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Ready? Let's close it out. And this was no small feat, trust me. Not easy. My:

Top 15 Tracks of 2008.
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15 - Liquid Spirits - Music [site] - Artist from the Netherlands who surprised me with their title track. This track had me when it first played. Love the chorus.
14 - Erik Rico - Making Love [myspace] - Erik is an independant artist. I really enjoyed his album this year. Surprising in it's simplicity, but very enjoyable.
13 - Peter Hadar - Laugh Together [myspace] - My favorite cut off of Well Dressed for the Art Show. When he sings "we say we look good together / but can we be goofy wherever" - I swear it's like he knew me. Love that line.
12 - Q-Tip - Believe (feat. D'Angelo) [myspace | purchase] - From Renaissance. It's so good, I use it as my ringtone for my G1. This also just accelerates the need for D'Angelo to drop something this year.
11 - Lalah Hathaway - 1 Mile [site | purchase] my favorite track from Self Portrait. Solid album from her- one of the most underappreciatd artists in my opinion.
10 - Luisito Quintero - Love Remains The Same (feat. Blaze) [purchase] - I admit that I'm a house fan, and defintiely a fan of Blaze. This track is my one of my many, many head nodders featuring them. Luisito Quintero's Summer Madness is solid in and of itself, this is icing on the cake.
09 - Giovanca - Free [myspace | purchase] - I'm a fan of Benny Sings and also Wouter Hamel. Giovanca, also from Dox Recrods has a very good album with Subway Silence. The album itself is great, but this track, with a serious break in the middle filled with horns and percussion, is just golden.
08 - Coultrain - Green [myspace] Jealousy neve sounded so good. Love the southern touch and the violins. He's also doing some work with Platinum Pied Pipers this year. Gotta be great.
07 - Jimmy Abney - Hello [myspace | purchase] Such an understated love track that gets me every time I hear it. I played it countless times, along with the album Return to Forever. Osunlade did a great job.
06 - Foreign Exchange - If She Breaks Your Heart - And now I can say this- Foreign Exchange's Leave It All Behind is absolutely one of my top albums of the year. Picking a song out there is difficult at best, but Yazarah's redux of Stevie Wonder's If She Breaks Your Heart from Jungle Fever is absolutely incredible.
05 - Beady Belle - Tranquil Flight [site | purchase] - "rock me till I'm leavin' reality behind." Beady Belle with the always killer bassline, took lyrics, seriosly infectious choruses, and soulful vocal accentuations that make me shake my head every time I hear this track.
04 - Incognito - I've Been Waiting [purchase] - Always a big fan of Incognito, believe that. Classic, classic stuff from them. Maysa's vocals, horns and bassline. Did I mention Maysa? Yeah.
03 - Reel People - Perfect Sky featuring Joy Rose [purchase] - Reel People's 7 Ways To Wonder is also one of my top albums of 2008. This track stands out with it's layering of keyboards and was my wakeup song for the spring and summer of 2008. Bliss in stereo. Everytime I hear it, I smile.
02 - Swing Out Sister - My State Of Mind [site] - You might call me quirky, but hear me out. SOS always had my attention, and this track just made it sweeter. Taking old school with real instruments, add handclaps and background chatter. Then add sampling into the mix. Impeccable stuff.
01 - Jazzanova - Look What You're Doin' To Me Featuring Phonte [purchase] - Arresting, arresting track, pulls me to the end and absolutely leaves me hanging. Every.single.time. Phonte and Jazzanova killed it in 2008, believe that.

I could type this all night talking about these tracks, which I had to compile from about 50 tracks based on number of plays and my in-rotation podcasts of the year. I also restricted myself from just one track per artist. Jazzanova and Reel People would have easily had two tracks on this list- no question. From my assessment, this was more on the mid-tempo side this year, but that's okay, because I'm a mellow kinda guy. I'll be updating this list with my honorable mentions and also listing my top 8 albums of 2008, so stay tuned. As usual, take a listen to the podcast for more info. Special thanks to Foundation Media, Ariel Publicity, Soulbounce, and Macedonia. Take it light.

The last of 2008, here for you....

In Rotation: Volume 20, December 2008.
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01 - Yogi featuring Briohny Thomas - Sumthin (Original Mix) [myspace]
02 - Joey Negro Presents The Sunburst Band - Our Lives Are Shaped [myspace]
03 - Jazzanova - Let Me Show Ya Featuring Paul Randolph [purchase]
04 - Ben Westbeech - Get Silly [myspace]
05 - Eric Campbell Presents K'Alyn - Fall In & Out of Love [site]
06 - Liquid Spirits - If You Don't Love Me Ft Phonte [site]
07 - K-SON - That's Music [cd baby]
08 - Jazzanova - Lucky Girl Featuring Paul Randolph [purchase]
09 - Flowriders - Matter [site]
10 - The Rurals - Brand New Day [site]
11 - Foreign Exchange - Valediction [site]
12 - Jean Baylor - Made To Love You [site]

Mellow house by Yogi featuring Brihonny Thomas and The Sunburst Band starts this whole thing off nicely. I absolutely love those two tracks. It also stands to reason that Jazzanova's Of All The Things is one of my favorite albums of the year, which is why Let Me Show You follows up so nicely. Thanks to Jazzanova, I was also introduced to Paul Westbeech which is why I had to pick up Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life. Get Silly is a great track that sets it off nicely - and I'm still marinating on the album.

