Baby Jaymes
"21 Questions" b/w "The Visit"
Ret-Tone Recordings
(Colored vinyl)

The original version of "21 Questions" by 50 Cent had hints of old school soul to it but here Jaymes reworks the song as full-blown, retro funk-pop, giving the song both the edgy cool of Curtis Mayfield and the polished sound of a Michael Jackson hit. Jaymes' delivery also brings out some of the more amusing lyrics the song features as he puts more emotion than Fiddy into words like "I love you like a fat kid love cake." "The Visit" is also a cover, originally done by '60s pop group The Cyrkle of "Red Rubber Ball" fame. Jaymes doesn't funk the mellow song up but his impassioned vocals make the laid back tune very soulful and seductive. A-side is from Jaymes' What Ever Happened to Baby Jaymes EP.

Buy it here.

The Hooten Hallers
"War with Hell"/"Missouri Boy" b/w "Holy Moses"
Big Muddy Records

The thump and grind of this heartland trio begs comparison to everyone from The Black Keys to Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper and with a little bit of George Thorogood thrown in. "War with Hell" is a brief and slightly psychotic-sounding intro to "Missouri Boy," a rocked-up country blues powered by John Randall's relentless slide guitar romping. "Holy Moses" on the other hand is an old time barroom sing along featuring tinkling piano (and kazoo!) that conjures images of flirty dancehall girls and mustachioed men sloshing their beer mugs to the rhythm.