RollnSmokeRecords Presents: Best Songs of 2010

Best Songs of 2010

1. “Felicia” – The Constellations [4-13-2010]. A good groovin’ rock track – nee a psychedelic soul-rock explosion -- from emerging band out of ATL.

2. “Cooler Than Me” -- Mike Posner (featuring Big Sean) [1-26-2010]. R&B pop track with easy flow and dance sensibility.

3. “The High Road” – Broken Bells [1-15-10]. The lead single from forthcoming album by Danger Mouse and The Shins’ James Mercer is dreamy, alt-space pop.

4. “Carry Out” – Timbaland featured Justin Timberlake [2-22-2010]. The dynamic duo pairs up again to churn out this boomin’ R&B dance track.

5. “Paradise Circus” – Massive Attack [2-9-2010]. Typically mellow and ambient track from Brit pioneers of trip-hop.

6. “There Goes My Baby” – Usher [2-9-2010]. With irresistible melodies, this easy ballad gets you singing right along with the R&B guru from Hot-Lanta who’s moving it back here to his roots.
7. “Use Somebody” – Pixie Lott [1-27-2010]. Young, emerging British siren covers already fantastic song by Kings of Leon in lovely acoustic ballad.

8. “Answer to Yourself” – The Soft Pack [2-2-2010]. Old-school sounding Garage rock from San Diego group who originally called themselves The Muslims but switched gears for this self-titled debut album.

9. “I Don’t Care” – Raheem DeVaughn [3-2-2010]. With a smooth 80’s sound this new groovin’ R&B track will get you movin’, and go ahead and let the haters keep hatin’. Not our problem.

10. “Drummer Boy” – Debi Nova [1-19-2010]. A pop debut single that’s climbing the international dance charts by chica linda from San Jose, Costa Rica.
11. “Mystery Zone” – Spoon [1-19-10}. While slightly monotonous in pitch, this track plays like a pop-hit-in-the-making from these indie rockers out of Austin, Texas.

12. “Healing Hands” – Citizen Cope [1-19-10]. It’s been a while for Citizen Cope – but here it is – a new, mellow alt-track by Clarence Greenwood – the man & the band – out of Memphis.

13. “Symphonies” -- Dan Black (2-16-2010). Combining symphonic backbeats with careful vocals from UK’s genre-mixing Wonky Pop movement.

14. “Hold Yuh” – Gyptian [3-9-2010]. Tight, roots-minded reggae by emerging artist from St. Andrew, Jamaica. Ya, mon.

15. “As We Enter” – Nas and Damien Jr. Gong Marley [2-23-2010]. A quick-moving, tit-for-tat hip-hop mixed with reggae duet with old school background beats.

16. “One Way Road” – John Butler Trio [2-9-2010]. Cali born and Australia-bred, John Butler has spanned the breadth of guitar styles over the years, and on this single release, he hits a toe-tappin’ jam.

17. “Animal” – Neon Trees (single) [1-26-10]. An energetic single release off Island/Def Jam label rocks alternative groove with catchy, pop background and strong vocals.

18. “I Will Live on Islands” – Josh Rouse [3-9-2010]. Baroque Pop with a retro-feel written by singer-songwriter, native Nebraskan and world traveler when he lived in Spain ( -- half the album is performed in Spanish!).

19. “Rocket” – Goldfrapp [3-10-2010]. With a pulsing dance beat, by signature pop rocker/keyboardist/composer out of Bath, England.

20. “On Time” – Disco Biscuits featuring tuPhace [3-16-2010] A grooving track with a disco wind by eclectic U Penn jam band.

21. “Break Your Heart” -- Taio Cruz (featuring Ludacris) [2-23-2010]. This is the third smash single from emerging pop R&B singer out of London who wrote Rihanna’s smash hit “Umbrella.”

22. “Take Over the World” – Kidz in the Hall [3-9-2010]. Pop hip-hop track by new-gen MC/DJ (-- friends from UPenn --) duo out of Chicago.

23. “Aint Leavin’ without You” – Jaheim [2-5-2010]. With an upbeat, 80’s Jeffrey Osborne-like sound, Jaheim lays out power R&B soul and boudoir jams.

24. “Poison” – The All-American Rejects (3-2-2010). A pretty acoustic number with harmonized vocals in support of the new ALMOST ALICE soundtrack.

25. “Drown in the Now” – The Crystal Method featuring Matisyahu (1-19-2010). Off latest EP, a curious mix of reggae and eerie electronica re-mixes that’s emerging as a big hit on the dance floor charts.

26. “Tightrope” – Janelle Monae featuring Big Boi [2-23-2010). An upbeat, sometimes abstract, original, old school-sounding R&B track with cameo from Outkast frontman Big Boi.

27. “July Flame” – Laura Veirs [1-12-2010]. A Colorado native who now calls Portland, Oregon, home sounds a lot like a modern-day Suzanne Vega with her spare musical arrangements and lovely voice.

28. “The Cave” Mumford & Sons [2-16-2010]. UK neo-folk quartet lays out banjos and acoustic guitars for a down-home sounding rock track.

29. “Alice” – Avril Lavigne (3-2-2010). The Canadian pop sensation adds her two cents to the new Almost Alice soundtrack with some serious vocal pipes.

30. “Wide Eyes” -- Local Natives [2-16-2010]. A plucky debut album from an L.A. band, with ethereal and gentle harmonies influenced by Pacific Northwest sounds.

