Best Music of 2005

Best Music of 2005:
Excerpts from Rhapsody editors’ favorite releases from the last year.
1. Pull Up The People – M.I.A.
2. Dare (Soulwax Remix) – Gorillaz
3. Gideon – My Morning Jacket
4. Forever Lost – The Magic Numbers
5. Heard ‘Em Say (Album Version (Explicit)) – Kanye West
6. Hung Up – Madonna
7. Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
8. Que’ Onda Guero – Beck
9. Drop The Pressure – Mylo
10. M’bifé – Amadou & Mariam
11. Feels Just Like It Should – Jamiroquai
12. Winter in the Hamptons – Josh Rouse
13. Strange & Beautiful (I’ll Put A Spell On You) – Aqualung
14. Ch Ching (Cheque 1-2 Remix) – Lady Sovereign
15. The Corner (Album Version (Explicit)) – Common
16. I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab For Cutie
17. Banquet – Bloc Party
18. Panda – Dungen
19. Tap Water – Dengue Fever
20. Bad Man (Featuring Vybez Cartel & M.I.A.) – Missy Elliott
21. I Turn My Camera On – Spoon
22. Just Let Go (Thin White Duke Remix Radio Edit) – Fischerspooner
23. Disco Infiltrator – LCD Soundsystem
24. The Weight – The Band
25. Modern Music – Black Mountain
26. Dutchman Falls – Dr. Dog
27. Little Ghost – The White Stripes
28. General Principles (Album Version (Explicit)) – DJ Muggs Vs. GZA
29. Pi – Kate Bush
30. 49 Percent – Royksopp

Holiday Favorites

Holiday Favorites:
Christmas? Hanukkah? Kwanzaa? Here are some seasonal tunes to keep you warm and cozy regardless of what you celebrate.
1. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid
2. Father Christmas – The Kinks
3. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2
4. The Chanukah Song – Adam Sandler
5. Up On The House Top – The Jackson 5
6. Step Into Christmas – Elton John
7. 2000 Miles – The Pretenders
8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Pointer Sisters
9. The Man With All The Toys – The Beach Boys
10. I Have A Little Dreidel – Barenaked Ladies
11. Winter Wonderland – Macy Gray
12. Fairytale of New York – Pilate
13. Christmas All Over Again – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
14. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
15. Peace On Earth / The Little Drummer Boy – (with David Bowie) – Bing Crosby
16. Frosty The Snowman – Ronettes
17. Do You Hear What I Hear? – Whitney Houston
18. Spread A Little Love On Christmas Day – Destiny’s Child
19. Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah – Barenaked Ladies

Cool Yule

Cool Yule:
Classic Christmas tunes from some of the most beloved names in rock and soul.
1. Jingle Bells – Wilson Pickett
2. Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Dean Martin
3. Noel – Martha and the Vandellas
4. Merry Christmas Baby – Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band
5. Christmas Must Be Tonight – The Band
6. Soulful Christmas – James Brown
7. You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Dr.Seuss
8. Back Door Santa – The Holmes Brothers
9. Blue Christmas – Johnny Cash
10. Goin’ Home For Christmas – Merle Haggard
11. Silent Night – Al Green
12. Drummer Boy – Ben E. King
13. Amazing Grace – Jeff Beck
14. Winter Wonderland – Louis Armstrong & Friends
15. Jingle Bells – Earl Scruggs

Modern Rock Christmas

Modern Rock Christmas:
Check out future holiday classics from Beck, Death Cab for Cutie and other alt rockers.
1. The Christmas Song – The Raveonettes
2. The Little Drum Machine Boy – Beck
3. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Death Cab For Cutie
4. Back Door Santa (Non Album Version) – Jet
5. Christmas Time Is Here – Ivy
6. 2000 Miles – The Pretenders
7. Winter Wonderland – Brian Setzer Orchestra
8. Christmas On TV – Chris Isaak
9. Snow Day – Bleu
10. Good King Wenceslas – Crash Test Dummies
11. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight) – Joey Ramone
12. Is Zat You, Santa Claus – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
13. Blue Christmas – The Perishers
14. Christmas At The Zoo – The Flaming Lips
15. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Single Version) – Street Drum Corps
16. Chirstmas Is Going To The Dogs – Eels
17. Santa Doesn’t Cop Out On Dope – Sonic Youth
18. Last Christmas – Jimmy Eat World
19. Maybe This Christmas – Ron Sexsmith
20. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Hem

