Rdio Blog

Old 97s frontman and solo singer-songwriter Rhett Miller’s popularity rose steadily thanks to his strong songwriting and singing — no gimmicks. His latest album, The Dreamer, is another solid set from Miller. To celebrate the occasion, he’s wrangled his favorite songs into the playlist found below.

Rock, folk, pop — play Rhett Miller’s Faves now, and read his well-written notes on why he picked each song.

• The New Pornographers - “Mutiny, I Promise You”
  Carl Newman writes great songs. Thorny, dense things, devoid of obvious handles and hooks, but sticky and slippery in the best way. Oh yeah, and Neko Case as a vocal counterpoint? Pretty sweet.

• Guster - “Do You Love Me”
  Do you love handclaps? Do you love bells? Do you love songs that will keep you awake at night out of sheer catchiness? Then you will love this song.

• Guided By Voices - “Teenage FBI”
  Once upon a time, The Cars' Ric Ocasek produced a record for the kings of lo-fi indie rock and this song came into being. At less than two minutes, this song challenges you not to play it again.

• Redd Kross - “Peach Kelli Pop”
  This ultimate rocker, off their historic Neurotica album, will start any day off right. I wanted to include "Stay Away From Downtown" off their upcoming album Researching The Blues, which features the classic Neurotica lineup, but that album doesn't drop until August. In the meantime, you should be researching Redd Kross.

• Dukes of Stratosphear - “Little Lighthouse”
  This XTC side project has never left my heavy rotation. I wish more people remembered them. Garage rock psychedelia that will melt your square brain. Play it loud.

• The Head and The Heart - “Lost in My Mind”
  Seems these guys are blowing up these days. And rightly so. THATH are a great combination of the sweet little things I love about music (simple melodies, sparse moments), and the huge, fun things (mallet-wielding monster drummer, massive multi-part harmonies), and are, thus, one of my favorite new bands.

• Carolina Chocolate Drops - “Cornbread and Butterbeans”
  I just love these guys. I hesitate to describe them too much. You should just find out for yourself. This song contains my new motto: “Eatin' beans and makin’ love as long as I am able".

• Crowded House - “Fall At Your Feet”
  I toured with Neil Finn years ago and came away from the experience with a newfound respect for his enormous talent and admirable work ethic. Oh, and this new favorite song.

• Ben Kweller - “Jealous Girl”
  BK has been blowing my mind since he was a kid. And his newest record may be his best yet.

• Sarah Jaffe - “Clementine”
  This track appears on her new record Suburban Nature. It's a sweetheart of a song and a perfect showcase for the husky beauty of her pipes. To have such a special voice and the ability to write a song like this? An embarrassment of riches for my young friend Sarah.

• Dawes - “When My Time Comes”
  With songs like this, Dawes time should be coming... Right. About. Now.

• The Pixies - “Wave of Mutilation”
  The greatest song of all time. That's all.

Yrs, Rhett

Whispertown is the indie folk project of Los Angeles’ Morgan Nagler and a rotating cast of her friends. Formerly dubbed The Whispertown 2000, Nagler perfected her indie folk sound on tours with The Breeders, Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, and She & Him, among others. Her full-length discography includes was 2008’s Swim, and Parallel, which updated her sound with touches of Postal Service-style electronica.

Parallel is now available on Rdio, courtesy of Gillian Welch’s record label, Acony. Listen to Parallel now, and catch Whispertown on their current tour with Margo & The Nuclear So and So’s.

This week, Memphis, Tennessee rapper Yo Gotti released his debut studio album — his first on a major label. Live From The Kitchen is the culmination of a decade of hard work, during which he sought inspiration from other great rappers. Yo Gotti compiled a playlist of some of his favorite cuts and shared commentary for each track, which you can read below.

Playlist Notes

• Akon - “Sorry, Blame It On Me”
  This is a record I relate to everyday, from being on the road, to all of the mistakes that I’ve made in my life, I always get a chance to step back from my hectic life and reflect.

• 50 Cent - “Wanksta”
  This is a classic right here!!! I remember hearing this joint about 8 years ago and it still gives me the same feeling I felt when I first heard it, thinking about all of these dudes pretending to be something they clearly can not and will not be.

• Yo Gotti - “Women Lie, Men Lie”
  This joint is so hard and Weezy killed it! (Hold ya head, Weezy!) This record is so true because people can say what they want but numbers don’t have emotions, or feelings, just facts. Dope sound, dope meaning.

• Alicia Keys - “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart”
  Ms. Keys killed this cut and the beat was so banging for an R&B record…I love it.

• Nicki Minaj & Gucci Mane - “Freaky Girl”
  I remember when this song dropped, I attached to it immediately because of the hook. I still love it because of the hook.

• Yo Gotti - “5 Star Remix”
  The remix helped make the original be bigger than it already was and Nicki…she ripped the track to shreds.

• Soulja Boy - “Turn My Swag On”
  This is my joint!! It’s just a banging record that is very fun. Whenever I’m just hopping out the bed, I get my chain, my stack, turn my swag on.

• Clipse - “Grindin’”
  I love this joint!!! There is one word to describe this cut, classic. This is probably the all time D-Boy Anthem.

• T.I. - “Rubber Band Man’”
  If “Grindin’” is the D-Boy anthem then this is the celebration of that lifetime. There is nothing like stacks in a rubber band.

• T.I. - “What You Know”
  This record is so amazing. The beat was so beautiful and T.I. ripped it, straight classic.

• T.I. - “You Don’t Know Me”
  This record was so catchy and so big, this is again a personal favorite of mine, especially when I don’t want to be bothered, like don’t mess wit me boy, cause you don’t know me!!!

• T.I. - “Still Ain’t Forgave Myself”
  This is another retrospective joint that I love that shows that all men are equal, no matter how tough you portray yourself to be.

• Young Jeezy - “Air Forces”
  Same as “Trap or die”, this is a classic Jeezy cut that’s one of my all time favorites from da Snowman.

• Plies - “100 Years”
  This is such a real record that everybody gotta feel. I love how truthful Plies get especially on this record, a very touching cut.

• Plies - “Sumbody”
  This is another favorite from my homie Plies. This record again hits home because of its touching subject matter. I love this cut.

• Drake - “Forever”
  This joint was so hard, plus all four dudes, Drake, ‘Ye, Weezy, and Em all murdered a banging beat. This was one of my favorite joints from 2009.

• Lil Wayne - “Money On My Mind”
  This joint was just Weezy at probably his finest, he was so hungry and so ill with the bars, this is one of my favorite joints from that era.

• Rick Ross - “Hustlin’”
  This is what put Ross on the map and it’s simple and sweet; everyday I’m hustling to stay alive and live well. Whether in the dope game or in any type of hustle, this record speaks to all who are trying to be somebody. I love this song.