Sneaky Sound System is our latest sonic obsession. Part Neptunes era Kelis, party Vanity Six, part Marilyn Monroe, their video for their single ‘We Love’ is a quirky, bright video that gives tongue and cheek a very literal meaning. The track is insanely catchy, and nods to the 80′s while managing to ooze everything contemporary. Andy would be proud.

If sexual innuendo were money, Sneak Sound System would own the bank. Their new album From Here To Anywhere will be out late August on Modular. Until then watch the video for ‘We Love.’ And if you love it, like we do, download it below.

MP3: Sneaky Sound System – We Love (Right Click & Save Target As)

Don’t you tell your mother.

Reminds me a bit of this artistic prankster:

2010 may have sucked when it came to substance and clear common sense. Chris Brown I’m talking you. And of course underage four loko lovers around the world. But at least we had a full 365 days of awesome music. I can’t say enough about the amount of exceptional material artists put out this year. Indie darlings like Theophilus London & J*DaVeY kept us content with the most ingenious tracks and music heavyweights like Kanye West & Cee Lo gave us albums. Yeezy’s twisted fantasy, Katy Perry’s sugar coated pop bliss, Gil Scott Hering’s rebel anthem, this is our soundtrack for 2010. Find out what albums made the first part of our list from Art Nouveau editor Kendrick Daye aka GreatEclectic and pop culture journalist Swiper Bootz.

17. Drake – Thank Me Later

GreatEclectic: This is one of those albums that tried to give something for everyone so how could it fail

Swiper Bootz: haha that is valid, but it’s so much of everything else and nothing in and of itself. so many empty lyrics
all punchlines no juice.

GreatEclectic: Ha, I do think it’s downright ridiculous how he raps so hard and then jumps into singing a cassie-esque hook

Swiper Bootz: EXACTLY. and even when he raps hard i hear nothing. i hear unsubstantiated swag that cancels itself out with contradiction

GreatEclectic: but what i do like about him, is he’s only rapping what he knows. i respect an artist that gives me them no matter how vain that may be

Swiper Bootz: i wanted to feel that for him. but i don’t get that from him. it’s like one of those lies people tell where they are creating it in complete reaction to your questions about what happened or assumed questions about what you’ll ask about what happened. i feel like people told him what he should be feeling about where he is. it’s the tumblr of albums

GreatEclectic: of course, drake was created to make money. but most albums now are as vain as most tumblrs

Swiper Bootz: “and we gon be alright if we put drake on every hook”

GreatEclectic: the real genius behind drake’s album and Nicki’s is Wayne. he created other versions of himself to make deals and checks he couldn’t possibly do. drake is the cleaner version of wayne, nicki is the female version.

Swiper Bootz: and that came through glaringly obvious. whereas with kanye you can argue the real genius behind his album is himself and that’s a bit rough for business hours but he can always have people pick up his mini-mes. both drake and nicki had mtv documentaries this year

GreatEclectic: yes, i caught that, and big debuts because of it

Swiper Bootz: and it humanizes them

GreatEclectic: 6.5

Swiper Bootz: 6.

Final Rating: 6.25

16. Ke$ha – Cannibal

Swiper Bootz: 7. boom as far as ke$ha goes, the deluxe edition made it happen. animal was catchy and odd and a bit of a dollar store version of GaGa – the haus for a post-foreclosure economy. it’s quite teenage dreamy in a next morning hangover sort of way it’s caught in a lot of grey hazy areas

GreatEclectic: “lol at dollar store version of GaGa”

Swiper Bootz: haha well… #letsbeserious. she wore a trashbag to the vmas

GreatEclectic: I think that’s why I always had a hard time giving her any chance. But there are some gems on the album, “Cannibal” is awesome.

Swiper Bootz: the first four tracks off of cannibal are quite quite epic arguably the hardest first four ive heard since… i can’t remember actually possibly the fame. but coming off of animal they were defined, and more deliberately reckless

GreatEclectic: peep the credits, man Dr. Luke and Max Martin are pop music. I didn’t know they produced those same 4 four tracks

Swiper Bootz: yep, and you could hear it, she moved from misguided rebel to borderline pop anarchist but in a very britney blackout way the sound of blackout completely tweaked, dark, confused, electronic sonic trip… stemmed from a place of sheer inebriation but it’s packaged better animal versus cannibal the animal was the fame the cannibal feeds off of that weaker point of origin to fuel the bigger better badder beast where gaga faced her demons from a place of adoption and acceptance understanding they came from her and she is the beauty and the beast, the monster and the maiden fair, etc

Final Rating:6.5

14. Rihanna – Loud

Swiper Bootz: #kindof. but in the presence of cee-lo and miguel it’s like… yknow but objectively as a pop album, i mean it has catchy tracks. undeniably.  it gets a bit weak midway.

GreatEclectic:

Final Rating: 6.75

14. Miguel – All I Want Is You

Swiper Bootz: i liked it a lot, i was shocked
but not like shocked shocked in a way of justin bieber being good, because i didnt have pretense, so it was better than baseline which is good too. haha so maybe he got the benefit of the doubt

GreatEclectic: given male r&b

Swiper Bootz: which is why it was refreshing to hear his album

13. M.I.A – /\/\ /\ Y /\

Swiper Bootz: m.i.a. brought what she said she would and i cant hate her for that. it’s the electronic moshpit the digitized revolution static and cacophonus but its that chaos that will spark creation people hate on it now by and large but that’s fine. i like that it is so blatantly raw

GreatEclectic: i think she was the problem with selling this album. to diss Gaga and release XXXO, an awesome track BTW, threw everyone off.

Swiper Bootz: Like, stop being a bitch it’s okay to be a bitch like a free bitch but only when it’s being bitchy not a legit mean girl. and the GaGa diss was unsubstantiated because it came from mia. i see where she was going but when everyone’s a part of the same machine it’s easy to ping the glaring similarities

GreatEclectic: I mean, I get it, but that’s seriously the pot calling the kettle black, you both went to good schools, which most people consider privledge

Swiper Bootz: from the jump education like that you wouldnt get the kind of music they make without that fundamental piece they always say stuff with their music it’s like a dissertation or a symphonic speech and debate piece. right, and that pretense doesnt work people stop listening and talk all over your stuff

GreatEclectic: And see what’s messed up, we are discussing her and not the music. It had potential for big singles
Lovealot, Steppin Up

Swiper Bootz: it had potential to be everything it wasnt. they put a lot of press into it. but it was so much bad press that couldnt be spun right.

GreatEclectic: dope album, but the mess still factors into everything so i’d have to say 7.

Swiper Bootz: i’ll give her a 7.25 im going to give her the change i took from cudi

Final Rating: 7.125

12. Katy Perry – Teenage Draeam
GreatEclectic: she’s this generation’s britney spears

Swiper Bootz: hm i wouldnt give her that credit. there’s too much potential with ke$ha on the sonic front and miley on the social front

GreatEclectic: some wouldn’t give britney that credit

Swiper Bootz: haha it’s unfair, katy’s from california, she chose this, britney was chosen

GreatEclectic: i mean that’s how our stars are made these days, but in terms of money being poured into katy perry, it reminds me of the way Oops I did it Again was marketed. Of course they didn’t get same results. but the music is awesome. A step up from the pop of Britney’s hey days.

Swiper Bootz: right but i mean i liked teenage dream when i first heard it and then less and less each following time. it is what it is.  i think it was what christina needed bionic to be

GreatEclectic: Oh her, Xtina is Late lol. she just can’t make it work

Swiper Bootz: soooo late. happy 30th birthday to that. she also doesnt understand that she can sing and thus doesnt need to make pop albums. pop music is for pop singers. people make pop albums because they cant do what she can and she’s running from that instead she goes backwards and tries to do what they do because they cant do what she does and seemingly doesnt want to do

GreatEclectic: she could have a celine dion like career, but she’d rather gross people out

Swiper Bootz: it’s like the play no exit which (digress) has three people in a room together for eternity
a straight guy, a straight girl, and a lesbian the guy likes the lesbian, who likes the straight girl, who likes the guy, it ends and someone says ‘hell is other people” and you realize they’re in hell

GreatEclectic: her album i’d give a 2. it has a moment. but we’re not talking about boinic lol

Swiper Bootz : i’d give bionic a “see me after class”

GreatEclectic: I’d give Katy a 8. It was an awesome pop album though.

Swiper Bootz: hmmm i give katy a … 6.5 #dontshoot

Final Rating: 7.25

11. Kelis – Flesh Tone

GreatEclectic: I love Kelis, and I like some of the songs here, but the most interesting parts of the album are the bits in between each track, some of those beats are awesome. #nowplaying HOME

Swiper Bootz: so fresh i liked that even though it was electronic it was basic too. Home came out like a daft punk track
and was tron before tron haha. i love albums that are atmospheric

GreatEclectic: I still think it could have used at least 4 Neptunes tracks

Swiper Bootz: her and the neptunes make magic last decade haha that looked worse than i meant it i meant it as ever since last decade haha with in search of and truth or dare i feel like for what she wanted with this, if she brought on the neptunes there might be a divide and youd have good tracks but they wouldnt necessarily flow

GreatEclectic: she had a very heavy hand on this album i think left to his own devices david guetta would have made these tracks sound more like fun than labor flesh tone is one of those albums i like because i like the artist.

Swiper Bootz: exaaaactly #THISISNTAGAMETHISISREAL just kidding lol we can’t be playing games when im worried about divorce court and even with the room for improvements it is her imperfections and it’s her

GreatEclectic: but i wanted more. and yet the album still feels very complete

Swiper Bootz: complete in a way that will stand as a starting point from future better works, she wouldnt be able to make ‘that” album unless she had this as a launch pad right

GreatEclectic: plus i think will.i.am ruined it for me, with him attached to it I expected pop genius

Swiper Bootz: will. i. am … #lesigh so much with that one so…so much. i want him to not do some of the things he does
and not wear most of what he does or be cooler so i can back you

GreatEclectic: lol they are so rich they are beyond being cool i think bep as a unit are corny

Swiper Bootz: so so corny my goodness

GreatEclectic: but that’s what mainstream america wants

Swiper Bootz: or so they think or actually probably yeah that’s a dream the whitewashed united colors of benneton crew

GreatEclectic: so agreeable you’re unappealing but, will.i.am can make some pop hits though lol

Swiper Bootz: really cant lie about that one haha . check it out wasnt bad

GreatEclectic: Kelis’ Flesh Tone for me is a 7.5

Swiper Bootz: 7.5.

Final Rating: 7.5

10. Eminem – Recovery

Swiper Bootz: eminems album was a throwback to the marshall days but like an old man on the lawn. it was good solid
i liked it for what it was great lyrics much better than his recent efforts and a well deserved best-seller of the year i say… 7.5 because of the other people on the list and he’s not top 3.

GreatEclectic: I’ll take your word for it because I didn’t even listen to this album.

Final Rating: 7.5

09. Rick Ross – Teflon Don

GreatEclectic: most rap albums have an athem or two, this entire album is an anthem. though the content is hard, it’s made for the mainstream

Swiper Bootz: that album was beautiful. i can’t say enough about it it speaks for itself but it’s so universal as well as far as the sound and the scene and the familiarity look at maybach music 3. it is so universal. versus mc hammer and it’s so pop. it’s full of references and labels it builds the atmosphere and when you listen to it you’re in modern day miami with the hard east coast style and cred with the ever-present white girl sitting at the soul he had everyone and their mom on the album too but it wasnt gratuitous and the parallels aston martin music with drake and chrisette michele vs. maybach music with t.i. jadakiss and erykah badu aston martin is a bit more polished and safe maybach is luxury the curtains are there to keep the backseat safe now everyone knows big meech and larry hoover

GreatEclectic: Ithink it’s crazy how that whole correctional officer thing didn’t even phase him. I thought that would even this guy.

Swiper Bootz: it actually gave him greater perspective, he was able to talk from both sides without highlighting the correctional aspect, it was like he was an incognegro CO, scope out the law from the inside then know how to navigate it as a kingpin

GreatEclectic: everybody just ignored it

Swiper Bootz: haha not everybody

GreatEclectic: well not XXL

Swiper Bootz: haha and rolling stone which was surprising

GreatEclectic: rolling stone will do anything to look cool in 2010

Swiper Bootz: haha true 7.5

GreatEclectic: 8

Final Rating: 7.75

Kelis recently performed “22nd Century,” “4th of July (Fireworks)” & “Brave” at a session at Cherrytree House. I would have loved to hear her tackle “Home,” That song should have been the single, but I am in love with these versions of the songs. Even more so than the original. Really, this is a nice sound for Kelis. Maybe Flesh Tone should have sounded like this. Watch videos of the performances below. Kelis’ Flesh Tone is available now

“22nd Century”

“4th of July (Fireworks)”

“Brave”

Kelis is currently on tour with Robyn. US fans can win a trip for two to NYC to see Kelis & Robyn at the All Hearts Tour Aug 5 at Webster Hall. More details here: http://bit.ly/a84GZ9

Kelis’ new album Flesh Tone comprises 9 tracks of Eurodisco. Working with producers like David Guetta, Benny Benassi and will.i.am, it reminds one of Donna Summer’s non-stop seventies Disco classics. A number of the songs intertwine with the next, with some having codas distinctively different from the main song. No skeletal Neptunes Funk (“Milkshake”) or Cee-Lo penned Pop (“Lil star”) here.

