Roots Manuva Back To Mine

This is an A+ excellent collection of tracks assembled by Roots Manuva. It kicks off with vintage 80's electrosoul by Frankie Beverly & Maze, followed by a pair of old school hip-hop nuggets by Mantronix and LL Cool J. The mix then plunges into dubby depths with rasta treats from Wayne Smith, Sizzla, Smiley Culture, Ricky Ranking, and more. Then we're treated to another old school rap nugget, this time from Spoonie G. This stellar collection of smoky beats is only getting started at this point as we plunge headlong into high quality, modern, reggae-tinged UK soul, subdued grime from Taz & Wiley, smoothed-out broken beat, and joyful disco-soul from Dee Dee Sharp. This superb collection of quality tracks ends in perfect forward-looking fashion with futuristic cuts from Dungeon Family and Grace Jones. In the liner notes, Roots Manuva articulates that there are only two kinds of music : "corporate, make-a-quick-buck music", and "music for hungry souls" - indeed, you can be assured that this superb collection of tunes falls into the latter... %100.

Black Irish

Sinead O'Connor has released a reggae album, produced by Sly & Robbie. I've only heard one track so far - a cover of Burning Spear's classic "Marcus Garvey" (aka "The Ghost") - one of my all-time favorite songs ever by the way. It's pretty damn good. The production is a little slick for my liking, and her voice even sounds studio-tweaked in parts, but the pure essence of the original song itself is fully intact. If Joe Strummer can do "Redemption Song" and not fuck it up, than surely Sinead O'Connor deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Top Ten Artists I'd Like To See Write Some New Christmas Classics

10. Super Furry Animals

I wouldn't even know what to expect really. A simple, lo-fi acoustic ballad sung in Welsh? Or a technicolor explosion of banjos and glitchy beats with lyrics written from the perspective of a drunken Rudolph?

9. Sizzla

Anyone who's heard Sizzla's version of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" knows that Sizzla has the capacity to deliver something out of the ordinary. And at the rate Sizzla cranks out albums, he'd probably have a dozen Christmas tunes knocked out by the time I finish typing this sentence.

8. Beta Band

Yeah, I know they broke up. But Christmas is a time of miracles, so who knows. What would the Beta Band come up with? Let's see... clanging cowbells, junky acoustic guitars, and sped-up chipmunk vocals? Sounds about right.

7. Doves

Anyone familiar with the Doves will surely understand why they're on this list. They'll deliver a cozy dose of Christmas wonder that will soothe you to sleep in front of the fireplace.

6. Pulp

Jarvis Cocker's penchant for colorful storytelling ensures their place on my list. Imagine him whispering through a perverse twist on "Twas The Night Before Christmas" and you get the idea.

5. Mike Jones feat. Paul Wall

Ok. You know this would be sick! Do I even need to go into detail? Purple egg nog and a diamond-fronted smooch under the Mistletoe. Picturing both of these guys posted up in Santa hats is reason enough for this entry.

4. Pete Doherty

A forlorn Christmas tale from tabloid hell. Rock's easiest punching bag surely could deliver the goods. I mean, just look at this guy. Did he not stumble directly out of the pages of Dickens? How can this guy not write a timeless Christmas classic?

3. Flaming Lips

Too easy? Maybe. A good 80% of their last two albums sound like Christmas music anyway. They're way overdue for a cosmic Yuletide opus.

2. Animal Collective

These guys are probably the only entry on this list that could truly capture the euphoric, chaotic energy that bursts forth from every child, at that precise moment every Christmas morning when they wake up and first realize that yes, it's fucking Christmas!

1. Kanye West feat. Jay-Z

The epic blast of Christmas cheer that this country needs right now could only come from these two. Lock them both in Abbey Road with Rick Rubin, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Boy's Choir. Christmas will never be the same.