Jessie James
Jessie James
ThisIsJessieJames.com
Twenty-something country girl Jessie James was raised an army brat and cites Janis Joplin and Christina Aguilera among her influences. It shows. She’s brash, ballsy and bluesy. Packing a wallop of a stellar voice she sounds a lot like Aguilera. I’m absolutely no fan of country music but I do appreciate the sheer talent that comes from the genre. Dolly Parton isn’t my idea of a dance artist but give her even five minutes on any show and she’ll blow the house down. Talent speaks for itself and there is incredible musicians in every genre. Jessie James is pretty close to a rock/country/pop hybrid with plenty of jailbait sex appeal to push any videos she does into the stratosphere. Her self-titled debut is popping on the charts and a few soundtracks and by all accounts she should be a darling of the tween set. For you dragsters looking for more country feel songs there’s a few here that will certainly work and “My Cowboy” is suggestive enough that pretty much everyone else will get on board. My picks: “Wanted,” “Bullet,” “Blue Jeans” featuring The Odd Balls, “My Cowboy,” “Big Mouth,” “Burn It Up,” “Psycho Girlfriend,” and “Girl Next Door.”

Yellowcard
Ocean Avenue
www.CapitolRecords.com
Punky rockers from left field complete with a fierce violinist yearn for understanding, plead for closure and rock out the whole time. Give them a hug and buy them a beer — they sound like they’ve had an angsty day. My picks: “Way Away,” “Ocean Avenue,” “Life Of A Salesman,” “Miles Apart,” “View From Heaven,” “Believe” and “One Year, Six Months.”

Strategy
Drumsolo’s Delight
www.Kranky.net
Atmospheric dub chill and trippy excursions of art-punk funky noise tributes collide on Paul Dickow’s second release under the name Strategy. “Combining a granular ambient aesthetic with an abstract, percolating rhythmic sensibility, Strategy unites small parts into complete melodies motivated by complex pulsations.” My picks: “Cascadian Nights,” “Super Shewolf Inna Jungle,” “Drumsolo’s Delight,” “Jazzy’s Dilemma,” “Final Super Zen,” “Walkingtime” and “The Jazzy Drumsolo.”

Judith Owen
Christmas in July
www.JudithOwens.net
A DJ friend once told me that Christmas music is always on sale. It’s true. And when the economy is touchy expect the holidays to roll out quick. For you youngsters there’s a twisted take on why Christmas is celebrated in July - it’s because one of the guests is likely not going to make it to the end of the year due to illness. There, doesn’t that make the whole situation more darkly interesting? Living in Santa Monica Owen notes, “Christmas in Southern California always feels like July.” This album however remains a delightful holiday romp with a tight jazz trio and special guests Harry Shearer & Julia Fordham. You’ll love “Christmas with The Devil!” My top picks: “Christmas with The Devil,” “Silent Night,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “My Father’s Voice.”

American Music Club
Love Songs For Patriots
MergeRecords.com
Heartfelt Americana rock, pop, country and folk come together for Love Songs For Patriots. Think soundtrack for a great cross-country road trip. My picks: “Ladies And Gentlemen,” “Only Love Can Set You Free,” “Mantovani The Mind Reader,” “Myopic Books,” “America Loves The Minstrel Show,” “The Horseshoe Wreath In Bloom,” “Song Of The Rats Leaving The Sinking Ship.”

Calamalka
Shredder’s Dub
www.Calamalka.com
Subsonic super chunks of island dub with heavenly fat drops of funk and interstellar juice for the offering. Calamalka realized that dub was the predecessor to all electronica and hiphop and set out to weave dubby live instrumentals with intricate hiphop beats. My picks: “Chassi,” “Auterzonik,” “Lighting Rigg,” “Ackee,” “Bumpea,” “Reliable I,” “Gamblor” and “Electric Blue.”