One of the best promotions I’ve seen this year – genius. I’m definitely watching that show. Or something. We’ve been throwing down some warm weather up in this piece and everyone’s got the itch to warm up and throw down. Special attention to the reggae at the end. I think I’ll be eating at Federal Spice today. • G-Eazy – Marilyn (feat. Dominique LeJeune) - Wow – this is awesome. Kind of sounds like Drake, but with some really glorious sounding back beats. It’s like a hip-hop Drive soundtrack jam. • Rihanna feat. Chris Brown – Birthday Cake (Remix) – Yes – I love whoever made this remix. One of the most intense tracks off of Rihanna’s album, flanked by the most inappropriate Chris Brown lyrics I’ve ever heard. Just proves that in America, fame is more important than personal respect. • Fun -Some Nights – Feel good, Californian and euphoric – these guys take some of Paul Simon’s "Mother and Child Reunion" sound and turn it into an awesome song about not having a clue what they stand for. This one’s been on repeat.

• John Heart Jackie – When You Were Mine (Prince) – Smooth is a good way to describe this. A perfect song if you’re looking to unwind and take the edge off. Melodic xanax.

• Rebelution – Ordinary Girl – I Shazaamed this outsdie of a sports bar on my way home last night. Literally sat in the middle of a bunch of smokers and grooved for 15 seconds while my iPhone did it’s thing. Am I glad I did – this is some of the most feel good reggae I’ve heard in a while. I can feel the seasons changing, energy shifting…..this song is exactly what you want RIGHT NOW.

A Fine Frenzy – Blow Away

An Apple commercial’s wet dream. This hipster-Regina Spektor-feeling good about the simple things in life type of music is tearing it up on Indie stations across the country. I think I saw someone getting fired up while listening to this song outside of the Maine College of Art. They whipped up a totally killer collage of magazine cut-outs and then hit up Whiteheart for some PBR’s with the $7 the made from playing guitar on the corner of State and Congress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvwWS1CntN0

Mattafix – Big City Life

The world of hip hop and Damien Marley fuse together to bring us a hot new track promoting the glory of living in a big city. I would say this is a heavily sedated version of Empire State of Mind, like the organic version of that song, the one that’s just smaller and not as bright and overall not as appealing unless you read the whole paragraph about how your local farmer grew the apple himself and had it over for dinner. Not taking anything away from this song, just realizing how sick ESOM really is. Damn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mtfnfQoAco


Chris Brown feat. T-Pain – Kiss Kiss

Yo Nappy Boy radio – some textbook game changing music. With over 70 million views, this video about killing it in high school and dropping the Chris Brown meets Michael Jackson in the prison yard type dance moves that completely floor anyone within 20 yards of that creative power. Put this song of repeat last weekend while dressed as T-Pain…using the boom box hanging from my neck. Not appreciated when it overpowered the costume awards ceremony that was being conducted. TP and CB! I love this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DC4Rb9quKk


Paul Simon – The Obvious Child

One of my favorite songs to play on guitar and one of my favorite songs period. Paul gives it hell with a driving melody and drum line that begets those feel good dance parties that are really hard to maintain…there just aren’t many songs out there like this. Per usual with Paul’s songs, I have had many in depth discussions about his lyrics, specificlally where the comma lies in the statement, “Why deny the obvious child?” or “Why deny the obvious, child?” Shit starts wars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DHYo69JVm4

Roxette – The Look

I really don’t know where to begin in describing my relationship with Roxette. So many stories, most of which I definitely can’t write about on this email, but are quite special in their own right. I suppose the greatest tribute to this song happened in Vail, CO when my two buddies and I wore florescent jump suits and brought a boom box, rum, and some epic fire to Beaver Creek Ski Resort and proceeded to crush mid chair lift line dance parties and mid feel good blue cruiser shred sessions with fist pumps. We ended the day (at 11am) at the Ritz, outside in day glow, getting drinks from 45 year old divorcees, dancing, and high fiving. That’s Roxette.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlVI7ZNiFlI