RollnSmokeRecords Presents: BEST NEW ALBUMS

… Requires at least three great songs to qualify …
... 10 Best highlighted in YELLOW


ALL IN ONE – Bebel Gilberto [9-29-09]. Especially “Sun is Shining,” “Secret” and “Bim Bom.” Offering sultry, Latina-flavored tracks, many of them covers of classics that slide between Portuguese and ½ English, this Brazilain beauty, descended from a fine musical bloodline, debuts on the Verve label.

KAMAAL THE ABSTRACT – Q-Tip [9-15-09]. Especially “Do You Dig U,” “Even if it is So” and “Blue Girl.” Inventive tracks from former Tribe Called Quest member off long-delayed album that combines jazz fusion with contemporary hip-hop.

THE BLUEPRINT – Jay-Z [9-11-09]. Especially “Run This Town,” “A Star is Born” “Empire State of Mind” and “Young Forever.” The much-anticipated and leaked-ahead-of-time album by Jay-Z showcases a truckload of guest appearances (only 4/15 songs are solo) to stack his latest R&B album.

11:11 – Rodrigo y Gabriela [9-8-09]. Especially “Buster Voodoo,” “11:11” and “Hanuman”. Dueling guitars by duo out of Meixco City to the streets of Dublin combine on all instrumental tracks for fun, unique and enjoyable listening.

AMERICAN CLASSIC – Willie Nelson [8-25-09]. Especially “It’s Cold Outside,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Always on My Mind.” Willie’s crusty old voice fits well with these jazz stalwarts, particularly when he joins in duet with young lady singers (Norah Jones, Diana Krall).

LOVE TATTOO – Imelda May [8-18-09]. Especially “Johnny Got a Boom Boom,” “Big Bad Handsome Man” and “Feel Me.” A jazzy debut album features shmaltzy horns and strong, soulful, old school, boogie-woogie by emerging Irish vocalist.

IMPERIAL BLAZE – Sean Paul [8-17-09}. Especially “So Fine,” “Hold My Hand (I’ll Be There)” and “Now That I’ve Got Your Love.” His 20-track packed fourth album showcases the dinstinctivce and catchy dancehall roots that is this Jamaican superstar’s forte.

XINTI -- Sara Travares [8-11-09]. Especially “Di Alma,” “Quando Das Um Pouco Mais,” and “Pe Na Strada.” Peaceful, tropical percussions float in the background of these exotic, beach-like, flowing vocal feasts by native Cape Verdian-transplanted-to -Portugal musician.

RHYTHMS DEL MUNDO: Classics [8-11-09]. A compilation of well-chosen pop iconographic pop tracks covered alternatively and with a splash of Latin sizzle. See full review at www.rollnsmokerecords-bestnewcovers.blogspot.com

HOMBRE LOBO – Eels [6-2-09]. Especially “That Look You Give That Guy,” “In My Dreams” and “Fresh Blood.” Achingly true ballads from trio out of Virginia, featuring singular singer-songwriter Mark Oliver Everett.

SONG UP IN HER HEAD – Sarah Jarosz [6-1-09]. Especially “Song up in Her Head,” “Shankill Butchers” and “Can’t Love You Now.” 18-year old contemporary bluegrass prodigy churns out original music that’s all plucky strings and compelling vocals on her debut album. A rising star to watch!

WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX – Phoenix [5-26-09]. Especially “1901,” “Lisztomania” “Girlfriend” and “Fences.” French indie-rock band who recently gained pop cred a la recent SNL appearance.

FONDO – Vieux Farka Toure [5-26-09] Especially “Diaraby Magni,” “Slow Jam,” “Sarama,” “Cherie La,” “FaFa.” An inspired sophomore album from young Malian protégé, brimming with enchanting, contemporary dub – all groovin’ guitar and percussion, some jams, some soulfully chanting vocals, some tracks more exotic than others.

IF TOMORROW COMES – Maino [5-18-09]. Especially “Million Bucks,” “Hi, Haters” and “All the Above.” Numerous collaborations stack up on this hip-hop album from favorite rapper who’s big in New York mix-tape circuit.

ENTERTAINMENT – Fischerspooner [5-5-09]. Especially “The Best Revenge,” “Money Can’t Dance” and “In a Modern World.” You’ve got to go for an album brimming with electronica, but if you can do that, these tracks have a sensibility for strong dance beats and lyrical messages as conceived by New York electronica duo.

MAMA ROSA – Brian Blade [4-21-09]. Especially “Mercy Angel,” “Struggling with That,” “Her Song” and “You’ll Always Be My Baby.” Jazz musician from Louisiana – drummer, singer-songwriter and bandleader – is behind beautiful, expressive mellow tracks with soulful monster jams.

DEEPER THAN RAP – Rick Ross [4-21-09]. Especially “All I Really Want,” “Yacht Club” and “Magnificent.” Mixing star-power cameo duets with Rick Ross’s hard-bravado, un-melodic raps.

A NEW TIDE – Gomez [3-31-09]. Especially “Airstream Driver,” “Little Pieces,” “Bone Tired” and “Mix.” British guitar folk band from Northern England collects a fine array of mostly mellow, likeable tracks, one after another.

R.O.O.T.S. -- “Route of Overcoming the Struggle” -- Flo Rida [3-30-09]. Especially “Sugar,” “Shone,” “Right Round” and “Mind on My Money.” With a boomin’-bangion’ line-up of soon-to-be Flo Rida classics, this quintessential singles rapper from the Sunshine State packs to-the-max energetic hip-hop over danceable, synthed backbeats with monster guest appearances from Ne Yo, Wyclef, Akon, Nelly Furtado and Pleasure P., among others.

TELL ‘EM WHAT YOUR NAME IS! -- Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears [3-17-09]. Especially “Sugarfoot,” “Get Your Shit,” and “Gunpowder.” A big, boomin’ blues jam – you’re right there in the front row, DANCING!! -- shaking your money-maker – right there with the boys from Austin, TX, who are behind the vintage blues and old school R&B. Who’s in??

OOH’s and AHH’s – Say Hi [3-3-09]. Especially “November was White, December Was Grey,” “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh” and “Hallie and Henry.” An inventive alt-sound that reaches from hip plaintive to club danceable.

TROUBADOR – K’naan [2-24-09]. Especially “ABC’S,” “If Rap Gets Jealous” and “I Come Prepared”. A new and original and multi-lingual voice in hip hop, K’naan has high street cred when it comes to street life given he’s from the slums of Somalia, but still open to teaming up with pop white boy Adam Levine and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammet, among others like Mos Def and Damien Marley.

IT’S NOT ME IT’S YOU – Lily Allen [2-10-09]. Especially “The Fear,” “Not Fair,” “Who’d Have Known”). With her irresistible cockney accent and clever, often sarcastic lyrics, Lily Allen launches a captivating winner as her sophomore effort.

ASA – Asa [1-27-09] Especially “Jailer,” “Fire on the Mountain” and “No One Knows.” A cool load of soulful African jazz tracks from this new sensation out of Nigeria.

SUGAR SHACK – Damon Fowler [1-27-09]. Especially “Sugar Lee,” “Some Fun” and “Sugar Shack.” The kind of album that you turn on and the dance floor just fills up – and stays that way through every track -- brimming with electric blues jams.

LOVE, SAVE THE EMPTY -- Erin McCarley [1-6-09]. Especially “Pony It’s OK,” “Love, Save the Empty,” “It’s Not That Easy.” A singer-songwriter and Texas-gone soCal performer with an ethereally sweet voice creates churns out acoustic adult-alt-pop tracks.