The mid-tempo “Intro,” despite its name, is a proper song with swirling synths with Kelis singing in that straining-to-reach-the-notes voice she does with such ease. This segues into the propulsive “22nd century” with surging synths, electronic swishes and flourishes, gently stomping beats that come in fully after the first chorus and her vocals mechanically tweaked to lend it a futuristic bent. It ends in a piano coda that segues into “4th July (Fireworks)” which has a jittery Techno feel.

“We are all running in a race, to find everything that you’re searching for is right there” she tells us in the Trancey “Home” that does itself feel like a race. Lead-off single, a UK #5 hit is the semi-skeletal Guetta-produced “Acapella” with staccato beats and lovely harmonies, segueing into the piano-sprinkled Guetta-produced “Scream” with spoken/chanted verses.

“Emancipate” is one of the grooviest songs and should appeal to fans of her prior R&B sound, as should the beautiful celebratory horn-peppered “Song for the baby” sounding like eighties Soul set to a Disco beat, an ode to her son Knight. “Brave” features buzzing synths and light vocoder effects, a stomping Club anthem with biographical lyrics.

A brave change in direction for Kelis which should be a big hit in Europe. Kelis said she wants this album to make the listener sweat, and with music this hot, you will.

Download: “Home” “Brave” “Acapelal”

2010 has been a good year in terms of music. Gil Scott-Heron, Drake, Janelle Monae all dropped albums already. Not to mention this Summer we can expect hot stuff from M.I.A., The Dream and more. Here’s our favorite 12 albums of 2010. What were yours?

12. Corinne Stevie & Ka’Ra Kersey – Land of the Free

You ready to get free? Nothing will take you there like Corinne Stevie & Ka’Ra Kersey’s new project “Land of The Free.” The new age anthem “Our War 2 Freedom” opens the EP. By the time the war horns start on “Mo’Ammo” you know these ladies musically have something to say. The dub-step inspired “Turn Off,” the self-love anthem “Amazing” and Corinne’s clever freestyle “Water” are among the EP’s many highlights. Download “Land of the Free” here.

11. Nas & Damien Marley – Distant Relatives

Nas may be tight-lipped on his now ex-wife Kelis. Lucky for us he saved all he had to say for his latest album with Damien Marley Distant Relatives. Two of the best lyricists around team up for Hip-hop’s best shout ode to Africa. Nas & Damien Marley’s album Distant Relatives is out out now.

10. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
The ArchAndroid is everything you’d except from Miss Monae & her Wondaland cohorts. It’s theatrical, moody, soulful and filled with passion that is rarely heard in contemporary music. She’s at her best on tracks like “Cold War” where she combines emotional lyrics with a funky production to create the most perfect mix of pop and soul, since Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” Janelle Monae’s The ArchAndroid is out now.

9. Kelis – Flesh Tone
When it’s all said and done Kelis is going to do what Kelis does best: be creative. The moment I heard Flesh Tone‘s first single “Acapella” I knew this album was going to be something. I mean with will.i.am backing a project how can it go wrong. David Guetta, Will and Free School provide the beats that keep coming as Kelis acends to the status of disco queen. Kelis’ Flesh Tone is set to be released July 6.

8. Massive Attack – Heligoland

Massive Attack waited seven years to release Heliogland, their previous release was 2003′s 100th Window. Their return was more than welcomed. With apperances fro TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe Massive Attack has evolved and it’s seen throughout Heligoland. Heligoland is out now.

7. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

James Murphy throws in David Bowie and Brian Eno influences and mixes him with his vast knowledge of post punk to create LCD Soundsystem’s latest album This Is Happening. This is an album even the Strokes would have to smirk at.

6. Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Hot Chip’s new album One Night Stand proves they have a sophisicated side. This is a band that delivered rhymes about “20 inch rims” in a British accent. They’ve managed to craft some musical gems here. Hot Chip’s One Life Stand is out now.

5. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
Okay, so the Gorillaz are real. At least that’s what Plastic Beach, the animated band’s third album will have you believe. This is their most engaging album yet. A diverse group of collaborators that include Bobby Womack, Mos Def & Little Dragon helps.
Gorillaz’s Plastic Beach is out now.

4. How To Destroy Animals – How To Destroy Animals
Trent Reznor may have transcended to new hiehgts of musical acheivement with his latest side project How To Destroy Animals. The EP is a collaboration with his wife–and former West Indian Girl singer – Mariqueen Maandig and is the Trent Reznor directed musical that a Nine Inch Nails record could never be.  Download How To Destroy Animals here.

3. Black Keys – Brothers
What an absolutely fabulous album this is. To those that think there is hardly any good music being made these days, you just need to switch off from top 40 radio and TV and discover gems like this. Black Keys’ album Brothers is out now.

Read The Rest Of The Review Here

2. Drake – Thank Me Later
Drake brought it with this album. After years of feeling like Hip-hop became out of touch, Drake is like braille to me. I’m more drawn to Drake’s singing songs so I forget sometimes Drake is a rapper. Lyrically, Drake is at his best. He’s cocky, witty, personal and sharp throughout the album. Listening to him rap lines like…

Read The Rest Of The Review Here

1. Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here
Gil Scott Heron’s new album starts with a spoken word piece randomly paired over Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights.” But like most of this folk, blues and electronic leaning album, this works in a quirky way. Gil’s lyrics and metaphors are still on point. It’s lines like “she said I had an ego the size of Texas” or “Not running for cover, because if I knew where cover was, I would stay there and never have to run” that should make all these emcees step their pen game up. Track highlights include “New York is Killing Me,” “Where Did The Night Go” and the passion filled ballad “I’ll Take Care of You.”

Kelis continues to win me over, even after she royally screwed Nas. Recently the singer visited Radio 1′s Live Lounge in the UK and performed a cover of “In For The Kill” by hometown favorite, La Roux! And it is just as amazing as the original not to mention it shows off how good Kelis’ voice really is. Listen and download it below. Kelis’ new album Flesh Tone is set to be released July 6th.

MP3: Kelis – In For The Kill (Right Click + Save Target As)

In terms of music it’ll be off with their heads if Kelis has anything to do with it. Her dance-mix filled mixtape Queen of Hearts is a declaration. DJ Replay from FreeSchool, who worked on the former Mrs. Jones’ new album Fleshtones, mixes the tape that includes sick remixes off her older work, “Milkshake” “Get Along With You” “Caught Out There” & “Bossy,” to new tracks like “Acapella,” and 4 new unreleased tracks from the album. I’m officially amped for the new Kelis album.

Download: DJ Replay presents Queen of Hearts: Off with their Heads – Kelis: Flesh Tone Mixtape.

1. Handful (intro)
2. No Security (Crookers vs. Bart Bmore)
3. Acapella (David Guetta vs. Benny Banssi)
4. Bossy (Switch vs. Alan Braxe and Fred Falke)
5. 4th of July (Flesh Tone Album Snippet)
6. Grey Goose (Free School feat. Apl d ap vs. Stardust)
7. Milkshake (Mighty Fools vs. Major Lazer)
8. Get Along with You (Laidback Luke vs. Mstrkrft (Goldenchyld Blend))
9. Home (Flesh Tone Album Snippet)
10. Caught Out There (Eric Prydz Blend)
11. Scream (Flesh Tone Album Snippet)
12. Lil Star (Linus Loves Remix)
13. 22nd Century (Flesh Tone Album Snippet)

As promised Kelis released the video for “Acapella” Kelis seems to be inspired by “Avatar” lately and the video borrows from the James Cameron blockbuster in a cool way. I like it, visually. Kelis’ new album “Fleshtones” is set to drop June 22nd.

Only the Crookers could make this album. One of the key and most influential grandfathering groups of the current underground dance craze, Bot and Phra, the Italian Stallions of bass have taken the underground completely into the mainstream on their new Southern Fried Records release Tons of Friends released stateside on Monday, March 8th. At 22 tracks with 31 guests, this album is both bloated and audacious. However, in coming off more like a “Now! That What I Call Hipster” compilation more than anything else, the album succeeds, as for the more interested and adventurous typical music listener, the finest quality performers of electro, dub, club, bass, breaks and dance are all here, alongside some of the better vocalists with voices attuned to the unique qualities of the sounds presented.

The only lingering issue with this album lies for the more devoted fans of the musical genres presented. The album features the Crookers turning it back a few notches and presenting VERY pedestrian and mainstreamed takes on very underground musical styles, as, well, you’re not going to get the Debonair Samir “Samir’s Theme” sampling “Big Money Comin’,” nor the electro bombast of their key to their own mainstream success, Kid Cudi’s “Day N Night” remix. Instead you get tracks like Kelis’ hooks on the big bass shaker, ever so remotely dubstep “No Security,” which is as hard as the album gets, as the album shows the Crookers as not being so loud anymore, but instead investing more time in learning how to create grooves, melodies and pop songs. The pop quotient here is extremely high, Roisin Murphy’s two tracks “Hold Up Your Hand” and “Royal T” both exciting, as well as French electro pop wonder Yelle’s “Cooler Couleur” being fun as well.

This album truly exceeds at excess in being everything to everyone. For “OG” hipsters, there’s work here by ex-Bonde do Role femme fatale Marina, Spank Rock and Rye Rye (“Hip Hop Changed” is a lot of fun). If you’re just into the underground, favorites like Miike Snow, Major Lazer, The Very Best and Kid Cudi (“Embrace the Martian” is fantastic) are here, and, if a bottle service kid, Pitbull, Kardinal Offishall and the ubiquitous Will I. Am as well, all in tow. It’s really quite the awe-inspiring tableau.

In final, the electro craze has finally crossed over. The Crookers indeed have Tons of Friends. This album speaks far more to the levels of success that underground dance has achieved as a tightly knit community than to any forward movement of the disparate styles explored on the release. In the game of making money versus making music you personally enjoy, the ultimate battle every underground artist struggles with, the Crookers have shown themselves as victorious, creating a synergy that, while oddly massive, is more collection than album. By having these friends, the Crookers can claim to be at the top of the line, the head of the game. Mission, accomplished.

Download: “Royal T” “No Security” “Transilvania”

If you were in Atlanta last weekend and didn’t make it out to “Drip,” the launch party for The-Socials.com you missed out. Click here to see what you missed. And now you can hear what you missed. Download the official mixtape, mixed by Art Nouveau Magazine Editor in Chief Kendrick Daye. The mix features mixes of Lady Gaga, Roisin Murphy, Rye Rye, David Guetta, Peaches, and more. It’s not the entire dance revolution that was heard at the party, but it’s close enough. Download link and tracklisting below.

Download: www.An-Mag.com & The-Socials.com present “Drip: The Mixtape”

Tracklisting:
1. Rye Rye – Bang Bang (Stanton Warriors Remix)
2. David Guetta & Wynter Gordon – Toyfriend
3. Corinne Stevie & M.I.A. – Club_Kidz (GotDion Remix)
4. Peaches – Serpentine
5. Ludacris feat Ciara & Pitbull – How Low (Remix)
6. Britney Spears – 3 (DubStep Remix)
7. 8Ball & MJG – Relax & Take Notes
8. Kanye West & Sade- Say You Will/Cherish The Day (Mashup)
9. Sade – Soldier of Love
10. Rihanna feat Young Jeezy – Hard
11. Noise Porn starring Koohl Cardi, Ben Carson & Corinne Stevie – Noise Porn
12. Ms. Jade & Corinne Stevie- Better Get That (Remix)
13. Lady Gaga & Beyonce- Telephone (Remix)
14. Timbaland feat Justin Timberlake & Twista – Telephone (Remix)
15. Rihanna – Sexuality
16. Roisin Murphy – Let Me Know
17. LMFAO – I Am Not A Whore
18. Solange – Would Have Been The One
19. Theopilus London – Always Love U
20. Kelis – Acapella
21. J*DaVeY – Duh Duh Duh
22. Basement Jaxx feat Maleka, Kelis & Chipmunk – Scars
23. David Guetta feat Kid Cudi – Memories
24. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance (Chew Fu Remix)

Say what you want about Kelis, but she remains immensely talented when it comes to making a catchy dance track. This unreleased track “They Say” which features Jean Baptiste is finds the former Mrs. Nasir Jones addressing those very people that say she’s changed. Hope this makes her new album FleshTones. I’m hooked on it. Listen and download below.