31. “Window Seat”- Erykah Badu [2-9-2010]. Latest single from signature-sounding R&B earth-goddess super-songstress from forthcoming album.

32. “White Rabbit” – Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (3-2-2010). As part of the new ALMOST ALICE soundtrack, this version of the 70’s hippy-druggie classic is down with less rock and features clear, bright vocals and a trippy close.

33. “Your Love” – Nicki Minaj [2-8-2010]. Emerging R&B duet mistress out of Queens uses the backbeat and refrain to Annie Lennox’s track “No More I Love You’s” in this easy pop rap track.

34. “Driving Me Crazy” – Sam Adams [3-4-10]. A feel-good, white-boy hip-hop pop track by beloved Boston boy that is appealing to the college crowd.

35. “I’m Beamin’” – Lupe Fiasco [2-2-2010]. “See me now – just look around -- I’m beamin’” is the upbeat, up-from-the-bootstraps reverb from this single from Chicago-based Muslim MC.

36. “Get Up” – Kimberly Davis [1-12-2010]. A breakout debut single that is climbing the dance charts by R&B groove queen.

37. “White Flag Warrior” – Flobots [3-16-2010]. A hearty alternative track that juggles indie rock with indie hip-hop by innovative seven-piece band out of Denver.

38. “Memories” – David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi [2-17-2010]. With Guetta on the club beats and Kudi handling the (repetitive) lyrics, you’ve got a dance number to rock the house.

39. “Follow Me Down” – 30H!3 featuring Neon Hitch [3-2-2010]. The alt-pop duo from Boulder releases its latest hit to be included on forthcoming ALICE IN WONDERLAND soundtrack and whose sound mixes electronica with booming rock guitar & vocals.

40. “White Sky” – Vampire Weekend [1-11-10]. This easy-going track about kicking it in Manhattan, off the follow-up to their 2008 debut, sounds very much like a nod to Paul Simon’s Graceland, mixed with Vampire’s own preppy, indie-rock.

41. “Soldier of Love” – Sade [1-12-10]. The melancholy soul singer, smoking-hot in the 80’s, with angular percussion and discordant back-up vocals.

42. “Lewis Takes off his Shirt” -- Owen Pallett [1-12-10]. A spunky, orchestral-electronica alternative sound that mixes various sounds and vocals.

43. “A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)” -- Motion City Soundtrack [1-15-10]. Peppy, alternative/emo-rock from major label debut by Minneapolis and Virginia who rock big guitar and pop vibrato hooks.

44. “Angel Echoes” – Four Tet [1-26-1010]. Experimental, down-tempo track undertaken as side-project by Brit Kieren Hebden.

45. “Armada Latina” – Cypress Hill featuring Marc Antony and Pitbull [3-2-2010). A remix of the cult 70’s CSNY hippy classic with a twist of hip-hop and a dash of south of the border fiesta.

46. “Stylo” – Gorillaz [1-26-2010]. The lead track from their forthcoming album scheduled to drop in March features a distinctly electronica vibe with equally distinctive vocals by the self-conceived “fist virtual hip-hop” band.

47. “Fall Hard’ – Shout Out Louds [2-23-10]. Airy, sleek guitar and vocals from proud indie-rock neo-cons out of Stockholm.

… The following songs are currently unavailable on PlayList.com, but are definitely worth checking out …

“Don’t Stop the Music” -- Jamie Cullum [3-2-2010] With jazz-infused piano and cool percussions, Brit jazz musician covers R&B songstress.

“John Boy” – Brad Mehldau [3-12-2010]. Chill, high art jazz music – keys, horns, reeds, percussion -- in the vein of melancholy George Winston with improvisational groove.

“Feel the Music” – S.P.Y. [3-15-2010]. A contemporary dance-hop feel from Spearhead Records, this ephemeral track pulses a strobe, club beat.

“Hey, Hey” – Dennis Ferrer [2-16-2010]. With an electronica dance beat, techno king and New Yorker Ferrer utilizes female R&B vocals to mix up a new, cool club sound.

“Redemption Day” – Johnny Cash [2-27-2010]. From his final album produced by Rick Rubins, this cover over the lovely original by Sheryl Crow has a gritty, spooky spirituality to it.

“My People” – J Metro [2-10-2010]. A positive R&B track by emerging artist out of Houston that encompasses the full spectrum of beauty of people all over the world.

“Big Appetite” – ALO [2-9-10]. A twangy, easy acoustic number by the Animal Liberation Orchestra, a band-of-all-trades out of Cali.

“New Morning” – Alpha Rev [1-12-2010]. The indie band out of Austin, TX, releases this new pop single that carries sweeping melodies, pop vocals and phat guitar riffs.

“Redemption Song” – Rihanna [1-19-2010]. Featuring her singular and soulful voice, this island siren covers Bob Marley with pride and for Haiti relief.

“Money” – Matt Morris [1-12-2010]. With textured horns, vocals and acoustic guitar this clean, soulful track on Justin Timberlake’s label (and co-starred with him on the Mickey Mouse Show) by still-emerging artist out of Austin.

“The Blackest Lily” – Corrine Bailey Rae [1-26-2010]. With one part rock n roll and another part neo-soul, this is a powerhouse hit off a sophomore stab at an album by soulstress out of Leeds, England.