New Picks of the Week September 5, 2010

Okay, if you don’t know who Natalie Grant is, check her out. She is a Christian pop star based out of Seattle. She is been on the scene for over a decade now and has cranked out great songs such as The Real Me”, “What Are You Waiting For”, “In Better Hands” and “Held”. She has won four consecutive Dove Awards for best female artist. The 38-year old’s latest release is called “Love Revolution”. It has a Kelly Clarkson power anthem feel with a positive spin on Christ working in our lives to the point of overflowing to others. Way to go Natalie.


What a fun album “The Latin Side Of Herbie Hancock” is. A ton of classic Hancock songs like “Cantaloupe Island” and “Butterfly”. But my favorite single on the album is “Watermelon Man”. The album is credited to three incredible musicians. The most recognizable is trumpeter Randy Brecker of Brecker Brothers fame. But he is joined by Puerto Rican pianist Eddie Palmieri and one of the best trombone players on the planet right now, Conrad Herwig. Saxophonist Craig Handy is also featured plus some wonderful Latin drumming.


When students learn about jazz 50 years from now, the name that will probably be most commonly attached to the past twenty or thirty years of jazz will be Marsalis. The family is well known for their incredible musicianship, advancements in jazz style, bringing jazz to the mainstream and their wisdom and knowledge of jazz history and the idiom. Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and the entire gang have teamed up to record a wonderful live performance called “Music Redeems”. It’s another must-have for jazz lovers with the name Marsalis on it.

Chart Highlights:


It’s going to be pretty difficult for Eminem to top his biggest hit of all time. Back in 2002, the 37-year old Kansas City native went to #1 the first week of October with “Lose Yourself” and nearly held down the top spot the remainder of that calendar year. His run ended at 12 weeks. With that said, he is over half of the way there with his current single. This week he makes it six weeks at #1 with “Love The Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna.

The run could be coming to an end though because Katy Perry has the biggest airplay gainer of the week moving from 3-2 with “Teenage Dream”. Katy was actually who Eminem knocked out of the top spot six weeks ago when she was making a long run on top with “California Gurls”. Her new album “Teenage Dream” debuts at #2 on the album chart this week.

And keep your eye on two more songs at the bottom of the Top 10 this week. Taylor Swift who debuted at #3 three weeks ago with “Mine” is back up from 14-9 this week. And Ke$ha who also had a long run at #1 to start the year with “TiK ToK”, leaps from 16-10 with “Take It Off”.

Three songs debut in the Top 40 this week. Leading the way is 26-year old Ohio rapper Kid Cudi with “Erase Me” featuring Kanye West at #22. It already becomes his second biggest hit after “Day ‘N‘ Nite”, which was his first hit song last year. Usher joins the 20-hit club this week. His 20th Top 40 single, “Hot Tottie” featuring Jay-Z bows at #25 this week. And Utah rock quartet Neon Trees score their first hit this week at #33 with “Animal”.

For more, visit my website at www.songerstudio.com.