What's The Cool Jams?

XV - The Kick

I cannot stop listening to this song. The use of Hans Zimmer’s Inception masterpiece “Time” is genius. The artist is XV (aka Donovan Johnson), a 26 year old rapper from Wichita, KS. He just signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records in July. Well deserved! Hopefully this means we’ll be hearing a lot more of him in the future…

“I guess its deaded with me and you both have left it… in eternal sunshine but my spotless mind won’t forget it.”

5/5 Amy Poehlers:

Goodwill & Hook N Sling - Take You Higher (Club Mix)

It has been a while, yes it has. Musically at least. If there is one song that could make me write about music again, it is this one. Everything about it is beautiful. The remix samples the song “Big Jet Plane” by Australian duo Angus & Julia Stone. There’s a 99% chance you will fall in love with this song.

“I’m gonna take you for a ride on a big jet plane…

I rate it 5/5 Amy Poehlers:

Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me

The wait is over & it was so worth it. I am loving it so much!

What are your thoughts? Love it or hate it?!

Click here for more Britney Spears.

I rate it 5/5 Amy Poehlers:

Crystal Castles feat. Robert Smith - Not In Love

What a great way to start off the new year - songs from other bloggers’ Top of 2010 lists. This time of the year presents a wonderful opportunity to find great songs that you may have skipped over the year before. One that I found is “Not In Love” by Crystal Castles. It’s a cover of the 1984 classic by Platinum Blonde & features the vocals of The Cure’s Robert Smith. Brilliant! Platinum who? This cover takes the original right out of the 80’s and makes it current - similar to what Shiny Toy Guns did last year with Major Tom. I love it & that’s all I have to say about it. Welcome to 2011 everyone! Are you digging the remake?

Click here for more Crystal Castles.

“Fascination ends… here we go again…”

I rate it 4/5 Amy Poehlers:

DJ Earworm - United State of Pop 2010 (Don’t Stop The Pop)

Each year, a tremendously talented DJ by the name of Earworm creates an infectious mash-up of the year’s top 25 hits (as deemed by Billboard, but what do they know?). While I’m not initially loving this year’s mash-up as much as last years, I have no doubt that it will be a huge viral smash. I definitely think that the 2nd half is better than the first. I think what’s missing is a main thread that ties everything together. There’s too much trying to tie the song together & it comes off a little less organized than last year’s creation. But, I am just being overly critical about my first few listens - the mix is amazing. As you know, it wouldn’t be posted here if I didn’t like it. As for DJ Earworm, he’s pretty much a genius for having created this annual viral tradition for himself. His site crashed shortly after uploading this year’s mash-up due to the heavy amount of traffic. Bravo to him & happy new year to you all! Do you like the new mash-up? Do you think last year’s was better?

Click here to download the mash-up for free!

Click here to watch the music video.

Click here for more DJ Earworm.

I rate it 3/5 Amy Poehlers:

Diddy-Dirty Money featuring Skylar Grey - Coming Home

I first heard Diddy’s “Dirty Money” last Spring when they performed their debut single “Hello Good Morning” on American Idol, the same night Usher & Wil.i.am performed “OMG”. Well, I think it’s obvious how big of a dud “Hello Good Morning” was in comparison to “OMG”. I really thought that would be the end of Diddy’s “Dirty Money” group, but here they are defying expectations with the release of their 5th single, “Coming Home”. An artist releasing 5 singles & only the 5th one becoming a hit?! That is unheard of. It will be interesting to see how it performs on the charts. It’s already doing really well by cracking the top 10 on iTunes, as well as the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song reminds me of Eminem’s “Stan” featuring Dido (2000) & Fort Minor’s “Where’d You Go” (2006). Aside from a few key lines in the verses, it’s all about the chorus! So props to you Skylar Grey, because I think you make this song a lot of what it is. “Coming Home” comes from Diddy-Dirty Money’s debut album, Last Train To Paris. It was produced by Alex da Kid, who is responsible for hits like B.o.B’s “Airplanes” & Eminem’s “Love The Way You Lie”. Are you feeling it?

“I’m feeling like there’s nothing that I can’t try… And if you with me put your hands high…”

Click here for more Diddy-Dirty Money.

I rate it 3/5 Amy Poehlers:

Adele - Someone Like You

I was waiting for a high quality version of this song before I posted, but I just couldn’t wait any longer. Everything about this song is beautiful - the way it’s written, the way it’s played (it’s a recording of a live performance), & the way it’s sung. Why is Adele so bloody brilliant? No, really Adele I want to know. I was obsessed with her debut album & from the sound of this song & “Rolling In The Deep” (her official first single), I am sure to be in love with her new album as well. Adele’s sophomore album, 21, will be out February 22nd here in the US. The UK gets it January 24th, which means you can probably get it January 10th if you know the right people (and by people I mean websites). What do you think of this precious gem of a song?

Click here for more Adele.

“Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead…”

I rate it 4/5 Amy Poehlers:

William Fitzsimmons - I Don’t Feel It Anymore (George Raquet Remix)

What a lovely song. Very calm, very smooth, very relaxing. Set to the beat of heart, “I Don’t Feel It Anymore” is a song about letting go. The song comes from William Fitzsimmons’ 2008 album, The Sparrow & The Crow. I found it on someone’s (Bradley Crain) Facebook page - it was MTB (Meant To Be). I’ve listened to it 5 times & it made my music blog - it must be good, right? What do you think?!

Click here for more William Fitzsimmons.

“Oh take it all away… I don’t feel it anymore…”

I rate it 3/5 Amy Poehlers: