1. Charlotte Gainsbourg-IRM
2. Aventura-Last
3. Shakira-She Wolf
4. Mahssa-Oyun Havasi Vol. 1
5. Manu Chao-Baionarena
6. Charlotte Gainsbourg-IRM (LP version)
7. Tinariwen-Imidiwan: Companions
8. V/A-Colombia!
9. V/A-Tumbele! Biguine, Afro & Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean, 1963-74
10. Buika-El Ultima Trago

Even though Charlotte Gainsbourg’s IRM has only been out for the last week, it has already sold well enough to take the top spot on Amoeba Hollywood’s World Music chart. IRM was produced by Beck and was the first anticipated release of the year. The vinyl version of IRM also took the sixth spot and probably could have sold more had we not sold out over the weekend. Last year, Charlotte's father, Serge Gainsbourg, was the only artist to also have the CD and vinyl version of a record in our top forty best sellers of the year, with the reissue of Histoire De Melody Nelson.

At number five is Manu Chao's second live album, Baionarena, which includes two CD’s and one DVD. Baionarena was recorded and filmed over the last couple of years while supporting the La Radiolina release. Having caught two shows during this tour,  Baionarena triggers many great memories I had attending the shows. Baionarena is also available on vinyl, which also comes with the DVD.

These are the top selling Latin Rock & Pop titles at Amoeba Hollywood from the dates of November 28th through December 28, 2008. Maybe you were lucky enough to get one of these releases as a gift. If not, maybe you can buy it for yourself!
 
1. Aterciopelados-Rio
2. Rodrigo Y Gabriela-Live In Japan
3. Calle 13-Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo
4. V/A-Arriba La Cumbia
5. Ricardo Arjona-Quinto Piso
6. Eydie Gorme Y Los Panchos -Cantan En Español
7. Juana Molina-Un Dia
8. Monica Naranjo-Tarantula
9. Juanes-La Vida Es Un Ratico En Vivo
10. Manu Chao-Clandestino

Aterciopelados' newest release took the top spot. Released in early November, it didn’t sell that well upon release but it picked up steam as the gift giving days approached. The same went for the live Rodrigo Y Gabriela. For the most part, live releases don’t do too well but Rodrigo Y Gabriela are known for the intense live shows and this made a great gift for anyone who went to their shows or hopes to see them live in the future.

Calle 13’s latest is good but it’s hard not to compare it their previous releases. It’s not that Los De Atras is a bad album, it's just that they set the bar so high with last year’s Residente o Visitante that anything they would have done would be considered a drop-off. Still, there are plenty of great tracks on the album and Calle 13 continues to be one of the most original groups around.

Ever thought after listening to one of those remix CD by one of your favorite artists, "Damn, I could have done a better remix than that!" Well, here is your chance.









Manu Chao has a new website, www.PolitiKills.com. On it, you can preview his new remix EP, Politik Kills and watch the new video. According to a press release by Nacional Records, the site will also include include "commentary from social leaders, writers, artists and more; all in the name of reflecting on the misuse and abuse of power plaguing the world."

Besides the commentaries, there is a link that allows you to download the parts of the song Politik Kills and create your own remix. Then once you are finished with it, you can upload it back on the site for everyone to hear. Hear your remix along the ones created for the E.P. by such artists as Linton Kwesi Johnson, Dennis Bovell and The Nortec Collective. Even the ol' vampire himself, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell has a remix as well.

I love this idea and I hope other artists in the future will let people download wave files from their recording sessions so that we can all have a chance to remix our favorite artists. So far, most of remixes I've heard are of the Reggae variety. I think I'll go a whole other route with mine. How about Freestyle Manu Chao???

Caifanes-
La Negra Tomasa









Manu Chao -
Radio Bemba Sound System