Berkeley’s ska nutters The Uptones have a gr8 promo track on Fun Fun Fun Recordings’ “MP3 Jackpot Winners”  compilation. Check out Ridiculous and the whole album, it’s stuffed with power pop goodness, most of it produced by my friend Matthew King Kaufman of Beserkley Records fame.

The Uptones
“Ridiculous” (mp3)
from “Skankin’ Foolz Unite!”
(Fun Fun Fun Recordings)

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Ryan Adams now legendary meltdown on Jim DeRogatis‘ answering machine made the rounds back in ‘04 and soon became immortalized on the Interwebs. Utterly hilarious, or unbearable depending on your perspective, this is what happens when an artist gets one too many personal insults from a critic, throws decorum to the wind and fires back. Little could Adams know that his rant would soon be downloaded millions of times and take on a momentum of its own.  I happen to like Ryan Adams’ music a lot, but I think I’d be down with this even if I thought it was shite! Little lite humor for your holiday fun =)

What a total hit. Great song, great vocal, great recording, great in every way.

Cha Cha, Tony Evans and His Orchestra, Tony Evans
“Mercy” (mp3)
from “Dancebeat 15: Don’t Stop the Music: Latin Heat 7″
(Tema International)

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Truly this is some sweet soul music. Old school meets new school for the best of both worlds!

Soul Of Black John
“Black John” (mp3)
from “Black John”
(Eclecto Groove Records)

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A str8 up dancehall rocker from the brilliant and lovely Nadine Sutherland. Signed by Bob Marley himself to Tuff Gong records when she was a teenager, Sutherland has throughout her career blasted through stereotypes with her fresh delivery, sincere approach and real class.  Big Tingz is her latest single and it lives right up to its name! Spin this when ya needs ta move a lickle.

Nadine Sutherland
“Big Tingz” (mp3)
from “Big Tingz”
(Eight76 Records)

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Well known to those who know, mysterious to those who don’t, the greatest dub artist in the world also happens to be the man who invented the style. Dub evolved from various happy accidents in the studios of Jamaica, but it took a madman of Scratchy’s particular imagination to water the seeds of dub and grow them into an international forest. Clearly from outer space, he visits earth in this track to attend a little party. Come on in, drink ya drink.

Lee “Scratch” Perry
“Having a Party” (mp3)
from “Scratch Came, Scratch Saw, Scratch Conquered”
(Megawave)

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Certainly one of the major musical events of the turn of the 21st century was and is the worldwide recognition of the Buena Vista Social Club. The story would be great anyway, but with music this good, this joyous and unpretentious, it becomes a unifying force that renders borders and politics impotent.

Buena Vista Social Club
“De Camino a la Vereda” (mp3)
from “Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall”
(World Circuit)

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Stiff Richards’ delightful punky pop screed against mainstream lameness. This song launches out of the gate like a race horse with its tail on fire and never lets up. Raucous guitars, bass and vocals, and a raw, ferocious drum track that makes me wonder if the guy who played it even lived to tell the tale! Rock Hard indeed.

Stiff Richards
“Markie Mark” (mp3)
from “Stiff Richards”
(Fun Fun Fun Recordings)

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Gr8 song about the gr8est sk8rs ever. It’s funny, it’s irreverent, AND it ROCKS! Opal Book Club from Berkeley, CA, layin’ down the wizdumb.

Opal Book Club
“Tony Alva” (mp3)
from “MP3 Jackpot Winners”
(Fun Fun Fun Recordings)

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Yes, that’s right the great Bob Marley and the Wailers hit, remixed specially for your next party! What a GR8 why to keep Bob’s music alive!

Bob Marley & The Wailers
“Soul Shakedown Party” (mp3)
from “Roots, Rock, Remixed”
(rockr / Quango / Tuff Gong)

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