NO ORDINARY KITCHEN: this is a gambling song

01. "los Lunaticos" :: Los De Abajo (LDA vs. the Lunatics)

Rock en español (with the kitchen sink o' funky wrrldbeat thrown in) version of Fun Boy Three's "the Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum". With Neville Staples from FB3 guesting. Right up there with Fanfare Ciocarlia's "Caravan" as most suprising cover version of the year.

02. "Gasolina" :: Daddy Yankee (Barrio Fino)

This actually dates back to 04. Okay, so it's taken me a while to catch up with reggaeton.

03. "Saturday Night" :: Ozomatli (Street Signs)

Also from 04. Ozo didn't have a CD last year but they did tour. Best show I saw, and not just because it was the only show I saw.

04. "Iest Sexy" :: Mahala Rai Banda (Mahala Rai Banda)

Another late discovery on my part, which I found through the Electric Gypsyland CDs. MRB include former members of Taraf de Haidouks.

05. "Bom Demais" : Jorge de Altinho & Dominguinhos (Brazil Classics 3: Forró, etc.)

Back out on CD again, one of the best Luaka Bop compilations EVAH!, focusing on forró, the accordion-driven music of NW Brazil.

06. "Jack Soul Brasileiro" :: Lenine (Lenine)

First US release from this Brazilian singer, guitarist, songwriter grabs tracks from several of his earlier CDs. This swings, baby.

07. "Luck Be A Lady" :: Frank Sinatra (Live In Las Vegas, 9/6/63)

You knew there had to be some Frank! in here. Not only is this a great version of this song, but it's the one they play during the Bellagio fountain show in Vegas

08. "Oh My" :: Saint Etienne (Tales From Turnpike House)

"she wouldn't go with Brad Pitt if you paid her; she's more into James Spader"

09. "the Strangler" :: Underground Resistance (Another World Is Possible - VA)

Formed by Jeff Mills and Mike Banks in 1989. Mills left to become a superstar DJ but Banks & co, continue to pump out tasty oldschool Detroit techno like this.

10. "Domingo" :: Gotan Project (Lunático)

Argentina's finest, bringing a downtempo electronic groove to tango

11. "Sweet Samsara, Part II" :: Miho Hatori (Ecdysis)

Mixes the snap and pop of Cibo Matto into the laidback Brazilian groove of the Smokey & Miho releases

12. "To the Floor" :: Shrift (Lost In A Moment)

An upbeat, dance-y track from a CD that's more atmospheric and groovy. Bring on the breakbeats.

13. "Un Homme à la Mer" :: Stefie Shock (Le Pop 3 - VA)

Shock is Quebec-based but broke big in the revived French pop scene. This is a bouncy number that shows the Gainsbourg influence (never a bad thing).

14. "Good Night Baby" :: the Butterflys (One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found - VA)

A heart-breakingly lovely track from this crucial 4 CD boxset and the perfect end to any set.