Chris Willis
My Freedom
www.PeaceBisquit.com
Much like the dancefloor anthem Aretha Franklin hit “Pride (A Deeper Love)” singer-songwriter Chris Willis’ “My Freedom” should be bumping the queerlings and disco bunnies if there is any justice in the world. With pimped-out RnB hooks and his passionate soaring diva-esque vocals you will feel the freedom sweeping over you from the Gospel-influenced and pop-loving performer. With break-out mixes by DJ Craig and frequent collaborator French electro-house DJ/producer David Guetta I hope to see this inspirational artist’ work added to the Pride circuit soon.
Busdriver
RoadKillOvercoat
www.BusdriverSite.com
Regan Paquhar aka Busdriver is another of those over-the-top MC/rappers whose rapid-fire, mile-a-minute skills simply stun with staccato articulation and flying lyrics slipping big ideas into your subconscious before you realize how good he is. With hip-hop beats and space-funk vibes this “chop maestro and style monster’s” fifth solo release RoadKillOvercoat will feed your soul while your ass is bumping. My picks: “Less Yes’s, More No’s,” “Kill Your Employer (Recreational Paranoia Is the Sport of Now),” “Sun Shower,” “Go Slow” featuring Bianca Casady,” “Pompous Posies! Your Party’s No Fun” and “Mr. Mistake (Bested by the Whisper Chasm).” Gig alert! Busdriver rants and rhymes Jan 30 @ SF’s Great American Music Hall.
Noiseshaper
Real To Reel
www.MiracleSounds.com
Europe’s well-kept secret Noiseshaper bursts into the open with classic dub/reggae and downbeats chilled and remixed into the 21st century with the stunning Real To Reel release reclaiming a full compliment of the bands’ past hits plus plenty of new tracks with standout guest vocalists and all overdubbed and mixed by London’s dub legend Adrian Sherwood. If you’re not yet a fan of dub chill this would almost be too good of an introduction with infectiously funky grooves and sun-kissed dancefloor hip-movers. My picks: “Sly&Robbie - Vice Vanity” featuring Beans & Hawkman, “You Take Control” featuring Jackie Deane, “Moving Together” featuring Wayne Martin, “Bushmaster (Kid Kenobi Session RMX)” featuring MC Shureshock, “Walls Of Silence (TVS remix)”, “Fire Fi Me Roots (Automatic Real to Reel Edit),” “Wake Up” featuring Jahcoustix and “Rough Out There.”
Tech N9ne
Everready (The Religion)
www.TheRealTechN9ne.com
On his third national album Everready (The Religion) Kansas City’s underground rap king Tech N9ne makes a good case for how to pull off a mainstream crossover. With nods to his hardcore gangsta rap roots and plenty of club friendly thumpers and groovers, his evolution from underground gangsta rapper to mainstream hit maker is laid bare displaying his creativity with a mean turned lyric and clever wordplay. Much like Ice-T or Andre 3000 he is hoping to expand his universe and fan base. His success looks assured with MySpace and YouTube as allies - his viral power is immense and if that wasn’t enough he has the holy grail of several of his tracks in the new Alpha Dog movie. A bonus disc introduces six of his label mates and even serves up three bonus tracks. My picks: “Welcome to the Midwest” featuring Big Krizz Kaliko, “Bout Ta’ Bubble,” “It’s What You Thinkin’,” “Caribou Lou,” “Flash” and “Fuck ‘Em Girl” featuring Big Krizz Kaliko and Kutt Calhoun. Gig alerts! Tech N9ne gets real and raw Jan 25 @ Santa Cruz’s Catalyst Club.
Shape: UK
Sound Advice
www.NocturnalGroove.co.uk
Is it housey soul or house music with meat on its’ bones? With soulful and hauntingly beautiful vocal harmonies working out serious disco mantras and infectious hooks expect to be entranced by England’s Shape: UK aka The Shapeshifters on their debut release Sound Advice. The musician/ producer/ label owning and international DJing duo have enlisted stellar vocalists and collaborators to serve up lush and club-ready groovers. My picks: “Really Feel,” “Route One,” “Little Green Men,” “Beautiful Heartache” and “Instead of Falling.”
