BOTR vol 15

It’s a good day for BOTR (Best of the Remix).  Why not.  If you’d like to check out past volumes just click here.

mp3 : Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone (Tom Molloy Remix)
I received an advance copy of Calvin Harris’ debut album awhile back and I didn’t really like anything on it.  This beat heavy remix goes a long way to salvaging my mental image of him.

mp3 : Chris Brown Annie Designer Drugs – Kiss Anthonio (White Panda Remix)
I’m not sure what to call these remixes by White Panda.  They come from the website mochibeats.com and I’m not sure how White Panda becomes involved, but who cares because they’re sick mashups.

mp3 : Crystal Castles – Vietnam (LightsoverLA Remix)
At one point in my life I was fortunate to spend two months wandering the beaches of Thailand.  Remixes like this take me back to nights by the ocean watching fire dancers.  Pure class.

mp3 : Drake & Coldplay – The Fly Scientist ft. Page & Silver Medallion (“October’s Very Cold” Chi Duly Remix)
As I’ve said before in other BOTR volumes I’m a sucker for hip hop vocals laid over the top of a modern pop song.  There is something captivating about spitting venom over a gorgeous Coldplay backdrop.

mp3 : Fatboy Slim vs Outkast – Praise Outkast (White Panda Remix)
I will never grow tired of hip hop and pop (or any other modern musical genre) mixed together in an inventive and seamless way.  Never.

mp3 : Felix Cartal – Skeleton (BbopNRokstedy Remix)
I’m not sure how I feel about this remix.  I am sure that BbopNRokstedy is a great name.

mp3 : Fol Chen – In Ruins (Bath Remix)
I”ve never listend to Fol Chen and if I can recall correctly I’ve never listened to any other remix by Bath.  This combination, however, has me interested enough to do some searching.

mp3 : Lady Gaga – Bad Romance (The Kids are Radioactive Remix)
I’m not sure where I stand on the entire Lady Gaga situation.  I can’t tell if she’s a flash in the pan diva or if she’ll end up being the next version of Madonna.  I’m sure I don’t really care though.

mp3 : Lady Gaga vs Sigur Ros – Just Dance (CJ Milli Remix)
Judging by this remix/mashup if Lady Gaga teamed up with Sigur Ros for her next album it could be absolute genius.

mp3 : Phoenix – 1901 (BbobNRokstedy Remix)
Just when you thought Phoenix fever from last summer was finally gone the cleverly named BbopNRokstedy throw down a loop heavy remix that keeps it fresh.

mp3 : Smashing Pumpkins – 1979 (Spin.Kidd Remix)
Smashing Pumpkins, at one point in time, were my favorite band.  Then they broke up, then Billy Corgan went weird, then they sorta kinda formed another band under the same name.  Regardless 1979 remains one of their greatest songs and this remix does a good job of destroying it.

mp3 : Snoop Dogg and Kid CuDi – That Tree (Vim Cortez Remix)
This is Snoop Dogg and CuDi if their song That Tree existed in the middle of the upcoming Daft Punk scored soundtrack to Tron Legacy.

mp3 : Snoop Dogg – That Tree (Star Guitar Remix)
I cannot get over the opening thirty seconds of this remix.  I simply cannot force my brain to move beyond the dirty bass line that permeates this track.  If you only listen to one remix from this BOTR this should be your choice.

Keep listening to good music.

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BOTR vol 13

I’ve been stuck in a rut lately.  I’ve been swamped and work and when that happens I generally listen to a very small set of music over and over and over again.  The problem with this is that no new music coming in means no new music going out.  What happens is terrible.  So to spice it up I decided to bundle together another volume of BOTR (Best of The Remix).  If you’d like to check out all the previous BOTR volumes click here.

