Better Late Than Never
Ok, I admit it: I missed the train this past summer that left the station regarding Little Jackie (the New York-based collaboration of singer-songwriter Imani Coppola and instrumentalist Adam Pallin) and their new album THE STOOP (S-Curve). However, the conductor picked me up at the first stop, allowed me to get situated in my seat, and I have been enjoying the musical ride that is this 11-track long-player: an exciting presentation of old-school R&B with a unique and quirky blend of pop and hip-hop. The CD has spawned a hit single, "The World Should Revolve Around Me," that has climbed the charts and been in steady rotation as of late on VH1. Coppola's vocal performance on the album is simply stellar and ably demonstrates that not all of the current crop of talented soulful pop acts hail from the U.K. Little Jackie is a big force and THE STOOP is a stupendous achievement.

Riding The Wave
The new band Waves On Waves is an art rock trio with a pop sensibility comparable to Morrissey and Tears For Fears and their self-titled debut album is drawing not only rave reviews but lots of new fans. Emerging from the underground scene in Nashville, Tennessee of all places, the group is fronted by out singer/guitarist Thornton (who has been described as sounding like a blend of Elvis Presley and Kate Bush interesting), who along with bassist Luke Aaron Jones and drummer Enoch Porch have produced a lush album with emotive vocal harmonies, vintage synths, and straight-forward rhythms. Waves On Waves' 12-track CD has been described by some as a "fresh, yet retro throwback that lands somewhere between The Police's Synchronicity and Brain Damage-era Pink Floyd." As for me, I find it to be interesting, thoroughly enjoyable and a welcomed addition to my CD player.

"No, You Don't Have An STD"
On March 6, 1999 "You Got Me Burnin' Up" by Cevin Fisher reached #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. Featuring the powerhouse vocals of dance music diva Loleatta Holloway, the disco tinged big room track was a global dance floor hit and found its way onto several continuous mix CDs that year. Almost a decade later, "You Got Me Burnin' Up" has been re-released with a boat load of hot new remixes and once again the song is moving up the charts. I recently wrote about this track when there were 3 remixes, but now there are a total of 13, ranging from deep soulful house to brooding progressive to edgy electro. My favorites include a jack house treatment by Prok & Fitch, an underground twisty DNA Mix by Fisher himself, and a gorgeously orchestrated version by Triple D. And for those of you wanting to be reminded of a breezy summer afternoon on a terrace, the Raul Rincon Remix expertly samples "Let's Get Together" by Soul Logic to maximum breezy terrace effect. Expect to hear lots of "You Got Me Burnin' Up" throughout the autumn.

Suggested Playlist Additions
"Magic" by Robin Thicke featuring Mary J. Blige - The Moto Blanco Club Mix of this track will be bringing big smiles to lots of listeners. The combination of this blue-eyed soul brother and Miss Blige is a winning one indeed, and the Moto Blanco remix team can seemingly do no wrong these days.

"Can't Stop" by Quentin Harris featuring Jason Walker - This original hit R&B song has been "dancified" brilliantly by Harris and Walker shows why he is one of the best male dance vocalists around these days. The warbly jazz-funk influenced Joey Negro Remix is superb.

"What A Wonderful World" by Axwell & Bob Sinclar featuring Ron Carroll - This international collaboration (Axwell is from Sweden, Sinclar from France, and Carroll from Chicago) is a global smash dance hit and indeed a wonderful treat.