July Top 5 - 2009

This was my top 5 for July 2009

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
   I had this tune on repeat early in the month. I saw (500) Days of Summer last night and was pleasantly surprised to hear it heavily featured in the film.
   The Temper Trap website and myspace page.



2. So Crazy - CHALI 2NA
   CHALI 2NA's long awaited solo album does not disappoint. Great beats and even better flow. One of my favorite rap artists. CHALI 2NA on myspace.



3. Never Change - Jay-Z
   I've never been a big Jay-Z fan. I like some of his songs, he just never leaves me wanting to hear a full album. For years I've been meaning to give his much hyped record, The Blueprint a proper listen, and I was surprised how much I liked it once I did. However, when you consider nearly every tune samples a classic soul artist that I love, I suppose it's not quite as surprising. This is one of my favorites from The Blueprint, which samples David Ruffin's 1973 classic, Common Man.
   Watch David Ruffin perform Common Man on Soul Train in the clip below.



4. Amarillion - Datarock
   Elwood turned me on to this tune on our roadtrip back from San Diego. As he said, the latest Datarock record, Red, as a whole is just OK, but this tune, chock-full of 80's references is great. Datarock website and myspace page.
   



5. Re: Stacks - Bon Iver
   I was a little late to the Bon Iver party for some reason but after repeated recommendations from a couple My Top 5 members, I finally got the record and quickly fell in love. The dreamy melancholy of Re: Stacks makes it one of my favorites on the album. Bon Iver's website and myspace page.
   

David Ruffin's 1973 classic, Common Man performed on Soul Train
(and later sampled in Jay-Z's Never Change).

Douche

I sent the following email to my top 5 after reading Thom Yorke was interested in writing a song for the next Twilight soundtrack:


is Thom Yorke becoming a douche?
http://pitchfork.com/news/35962-thom-yorke-to-contribute-music-to-itwilighti-sequel-soundtrack/

next thing you know he'll be wearing one of these


Armando, Elwood and Mattyshack all responded in favor of Thom regardless, which prompted Armando to send this...




Update: Thom Yorke, Bon Iver Set for A “New Moon”

New Moon director Chris Weitz spoke last week at the Comic-Con Convention and confirmed that Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and Bon Iver will contribute songs on the soundtrack for the film. “I selfishly want to put songs in by artists I love. And some of the cast and crew also happen to love,” said Weitz to Hitfix.com. “I think (Bon Iver) is fantastic, He says he wrote it for the film, but who ever knows if it might just be something laying around in his cupboard.” Wetiz also added that he is hoping to get Kings of Leon on the soundtrack. New Moon opens nationwide November 20th
http://www.newmoonmovie.org/2009/07/new-moon-soundtrack-thom-york-bon-iver-and-release-date/


Here is the official tracklist for the "New Moon" soundtrack:

Death Cab for Cutie, "Meet Me on the Equinox"
Band of Skulls, "Friends"
Thom Yorke, "Hearing Damage"
Lykke Li, "Possibility"
The Killers, "A White Demon Love Song"
Anya Marina, "Satellite Heart"
Muse, "I Belong to You (New Moon)"
Bon Iver & St. Vincent, "Roslyn"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "Done All Wrong"
Hurricane Bells, "Monsters"
Sea Wolf, "The Violet Hour"
OK Go, "Shooting the Moon"
Grizzly Bear, "Slow Life"
Editors, "No Sound but the Wind"
Alexandre Desplat, "New Moon (The Meadow)"

June Top 5 - 2009

This was my top 5 for June 2009

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. Every Car You Chase (Snow Police) - Party Ben
   MashUps are hit and miss. If done poorly, they're messy, if done right, they can be lovely. Party Ben's mix of the Police's Every Breath You Take with Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars is a great example of a MashUp done right.



2. My Love - The Bird and The Bee
   Inara George's jazzy, soft soprano makes me a bit weak in the knees. This is one of my favorite's (see video here) from the latest ablum, Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future



3. You're My Heart, You're My Soul - Modern Talking
   Cheesy - 80's - Electropop - Disco, and I like it.
   Modern Talking is the most successful pop group in German History.



4. I'll Get You Ft. Jeppe (from Junior Senior) - Classixx
   If you've been checking in with my Music blog, you already know I've been pretty into Classixx lately. Last month two of their remixes were in my MAY top 5. I'll Get You is a Classix original.
   



5. Never Forget You - Noisettes
   Noisettes features another euro 50's/60's throwback female singer ala Amy Winehouse, VV Brown, Duffy and Adele. Never Forget You is another great tune.

Noisette's Never Forget You video:

May Top 5 - 2009

This was my top 5 for May 2009

Click the play button next to any song to listen

1. Lisztomania (Classixx Remix) - Phoenix
   If you follow my music blog you already know how into Classixx I was this month. These are two of my favorite Classixx remixes.



2. Buzzin (Classixx Remix) - Shwayze



3. Burning - The Whitest Boy Alive



4. Dat New New - Kid Cudi
   Kid Cudi is another artist featured on my music blog in May.



5. Day 'n' Nite - Kid Cudi
   This original version is so much better than the Crookers remix that became more popular.

In my opinon, the original Day 'n' Nite video is much better too.
Judge for yourself:

Original video


Crookers Remix:

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: