Merry Christmas!

Get ready for a TON of year-end lists after the holiday.  Until then, enjoy the presents!

Finals Week...

...Means no posts for a little while.  Sometimes, a man has to do things he hates to do, even there's no immediate tangible reward.  But never fear, I'll make sure to put up at least one song in the next week, and I will be posting my regularly scheduled article on Cherryontop.com soon, so be sure to check that out.  Until we see each other again, hasta la vista.

Song Of The Day: Pitbull feat. Chris Brown- "International Love"

Here's the latest single off Pitbull's most recent album Planet Pit.  In it, he and a very blond Chris Brown swear they're getting some international love, yet here are the cities they list in the chorus: New York, London, and Miami.  Guys, that's two cities right here in the States, and perhaps the least foreign city outside of the US and Canada!  That's barely even international!  At least they didn't say, like, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto.  But hey, I'm not gonna hate too much on this song or video.  After all, it features a girl in American flag body paint.  Hell yeah.

Friday Night Throwback Jam Of The Week: Lil Scrappy feat. Lil Jon- "Gangsta Gangsta"

In honor of this being our 100th post, and in honor of me getting my second feature article on cherryontop.com, I present to you quite possibly my favorite Throwback Jam of all time.

If you read this blog closely, you'll notice I just linked to this song a couple of days ago.  Well, today it gets a post of its own.  If you ever need a workout song, you really can't get do better than this.  I can't think of another song where a rapper gives us so many examples of how he's a gangsta.  My favorite, though, has to be "I hit the mall by myself, the hood by myself, when I'm in LA I rock the khakis with the belt...I'm so gangsta I eat cereal without the milk."  How do ANY of those things make you gangsta?  Whatever.  This song goes hard.  And the video, of course, makes it even better.  When he makes the police car explode right in front of the astonished skaters, I stood up and applauded.  Anyway, if you don't jam out to this song this weekend, you're a scrub.  End of story.

Song Of The Day: The Black Keys- "Lonely Boy"

After you watch this video, every single other time you hear this song (or any song by The Black Keys) you WILL think of this guy dancing.  It will be flash-burned into your mind, and it will not leave.  Very savvy branding here.  I predict this video will have enough views that the song starts getting pushed into pop radio.  Oh my, what will fans of The Black Keys do when their beloved duo gets mass-marketed?  Probably find a new band, I guess...

Song Of The Day: T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne- "Bang Bang Pow Pow"

Well, it wouldn't be a complete year without a new release from T-Pain.  So, as if on cue, here in December, he's dropped a new album, rEVOLVEr, and this is the newest single from it.  And, like all of his albums, it's got a guest spot from Lil Wayne, who appears here and delivers a solid verse.  This song's got a sweet violin-based beat, and it features T-Pain continuing his Auto-Tuned style into yet another year.  Hey, if it ain't broke, why fix it?

It's probably just me, but I could listen to a full T-Pain album much more easily than a full Drake or Nicki Minaj album.  I never get tired of his voice, and he mixes things up enough to keep me interested.  On this album alone, he's got this song, and a dance/electro jam featuring Ne-Yo, and a collaboration with my favorite rapper of all time, E-40.  And, of course, the bizarre after-hours slow jam I already reviewed- "5 O'Clock," which featured none other than Lily Allen.  As eclectic as T-Pain may be, his voice always keeps me coming back for more.  Here's hoping he keeps doing what he's been doing.

Song Of The Day: Adele- "Set Fire To The Rain"

I already sort-of reviewed this one on my Top Songs of the First Half of 2011 column back in June, and although it's been released a single now, it still doesn't have an official music video for me to post for your viewing pleasure.  However, its suddenly quick rise up the charts makes it impossible for me to ignore it any longer.

According to its Wikipedia page, some "critics" didn't like "Set Fire To The Rain."  Some even thought it was the worst song on Adele's Grammy-nominated sophomore album 21.  Some, though, have their heads screwed on straight, and realize it's in fact the best song on the album, by far.  On no other song (except, perhaps, "Ill Be Waiting"), does the production value match Adele's voice. 

That's not to say this song is overproduced, but it hits you from all angles, rather than from just a vocal one.  Anyone who thinks this song is overproduced needs to get down from off their high horse and recognize it as both the catchiest and most powerful song on the album.  I sincerely hope Adele's third album is focused more on songs like this and less on songs like "Someone Like You."  Actually, I just hope she's able to record a third album at all.  Be thankful for what you've got, people.