It's already the middle of summer and Reggae Gold 2007 has been on rotation on my ipod. There are definitely a few gems on this like Sean Paul's "Watch Them Roll," Elephant Man's "Bring It" and "Bobby Reds" by Buju Banton. Get the CD here and be sure to enter to win $5,000 at the Reggae Gold 2007's site.

Track Listing:
1. Watch Dem Roll – Sean Paul
2. This Is Why I’m Hot (Blackout Remix)
3. Top Shotta Nah Miss – Mavado
4. Bad From Mi Born – Munga
5. Last Night- Mavado
6. Bring It- Elephant Man
7. Bobby Reds-Buju Banton
8. Brooklyn Jamaica- Morgan Heritage
9. Sticky – Jah Cure
10. My Fada Seh – Gyptian
11. Hideaway – Tessanne
12. Love & Affection – Pressure
13. I Need Her in My Arms – I Wayne
14. Sacrifice – Alaine
15. More Woman – Shaggy

Joe Rogan made me laugh . . . I never thought he would, but he did. My brother happens to be a fan and brought over his dvd of Joe Rogan Live. I was surprised by the former Fear Factor host and the UFC commentator's wit and humor. He also came across as I expected; loud and cocky which I can handle for 55 minutes. Check out a clip here for 5 minutes of fun and if you like what you see buy the dvd here. Get more of Rogan at his official site: http://blog.joerogan.net/.

Who? Matt White

Where? Shrek the Third soundtrack features his 1st single "Best Days" which is also on his new album titled "Best Days."

Why? Because Matt’s a "doer" and we like "doers" or at least that's what Nike has convinced me of with their "just do it" campaign. In any case, Matt's played over 100 shows this year alone and hosts weekly online chats.

Check out "Best Days" here, his video diary here and stop by his website here.

From New York Times reporter Matt Richtel comes a psychological thriller that establishes him as “the bard of the iPod generation.” Nat Idle, a San Francisco writer with a medical degree, narrowly survives an explosion in an Internet café after a stranger hands him a note warning him to exit immediately. The handwriting on the note belongs to his deceased girlfriend, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist whom he has obsessively been mourning. So begins Hooked, a pop thriller for the Internet Age, written with the force of an adrenaline rush and the pace of an intimate email dispatch you can’t stop reading. Each chapter of this novel will keep readers hooked as Nat Idle searches for the love of his life in the midst of manipulation and conspiracy.

“Are You Hooked?” Quiz:
http://www.TwelveBooks.com/books/quiz.swf

Who is Chris Marsol? Judging from the picture he's HOT! Equally important he has an album coming out later tis year titled Butterflys, Lipstick & Hand Grenades. Chris is from the Bay Area and put a spin on what is "rock", bringing the rock lover, the soul lover and the pop music lover together in one blissful Technicolor orgy, celebrating life and music outside the lines of race, creed and color. Embracing his roots and the melting pot that is the Bay Area, Marsol chimes out heartfelt, cutting edge melodies over rock guitars, along with slaps of the hi hat and pounds of the drums. Having written, arranged and produced Butterflys, Lipstick and Hand Grenades, he has meshed his dynamic vocals and edgy material. Get the mp3 of his single "Let Me Jump" here. Be sure to check out his official website.

About 2 months ago this hottie was telling me about this Brazillian singer, CéU, pronounced say-you. Cut to, me getting the album a week ago when I saw it at Starbucks. Apparently she is the 1st international artist featured in the Starbucks Hear Music™ Debut series and was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY® in 2006 for “Best New Artist." Looks like Starbucks's could be the new record label that will be taking over the music industry if they keep signing hot new artists like CéU.

CéU also has a few good reviews under her belt:

“Brazilian funk singer CéU traverses the rich musical terrain of her country while updating it with hip-hop and electronic touches.” - Billboard

"The serious sultry CéU may be the latest chanteuse with a weakness for subtle electronic beats to emerge from Brazil, but she sounds completely different from established electro-bossa divas Bebel Gilberto or Rosalia de Souza…simmering, funky beats with touches of ambient and dub.”- NY Post (Four Star review)

“CéU segues easily from pop to reggae to dub in velvet, jazz-accented vocals.” - Newsweek

Personally I love funky, jazzy and sultry samba rythms mixed in with some electro beats . . . it's sooooooo seductive! With that said grab your free mp3 of CéU's "Ave Cruz" here and check her out preforming "Roda" live here.

The lat time I went to a Barnes and Noble in-store event was to get a signed copy of Jamie Oliver's Italian cookbook signed for my mom. I didn't mind; I mean who doesn't like the naked chef and his cute British accent?? In any case I came across THE GRAND ILLUSION: Love, Lies, and My Life with Styx which is about Styx bassist Chuck Panozzo's experience of being a closeted gay man during the height of his arena rock career . . . talk about jaw dropping. I love reading bios especially ones that take you into the gritty dirty music scene of yester-year. Chuck is going to be at Barnes & Noble in Chelsea, 675 6th Avenue at 22nd St, on May 31st at 7pm . . . hollerrrrr!

Scratch and Sniff? Cake is covering a whole
bunch of cool songs on their upcoming album
B Sides and Rarities. Check out the track list
and download their take on Barry White's
"Never, Never Gonna Give You Up:"

1. War Pigs
2. Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
3. Mahna Mahna
4. Excuse Me, I Think I've Got A Heartache
5. Conroy
6. Strangers in the Night
7. Subtract One Love (Multiply the Heartaches)
8. Never, Never Gonna Give You Up
9. Thrills
10. Short Skirt, Long Jacket
11. It's Coming Down