Cazwell
Get Into It
www.Cazwell.com
“That hotel was so cheap I should have brought my own sheets” and other poetic gems from NYC underground singer-songwriter, party-boi and rapper MC Cazwell will have you laughing and dancing at the same time. From his breakout single “All Over Your Face” (see the video on Youtube.com) he launches seven remixes and even throws in a bonus DVD of three videos as well as the seven songs that make up his latest release with guests Amanda LaPore and Avenue D. Expect to feel dirty then liberated. My top picks: “The Sex That I Need” featuring Avenue D, “All Over Your Face,” “Do You Wanna Break Up?,” “All Over Your Face (Gomi’s West 22nd Street Mix),” “All Over Your Face (Funky Junction & Anthony Reale Subliminal Reprise Twisted Dub Mix)” and “All Over Your Face (Original Extended Disco Instrumental).”
Persephone’s Bees
Notes From The Underworld
www.PersephonesBees.com
Fronted by Russian singer/songwriter Angelina Moysov the Californian quartet has utilized her unique upbringing in the Caucasus region in southern Russia with its’ multi-ethnic vibes of Russian, Slavic, Gypsy, Armenian, Georgian, Greek and Turkish music and spun it all into post-modern rock with a decidedly feminist pop twist. Her brother would send home underground punk and rock music and those influences seep into the disarmingly upbeat and hypnotically funky songs and melodies. Their debut major release Notes From The Underworld is well worth it not only for the rich international undertones but also the post-modern surf-rock vibe that seems to flow from California. My picks: “Climbing,” “
City Of Love,” “Nice Day,” “Muzika Dlya Fil’ma,” “Paper Plane,”
Queen’s Night Out” and “Home.”
Robbie Williams
And Through It All: Live 1997-2006
www.RobbieWilliams.com
When I lived in London I was perplexed by the number of folks seemingly everywhere who knew every word of every song whereas I didn’t know any and still don’t. In a lot of ways we Americans don’t get the uniquely British popsters and it’s also true they don’t get so much of what we do. Hoping to firm up his inroads and plow our purple mountain majesties is sassy everyguy singer-songwriter Robbie Williams’ double DVD with cherry-picked live concert performances in massive stadium rock concerts in Slane, Manchester, Koln, Knebworth, Leeds, London and Berlin. He was a charter member of Brit boyband Take That and went solo in 1990 becoming the top selling solo artist in British history with worldwide sales estimated at 65 million singles and albums. He is simply huge worldwide except in America but that may change soon with his new CD Rudebox and this DVD set. Included in on the fun are TV appearances (mostly appearances at music awards shows). With coy magnetism and pure showmanship he easily sways the masses to sing along to every pop, dance and rock song and ballad from his full career including two magical duets with Aussie diva Kylie Minogue.
Various
The World Is Gone
www.Various.co.uk
Intriguing and mysterious artist and musician duo Various (an interesting name choice, no?) are two guys Andy and Ian from London who produce breathtakingly beautiful folksy electronica with post-apocalyptic noisescapes and haunting, delicate guests vocalists. With dubby interludes, electro-kissed instrumentations and otherworldly floaty vocals you’ll be a bit spellbound. My picks: “Circle Of Sorrow,” “Hater,” “Lost,” “Sir,” “Sweetness” and “Deadman.”
Tower Of Power
Oakland Zone
Havin’ Fun
www.BumpCity.com
Homegrown in our very own Oakland is one of the original and longest-lasting live soul bands – the world-famous Tower Of Power with over forty years of serving live, hot funky soul to the masses. Formed in the late 60s they first recorded in 1970 and have put out eighteen original albums plus, according to Wikipedia, the tight horn section aka The Top has backed up a stellar roster of artists including Little Feat, the Monkees, Santana, Elton John, John Lee Hooker, Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Heart, Huey Lewis and the News, Spyro Gyra, Lyle Lovett, Poison, Phish, and Aerosmith. The band has had quite a few personnel changes over the years but has kept touring and gigging to this day (see gig alerts below). On Oakland Zone my picks are: “Give Me Your Love,” “Could’ve Done It Better,” “This Type Of Funk,” “Oakland Zone” and “Back In The Day.” On Havin’ Fun my picks are: “Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now,” “We Came To Play,” “Attitude Dance” and “How Could This Happen To Me.” Gig alerts! Feel the bump and grind with Tower of power Jan 20 @ SF’s The Fillmore and Jan 21 @ Petaluma’s McNears Mystic Theatre.
