The most recent issue of Rolling Stone Magazine lists the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time in an effort to get all of us blogging our raves and rants. Mission accomplished.

I actually have to give the Rolling Stone crew some props for this list because I personally think it’s a harder one then “100 Greatest Guitarists” or “100 Greatest Albums.” I wouldn’t really even know where to begin especially when you consider how different genres of music can be - for example, a soul singer, in my opinion, always has the edge over a rock or country vocalist just by the very nature of the genre they inhabit.

So who snagged number one? Aretha Franklin. Followed closely by the likes of Ray Charles, Elvis Presley (my first problem with the list), Sam Cooke, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye and Bob Dylan. Some heavy hitters indeed. Before we get into the inevitable debate in the comments section let me throw in my two cents about the Top 10.

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[Most of what we post on this site are new releases, but our tastes are all over the map. This weekly feature is a snapshot of what the Stranger Dance staff can't get out of their collective head each week. On any given week, we might be digging a new local act, an old jazz chestnut, the newest Japanese electro-folk or whatever else we've got on the turntable/iPod that week.]

This week’s picks are a little on the funkier side for us, with a legitimate house track, a thick slab of Afrobeat funk and some electro-funk of M.I.A. In case you weren’t feeling funky today, we’ve also got a decidedly unfunky favorite of yesteryear to round out our list this week.

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Vague Panther: Smith N Hack - “Strength and Inspiration”

I recently discovered Fader Magazine (does that make me out of the loop?) and am really impressed by editor Matthew Schnipper’s weekly Tuesday picks of under-appreciated releases. This week’s feature was Smith N Hack’s “Strength and Inspiration” from the album Tribute (alas, it is only on vinyl). I think I listened to this DJ food about 100 times this week so I caved and decided to pass it along.

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Stranger Jay: Tony Allen - “No Discrimination”

I’m knee-deep in a serious Nigerian music kick. I’ve consumed at least an hour of Afrobeat, Highlife and Jùjú every day for the past two weeks. There’s a huge wealth of music to dig through in Nigerian music, but there are two towering figures: Fela Kuti and Tony Allen. The two invented Afrobeat in the early ’70s, and continued to re-write the book for the next two decades.

From a 1979 Allen solo album, this nugget is pure afrobeat genius. It’s so slinky and beautifully layered with horns crashing over a mellow groove. It’s the contradictions that make Afrobeat so compelling to me; the same song is often both mellow and aggressive, repetitive yet mercurial, angry yet calm, complex yet understated. I could listen to this forever.

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Uncle Corey: M.I.A. - “Big Branch”

I love this song – it’s been an everyday listen for the last three weeks since I found it. It’s a bonus track on the Japanese version of Kala and it’s genius. Bouncy, off-kilter production from Diplo (who’s fast becoming my producer of choice), M.I.A.’s twisted take on female empowerment – this song works.

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Scooter: The Merry-Go-Round - “Live”

The Merry-Go-Round was a short-lived LA band that made a name for itself with this hit record during the Summer of Love (1967). Like many of the great songs from the era, its message focuses on the social/political climate of the day but still manages to be timeless and continuously relevant.

As for the music, the song could easily fit alongside anything on Rubber Soul or Revolver … and that’s saying a lot. Driving, angular guitar riffs, chiming melodies, and four-part harmonies are all present here. If you love the Byrds, middle-period Beatles, or ’80s jangle-pop like REM and the Stone Roses, you’re sure to dig this. Enjoy.

Bo Diddley (born Ellas Otha Bates), passed away from heart failure this morning. He was 79.

Diddley was a founding father of rock n’ roll, best remembered for his distinctive signature beat. The beat was the backbone to hundreds of songs that followed: Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away,” the Who’s “Magic Bus,” Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride,” U2’s “Desire,” the Strangeloves’ “I Want Candy,” George Michael’s “Faith,” Johnny Otis’s “Willie and the Hand Jive,” Bruce Springsteen’s “She’s the One” among probably hundreds of others. Click here to read more

This is big news. The 2008 Summer concert lineup was already off to a good start, but it just got a whole lot better.

Tom Waits‘ publicist just announced a Summer tour across the US and Europe. Details are shaky and no dates or venues have been announced. We’ll update as news becomes available. [Update: 2008 Tour Dates Announced]

Fans know that seeing Waits live is something between witnessing Halley’s comet and a blue moon. I was lucky to catch a short set at this year’s Bridge School benefit, but I’d be a lot happier to see a full show in a better venue (especially without obnoxious John Mayer fans complaining throughout).

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