Thanks to the greatness of Twitter (check here if you want to find out what I do everyday), I was introduced to Eric Campbell and was greatful to receive his blesssing for Fall In An Out Of Love, an outstanding track with vocals by K. Alyn. Look forward to hearing more from him in 2009, and getting to know the guy better. Liquid Spirits' new CD Music features tracks with Leon Ware and Phonte, and puts me in the mindset of Quintessence which is why I like the track, If You Don't Love Me.

K-SON's That's Music is a solid track that prompted me to go to CD Baby and pick up his CD. It stands to reason that I also appreciate Jazzanova's Lucky Girl which is an absolutely jazzy solid track. The Flowriders' Matter is a nice neo-soul track which prompted me to get both their CDs, so check them out. I then end the goodness with The Rural's Brand New Day, Foreign Exchange's Valedictorian, and a track from Jean Baylor (formerly of Zhane), Made To Love You.

As usual, take a listen to the podcast for more info. Special thanks to Foundation Media, Ariel Publicity, Soulbounce, and Macedonia. Take it light.

As you know, Mr. Fresh has been dropping Sunday Soundtracks for some time now which has been a solid mainstay for every Sunday for me as well as many other fans. Since I've been busy with Old School Wednesdays it's not easy to find time to drop my In Rotations. When I was finally able to find the time, it became more challenging to try to find a slot to be able to provide the podcast as there are so many great ones being dropped on the regular. In fact, I believe at last count I listen to about 10 every week. Mr. Fresh has changed his schedule for his Sunday Soundtracks to every two weeks, which enables me (with his blessing, of course) to be able to drop my In Rotations once every two weeks Sundays. Without further ado....

In Rotation: Volume 18, August 2008.
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01 - Ivana Santilli - Hollywood (Nothing Over U) [info]
02 - Reel People - Upside featuring Darien [purchase]
03 - Maya Azucena - This Time [site | hi-perspective | purchase]
04 - Incognito - Happy People [purchase]
05 - Robin Thicke - Magic [video | purchase]
06 - Dionne Farris - Every Day [myspace]
07 - Jah-C feat. Cavalier - Soul Banger [video | purchase]
08 - J*DaVeY - Slooow [purchase]
09 - Naked Music - Sticky Situation [purchase]
10 - Peter Hadar - Laugh Together [myspace]
11 - Keelay & Zaire - Alright With Me feat. D Minor and Phonte of Little Brother [myspace]
12 - Coultrain - Green [myspace]
13 - Plantlife - Got 2 Find A Better Way [myspace]
14 - Solar Kollektiv Orchestra - Atlantic Radio [purchase]
15 - Argentina - Stolen Identity [myspace | purchase]

Ivana's Hollywood is one of the tracks from the anticipated LP TO.NY. As I've mentioned before, Reel People's Seven Ways to Wonder is one of my favorite albums so far this year, and Upside is one of the great summer songs that's been rotating lately. The same can also be said by This Time, a track from Hi-Perpective's Expansions LP with vocals by Maya Azucena. Incognito's Happy People with vocals by Tony Momrelle is followed by Robin Thicke's Magic, from his upcoming LP Something Else.

I'm a fan of Dionne Farris and had to wait for a long time for a successor to the album Wild Seed, Wild Flower. The album Signs of Life is a nice edition to my catalog. I'm hoping to see her this year. If it's any indication by the track Soul Banger, Jah-C will be one to watch this year. I'll be on the lookout of more from him.

The tracks Slooow by J*Davey, Sticky Situaton by Naked Music, and Laugh Together by Peter Hadar give me more of the mellow groove that is definitely my weakness, as you can see. This is followed by Keelay and Zaire's track Alright With Me with rhymology by D Minor and Phonte, an absolutely solid track. I don't think I can say enough about Coultrain's track Green, from his LP The Adventures of Seymour Liberty which is in heavy rotation and is in the running for one of my favorite albums of the year. I'm still rockin' Plantlife's Time Traveller of course, and I'm antipating more from Solar Kollektiv Orchestra, which will be a nice surprise if Atlantic Radio is any indication. I then end this with of my favorite instrumentals of this year, Stolen Identity's Argentina.

As usual, take a listen to the podcast for more info. Special thanks to Foundation Media, Ariel Publicity, Mr. Fresh, and Macedonia. Take it light.

Let's do this. A little late, but worth the wait.

