N.A.S.A. Blast Off

So it's a little over a month into 2009 and I am still trying to put my head around everybody's 'best of' lists from last year. Artists like M.I.A., Lykke Li, Santogold and Kanye all had huge years and listings in '08. Well thanks to two musical friends, the above names may make some waves in 2009 as well.

N.A.S.A, the DJ collective of Squeak E. Clean and DJ Zegon, are set to release their debut album, "The Spirt of Apollo" next week (Feb. 17th) on Anti Records.

The album's 17 songs feature a near staggering amount of superstar collaborations. Get ready for this list-
David Byrne, Karen O and Nick Zinner, Chuck D, Z-Trip, Method Man, RZA, Lykke Li, M.I.A., Santogold, Tom Waits (!), Ghostface, George Clinton and Kanye.

Pee your pants yet? That's only half of the album's worth of collaborations.

"The Spirit of Apollo," is a hour-plus romp through every genre one could want to shake a booty at. Mash-up prince, Greg Gillis of Girl Talk should have a nice run for his money trying to get tunes at 2009's parties. I proclaim "Apollo" will be the party album of the year. Sorry 2009, it doesn't look like there is room to "Feed the Animals" and have some blast off time with N.A.S.A. also.

"Money," the electro-reggae-d up fourth track that sounds like what the Talking Heads would be doing today if they never broke up. David Byrne sings alongside Chuck D, Seu Jorge, and Ras Congo. You'll find yourself singing along with the chrous in no time; "money, money money, money is the root of all evil" Even this blogger was doing it, and the closest to reggae I come to is The Clash.

Track 10, "Gifted," should enjoy plenty of time on big-business, mainstream radio and fancy high-tech cell phone commercials. Kanye West, Lykke Li, Santogold oh my. Nuff said.

"Paper Planes" was a great song, but it got real old, real quick. For those looking for another M.I.A. banger, "Whachadoin," track 13, is your best bet. With a baile-funk background, (thanks to Yeah Yeah Yeahs' axe man Nick Zinner) that would have Bonde Do Role more than stoked and call-and-response lines from M.I.A. and Spank Rock, you better start planning a dance routine now.

Not to ruin the record before you've got time to check it out, let's just say that the above three songs are FAR from being the only good tracks on this album. "The Spirt of Apollo" shines from start to finish.

In terms of a best-of 2009 list, I can safely say I've already got two entries. Animal Collective and N.A.S.A., congrats for making it. Now we all just have to wait for that new Arcade Fire album.