Enjoy the music.

mp3 : The Beach Boys – Wouldn’t It Be Nice (The Girls Can Hear Us Remix)
I love this remix.  It takes a classic summertime song by the Beach Boys and updates it just enough to make kids born in the last two decades appreciate the talent of the original surf rockers.

mp3 : David Guetta – Memories (feat Kid Cudi) (Armand Van Helden Vocal Remix)
Don’t be fooled by the opening forty five seconds of this remix.  When the vocals from CuDi drop in you’ll realize that you’re in heaven.

mp3 : Duck Sauce – aNYway (Black Noise Disco Remix)
I wasn’t quite sure what I thought of this track on first listen.  It sounds a lot like it’s from the late seventies, but the remixed aspect of the the song gives it a nice 2010 worthy veneer.

mp3 : Florence and The Machine – Dog Days Are Over (Breakage Remix)
This is by far the most depressing Florence and The Machine remix that I’ve ever heard.  And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  Some days it’s good and well to be melancholic.

mp3 : Kinkiez – Nothing New (We Plants Are Happy Plants Remix)
The band is an act you’ve never heard of, but the track is worth a listen simply because We Plants Are Happy Plants has touched it.  WPAHP seems to have carved out a clever niche in the remix game and to date there hasn’t been a true competitor.

mp3 : Lady GaGa – Telephone (Crookers Remix)
I have no idea why anyone likes GaGa other than she tries really really hard to be even more abstract than Madonna ever was.  One thing can be said; even though her lyrics are Fergie-terrible at least the delivery is somewhat palatable.

mp3 : MGMT – Of Moons, Birds and Monsters (Holy Ghost Remix)
I thought this remix was appropriate what with MGMT having a new album due out this year.  Although this remix isn’t exactly club worthy it’s not problem, MGMT have always been more closely aligned with drug use anyway.

mp3 : MSTRKRFT – Bounce (OH SNAP!! Bootleg Vocal Remix)
To be honest MSTRKRFT are much better when remixing instead of creating original music, but this track had me at “all I do is party, ha ha ha ha.”  Makes me think of the Real World.

mp3 : Phoenix – Fences (The Pointdexter Remix)
If the previous remix was a mouthful of random club beats and party music this simple remix is a smooth sorbet, a sort of aural palate cleanser, a chilled out relaxing moment in the sun.

mp3 : Phoenix and Peter Bjorn and John and Victoria – One Thousand Nine Hundred and One Folks (Immuzikation Remix)
It’s been a long time since I listened to an Immuzikation Remix.  It’s been far too long.  At one time he alone sat atop the list in the remix world and here’s a nice example why.

mp3 : R Kelly vs Major Lazer – Ignition (The Hood Internet Remix)
No remix set is complete without one completely gratuitous R Kelly song.  Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce…

mp3 : Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard (Passion Pit’s Summertime Radio Remix)
If any remix could serve as the exact opposite, a counterpoint, to the previous R Kelly remix then this is that track.  Smooth and sugary like molasses this remix sounds like I usually feel on a hot summer day.

mp3 : Wale – Good Girls (A. Clark, Quix Remix)
This remix further cements in my brain that Wale and CuDi will end up being two of the most influential (or at least most long lasting) rappers in the current generation.  His rhymes remind me a lot of the iconic day of rap when Biggie and 2Pac were still around.

Insert some clever outro here.

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The Best Albums of 2009

The previous two years were filled with amazing albums by amazing bands.  Picking the ten best of2007 was hard.  Picking the top albums of 2008 was almost impossible.  In contrast, 2009 was rather easy.  There just weren’t that many brilliant albums this year.  In fact there weren’t even that many great albums.  Fret not, though, there is still more than enough music to enjoy.

01 : Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (amazon) (itunes)

I don’t like a single other album that Animal Collective has ever made.  Most of their career (including their latest EP) sounds like simple repetitive noise void of any melody or musicality.  Merriweather Post Pavilion is an entire different beast.  Although the middle of the album drags a bit it easily tops the list as the best album of the year.

mp3 : Animal Collective – In The Flowers
mp3 : Animal Collective – My Girls

02 : Noah and The Whale – The First Days of Spring (amazon) (itunes)

I simply love sad and somewhat depressing music.  Noah and The Whale has taken a melancholic lyrical style and draped it over the perfect mood setting melodies.  At times this album reminds me quite a bit of the slower side of The National.  Every song is worth a listen (and if you choose the second track below you simply must listen to the very end).

