Neon Trees – “Animal”
Neon Trees did a great job putting together the video for their new single “Animal”. You will thoroughly enjoy it if you hate boring art galleries and if you love people walking around with animal heads. On top of all of that goodness you have a track that is catchy and sure to dominate the airwaves. Make sure you catch the Neon Trees this summer as they headline the Bang the Gong Tour with Civil Twilight and Paper Tongues.
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The Spill Canvas – “Our Song”
The Spill Canvas has been on my musical radar for the past six years or so. These South Dakota boys have something special cooking with “Our Song”. The track is a fun little ditty about youthful romancing and all of that sappy stuff. Expect a great deal of radio play for this track as is supports the guys as they continue to play an insane about of live shows this summer.
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Nikki & Rich – “Next Best Thing”
It comes down to this. Are you with Team Nikki or with Team Rich? Me? I am Team Nikki all of the way. You will have to decide for yourself. While you ponder over which one of the duo to get airbrushed on to a t-shirt you can enjoy their track “Next Best Thing”. Would it be too cliché to say they are the next best thing? Hey, I made a reference to Twilight in the first sentence so it is obvious I don’t have a problem with being cliché. Let’s just say that you will enjoy this song a lot. Now, where do you suppose I can find a Team Nikki lunchbox?
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LikeApril Smith & The Great Picture Show – “Colors”
If you took out a little tube of bubbles and blew them into a caressing summer breeze, you’d get the voice of the lovely and talented April Smith, and that positive vibe rides this little diddy to absolute musical success. Prepare to be sucked into the catchiest song you’ve heard in months. Seriously, unless you want an elephant-sized earworm for the rest of the week, just skip ahead to Cee-Lo. You’ve been warned.
Cee-Lo Green – “Georgia”
I defy you to listen to this track and put it into a genre. You can’t, but when can you ever when it comes to Cee-Lo? He’s an artist who transcends classification, but this most recent track lies more in the stratosphere of soul than anything else. This ain’t your grandpa’s Temptations record, though; the beat is hot and it’s extremely contemporary. You’ll dig. You always do.
The Roots featuring John Legend – “Doin’ It Again”
Every interview I’ve ever done with a hip-hop artist, the conversation somehow comes back to Black Thought of The Roots being the most underrated lyricist in the industry. He’s sharp and witty but has the perfect tone and flow to ride a ?uestlove beat. This new track from everyone’s favorite Philadelphians is remarkably chill, yet exciting enough lyrically to get the ol’ butterflies in the stomach churning. Few hip-hop records get us excited like Roots records, and if you aren’t excited too, you have no soul.
Jimmy Needham – “Firefly”
I don’t care what anybody says about spring being the season of love. To me, it’s always been the summer. It’s lighter longer, the weather is gorgeous every day, the pools and beaches are open, and there are cookouts and fireworks and vacations. Everything is ripe for tummy butterflies and young love, and this Jimmy Needham song that just so happens to share a title with another summer staple is sheer happiness. And I’m giving it to you just in time for June. You’re welcome. Now go fall in love with somebody and have yourself a picnic.
Ashlyne Huff – “Heart of Gold”
This is a song you could, and should, dance to. In fact, Huff is originally a dancer, and in the video she puts on an impressive display of juking and jiving. Beyond that, the song’s hook is catchy, the beat is hot, and the singer is more than a little attractive. This video is pretty much rolling on all cylinders.
Game – “Shake” (Travis Barker Remix)
We know that Game (Formerly THE Game of G-Unit Fame) isn’t exactly a new name that we’re putting out there, but the Travis Barker remix of his song “Shake” is one of the head-bobbingest hip-hop tracks we’ve heard in a while. The normal version of the song is hot, too, but Barker’s extra layer of drums that kick in about a third of the way on the remix add a whole layer of dope to this musical soufflé.
Mike Posner – “Cooler Than Me”
This up-and-comer from Southfield, Michigan has got himself a Billboard climber with his first single, “Cooler Than Me.” Its heavy, borderline techno synth beat drives the song, but Posner’s smoky voice and hip lyrics have plenty to do with its continued success, too. This track is getting hot right now, but we promise you—it’s about to get even hotter.
Hanson – “Thinking Bout Somethin’ ”
Hanson, huh? That’s funny. I remember there used to be this band called “Hanson” back in the ‘90s, made up of little kids that sang pretty tight little harmonies and played their instruments damn well for being so young. “Mmm Bop” is immortal, yet ever-so-cheesy. That’s weird how there’s a whole other band called Hanson, also made up of three brothers who pull off tight harmonies and play their instruments damn well. Except this group is comprised of grown-ups. And their new song, “Thinkin’ Bout Something,” is hip, catchy, and has a great video. Sort of like “Mmm Bop” all those years ago. What a coincidence, right?
Bruno Mars featuring Cee-Lo & B.o.B. – “The Other Side”
We know Bruno Mars because he’s the guy who sings the hook for B.o.B.’s smash hit “Nothin’ on You,” but this track featuring Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley and Goodie Mob fame has the vibe of a bona fide smash hit. The hook hits hard, and it goes from smooth R&B (Mars) to rap (B.o.B.) to something in between (Cee-Lo). It’s got a little bit of everything, and it’ll be stuck in your head all week.
Court Yard Hounds – “Ain’t No Son”
I wasn’t quite sure how I would feel listening to 2/3 of the Dixie Chicks. I mean, I am in love with Natalie Maines’ voice and without it I wasn’t sure how it would go. But then I reminded myself that Martie Maguire and Emily Robison were the ones that created the Chicks and they both are incredibly musically talented. Thankfully the sisters deliver with good old rockin’ country. “Ain’t No Son” is a hard driving track that will get you thumping your foot along to the beat. I am still waiting patiently for the Dixie Chicks to release a new record, but in the meantime the Court Yard Hounds satisfy my need for some good country twang.
Check out the Court Yard Hounds performing on The Late Show with David Letterman
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Josh Ritter – “Change of Time”
I really enjoy Josh Ritter. He has established himself as a singer-songwriter that other singer-songwriters look to for direction. His songwriting skill is advanced and his delivery is crystal clear. With his new album, So Runs the World Away, the 33 year-old Ritter serves up another solid track with “Change of Time”. The instrumentation beautifully sweeps across the track and the lyrics are like leaves caught in that breeze. Yeah, I’m deep.
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Gin Wigmore – “Oh My”
Oh my, I enjoy this song. Here are the reasons: 1) Gin Wigmore is a great name. It sounds like it came together in a game of Madlibs or something along those lines. Great name. 2) She is adding herself to the great list of New Zealand exports along with Flight of the Conchords and the Lord of the Rings. 3) Her bad girl image combined with her raspy tone gives me an Amy Winehouse vibe without all of the rehab and baggage.
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