The fabulously eccentric next big thang, Janelle Monáe, recently signed to Bad Boy Records. Initially, I balked at the news because - let's face it - Bad Boy's track record of promoting its artists' longevity and creativity is utterly embarrassing.

However, a recent MTVnews.com story has given me hope that despite signing with the premier kiss-of-death mainstream hip hop/r&b label, Janelle will still be in control of her independent-minded flavor of music.

Hopefully, as the story suggests, Diddy's uninspired musical sticky fingers may allow Janelle's not-of-this-earth personality to shine for the world to see, unfiltered by his egomaniacally…

Janet Jackson has some balls. Besting skeptics, Discipline, Janet’s first album in 20+ years without assistance from musical soul mates Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, keeps it moving where the Jackson/Jam/Lewis triumvirate left off. Contrary to popular opinion, Janet’s electric soul pop music predates initial collaborations with Jam & Lewis. In fact, it was primarily Rene & Angela and Giorgio Moroder who lent their production talents to Janet’s 1982 eponymous debut, which featured underrated electronic, new wave, and disco-leaning pop r&b. And, it is Discipline’s opening song “Feedback” which boasts a relentless, thumping beat that exemplifies Janet’s comfortable…

10.
http://cover6.cduniverse.com/CDUCoverArt/Music/72/7536272.jpg
“Blackout” ~ Britney Spears
standout trax:
Radar
Break The Ice
Hot as Ice

9.
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/160/3332513.jpg
“A Beautiful Mess” ~ Ra-Re Valverde
standout trax:
Superhero
Love Will
May B I’m The 1

8.
http://cover6.cduniverse.com/CDUCoverArt/Music/49/7394349.jpg
“Lady Croissant” ~ Sia
standout trax:
“Lentil (Live)”
“I Go To Sleep (Live)”
“Breathe Me (Live)”

7.
http://cover6.cduniverse.com/CDUCoverArt/Music/90/7440290.jpg
“I Created Disco” ~ Calvin Harris
standout trax:
Vegas
Merrymaking at My Place
This is the Industry

6.
http://cover6.cduniverse.com/CDUCoverArt/Music/38/7512038.jpg
"Jazz Money$$" ~ HEAVy
standout trax:
Razzmatazz
SAM/SAM's Return
Sqre One

5.
http://b5.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01432/52/20/1432290225_m.jpg
"Clara Hill's Folkwaves: Sideways" ~ Clara Hill
standout trax:
About You
Be Like That
Ocean…

These trax weren’t necessarily released as singles during the course of the calendar year. Some weren’t even released this year, for that matter. They are simply the songs that were instrumental in helping me move through - and move on - to the next hour/minute/second. They were emotions demonstrated in sonic form. And my emotions – like everyone’s – run the gamut:

“Merrymaking At My Place” ~ Calvin Harris, 2007
“Vegas” ~ Calvin Harris, 2007
“Stillness In Time” ~ Calvin Harris, 2007
“Scarlett Ribbon” ~ Róisín Murphy, 2007
“Footprints” ~ Róisín Murphy, 2007
“Through Time” ~ Róisín Murphy,…

www.dsound.com

you can download this entire project here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IMTVC9MU

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PTV92FPQL._AA240_.jpg

D'Sound is a Norwegian band, whose muzik is equal parts pop, soul, jazz, and electronica. Music from Incognito, Janita, Jamiroquai, or Brand New Heavies could be compared to D'Sound's. My Today was released in 2006, and was their 5th full length LP.

Tracklisting:
1. Green Eyes
2. My Today
3. Birthday (Ft Tony Momrelle)
4. Universally
5. Sadness
6. Feel Again
7. 1, 2, 3
8. Gaining Back My Faith
9. Murder Me
10. Sigh (Ft Till Bronner)
11. Rainy Days
12. As Long As I Sing…

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/sia19.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/sia16.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/sia4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/sia13.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/sia11.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/sia6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/sia5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/sia1.jpg

When Sia (Furler) assured us audience members that “You’ll have a much better show than the last time because I haven’t had a chance to get shit-faced!” I knew I’d be in for a treat. You see, Sia was performing a relatively early 7:30 show on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at Washington DC’s 9:30 Club, and had just finished the set opener “Little Black Sandals”, when she made that bold - yet true - prognostication.

Indeed, her short and sweet 75-minute set could’ve very well been an effective advertisement for liquor abstinence,…

I had the pleasure of seeing my man, Rahsaan Patterson, live in concert last month. I’ve been procrastinating in posting these pix, but better late than never. Rah’s club date was primarily in support of his latest LP, Wines & Spirits.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/rah11.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/rah19.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/rah13.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/havplentydc/rah6.jpg

"Stop Breaking My Heart", "Oh Lord (Take Me Back)", "Delirium (Comes & Goes)", & "Cloud 9" were a few of the selections that he performed from W&S. But the highlight of the night for me was his sublimely breathtaking cover of Sade's klassik, "Stronger Than Pride", which is only available for…

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61be4%2BLEexL._SS400_.jpg

The following biography can be found on the artist's last.fm homepage:

The dynamic duo of Nicky Guiland and Casey Benjamin - - aka HEAVY - - are busy breathing fresh new life into music with their vibrant synthesis of soul, pop, hip-hop and rock.

Hailing from the rich hotbed of musical heritage that is Jamaica, Queens, NY, the two have seized the baton from their wide range of influences, from Rotary Connection and Herbie Hancock to N*E*R*D and No Doubt, mixed in a bit of '80's nostalgia and emerged with an undeniably unique and timely sound. With Nicky…

http://www.kindred-spirits.nl/images/upload/band/band_6.jpg

Liquid Spirits consists solely of Dutch musicians and producers. Though all of them have been around a long time in the Dutch music scene, the group they formed together is fairly new. With U-Gene on vocals, Manuel Hugas on bass, Wiboud Burkens on keys and Oh Jay on the beats and decks its safe to say that Liquid Spirits consists of some of Holland's finest musicians.

Considered one of the best nu-soul bands in Europe, their music -a mix of hip hop, jazz, funk and soul- is melodic and deep. Their 'hip hop soul' music as they call it,…

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7d/Thevelvetropejanet.jpg

I'll be honest: 1997's The Velvet Rope is absolutely my least favorite post-Control Janet Jackson album. For most folx I've encountered - especially amongst the Janet Jackson fan base - this is a controversial statement, because TVR is consistently cited as fans' favorite Janet album.

To be clear, I don't dislike this project in the least. After all, my DNA is embedded with 99% of Janet's musical catalog. No, TVR pales in comparison to say… her magnum opus Rhythm Nation 1814 because TVR, for me, is JJ's most uneven, inconsistent LP since her sophomore effort, 1984's Dream…