RollnSmokeRecords Presents: Best New Innovative Music

1. “Shot in the Back of the Head” – Moby [6-30-09]. Evocative instrumental that is at once indie-angst and moody at its core.

2. “Looking for Paradise” – Alejandro Sanz featuring Alicia Keys [9-22-09]. SPAIN. The most commercially successful Spanish singer of all time pairs up with American R&B songstress to cue up an alternating acoustic duet sung in each performer’s native tongue.

3. “Periodically Double or Triple” – Yo La Tengo [9-9-09]. Kooky and retro-sounding issue with groovy organs and smooth percussion from one of indie’s longest-running, most beloved acts.

4. “Song Up in Her Head” – Sarah Jorosz [6-1-09]. 18-year old contemporary bluegrass prodigy launches debut album with this plucky title track.

5. “Lead Me Jesus” – Greg O’Quin & IPraize [4-14-09]. Plain, soulful, “old time” gospel jam.

6. “When I Grow Up” – Fever Ray [3-31-09]. An astonishing new experimental solo project debut by young Swedish artist filled with icy electroniac atmospheres.

7. Cello Song” –The Books feat. Jose Gonzalez [2-16-09]. A lovely cover of the soothing original performed by The Books who concoct an original acoustic version featuring Jose Gonzalez’s dreamy vocals for the DARK WAS the NIGHT Red Hot compilation CD which sports an all-star indie line-up of artists and songs.

…The following tracks are also among the BEST NEW INNOVATIVE MUSIC but are currently unavailable on Playlist.com. But still worth finding …

1. “Buster Vodoo” – Rodrigo y Gabriela [9-8-09]. Groovin’ strummin’ guitar instrumental by duo out of Mexico City.

2. “Do You Dig U” – Q-Tip [9-15-09] A long, ephemeral and inventive hip-hop track off long-delayed album that combines jazz fusion with contemporary hip-hop.

3. “Insensitive” -- Eldar [8-18-09]. A young jazz master and his trio break out with this track from his latest innovative album called VIRTUE.

4. “Ecstasy” – JJ [7-1-09]. Ripping and making addictive threads from Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” and Will Smith’s “Miami,” Swedish electronic act JJ extols the virtues of club drug ecstasy in this haunting and atmospheric track.

5. “Chillaxin” – Marcus Johnson [6-2-09]. Smooth jazz keyboardist lays out an instrumental contemporary R&B jazz track.

6. “Shakhkin” (The Unity of Diversity Remix) -- Omar Faruk Tekbilek [6-9-09]. Evocative, original and exotic remix of Sufi-inspired music from Turkish-born musician.

7. “Smooth Criminal” – (Michael Jackson) – David Garrett [6-2-09]. German violinist tackles the late King of Pop’s ferocious track with instrumental gusto.

8. “Auditorium” – Mos Def [6-09-09]. Gritty, underground hip-hop that’s really musical stream-of-consciousness but at the same time pulls off a curious and compelling harmony.

9. “Move On Up” – Richard Elliot [5-19-09]. A groovin’ jazz sax instrumental that’s bound to get your movin’ to the grooving from Scottish-born smooth jazz artist who was raised in L.A.

10. “All I Ask” – Grizzly Bear [5-26-2009]. Experimental, indie pop group out of Brooklyn creates strange, winding Journey-of-a-song.

11. “Rite of Passage” – Roy Rogers [4-21-09]. From Blues legend’s most recent album, a saxophone –dominated instrumental by band member Brooks rocks into a bluesey jazz piece.

12. “Elitsa’ – Tosca [4-28-09]. A down-tempo, ambient trip-hop number by a master duo in the genre.

13. “Dark Bubbles” – Black Moth Super Rainbow [5-19-09]. An enigmatic, trippy track featuring synthed-out vocals from indie group out of Pittsburgh.

14. “Struggling with My Baby” -- Brian Blade [4-21-09]. Jazz musician from Louisiana– drummer, singer-songwriter and bandleader – is behind beautiful, instrumental track from his latest album.

15. “Riffin’ Ed” – Medeski Martin & Wood [4-14-09]. Like all of this modern jazz trio’s wildly eclectic album, their latest is the same and features this classic juke joint piano track.

16. “Throw Down Your Heart” – Bela Fleck [3-3-09]. The banjo virtuoso journeys to discover his instrument’s African roots in the title track to his latest album (and to Sascha Paladino’s 2008 documentary!).

17. “Lamine’s Tune” – Toubab Krewe [1-13-09]. By blending American Rock with West African Musical Traditions, this instrumental quintet from Asheville, North Carolina, comes up with a truly original sound. In fact, all of the previously un-released tracks from their latest album LIVE AT THE ORANGE PEEL are groovin’, laid-back jams you can dance to..