NMT 4/14/09 Cassie, K-OS and of Course JMAC!

Hey home boys and girls, its been a while but the wait is over, NMT is back in action…

• Day 26 – Forever in a Day – The sophomore release from Diddy’s own Making the Band group #3 is FINALLY released…What’s that? You weren’t desperately waiting for this one to drop? Wait, you didn’t even know they existed? How dare you! For those of you who have no idea who I’m referring to, you need to stop what you’re doing and DVR an episode of MTV’s Making the Band. In any given episode you will see 5 retards yell at each other in phrases that make such little sense, you won’t understand what the argument is about in the first place, but don’t feel too left out, cuz neither do they. What you will gain is a headache and a number of awesomely meaningless statements for your vocabulary such as: At the end of the day, it is what it is, remove the situation from the situation, real talk, I’m the realest you’ll ever meet, keep it one hundred, you playin me, and my personal favorite: daswassuh’. But enough of the complements, lets get to the few songs with potential here…
o Perfectly Blind – a smooth track, with just the right touch of bongos…daswassuh’
o So Good – A throbbing synth sound makes this song real talk…
o Girlfriend – At the end of the day, I’m a sucker for the “boom, boom-kat”

• Cassie ft. Diddy – Must be Love – Wow, as limited as Cassie’s vocals are, they sure know how to produce some hits with her. This song brings you back to the heyday of modern R&B, that’s right, the early 90’s. The music is so laid back and gritty that you can’t help but fall in love with the hypnotic tone of her voice. Reminiscent of old Janet Jackson’s Velvet Rope, Must be Love oozes a hot NYC summer night vibe that paired up with the right music video could be trouble. Even Diddy’s verses can’t ruin this one, and that speaks volumes.

• Lo Fidelity Allstars – Smash and Grab World – Just a cool electronic dance song, upbeat and unique. A little bit of something for everyone in there. Gonna have to select Smash and Grab World once you get to the myspace page

• Lady Gaga - Lovegame (Robots to Mars Remix) – Lady GaGa puts her ex DJ status to good use on this remix. Instead of simply stretching the original over some trance bullshit, Robots to Mars Remix does what a good remix should; it takes the song in an entirely different direction, smoothing out the choppiness by using some fuller and darker sounding guitar chords. Better than the original in my opinion.

• Jesse McCartney – Yes Jmackers and Mackettes, it is that time, the year of the MAC! As I’m sure all of you know, JMac has re-released his latest cd Departure revamped with a slew of new songs. It is my pleasure to introduce Departure: Recharged, and boy is it…I must take this time to give a shout out to my #1 Ma-goat Christo“Listo” Gray, one of Jesse’s best bros who turned me onto the Mac. Which brings me to my latest theory: Jesse McCartney drugged Rihanna, framed Chris Brown, and no one’s the wiser. The reason I say this is JMac has taken up where Chris left off with these new songs. The production quality has been raised to a new level for Jesse, and the following songs will have you on the dancefloor before you can say “I got the picture phone baby you’r picture’s gone!”

o It’s Over – yeah, he’s pressin 7, just as you’ll be pressin repeat for this hit…
o How Do You Sleep ft. Ludacris – You’ll be askin yourself how you slept before you owned this one. Plus Luda? That’s Streeeeet cred with a capital S. Oh, and this is the funniest music video ever...
o Relapse – Starts off kind of slow, but once the reprise comes around, you are bouncing up and down like Erin after a little too much grenadine
o Oxygen – If you’re jonesin for some falsetto, look no farther my friends, just take a deep breath of Oxygen
o Crash and Burn – Like Chris Brown’s Forever without the domestic abuse inuendos. (yea you know they were there the whole time)
o Body Language – JMac’s new Leavin’, aka the anthem of Spring Break ’09. Body Language will have you grindin all by yourself, speakin all kinds of languages…(he doesn’t speak Spanish, Japanese or French…really JMac? Not even Spanish? At least he can break it down articulately)
o In my Veins – Suck on this one Pretty Ricky…JMac rockin the slow jams. A great way to finish the cd, all up in your veins…

• The Fray – Live in Soho
o Happiness – the Fray sound very similar to their studio versions on here, but Happiness is such a good song, I had to point it out again. This links to the studio version, if you like it the live version is good too and on itunes. Definitely worth the buy

• K-OS – Yes – K-OS is one of the best undiscovered hip-hop talents out there. Hailing from Canada, K-OS has the lyrics, production capability, creativity, and voice. His newest effort Yes showcases his style and talent across a number of tracks. Here are my standouts:

o Burning Bridges – fast, fun, like his first hit Sunday Morning
o I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman – Sampling “California” yes the OC theme song, but changing it up oh so nicely…a Great song, plus who doesn’t wish they knew Natalie Portman?
o 4,3,2,1 – One of the coolest choruses I’ve heard in a while. Gives me chills this one…very laid back

• Goddamn Electric Bill – While these songs aren’t new, I heard their song Lost in the Zoo on the radio while in San Diego, had no idea who they were but loved the song. The “group” is actually comprised of one guy who is a San Diego local and most of his songs fall under the same electronic/acoustic instrumental category with the occasional lyric. These songs are amazing, and if you want good music to relax to, study to, or fall asleep to CHECK THESE OUT you WON”T be disappointed!
o Lost in the Zoo
o March at Dawn - weird video, but its the only one i could find with the song...
o Looking Up at Down - sorry no video, check out on itunes!
o May Fourteenth - sorry no video, check out on itunes!
o Country Jam
…Just to name a few!

That concludes this week and the past couple of weeks when I was gone. Hope you find something you like out of this, tune in next time…2000 and late!