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The Boy Least Likely To "Be Gentle With
Me" |
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The 88 "Hide Another
Mistake" Yet another young Los Angeles band (Giant Drag, the Willowz) with a charming swagger, the 88 shift a robotic riff into a sunny chorus like a garage-rock Beach Boys. Buy: Amazon | iTunes |
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Damian Marley "Welcome to
Jamrock" An instant conscious-reggae classic, with Marley chanting acid lyrics over haunting dub reverberations, air horns, sirens, and a female voice lilting a murderous refrain. WMP: Hi :: Real: Hi Buy: Amazon | iTunes |
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Babyshambles "Fuck
Forever" Even their label's website calls it "meandering" and "mumbling," but Pete Doherty still flashes a damnable, pathetic charisma. Buy: Amazon | iTunes |
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Da Backwudz "You Gonna Luv
Me" Riding an exultantly squeaky soul sample, the Decatur, Georgia-raised duo rip rhymes like a more everydude version of OutKast. |
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Rhymefest "These Days" This witty raconteur and Kanye West affiliate (he cowrote "Jesus Walks") tosses punch lines over a jaunty swing beat, unsure whether to bust heads or stay in bed. |
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The Rakes "Retreat" These second-wave Franz Ferdinands reveal the hidden formula behind the rock-star lifestyle: wake up, hook up, walk home, come down. Repeat. MP3: Hi Buy: Amazon |
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Spank Rock "Put That Pussy on
Me" Baltimore MC Naeem Juwan and producer XXXChange turn Baltimore club/booty music into a riotous geekfest, with booming bass and cheeky rhymes. |
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Lil' Kim "Shut Up" Fake boobs? Biggie-penned hits? Haters gossip over laser-tag gunfire while rap's perjury princess proves she's choosing her words more carefully now -- and "bitch" is one of them. WMP (Dirty Version): Hi | Lo :: WMP (Clean Version): Hi | Lo Real (Dirty Version): Hi | Lo :: Real (Clean Version): Hi | Lo Buy: Amazon | iTunes |
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Nine Inch Nails "The Hand That
Feeds (DFA Remix)" This dance-club gem suggests that when Mr. Reznor commands you to get up off your knees, he's just telling you how to reach your Red Bull. Buy: iTunes |
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Lady Sovereign "Hoodie" The first lady of grime jumps around to Super Mario sproings, spoofing her own juvie-hall Cockneyisms with the most white-bread demand of the year: "Boogie-woogie with me!" Buy: Amazon | iTunes |
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Clap Your Hands Say Yeah "The Skin
of My Yellow Country Teeth" A David Byrne tremor injects Brooklyn art rock with pathos. Is this a sad song about what happens when you don't brush? Buy: Amazon |
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Big Star "Lady Sweet" With Alex Chilton whispering sweet regrets, the Memphis legends are back, unveiling a flawless power-pop ballad with harmonies that'll stop your heart. MP3: Hi Buy: Amazon | iTunes |
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OK Go "Do What You Want" "My Way" for people who shotgun beers all day, this inspirational power rock urges you to follow your dream -- especially the one in which they're playing cowbell. WMP: Hi | Lo :: Real: Hi | Lo Buy: Amazon | iTunes |
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Bloodhound Gang "Foxtrot Uniform
Charlie Kilo" "Cattle-prod the oyster ditch with the lap rocket" and a million other ways for frat-rock fans to say "I love you." WMP: Hi Buy: Amazon | iTunes |
