My Music Picks for 2009 - Top 50 Songs: Part 4

Almost done! Here is Part 4...

(And if you missed any of the previous posts, check out Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3 when you get a chance.)

31. Sanctuary | PPP | R&B/Neo-soul. I've always associated the Platinum Pied Pipers (PPP) with "hardcore" R&B (i.e., fused with hip-hop and gangster-ish singing), but this sultry ballad really took me by surprise.

Listen to Sanctuary on MySpace

32. So Good Today | Ben Westbeech | Dance/Jazz. I stumbled upon So Good Today on one of the many great house/dance mixes/podcasts I downloaded last year and it took me awhile to find it because I thought it was by Jason Mraz! Oops-- Sorry Ben!



33. Mirrors | Dam Funk | Funk/Instrumental. From the mad scientists at Stones Throw comes Dam Funk-- a funk demi-god who has traveled from the 80's through space and time to pour his hot chocolate funk gospel over the bland soul of our society. After I heard Mirrors, I immediately joined Dam Funk's Funky Church. A-funkin'-men.



34. Bad Day | Asher Roth & Jazze Pha | Hip-Hop/Pop. Like most people, I can't help but compare Asher Roth to Eminem. And it's not because of his skin color. Ash reminds me of Em when Em was poorer and seemingly happier. Em was a cat who could make you laugh with a story and make you cower in fear in a rap battle. On Bad Day, Ash cleverly rhymes about a terrible travel day-- something we can all relate to oh so well...



35. Just Ain't Gonna Work Out | Mayer Hawthorne | R&B/Retro. I wrote about Mayer Hawthore, another Stones Throw product, earlier this year, so I won't repeat myself. Just sit back and enjoy the smoothness...



36. Stick Together | Phil The Agony | Hip-Hop/Hardcore. Released on Earth Day, Phil the Agony's Think Green eco-friendly album was printed on 100% recycled materials and he even partnered up with the National Global Releaf Program to have a tree planted for every copy of Think Green that was purchased! Heee-larious. Now back to the album: Think Green is a nice collection of ass-shakin' tracks and Phil's signature hardcore-but-funny rhymes, with Stick Together being a neck-breaking standout that I would play 2 and 3 times in a row.

Listen to Stick Together on Rhapsody

37. I'd Have It Just The Way We Were | White Denim | Rock/Experimental. White Denim (of Austin, TX) was one of favorite rock bands in 2007 and they returned in 2009 with their new album Fits. Fortunately, they came back better than ever. I'd Have It Just The Way We Were is just one of many unpredictable and adventurous songs on one of my favorite albums of the year.

38. Days Like This | Spinna & Ticklah Club Mix Shaun Escoffery | Dance/House. Brilliance is taking a decent song from Shaun Escoffery and handing it over to hip-hop/house DJ/producer Spinna and reggae/dub specialist Ticklah. The result is one of the few modern house classics that moves me like the NY and Chicago deep house songs of old.



39. Trolley Stop | Jay Electronica | Hip-Hop/Retro. I had been waiting desperately for a Jay Electronica album to drop in 2009 and I was fortunate to discover his "mixtape" What the F*ck is a Jay Electronica?. Wow. More on this album in a later post. On Trolley Stop, Jay briefly takes you back in time and shows you how the Dirty South can work the crowd like The Sugarhill Gang, Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.



40. Honeymoon | Phoenix | Pop/Downtempo. Honeymoon (by French pop group Phoenix) is just one of those songs that helps me relax after a long day and forgot all of my problems for 5 minutes. Lay back on the couch and treat yourself...



Part 5 of 5 coming in a few days, followed by 2009 superlatives!