In Rotation: Volume 16, May 2008.
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01 - Incognito - Step Aside [purchase]
02 - Reel People - Anything You Want featuring Tasita D'mour [purchase]
03 - Domu Presents Pete Simpson - Ain't No Fool [myspace]
04 - Sy Smith - Fly Away With Me [site | purchase]
05 - Lizz Fields - Brooklyn Flowers [site | purchase]
06 - Poetiquette and Hannah Khemoh - Not Complaining [myspace | purchase info below]
07 - Nicolay and Kay - Through The Wind [purchase]
08 - Dream/Clone - Get Amped [site/purchase]
09 - Aaron Jerome - Late Night Mission (The Bump) feat Yungun [myspace | purchase]
10 - Nathan Haines Feat Rich Medina - Springtime Rain (Drum And Bass Mix) [info | purchase]
11 - Kissey Asplund - 6AM [myspace | purchase]
12 - Reel People - It Will Be featuring Tony Momrelle [purchase]
13 - Lina - Everyday [myspace | purchase]
14 - Beady Belle - Tranquil Flight [site | purchase]

The blend is kicked off with tracks from the new CDs from Incognito (Step Aside) , Reel People (Anything You Wantwith vocals by Tasita D'mour), and Domu Presents Pete Simpson (Ain't No Fool). The next two tracks are from two people I've had the pleasure in meeting, Sy Smith and Lizz Fields, with tracks from their new CDs Conflict and Pleasureville respectivelly.

Poetiquette's Not Complaining is followed by Nicolay and Kay's Through The Wind. This brings us to NYC's hip hop trio Dream/Clone with Get Amped, a nice energetic track. The energy from Dream/Clone blends right into Late Night Mission, where Aaron Jerome and Yungun tell the story of a topsy turvy late night. The next two tracks put an electro spin on both hip hop and funk - Nathan Haines' Springtime Rain (accentuated with the flow of no other than Rich Medina) and Kissey Asplund's 6AM.

Kissey is followed up with another track from Reel People, featuring vocals from Tony Momrelle with It Will Be, and a track from Lina's new CD Morning Star, Everyday. The blend is then capped off wih Beady Belle's heartwarming track, Tranquil Flight.

As usual, take a listen to the podcast for more info. Special thanks to Foundation Media, Ariel Publicity, and Macedonia. Take it light.

More info:

Poetiquette, Hannah Khemoh
"Not Complaining" (mp3)
from "Lyrically Speaking LP (Pt. 1 of 2)"
(Artizan Music)

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Let's do this.

In Rotation: Volume 15, February 2008.
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01- Ralf Gum featuring Monique Bingham - Kissing Strangers - [purchase]
02- Alix Alvarez featuring Nate James - Not To Mention - [purchase]
03- Chris Ballin - Full-Time Lover [more info below]
04- Reel People feat. Tony Momrelle & Imaani - Amazing [video | info]
05- Simbad featuring Rob Li - Here We Stand [purchase]
06- 410 Pharaohs - Real Fresh - [video]
07- Donn - All The Beauty [info | purchase]
08- Samantha James - Right Now
09- Stacy Epps - Floatin' [download]
10- Beady Belle with India.Arie- Self-Fulfilling [purchase]
11- Vaceo - Room For All [purchase]
12- Albright - Tainted [purchase | video]
13- Caron Wheeler - Still Running [info/purchase]
14- Jean Grae & 9th Wonder - Love Thirst (Clean) [info]
15- Kia El Amin - Creative [info]

The blend is kicked off with two dance/house tracks - one with Ralf Gum w/Monique Bingham and another from Alix Alvarez with Nate James. I have got to say that I've been graced with more house music...more GOOD house music....than I have for a while. Chris Ballin- whose voice should sound familiar to you (Beneath The Surface should ring a bell)- comes forward with a track from Do It Right called Full Time Lover. Reel People march right out of the gate with a tune from their just-released Seven Ways To Wonder CD entitled Amazing.

Simbad then comes forward with Rob Li with Here We Stand, which brings us to a nice hip-hop track from the 410 Pharoahs entitled Real Fresh which I'm definitely feeling. This is followed by a track from DJ Junior's Excursions CD, entitled All The Beauty by Donn. Samantha James keeps it flowing with another track from Rise entitled Right Now, bringing us to Stacy Epps (Madvillain anyone?) with Floatin'.

I don't think I can say enough about Beady Belle. Her Belvedere CD is not to be missed. India.Arie is graced on the upifiting track Self-Fulfilling. Rainbow Soul keeps it flowing with Vaceo's Room For All, flowing right into Albright's great reworking of a track we remember from back in the day, Tainted (Love).

Former D-Influence members Kwame Kwaten and Steve Marten deliver the goods with the D'Vas After Hours CD, which has a stellar track with lead vocals from no other than Caron Wheeler called Still Running. Finishing up the podcast on a great note is Jean Graw & 9th Wonder with Love Thirst and Kia El Amin's track Creative from DC Soul In The Cut's album Share A Moment of Love.

As usual, take a listen to the podcast for more info. Special thanks to Foundation Media for keepin' me aware of good music, particularly the 410 Pharoahs and Jean Grae. Take it light.

More info:

Chris Ballin
"Full-Time Lover" (mp3)
from "Do It Right"
(The Intimate Music Group)

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Buy at eMusic
Buy at Amazon
Buy at mTraks Download
More On This Album