April Top 5 - 2009

This was my top 5 for April 2009

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. Big Easy - Raphael Saadiq
   Mattyshack's March Top 5 turned me on to this overlooked album from 2008, Raphael Saadiq's latest record, The Way I See It. A beautifully crafted throwback to 50/60's R&B/Motown.



2. Let's Take A Walk - Raphael Saadiq
   More Raphael Saadiq on jasonz.com



3. God In You - PawnShop kings
   My friend Joel and his brother Scott form PawnShop kings. Joel used to be Greg Laswell's friend until he met me.



4. The Chicken and the Hawk - Brother Sal
   I am really looking forward to Brother Sal's forthcoming album. Here is a taste of what to expect. Hurry up, Sal!



5. Over and Again - Brian Wright & The Waco Tragedies
   Once you listen to Brian Wright you'll understand why half the singer-songwriters at Hotel Cafe sing his praises. He's the singer-songwriter's singer-songwriter.
   
   

Raphael Saadiq's Big Easy performed live

March Top 5 - 2009

This was my top 5 for March 2009 (AGAIN)

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. Death - White Lies
   My co-worker Mike turned me onto White Lies after seeing them at SXSW



2. Jetstream - Doves
   The Doves new album, Kingdom of Rust does not disappoint



3. 1901 - Phoenix
   I had heard Phoenix broke up, so i was happy to learn of a new album called Wolfgang Amadues Phoenix coming out May 25th.



4. Crying Blood - V.V. Brown
   I've been crazy about V.V. for the last few weeks. I am excited for her entire album to drop as everything i've heard so far is excellent.



5. Leave - V.V. Brown
   Check out more V.V. Brown on jasonz.com

White Lies video for Death

White Lies @ MTV Music

February Top 5 - 1 year anniversary

February 2009 marks my top 5's one year anniversary!

This was my top 5 for February 2009

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. I Get Around - Dragonette



2. Walking On A Dream - Empire Of The Sun



3. Paris (Aeroplane Remix) - Friendly Fires ft. Au Revoir Simone



4. Strange Overtones - David Byrne and Brian Eno



5. Chidiya Tu Hoti To (Ft. Abhijeet, Sanjeevani) - A.R. Rahman

Video for original version of Paris by Friendly Fires:

January Top 5

This was my top 5 for January 2009

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. O...Saya - A.R. Rahman & M.I.A.
   I've been crazy for the Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack since seeing the film in December. This is one of my 3 favorites from the album.



2. Jai Ho (Featuring Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah & Mahalaxmi Iyer) - A.R. Rahman
   Another favorite from the Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack.



3. It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry - Glasvegas
   Mattyshack had a Glasvegas tune in his top 5 back in October; i finally got the entire album and i love it. Next to the one Matty put up - Daddy's Gone - this is one of my favorites.



4. S.A.D. Light - Glasvegas
   Another Glasvegas favorite.



5. Find Love - Clem Snide
   I've been on a big Clem Snide kick the last couple months; pulling out all the old albums. I think this song is beautiful.

Evi gave my top 5 a shout out on iTunes:

November Top 5

This was my top 5 for November 2008

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. Beatific - Glass Candy
   Lien Ta put a Glass Candy song in her October top 5 that inspired me to get their album "Beat Box" on which l found and fell in love with this tune.



2. Loving You Is Mellow - Major Harris
   Great track from Philly soul singer's 1975 solo album.



3. Soolaimon - Neil Diamond
   One of my favorite Neil Diamond songs.



4. Let It Be Me - Ray Lamontagne
   I still love Ray Lamontagne's voice. This song is beautiful.



5. 100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
   My friend Andrea reminded me of this Sharon Jones song and I was listening to it off and on all month.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 100 Days, 100 Nights video:

The video was directed by Adam Elias Buncher using two vintage TV cameras bought on E-Bay for $50 dollars each. Shows how much you can do with a little soul.

October Top 5

This was my top 5 for October 2008

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. Closer - Kings Of Leon
   I listened to the new Kings Of Leon album - Only By The Night - so much this month it was difficult to pick just one song (i settled on two).



2. Manhattan - Kings Of Leon
   more Kings Of Leon goodness.



3. Slow, Smooth and Easy - Anita Tucker
   A great tune from an impressive Swingin' Girls - From the 40's & the 50's compilation put together over at the Rockin' Kitten blogspot.



4. Shtiggy Boom - Patti Anne
   This is from Aladdin Records' 1983 14 Magic Lamps LP reissue. Another wonderful re-up from the fine people at Be Bop Wino. The entire compilation is pretty stellar; Shtiggy Boom being one of my favorites. I mean, come on, how can you not want to listen to a song called "Shtiggy Boom"



5. You Are The Best Thing - Ray Lamontagne
   I love Ray Lamontagne's voice. So powerful, so much emotion; same thing I love about Soul music. I'm always concerned i won't like the next Lamontagne project as much as the one before. This one took a few listens, but i am all over it now. You Are The Best Thing is one of the more upbeat tunes on the record. It is also the first single.

September Top 5

This was my top 5 for September 2008
(most of my new music was old music this month)

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. Bloodshot Eyes - Wynonie Harris
   My latest favorite blues shouter/rhythm and blues singer, Wynonie Harris was known for singing upbeat songs with humorous, often ribald lyrics. With fifteen Top 10 hits between 1946 and 1952, Harris is generally considered one of rock and roll’s forerunners, influencing Elvis Presley among others. I'm not sure how I'm just hearing Wynonie, but it's always exciting to know there are more classics out there to be discovered.



2. Butcher Boy - Mr Sad Head
   I found this song on a great compilation put together by Be Bop Wino (one of my favorite old school mp3 blogs). Check out the entire playlist at Doo Dob Sha Bam - A Rhythm & Blues Dance Party.



3. Tennessee Waltz - Sam Cooke
   As most of you know, Sam Cooke is one of my all time favorites. My friend Sal turned me onto this previously overlooked Cooke tune. His version of this classic is excellent.



4. That Did It (Single Version) - Bobby "Blue" Bland
   Another Bobby "Blue" Bland tune. Listen loud.



5. Supernatural Thing Pt. 1 - Ben E. King
   One of Ben E. King's post Drifters hits from 1975.

And I've watched this so much, i feel like it should be in my top 5:





See the full Matin & Harris post on jasonz.com