One of the few groups that I remain part of on Facebook is the Apple group, and the only reason why is because a couple times per year, they release a free iTunes sampler CD of 25 songs or so of unsigned artists.  Sometimes it's a summer mix, other times it's a specific genre, and most of the time 90% of it is something I would never listen to again.  There's a reason that some of these artists are unsigned.  Last year, they came out with one of the usual samplers and when I was listening through it, skipping track after track after track, I stumbled upon the single Black & Gold by Sam Sparro.

Needless to say, it stood out from the rest of the CD - so much, in fact, that I bought his album right there on the spot, which rarely happens for me.  Now I read that he received a Grammy Nomination for "Best Dance Recording" alongside Madonna, Rihanna, Daft Punk, Hot Chip, and Lady Gaga.  It's hard to see him winning that field, but he's one of the most talented artists I've come across in a long time.  He sounds like a young version of Prince.  Check out the following singles which, in my opinion, are even better than Black & Gold.