Best Jazz Releases of 2005

Best Jazz Releases of 2005:
It was another banner year for mainstream jazz, with albums by old masters being matched by the stellar work of younger acts.
1. Green Chimneys – Wynton Marsalis
2. Autumn In New York – Joe Lovano
3. O Rio Para Tras – Celso Fonseca
4. Why Was I Born? – Sonny Rollins
5. Knives Out – Brad Mehldau
6. The Source – Terence Blanchard
7. Last Minute Man – Dave Holland Big Band
8. Modinha – Luciana Souza
9. As Far As The Eye Can See – Wayne Shorter
10. Who Cares – Bill Charlap
11. Midnight Special – Joey DeFrancesco and Jimmy Smith
12. Please Stand By – Greg Osby
13. Peace – SF Jazz Collective
14. You Don’t Know What love Is – Kenny Barron
15. La Dolce Vita – Tommaso-Rava Quartet
16. Welcome Road – The Benevento Russo Duo
17. The Lover Mourns – Kenny Wheeler
18. Leaving Avignon – Ravi Coltrane
19. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall – Bill Frisell
20. I Remember – Robert Glasper

2006 Grammy Nominees

2006 Grammy Nominees:
This just in: Grammy contenders announced! Tune in on February 8, 2006, to find out if any of these songs will win.
1. Gold Digger (Album Version (Explicit)) – Kanye West
2. Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz
3. Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani
4. We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
5. Sitting, Waiting, Wishing – Jack Johnson
6. Mr. Brightside – The Killers
7. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (Single/Album Version) – Green Day
8. Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
9. Speed Of Sound – Coldplay
10. Bless The Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
11. So What The Fuss – Stevie Wonder
12. Wonderful Night (Radio Edit) – Fatboy Slim
13. Ordinary People – John Legend
14. Welcome To Jamrock (Explicit) – Damian Marley
15. Devils & Dust – Bruce Springsteen

Remembering John Lennon

Remembering John Lennon:
December 8, 2005, marks the 25th anniversary of the death of John Lennon.
1. Imagine – Ray Charles
2. Let Love Rule – Lenny Kravitz
3. Gimme Some Truth – Pearl Jam
4. Speed Racer – The Redwalls
5. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds – Elton John
6. Give Peace A Chance – Louis Armstrong
7. Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
8. Jealous Guy – Roxy Music
9. Look At What You’ve Done – Jet
10. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – The Moody Blues
11. She’s Electric – Oasis
12. Woman is the Nigger of the World – Hans Annéllsson
13. Why Don’t You Do It For Me – 22-20’s
14. Cold Turkey – The Godfathers
15. Come Together – Tina Turner
16. Man With A Woman’s Shadow – Robyn Hitchcock
17. With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker
18. Breathe In – Paloalto
19. Day Tripper – Jimi Hendrix Experience
20. Doledrum – The La’s
21. Across The Universe – 10cc

Icons of Hip-Hop

Icons of Hip-Hop:
In honor of Rolling Stone’s special Icons of Hip-Hop issue, this playlist recognizes the genre’s seminal players.
1. Planet Rock – Afrika Bambaataa
2. It’s Nasty – Grandmaster Flash
3. New Style – Beastie Boys
4. Microphone Fiend – Eric B. & Rakim
5. The Bridge Is Over – KRS-One
6. Beats To The Rhyme – Run-D.M.C.
7. Ladies First – Queen Latifah feat. Monie Love
8. Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit – Wu-Tang Clan
9. Mind Playing Tricks On Me – Geto Boys
10. Electric Relaxation – A Tribe Called Quest
11. It Was A Good Day – Ice Cube
12. The World Is Yours – NAS
13. Mass Appeal – Gang Starr
14. Player’s Ball (Original) – OutKast
15. Definition Of A Thug Nigga – 2Pac
16. Southern Hospitality – Ludacris
17. Back That Azz Up – Juvenile
18. The Next Episode – Dr. Dre
19. P.I.M.P. – 50 Cent
20. Lose Yourself – Eminem
21. Get Low (Feat. Ying Yang Twins) – Lil’ Jon & The East Side Boyz
22. Drop It Like It’s Hot – Snoop Dogg (featuring Pharrell)
23. Dirt Off Your Shoulder – Jay-Z
24. Ten Crack Commandments – The Notorious B.I.G.
25. Gold Digger (Album Version (Explicit)) – Kanye West