MP3: Kelis feat. Jean Baptiste – They Say

2010 is being good to me with all this music. I get a new Massive Attack album and a new Brandy record? You’re kidding me. Here are 10 albums I can’t wait to hear in 2010.

Honorable Mentions or albums i wouldn’t mind hearing in 2010:
Georgia Anne Muldrow – “King’s Ballads,” Scissor Sisters – “Untitled,” Goldfrap – “Head First,” Flying Lotus- “Cosmogramma,” Jack Splash – “Technology and Love Might Save Us All,” Britney Spears – “Untitled,” and Erykah Badu – “New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh).”

10. Kelis – FleshTones (Interscope)
Release Date: April 2010

I never thought I’d like Kelis’ music after she split with The Neptunes, but then again Kelis never ceases to amaze me with her music. I love the dancier direction she’s going in. Her fifth studio album involves production by will.i.am, Boys Noize, Diplo & Switch, Free School and David Guetta. And with dope titles like “4th of July” and “Carefree Americans” this sounds like a album I’m going to have on repeat for a while.

9. Massive Attack – Heligoland (Virgin)
Release Date: Feb 8, 2010
A couple of these songs were on their EP “Splitting The Atom,” but this is still a noteworthy release.

8. Hot Chip – One Life Stand (Virgin)
Release Date: Feb 1, 2010

British band Hot Chip’s fourth album “One Life Stand” seems pretty nice so far. Single “One Life Stand” and “Hand Me Down Your Love” have been strong. It’s no doubt this album will be dope.

7. David Byrne & Fat Boy Slim – Here Lies Love (Todomundo/Nonesuch)
Release Date: Feb 23, 2010

David Bryne and Fat Boy Slim’s concept album “Here Lies Love” is shaping up to be a standout and it’s not even released yet. The album features 22 guest vocalists which include my favorites like Sia, Santigold, Alice Russell, Roisin Murphy, Theresa Andersson, Tori Amos, Cyndi Lauper and more.

6. Santigold – Untitled (Downtown)
Release Date: TBA

Santigold’s new album is gonna be big! She’s worked with everyone from David Bryne and Jay-Z to Devo and N.A.S.A. so I’m sure her new album will have all types of interesting sounds. Plus we hear she’s working with The Neptunes in addition to Diplo. Sounds like fun.

5. N*E*R*D – Instant Gratification (Interscope)
Release Date: TBA

N*E*R*D broke up, got back together again, released a song with Santigold, and added a smoking hot fourth member named Rhea, who’s rumored to be dating Chris Brown. This makes for some great publicity. I’m sure, with Pharrel’s penchant for making anything catchy and a title like “Instant Gratification,” N*E*R*D’s fourth album won’t disappoint.

4. Brandy – Untitled (?)
Release Date: TBA

Rumor has it Brandy’s new album will be half rap, half R&B, which I hope is a threat and not a promise. But, the lineup of producers seems like a dream come true. Ne-Yo & Stargate, who have been the best with Brandy since Rodney Jerkins, If you haven’t heard those unreleased songs head over to YouTube to hear them. Timbaland, The Dream, Tricky Stewart and The Neptunes have also reported worked with Brandy. This has hit written all over.

3. MGMT: Congratulations (Columbia)
Release Date: Spring 2010

Hip-hop has been so inspired by MGMT, it’s interesting to see MGMT be inspired by Hip-hop. The band takes a note from Jay-Z and refuses to release any single on their new album “Congratulations” similar to how Jay released “American Gangster.” The duo wants this album to be a complete body of songs rather than an album with standout singles. Yey for great music.

2. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Virgin)
Release Date: March 8, 2010

Gorillaz new album “Plastic Beach” is supposed to be the most pop the band has sounded. And I’m ready to hear it. With a roster of collaborators that includes Snoop Dogg, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Kano, Bashy, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Little Dragon, Mark E. Smith, Lou Reed, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, sinfonia ViVA and the National Orchestra for Arabic Music has to be offering something amazing to music.

01. Sade – Soldier of Love (Sony)
Release Date: Feb 8, 2010

News of a new Sade album hit the Internets harder than Chris Brown. Everyone was talking about this new Sade album. After hearing the eponymous first single I was officially stanning for Sade, who at almost 50 looks amazing. I’m amped to hear this album. And more importantly, I’m amped to see what it can do in terms of record sales. Do you think Sade could pull a Susan Boyle?