Bond- Fuego (WWW) Enjoyable up-tempo dance-pop-classical hybrid, even if it was a little formulaic and similar to their past work.
Bond- Shine (WWW) Yeah, it's simple and it sounds a bit too much like Enrique Iglesias' "Bailamos" with an orchestra, but it's still great to hear.
Da Brat- In Love Wit Chu (W) Da Brat's annoying voice + really, really simple beat + very redundant love rap lyrics = crap.
Rob Dougan- Furious Angels (WWWW) It takes about a minute and a half to really get going, but this furiously up-tempo dance/electronica song eventually delivers the goods.
E-40- One Night (W) I've experienced this "bling-bling" kind of night way too much...very uncreative rapping.
Enon- In This City (WWWW) Really cool rock-influenced effects (including the rhythmic pounding drums) and Esthero-like vocals to create a gloomily great electronica track.
Dave Gahan- Dirty Sticky Floors (WWW) Very cool driving, Nine Inch Nails-inspired industrial track.
Gamma- Killer Apps (WWW) Great rhyming and an amazing video-game like beat for this reggae slammer.
Good Company- GC Anthem (WWW) Yeah, it's a personal advertisement, but at least these guys' raps are very interesting and the gungy, punchy beat add a whole new enjoyable level to this track.
Jack Johnson- The Horizon Has Been Defeated (WWW) Would have been nice if there was a hook, but I'll give him this reggae-like alternative track if only for the political and social undertones.
LSG f/Loon- Friends (WWW) Yeah, it's a P. Diddy meets Neptunes beat and the topic (the transition from friendship to relationship) has been done to death, but somehow, this works...
Ludacris- Act A Fool (W) To reference the lame chorus: "If the song's a shameless 'Move B****' rip-off about the speed of cars, what you gonna do? Shut it off!!!"
Motion City Soundtrack- My Favourite Accident (WWW) It reminds me of The Ataris' "In This Diary" but only with keyboards...very interesting punk.
Rjd2- The Horror (W) It has very good anti-Multi-National corporate lyrics, but if it wasn't for the DJ Shadow-esque beat...
Skalpel- Sculpture (WWW) Very interesting gloomy, Sigur Ros-esque rock instrumental.
Tamia- Officially Missing You (WW) Contrived and a little dull, but this R&B ballad isn't a total write-off.
Randy Travis- Three Wooden Crosses (WWW) Beautiful journeyman's country ballad that says "it's not what you bring with you/It's what you leave behind".
TTC- De Pauvras Riches (WWW) Very quirky and endearing quasi-old-school beat with very good rhyming by the rappers, who rap in French.
Ty- We Don't Care (WWW) Solid "I'm better than you" rapping coupled with a quirky, heavy bassline beat...solid all around.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Date With The Night (WWW) Karen Oh's vocals remind me way too much of Bif Naked, but the punk band's got a nice electronica vibe with this one, so I'll let it pass.
-DG