There are numerous things I really don’t like about the Christmas season. Among those are the religious overtones and the horrible music that takes over every public space I find myself in. However, I do appreciate the focus on family and reflecting on all the things that make life good and focusing on how to increase happiness in our lives for the rest of this year, and the ones beyond. With that in mind, here’s some music that’s much more likely to make you happy than all that manufactured garbage being played on the radio right now. Marvin Gaye is one of the best soul singers of all time, and this remix proves once again that Switzerland has a highly underrated and talented disco scene. If Mercury’s remix doesn’t make you feel good, you’re simply a giant Grinch.



MP3: Marvin Gaye – Sunny (Mercury Edit II)

It’s fitting that the best year the hip hop scene has had in recent memory approaches its end with a release from one of the genre’s most legendary figures. Common has become much more than just a rapper over the past decade. He has conquered acting, modeling, and being one hell of a role model and outspoken champion of human rights. All that said, it has been awhile since he released an album that really hit me upside the head the way his classics did. Well, today he released “The Dreamer/The Believer” and I’m proud to say it’s one of the most stellar albums of the year. Those of you that already released your year-end lists are missing out on this one. You’ll likely have to go back and edit it after you hear this track with fellow legend Nas.



MP3: Common – Ghetto Dreams (Feat. Nas)

Flight Facilities released two of the better singles to come out this year, and I was wondering if they were ever going to release a video for the second one. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the band decided to drop this killer video while the entire internet is rushing to release their “best of” lists. Did you forget about these guys? Well, shame if you did! Or maybe they just wanted to drop this sexy 70′s spy flick influenced video while we’re all starting to freeze our asses off. I mean, who doesn’t want to be on an island drinking mai tais right now?



MP3: Flight Facilities – Foreign Language (Beni Remix)

Since I just announced Drake’s huge Club Paradise tour yesterday, I figure it’s only fitting to hit you off with a remix of one of the biggest tracks of the year to follow up such a massive announcement. Shlohmo released my favorite sleepy-time record of the year and a steady stream of some of the most impressive remixes the year had to offer. Now he’s closing it off with a chopped and screwed version of “I’m On One.” To be honest, I didn’t know people still chopped or screwed hip hop these days, but I’m sure as hell glad this track came out. This is for those of you that like to get super blazed and drink red wine in your room on a winter night. Put your headphones on and drift away.



MP3: DJ Khaled – I’m On One ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne (Shlohmo Remix)

I’ve written about the immensely talented Danny Brown a few times on this site and it looks like I’ll be writing about him pretty frequently around here, thanks to the constant stream of new music and videos he keeps hurling out into the world. Rolling Stone released his latest video yesterday. It’s called “Monopoly” and is from “XXX,” one of my favorite records of 2011. The video getting premiered by the magazine shows the wide range of people interested in his music, from the underground to the mainstream, and even Fools Gold, who released the record. This is another short video, but a total heater. Don’t sleep on his show in Scottsdale with the legend Childish Gambino on April 11th.

Barring the long-predicted apocalypse slamming down in Phoenix and ruining all our fun, one of the indie world’s favorite bands is coming back to Phoenix and Tucson for what’s sure to be another stellar set of gigs. Stateside announced earlier today that the band will touch down at Club Congress on March 18th and at Rhythm Room on March 19th. The overwhelming amount of hype that the band has received since before they even released a record shows zero sign of showing down, so I’d recommend you get your tickets far in advance to avoid missing these shows. I’ll be celebrating my birthday at the Phoenix one, so feel free to buy me a shot of Jameson, o’ faithful readers.



MP3: Cults – Most Wanted

There used to be a time when large-scale disco bands ruled the popular music landscape. They were made up of a large group of musicians that played live instruments, rather than making the programmed electronic music that is much more popular nowadays. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but there’s nothing quite as exciting as seeing a live dance band, especially one that’s made up of a lot of talented musicians. Luckily this type of band is making a big comeback recently, and Phenomenal Handclap Band has been one of my favorites to emerge from this new school. The band plays a stellar mix of psych, soul, and cosmic disco that is guaranteed to have you convulsing and dripping in sweat by the time they leave the stage. If you’ve managed to miss the band so far, you should check out the video for their new single “The Unknown Faces at Father James Park,” which will be released on their new album “Form and Control.” It’s coming out on February 14th to get the year off to a sexy start. As a bonus, I included one of my favorite remixes of this glorious year of 2011.



MP3: Phenomenal Handclap Band – Baby (Clock Opera Remix)

Yesterday brought an announcement that nearly made me spill my coffee all over my keyboard out of excitement. Two of my favorite rappers that I discovered this year are coming to Scottsdale together on what’s sure to be one of the best bills of the early months of 2012. Childish Gambino and Danny Brown released two of my favorite records of 2011, and they’ve both been on constant repeat as 2011 comes to an end. You probably know Childish as Donald Glover, an actor and comedian, and now rapper. Dude straight kills it on Community and his raps are much sharper than you’d expect from an actor stepping into the music game. As for Danny… he is one of the strangest and most talented rappers in the game, and the latest to prove that Detroit is still running things, even though the city is crumbling all around their stellar hip hop scene. Come out on April 11th and catch this show. Get blunted to these preview tracks and get your tickets early. I’ll see every one of you there.



MP3: Childish Gambino – Fire Fly
MP3: Danny Brown – Adderall Admiral



Heartbeat (No Pets Allowed Dubstep Remix) – Childish Gambino

The Minneapolis-based hip hop group Doomtree released one of the most impressive albums of the year in this humble Phoenician’s view. The group is made up of some of the hottest names in the underground scene and has a sound that is hard to be pinned down and will instantly make you recognize one of their tracks when you hear it. However, where the group really shines is in the live arena, and we’re all in for a taste of that experience come February. That’s because on February 4th Stateside and UM are teaming up to bring the collective to Chaser’s in Scottsdale. You can find all the information your little heart desires, as well as tickets, right over here. This one will sell out!



MP3: Doomtree – The Grand Experiment