It Burns, It Burns!

“Go Fun Burn Man,” Mission of Burma
A two-minute adrenaline boost!

“Take Me Home,” Brother Ali
Brother Ali, like all great MC’s, is able to take the boasting and braggadocio of rap and make it appealing. He has supreme confidence but he displays it in a way that doesn’t turn off the audience. And the video is cool, too.

“Hours,” TV On the Radio
I’m waiting for any news of a new TV On the Radio album. Two years ago, when Return to Cookie Mountain came out, I felt like that album put the band at the head of the indie rock table. And I said so at the time. Their ability to span genres was unparalleled, in my opinion. I’m not ready to back off from that viewpoint, but if they don’t put something out soon, I may have to reevaluate.

“Keep It Hot for Daddy,” Soul Position
What a killer track this is! Love and hip-hop are often seen as diametric opposites. This is about as “sensitive” as you’re gonna hear an MC get. Blueprint’s vocal delivery is fantastic and RJD2’s beats and samples are as funky as ever.

“Nabori,” Cheo Feliciano
One of the great Puerto Rican singers. My dad was a huge fan of Cheo’s sweet voice, which was a constant presence in our house when I was a kid. Larry Harlow, who was born Ira Kahn and played a huge role in introducing salsa and boogaloo to a wider audience in the 60’s and 70’s, plays piano on this song from 1973.