More Great New Music: Look, Listen and Grab It!

Don't let anyone say there is no good music out there! I mean I understand how you could think that, radio being what is and with Justin Beiber always on TV. My God who let that kid out of middle School! Anyway, here are some discs you need to hear, buy down load and trade with friends!

My Best Friend is You '" Kate Nash

It must be something in the water in Great Britain that has British female singer/songwriters wanting to sound like Diana Ross and The Supremes and I for one am not complaining! Kate Nash's latest disc "My Best Friend Is You" has a punk edge to it and even glimpses of new wave but the majority of the disc pays homage to the aforementioned Supremes and the girl groups of the 60's. Unlike Leslie Gore, Kate won't be crying at any parties. In fact she let's one gentleman know that if he kisses another girl, she will indeed "shrink" him! Kate Nash comes off as fiery, intense, soulful and polite on this disc, and she makes it all look and sound easy.

A-

Rise Up '" Cypress Hill

For twenty-years Cypress Hill has been able to rock the barrio, the '˜burbs and the boulevard with their brand of hip-hop. The rap group has maintained a loyal following in both the hip-hop and rock world. The only issue the brothers on the Hill have had has been trying to top their first two discs. "Rise Up" comes close to duplicating the magic found on the early Cypress Hill records. Subject matter wise B-Real and Sen Dog remain consistent. They still have love for the streets (Rise Up, Light It Up). They will still "jack yo a@@ like a looter in a riot" (Armed and Dangerous) and yes, they still have a serious love for marijuana (KUSH, Pass The Dutch). Beat maker DJ Muggs shares production credits with B-Real and hip-hop legend Pete Rock and the boys on the "Hill" call in some favors as Tom Morello, Everlast, and Mike Shinoda weigh in on the disc. Probably the most interesting tune on the disc pays homage to the group's Latin roots and features rapper Pit Bull, Marc Antony and a sampled loop of Crosby, Stills and Nash's Suite: Judy Blue Eyes! Even with a few miss-steps (leave the hard core politics to Chuck D. and Zack De La Rocha) Cypress Hill continues to be el grupo mas firme in la calle.

C+/B-

Cold Day Memory '" Sevendust

You have to give Sevendust credit. They are one of the few bands still standing from the class of late 90's metal. They tour relentlessly and they have a body of hard rock/metal discs that remains consistent. Their consistency however, may in fact be the problem. Sevendust lost a key member (Clint Lowery) and gained him back on this disc and yet it's as if nothing as changed. The "Dust" still has their signature rock riffs, Lajon Witherspoon's intense, melodic vocals and the thunder drumming of Rose Morgan but the band can't seem to break any new ground on their latest offering. Sevendust remain one of the hardest working bands in hard rock. They need to become the most dynamically challenging band in hard rock.

C-

Vampire Weekend - Contra

It's hard not to just dismiss Vampire Weekend as a bunch of privileged, prep school kids doing an updated version of Paul Simon's Graceland. If you can push pass that bias (and it will not be easy) then you will catch that on their sophomore disc, the "weekend" do a great job of blending their stop-stutter, world beat rhythms with heartfelt lyrics about life and love in up state New York. The band combines a razor sharp indie feel with world beat rhythms and heartfelt lyrics. Vampire Weekend are pushing past the sophomore slump and ready for breakthrough status.

B+

Brothers '" Black Keys

The Black Keys are a deadly combination and they prove it succinctly on their latest disc Brothers. They are a tremendous guitar/drum duo steeped in the blues and they have captured the imagination of the "hipster/indie" crowd with music that is original and thoughtful. On Brothers, the duo also let their love of soul shine through. Dan Auerbach channels his inner Prince when he let's his falsetto take over on "Everlasting Light". Drummer Carney claims that "Next Girl" and "Long Gone" are not about his recent divorce but really, who is he trying to kid?! The disc may run a bit too long but the blues, soul and indie rock feel of the Keys is infectious and undeniable.

B

White Crosses '" Against Me!

If The Clash and Bruce Springsteen got together they would sound like the latest disc by Against Me! The band combines some introspective, perspectives on their home of Gainesville Florida while still brandishing their activist mindset. Fear not young anarchists. When Tom Gable sings "I was a teenage anarchist" he is not getting old or leaving his politics behind. He is merely rekindling the intensity his activist mindset. The balance between the personal and the political is what make the latest Against Me! disc work. If this type of consistency can translate to their live show, Against Me! will be the punk rock group to watch in 2010 and beyond.

B+

How I Got Over '" The Roots

Another band looking inward on this list is The Roots. On their latest disc The Roots deal with getting older, dealing with having faith, their belief in God and the world around them. The bands last two discs were angry but this post Obama election disc, finds The Roots in a much more introspective mood. The band has a ton of questions but they are hopeful for the future. The Roots adeptly channel their question and answer sessions using acoustic folk (Dear God 2.0), old school soul (the title track oozes 70's funk) and just plain fun (The Fire featuring John Legend). As usual there are WAY too many guest mcs that take away from the fact that Black Thought is probably one of the best (and most underrated) mcs in the genre. Another great, if not all together cohesive disc from The Roots is a welcome answer to many musical questions this summer.

B

The Adventures of Bobby Ray '" B.O.B

So if you miss Outkast and their eclectic, hectic bran of hip-hop have no fear. Rapper B.O.B is ready and able enough to pick up where they left off! B.O.B hails from Decatur Georgia and one listen to his debut disc will have you believing he is from another time and space. Bobby Ray is a multi-instrumentalist and he seamlessly fuses rock, pop, alternative, soul and southern funk into his brand of hip-hop and guess what? He is a rapper who is ok with being different from other rappers! Lyrically his songs range from his own experiences of not fitting in with his peers to a woman who by passes college to become a stripper. The guests on his disc are a cross section of rap and alternative heavy weights including TI, Janelle Monae, Rivers Cuomo, Lupe Fiasco and Hayley Williams. While so many collaborations can come off contrived, Bobby Ray makes it work and in doing so, gives the world of contemporary hip-hop the diversity it needs. Keep the adventures (and beats) coming B.O.B, hip-hop is all the better, thanks to you.

A