Really Feelin' The Spirit..

.. I'm finally done with all I need to do for the day, what a relief.

I want to wish everyone a very blessed holiday season and, for those that celebrate, a Merry Christmas Eve.

I put together this here mix for you all to enjoy tonight and tomorrow. I included a bunch of my favorite Christmas joints across different genres - jazz instrumentals, traditional, Motown, religious, rock, soul, pop and even one hip-hop (sorry, I'm not really feelin' most of hip-hop's holiday contributions, I'm more of a traditional head myself).

You'll find classics like Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song," Frank Sinatra's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," and Stevie Wonder's "Someday At Christmas" alongside more obscure tunes like Jethro Tull's "Ring Out, Solstice Bells," John Lennon & Yoko Ono's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's rock-opera "Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo 12/24."
I tried to appeal to different tastes with this mix - I hope it enhances your holiday experience.

Time to wrap the last of my presents, set up the new BlackBerry Storm and spend some time with the fam before church, Enjoy!

Download: HFTB Christmas '08: Feelin' The Spirit

Track List:

Al Green - I'll Be Home For Christmas
Charles Brown - Please Come Home For Christmas
Chet Baker - We Three Kings
Dave Brubeck - What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Silver Bells
Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
Eddie Dunstedter - Let It Snow!; RudolphThe Red-Nosed Reindeer
Eddie Higgins Trio - Winter Wonderland
Frank Sinatra - The Christmas Song (with Bing Crosby)
Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Howard Levy & Connie Ellisor - Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Jethro Tull - Ring Out, Solstice Bells
John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Happy Christmas (The War Is Over)
Luther Vandross - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Nat King Cole - Adeste Fideles
Nat King Cole - O Come All Ye Faithful
Nat King Cole - O Holy Night
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
Otis Redding - Merry Christmas, Baby
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
Perry Como - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Piano Tribute Players - Carol of the Bells
The Piano Tribute Players - Greensleeves
The Piano Tribute Players - Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Run-D.M.C. - Christmas In Hollis
Stevie Wonder - Someday At Christmas
Stevie Wonder - Ave Maria
The Temptations - Little Drummer Boy
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - An Angel Came Down
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - An Angel Returned
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve/ Sarajeva 12/24
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The First Noel
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Prince of Peace
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter
VA - Ding Dong Merrilly On High

Go Off Tonight in NYC

My homie Sickroc will be spinnin' on the 1's and 2's tonight in the Lower East Side.. Come out and show some support for real hip-hop!

2007 Hit-List Part III - Essential Non Hip-Hop Albums of '07

Despite a obsession with hip-hop culture, don't think for one second that [dom corleone] doesn't appreciate others. This Hit-List represents a variety of artists from many genres, from soulful divas to experimental rockers, proving that there are truly only 2 classifications of music - good or bad:

Amy Winehouse – Back To Black

Media coverage of Winehouse's out-of-studio antics overshadowed the reality in '07 - the girl can sing her damn heart out. The British 20-something's soul-jazz voice on Back To Black resembles that of Ella Fitzgerald. Winehouse's sophomore effort has a nostalgic sound paying homage to the 50's and 60's jazz scene blended with modern-day subject matter for a revitalizing fresh feeling.

Essential Listening:

Rehab

Addicted

To Know Him Is To Love Him (Incredibly spiritual live acoustic song released on Napster)

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Montreal-based indie collective Arcade Fire delivered their most commercially successful album to date last year, Neon Bible. The group experimented with many instruments beyond the typical rock guitars and drums for an orchestral sound perfect for its subtle social commentary and personal revelations. Neon Bible debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 behind only Notorious B.I.G.'s greatest hits CD - these Canadians ain't too shabby, aye.

Essential Listening:

Neon Bible

Intervention

Windowstill

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Exodus [30^th Anniversary Edition]

A reissue of Bob Marley's timeless Exodus 30 years after the original release featuring classic songs like "Exodus," "Jamming," "Three Little Birds" and "One Love/ People Get Ready" and lesser-known but equally inspirational tracks such as "Waiting In Vain" and "Natural Mystic." Tuff Gong's quintessential album is as good as new - 'nuff said.

Essential Listening:

Three Little Birds

Exodus

Natural Mystic

Bruce Springsteen – Magic

Asbury Park, New Jersey's famous rockers Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band return with Magic, a collection of upbeat rock anthems and familiar down-to-earth content. Lead single "Radio Nowhere" questions "Is there anybody alive out there?" - the answer here is an enthusiastic "Yes!"

Essential Listening:

Radio Nowhere

Magic

Terry's Song (Hidden Track) (an emotional tribute to Bruce's late assistant and long-time friend Terry Magovern)

Pressure Busspipe – Love and Affection

Hailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Pressure's voice is smooth and well-pronounced on his sophomore album Love and Affection. From the uplifting "Be Free" and "Touch The Sky" to the agony of "Ghetto Life" and "Why," the disc is a genuine, purifying experience.

Essential Listening:

Be Free

Why

Touch The Sky

Radiohead – In Rainbows

These Brit alternative art-rock heroes made history by releasing In Rainbows exclusively online and allowing fans to choose the album's price themselves, later distributing a physical deluxe box set with a second disc and vinyl copies of each. The album is artsy and intriguing, blending Thom Yorke's poetry with lush, climactic instrumentals for a colorful musical concoction.

Essential Listening:

All I Need

4 Minute Warning

Weird Fishes / Arpeggi

Slightly Stoopid – Chronchitis

Chronchitis signals this SoCal band's sound shift towards reggae and bluesy rock from their previous albums of heavy ska and punk influences. The LP's bouncy rhythms plus nifty guitar work let leadmen Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald describe beach-side memories while slower love songs make the listener want to lay out a towel for two - perfect tunes for a breezy summer afternoon at the shore.

Essential Listening:

Jimi

2am

Above The Clouds

Chris Brown - Exclusive

Eagles – Long Road out of Eden

From Dubplate to Download: The Best of Greensleeves Records

Luv Fyah & Million 7 – Ethiopia We Belong

Miles Davis – The Complete on the Corner Sessions

Ne-Yo – Because Of You

Ras Shiloh – Only King Selassie

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand

Sigur Ros – Hvarf-Heim

Stephen Marley – Mind Control

Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist

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This January is the last relaxing month for me since I'll be graduating in May, so I'll use it for a couple more '07 lists.. stay up!

[babylon is falling]

Another American Gangster Remix Tape Worth Hearing...

DJ Mick Boogie recruited German beatsmiths Shuko and The Gunna for this soulful blend-tape utilizing Marvin Gaye samples to reinterpret Hova's lyrics. This one is definitely worth scooping up from Mick Boogie's Blog (damn I need a new layout, coming '08!). I uploaded some of my top picks below, Enjoy:

Hello Brooklyn

Sweet (that "Juicy" drum sequence has always been music to my ears)

Party Life (this is the first instrumental over which I could tolerate listening to Jay's childish verses, my least favorite on AG)

Say Hello

American Gangster

[just let it ride out]