February Misses

Welcome to March. It's still cold and snowing, so ain't nothin' new other than this music that I'm about to hit you with. February started off slow. The first few weeks of the month, finding 10 songs that were good enough to post about seemed like a challenge, but around the mid-way point, the ball started rolling and the jams started to be unleashed.

I don't know if it was because of Valentine's Day, but February released a lot of good R&B. This list is very R&B heavy, and that's with me leaving off solid tracks from Alicia Keys and Marsha Ambrosius. The February Misses are also somewhat nostalgic, with homage being paid to Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, The Fugees and Shalamar. Enough talky-talky, go ahead an check out what you missed. You're welcome.

November Misses

Good afternoon, people. It is once again that time to show you the music you may have missed out on in November. Considering there were only 3 posts last month (one of them being October Misses), its safe to say we missed everything.

In my defense, there were only a total of 10 songs that were bookmarked for the list, so it was a slow music month. Like them or not, here are the 10 best misses from the previous month. You're welcome.

October Misses

Its been while since I've been able to put something in the Misses file. You knew I was going to bring it back, seeing that I foreshadowed the success of Pharrell's Happy, Lana Del Ray's Summer Sadness, and Lorde's Royals I had a little bit of free time today, so I decided to hit you with the 10 best songs you might have missed out on in October.

There's a lot of good diversity on this list. I hate to admit it, but Justin Goddamn Bieber almost made the list with his Hold Tight track that he released last month. If this kid pulls a Timberlake on me, so help me god!

Anyway, let's begin shall we. Oh yeah, before I forget, you're welcome.

New Music: Aloe Blacc - Love Is The Answer (produced by Pharrell)

I remember a few years ago this man was telling us how he needed a dollar, now he's doing songs with Pharrell.  Looks like he got that dollar and then some. Love Is The Answer is from Aloe Blacc's Wake Me Up EP, and I am REALLY feeling it. Aloe's voice has that powerful and gruffy Roy Ayers/Bill Withers vibe to it that I dig. As for the beat, (I hate to do it to you again, Pharrell, but...), it has the perfect blend of bounce and groove to it, but it kind of sounds like Pharrell borrowed from, stole from, paid homage to parts of Herb Alpert's 1979 jazz classic Rise.

It might sound familiar because Diddy also borrowed, stole, sampled, Diddy-ed elements of it for The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 hit Hypnotize. Great minds think alike, I guess. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal to me, but Pharrell kind of annoyed me when he played the Vanilla Ice card when he was questioned about his last allegations of musical theft (the eerie similarities between Robin Thicke's summer smash Blurred Lines and Marvin Gaye's classic Got To Give It Up). Here's what he told the Associated Press last month:

"If you read music, all you have to do is read the sheet music, it's completely different. [Marvin Gaye] is the king of all kings, so let's be clear about that, and we take our hats off to him. But anybody that plays music and reads music, just simply go to the piano and play the two. One's minor and one's major. And not even in the same key."

Now, I can understand than no artist wants their creativity questioned, but at the same time, don't discredit the intelligence of your audience. Just admit it, you like to borrow from legends. We get it, Rise and Got To Give It Up are infectious jams, you couldn't help yourself.

All of that aside, I really like this song, and if you value my musical opinion you will too. You're welcome.

May Misses

Sorry about my tardiness.  I find it difficult to blog when my 9 year old is on summer vacation and hogs the damn computer.  Its amazing how much computer time a chocolate shake from McDonald's can buy you.
Even though I received no funds from the fast food conglomerate, this blog post is literally brought to you by McDonald's.  Enjoy the McList.

Daily Throwback: Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up

The Shuffle God went way back went this one.  Who hasn't Marvin Gaye influence, I mean Pharrell basically stole this beat paid homage to Marvin when creating Robin Thicke's current hit Blurred Lines. This song just emotes good energy, I'm nodding my head as I type this up.  All we need is some Al Green, some Isley Brothers, some sunshine, a grill, a Spades provoked fist fight between cousins, and we got ourselves a classic barbecue, baby!  You're welcome.

Daily Throwback: Pharrell ft. Jay-Z - Frontin'

I think the Shuffle God is speaking to the artists with this selection.  It has definitely been a minute since we've been blessed by a track from Hov and Skateboard P.  I think its time.  The ball is now in your court, Shawn and Pharrell.  Until then...you're welcome.

Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell - Blurred Lines

Uh oh, JT's not the only cool white boy that can get a veteran rapper and a platinum producer to hop on a track.  Mr. Thicke a.k.a. Mike Seaver (I wonder if that will catch on) drops a hot one that has the interweb buzzing.  I'm digging this one. It has a nice little summer time vibe to it.  Shit, its been so cold so far this "spring," everything sounds like it has a summer time vibe to me.  Blurred Lines will be officially released on iTunes this Tuesday. You're welcome.