Robbers on High Street
The Fatalist And Friends
RobbersOnHighStreet.com
Collaborating with Italian composer Daniele Luppi, known in America for his collaboration with Danger Mouse on Gnarls Barkley’s St. Elsewhere, Robbers On High Street do a turn of catchy emo-rock meets sultry electronica timewarp nouveau pop. “Luppi’s knowledge of sophisticated and sexy yet sinister soundtrack compositions elaborated on the band’s already existing songwriting and arrangements.” My picks: “The Fatalist,” “Married Young” and “Major Minor.” Gig alert! Robbers on High Street poprocket Jan 25 @ SF’s Café du Nord.
Putumayo Kids presents
New Orleans Playground
www.Putumayo.com
Visionary world music label Putumayo’s project Putumayo Kids serves up not only fun but also intelligent music for children of all ages. They have spoiled me in that I have been firmly won over. Just like Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood you don’t dumb-down to children and kids music doesn’t need to be insipid, annoying or mindless – although that can be nice at times. Fresh from the producers at Putumayo is the fun and inspired New Orleans Playground which celebrates the playful party spirit of New Orleans that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States that rolled through in August of 2005. The children of New Orleans were spoon-fed inspired music throughout their lives and this collection captures the festive energy with some of the city’s world-famous musicians playing classic songs. If that wasn’t enough of a sell – the entire CD is also a benefit in the tradition of Putumayo and raises funds for the Louisiana Children’s Museum to create a New Orleans’ music exhibit. Lush artwork and liner notes in English, Espanol, Francais and Deutsch complete the package. My picks: The Meters’ “They All Ask’d For You,” Kermit Ruffins’ “Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner,” Buckwheat Zydeco’s “Skip To My Blues,” Lee Dorsey’s “Ya Ya,” Clarence “Frogman” Henry’s “Ain’t Get No Home” and Dr. John’s “Row Row Your Boat.”
Putumayo presents
Radio Latino
www.Putumayo.com
If you’re reading this you probably have never had to deal with let alone know anyone who’s been a victim of the barbaric landmines that are routinely planted in the ground in war-torn countries. The leading country with the most landmine victims is Afghanistan but number two is Colombia, or formally, the Republic of Colombia, the northwestern-most country of South America bordered by Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama and Peru as well as the Pacific ocean. Civil war has been going for forty years involving guerrilla rebels, paramilitary militias and drug trafficking thus making Colombia a dangerous place for children and landmines are one of the biggest nightmares as those who plant them often never remove them. United for Colombia has teamed up with Putumayo to raise funds to help rehabilitate child victims of landmines throughout Colombia and you can help! Sales of Radio Latino will benefit the project and you’ll not only be doing some good but also getting some wonderful upbeat Latin pop and alternative songs celebrating the Latin vibe that has deeply influenced world music All the tracks are considered radio-friendly hence the name. From Latin hip-hop heroes Orishas to the Latin Grammy winner Jorge Moreno. My picks: Sacha Nairobi’s “Princesa,” Javier Garcia’s “Me Gustaría,” Bebe’s “Men Señará,” Orishas’ “Reina De La Calle,” Kelvis Ochoa’s “Viento Y Tiempo” and Costo Rico’s “Por Esos Mares.”q
Joseph Israel
Gone Are The Days
www.JosephIsrael.com
Featured in James Bond movies, the English-speaking island country of Jamaica has an immensely rich culture despite its economic issues and smaller size. According to Wikipedia, the musical genres reggae, ska, mento, rocksteady, dub, dancehall and ragga all originated in the island’s vibrant popular urban recording industry. Jungle emerged from London’s Jamaican diaspora and the birth of hip-hop in New York also owed much to the city’s Jamaican community with its tradition of massive sound systems and portable parties. Christianity is also a rich part of life and has deeply influenced many musicians including Arkansas-based singer-songwriter Joseph Israel who pilgrimaged countless times to study the island’s faith, music and culture. His debut release Gone Are The Days is an idealistic and spiritualized reggae treat recorded in Jamaica with some roots reggae artists including Luciano and Mikey General. My picks: “Hotta Fire,” “Ruff Times,” “Jah Souljahs,” “Be Together,” “What A Day,” “Universal Love.” Gig alert! Joseph Israel brings Jah love Jan 25 @ SF’s Bottom of the Hill.
