STOP! If you haven’t read Part 1 which features #60-41 then do that first. Besides all the great jams in there, it is where I wrote all the sentimental self-congratulatory stuff so pay your respects, man.
Ok, on with the Hot Underrated Jamz. Read more
Loosen those belts because this Digest is quite the spread and you’re gonna need some breathing room to get through all 18 of these morsels. Bear with me because, save for the last two, this is all great stuff and there are a few “Best ___ of 2010” shoe-ins lurking below. Once again, the jams are broken into “courses” for your convenience. Enjoy!
For more jams or by any of these artists use the ‘tags’ links at the bottom of the post!
♫ Kanye West – All of the Lights (Ft. John Legend, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie, Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Rihanna, & Elton John) – Besides all the gems at in Kanye’s GOOD Fridays free mp3 program, this guest-crazy jam from the forthcoming My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy also dropped recently. It’s a memorable moment from the “Runaway” film and sure to be a centerpiece of the album.
♫ Trophy Wife – Microlite (acoustic) / Trophy Wife’s latest single “Microlite” may be even better than “Take This Night” and it definitely has a Read more
As I’ve been compiling this best songs list I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a great track. Last year I went by play counts to determine what songs I “loved” the most but this year I noticed that the list that came out didn’t really match my perception of my favorites. A lot of my top played songs this year are indeed great songs, but they also happen to be on a great album so they get played by themselves as well as in the course of the album. So I got to thinking about which are the tracks that I seek out, that I crave, that I have to hear every night before bed or every morning to wake up. Those are the songs that make up this list. Songs that for whatever reason hooked me to the point where I need(ed) them in my life this year. Those great albums (and their highlight jams) will get their moment but for now we celebrate the song, or as Read more
♫ Mueseum of Bellas Artes – Who Do You Love
Apparently I’m late to the Museum of Bellas Artes party – their cover of a 1964 track by The Saphirres came out in October – but I just caught the jam on the first Poule d’Or Compilation and it would be criminal not to spread the magic on this sunny Friday. The band is from Sweden and, aside from a few remixes they’ve done,  this cover is the only thing we have of theirs so far. Promising, much? Umm yeah. “Who Do You Love” is instant fun as it’s various noises bounce together in perfect harmony with the sweetly subdued vocals. Thumping, squeaking, clacking, and crunching never sounded so good. And the best part is that just when you think you reached the best part of the song they tweak the awesome levels just a bit higher and you turn to your speakers mid dance-move and raise an eyebrow. To verbalize your awe would ruin the music.