Fucked Up - "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Who is better equipped to give us a holiday song other than hardcore band Fucked Up? With their large, bearded singer they at least have the look. For this single, they collected quite the list (albeit pretty random) of artists to contribute a little bit of their holiday cheer. Although you cannot really tell when who is singing, the song is pretty catchy yet I don't think kids in the future will be begging their parents to "please play that Christmas song by Fucked Up, oh pretty please."

Sage Francis - "Gimme Dat"

Hands down, the best Rhode Island based Socialist rapper combining forces with the best Canadian DJ/Producer/Rapper/Lynch-fan on the scene? Yes, please. And classic cover art for this single from the always outspoken and unabashed Sage Francis.

Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM

Charlotte Gainsbourg is a busy woman. Somehow during her acting career she has found the time to make albums of breezy french-inspired pop. However, for her third album she found a fellow busybody in musical chameleon Beck to help in putting together her latest effort IRM. And the differences are quite noticeable from the outset. The instrumentations found here are very similar to Beck's more recent efforts Modern Guilt and The Information. Stripped down recording practices in which live instruments are used; quite different from the late 90s Beck that brought him so much praise and popularity. The problem is that even though things click well between the two (most noticeably on the duet "Heaven Can Wait"), things never progress much further than that of a "pop album." Songs are brief and formulaic with few moments of "wow" occurring. Still, props have to be given to both to not only find the time to record this album but also produce something that may not blow minds but will, ultimately, satisfy.

3.5/5.0

Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM

Kid Cudi - "Pursuit of Happiness"

Ever since the release of Cudi's excellent (if not confusing and depressing) debut earlier this year, there has been the wonder when "Pursuit of Happiness" will be made an official single. Cudi, with the help of indie-heroes-in-the-making MGMT and criminally underappreciated Ratatat, have made a great song. While it might not be typical "single" material it is an amazing song that stands up against anything at all recorded in 2009. While the video is nothing special it does make you want to find something supersweet to do for New Year's Eve (party-wise that is).

Blakroc - Blakroc

How was one supposed to react to the reports that Ohio's blues/rock duo the Black Keys were going to release a Damon Dash produced rap album? Perplexed was a common initial reaction. Then a tracklist appeared and high powered names were found across the board. All good signs yet the final result is much like the initial response: perplexed. It's obvious that Blakroc does not hold any of the Keys' better material (that is probably going to be used on their next album) so what were left with is very generic grimy garage rock with rappers delivering their verses half-assed and completely uninspired (the one exception is the track "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)" which blends the genres nicely). Not sure what the Keys were attempting to accomplish with this release; that they can be edgy and step into realms beyond that of their comfort zone (which they are awesome in)? Blakroc is merely an interesting concept and, unfortunately, not all that interesting of an album.

2.7/5.0

Blakroc - Blakroc

Edan - Echo Party

After his excellent 2005 album Beauty and the Beat, Edan pretty much disappeared. But now, after years of laying low, he's back. Boston's unlikely hip-hop community member has released a 30 minutes long mixtape filled with his odd hip-hop/psychedelic fusion, however, his raps are, sadly, absent here. From his earlier releases it's obvious what his influences are (musically, lyrically) and on Echo Party he continues to pull from these sources. Old school rap samples run amok on this thing whereas his more trippy/stoney/psychedelic side takes a smaller role in the Echo Party final results (not to deny that there is far more here found than just about any other mixtape from the past two years). This is just a good example of what a mixtape sounded like circa 1985 (if they had better technology and a slight lean towards 60s/70s psychedelica).

Edan - Echo Party

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

Ah, the supergroup. As far back as Crosby and Stills meeting with Nash and deciding to do an album with Mr. Young, the supergroup album can be a great thing or a complete flop. Those seem to be the only options. 2009 saw a few supergroups but Them Crooked Vultures are a cut above the rest. Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones, and Josh Homme hinted at a collaboration years ago but it wasn't until now that it came to form. The self-titled debut comes off as a Queens of a Stone Age album with Jones holding down production duties. And this is a good thing. Last time Homme and Grohl teamed up for a Queens of the Stone Age album the result was the best QOTSA album in their catalogue (Songs For the Deaf). Here, Homme turns out crunchy riffs and Grohl seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself on the drums (he is a tops drummer regardless of his role in his world famous Foo Fighters), all the while Jones (now a producing master) keeps things hard, catchy, and rocking.

4.1/5.0

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

Chip Tha Ripper - The Cleveland Show

Seth MacFarlane reference aside, Cleveland's Chip has released a damn fine mixtape. With the help of Mick Boogie and Terry Urban (both of whom have released some excellent mixtapes in 2009), Chip rolls through 27 tracks of confidence-filled entertainment. While 27 tracks is a lot (there are very few interludes), the real mystery is when will this guy release a legitimate debut? His close pal Kid Cudi has been under the hype microscope for well over a year (since "Day 'N Nite") and released his excellent debut earlier this year (one of the year's best, but not on first listen, it grows on you). You would think that Cudi would pull his buddy along for the ride (there is talk of a collaboration album). Or maybe the fame and touring with Lady Gaga has gone to his head. Regardless, this is a great mixtape with some truly great single-worthy songs ("Get Down" is ridiculous).

Chip Tha Ripper - The Cleveland Show

Vampire Weekend - "Cousins"

The youngsters of Vampire Weekend exploded onto the scene in late 2007 and, subsequently, released their debut in January of 2008. The result was not only a superhype machine but also a pleasing album that met the (highly anticipated) expectations. Now, word has come down that the boys have completed a sophomore effort, Contra, which will hits shelves on January 11. In correlation with that news came a single/video for a track off the upcoming release entitled "Cousins." The song is frantic and all over the place with its afro-rhythms and the video compliments the song's energy. In the end, it's more Vampire Weekend-like music from Vampire Weekend.

The King Khan & BBQ Show - Invisible Girl

One thing can be said about the duo of King Khan and BBQ (Mark Sultan), they know how to have fun (just ask their manager who got busted the other week on tour with a sack of shrooms). Their latest collaborative effort Invisible Girl is more bare-bones garage rock spliced with doo-wop that doesn't wow but it doesn't disappoint either and at no point do they take themselves too seriously. Over simple rhythms and fairly generic lyrics (girls, partying) they have the ability to instill the fact that they are having fun and isn't that what it's all about? Ripping through a barrage of songs (just 12 actually), Invisible Girl manages to touch upon a number of styles (punk, doo-wop, straightforward rock, and general weirdness/offensiveness (ie., "Animal Party" "Tastebuds") while maintaining that "good times" vibe. Like it or hate it, you cannot deny their desire to embody the spirit of rock 'n roll.

3.5/5.0

The King Khan & BBQ Show - Invisible Girl

Why? - "These Hands/January Twenty Something"

When Why? (now a band and not just the moniker of lead singer Yoni Wolf) released Alopecia early last year, they not only released one of the year's better albums but also took themselves out of the underground rap/indie scene and into the, well, indie scene. The album perfectly blended Wolf's zany, tongue-in-cheek raps with a completely textbook indie background; and the results were great. So when September brought around the release of the followup, Eskimo Snow, expectations were somewhat high, and the results, although good, were not Alopecia good. Instead, Why? seemed to focus more of the rock/pop aspect. Here is a good example of the album as a whole with the video for the album's first two tracks "These Hands" and "January Twenty Something." The video starts out promising with a weird hero-like scenario but things transform into merely a "oh, that's what the band looks like" video. Good tracks and good album (even if it's not Alopecia good).