a couple weeks before it, too, get overplayed on your favorite FM station.

Saving Abel – “The Sex Is Good”

This probably isn’t one I’d let my hypothetical children listen to, but that doesn’t mean we adults can enjoy the musicality of the track, which is undeniably mellow and fun. It’s got a fun hook, too, which is normally the secret to good, modern music.

Think good enough to open for Ben Folds. That’s pretty much all you have to know, but I’ll give you more anyway ‘cause I’m nice. This rock trio has a distinctly indie flavor, but just like Folds they keep it on just this side of pop so it actually sounds pleasant to the general public as well as the indie purists. “Empire” is typical of their style, and it’s a great track. Taste it, savor it with all your buds of taste. Or sound. Image like you could taste in your ear. Do that.

Stromae – Alors on Danse (Remix)

I’m not 100% sure how Kanye West got mixed up with Belgian singer Stromae, but this collaboration between one of America’s most influential artists and one of 2009’s hottest European songs is definitely interesting enough to warrant a listen.

Crooked I – Light Up Freestyle

We’ve featured damn near everybody in rap supergroup Slaughterhouse except Crooked I, so here ya go. It’s an extremely up-to-date social commentary that rides the beat hard enough for any hip-hope head to both bob and weave. Plus, it makes you think, which is what rap was invented to do.

The video for “Tiger” reminds me a lot of a cake induced nightmare I had after one of my childhood birthday parties.  Maximum Balloon is the brainchild of TV on the Radio’s Andrew Sitek.  Sitek brings his creative indie flair to this track which also features Aku, the frontman for Dragons of Zynth.  Meow, meow, and meow.

Buy the Single

Amazon Music

KT Tunstall – “Fade Like A Shadow”

We have enjoyed KT’s music ever since her debut with Eye to the Telescope.  This Scottish firecracker always brings the goodness.  “Fade Like A Shadow” is the lead single off of her upcoming release, Tiger Suit.  KT Tunstall’s career is certainly showing no signs of fading…like a shadow.

Buy the Single

Amazon Music

Dirty Heads – “Lay Me Down”

Hold on to the last remaining days of summer with the music of Dirty Heads.  These dudes are the embodiment of Southern California reggae rock.  “Lay Me Down” definitely has a Sublime feel to it.  Oh, that maybe due to the fact that Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome appears on the track.  Chill yourself out with this summertime hit.

Buy the Single

Amazon Music