RollnSmokeRecords Presents: Best New Albums 2010

BEST ALBUMS OF 2010

… Requires at least three great songs to qualify …

BOSTON’S FINEST – Sam Adams [3-10-2010]. Especially “Driving Me Crazy,” “Coast 2 Coast” and “You Girl.” Pop-oriented white-boy rap tracks load this debut album from local Boston college (Trinity) kid that will rock the cul de sac.

OYO – Angelique Kidjo [3-30-2010]. Especially “Move On Up,” “Monfe Ran E.,” and “Afia.” Inspired, exotic and often playful tracks offered by African vocalist from Benin ( -- the birthplace of voodoo!).

HIGHWAY RIDER – Brad Mehldau [3-12-2010]. Especially “John Boy,” “Don’t Be Sad” “At the Tollbooth” and “Highway Rider.” Chill, high art jazz music in the vein of melancholy George Winston with improvisational groove.

EL TURISTA – Josh Rouse [3-9-2010]. Especially “Duerme,” “Lemon Tree” and “I Will Live on Islands.” Inspired by Cuban masters, bossa nova and flamenco guitar, Nebraskan native and baroque pop singer-songwriter heads to Spain to generate this half-English-½ Spanish motherlode of ay-yi-yi tracks.

THE PURSUIT – Jamie Cullum [3-2-2010]. Especially “Wheels,” “Don’t Stop the Music” and “I’m All Over It”. The biggest selling British jazz artist of all time offers originals – many of which were composed on the piano in his kitchen! -- and ripe covers that delight and amaze.

ALMOST ALICE (3-2-2010). Especially “Follow Me Down,” (30H3!) “The Technicolor Phase” (Owl City) and “Alice” (Avril Lavigne) “The Poison” (The All American Rejects) and “White Rabbit” (Grace Potter and The Nocturnals). A spunky and original collection of youthful alternative and modern tracks combines fuels force behind the new Alice in Wonderland soundtrack.

SOLDIER OF LOVE – Sade [2-9-2010]. Especially “Solider of Love,” “The Moon and the Sky” and “Bring Me Home.” It’s been ten years since Sade dropped her last album, and we welcome the return of her sultry, emotionally-rich tracks.

COOLER THAN ME E.P. – Mike Posner [12-29-2009]. Especially “Cooler than Me,” “Evil Woman” and “Drug Dealer Girl.“ Detroit-bred and Duke-educated alt-hip-hopper offers a phresh array of original tracks.