mp3 : Noah and The Whale – Blue Skies
mp3 : Noah and The Whale – My Door Is Always Open

03 : Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (amazon) (itunes)

Phoenix has long led the charge from radio friendly pop music to the purest pop sound imaginable.  This entire album is pure pop candy.  There exists not an errant second in the entire trip through perfectly crafted pop genius.

mp3 : Phoenix – Girlfriend
mp3 : Phoenix – Love Like a Sunset

04 : We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls (amazon) (itunes)

They have a whimsical name, they share a homeland with Frightened Rabbit, and they titled one of their songs after a rather obscure physics principle.  What more could you possibly want?  Oh, and their music is top notch.

mp3 : We Were Promised Jetpacks – Quiet Little Voices
mp3 : We Were Promised Jetpacks – This Is My House, This Is My Home

05 : Matt and Kim – Grand (amazon) (itunes)

Matt and Kim proved in 2009 what can be accomplished with a minimal setup and the simple direction of making crowd pleasing dance pop.  With catchy hooks and repeated lyrics their are tracks on this album so insidious that you’ll be silently dancing to them well into next month.

mp3 : Matt and Kim – Daylight
mp3 : Matt and Kim – Lessons Learned

06 : Metric – Fantasies (amazon) (itunes)

Most of my Metric listening comes in the form of brilliant remixes of their tracks.  For the most part their studio albums always felt flat on repeat listening.  This is the first time they’ve broken that cycle and have truly created the masterpiece of their career.

mp3 : Metric – Blindness
mp3 : Metric – Sick Muse

07 : Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz (amazon) (itunes)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs have gone the route of Metric and finally created a masterpiece album to sit atop their collection.  The only way this album could get any better is if they could go back in time and steal their previous track Maps and put it on this album.

mp3 : Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll
mp3 : Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Skeletons

08 : White Lies – To Lose My Life (amazon) (itunes)

If The Killers ever feel the need to make another album they need look no further than White Lies to see how high the bar has been set.  White Lies have found a way to incorporate the grandiose with the melancholic and yet make every song something to sing along to.  Brilliant.

mp3 : White Lies – Death
mp3 : White Lies – From The Stars

09 : Deer Tick – Born on Flag Day (amazon) (itunes)

Deer Tick is quite possibly the greatest bar band you will ever hear.  The most interesting part of their repertoire is that their trademark live sound is captured perfectly on their studio albums.  If you like them live then you’ll love their southern rock infused albums.

mp3 : Deer Tick – Hell On Earth
mp3 : Deer Tick – Song About A Man

10 : The xx – xx (amazon) (itunes)

This album is subtle genius and yet almost forgettable.  The band recorded the album in a neighborhood garage after dark and the rumour goes that this setting contributed greatly to the whisper quiet nature of most of the tracks.  It’s by far the most mellow album on the list.

mp3 : The xx – Islands
mp3 : The xx – Stars

And there you have it, albeit somewhat belatedly.  Those are my top ten albums for 2009.  If you’d like to see my previous lists follow these links; 2008, 2007 (or click here to see all 3 years on one page).  Although this past year wasn’t near the brilliance we were presented with in 2008 it was still a solid year for music fans.  Honorable mention should be given to a few bands that were just barely nudged off of this list for some reason or another.  Modest Mouse made one of the best albums of the year but it failed to make this list on a technicality (it’s actually an eight song EP).  While albums by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, White Rabbits, and Julian Casablancas all scattered tracks of pure top ten worthiness, but sadly failed to sustain those moments throughout an entire album.

Until the next time around keep reading and, as always, enjoy the music.

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BOTR vol 12

It has been a full year since the BOTR series graced this humble page.  And I do apologize.  I apologize.  But it is far better to apologize than to eulogize.  And in the end it is far better to actually post music than to take months off (sorry mates, but deadlines at work and real life adventures are simply dominating my time).

I started this series, and the BOTM series, because in my previous life I had much more free time than anyone else on the face of the planet.  Literally.  Well since then I landed a fairly demanding (and rewarding) job, a car, a girl, a life, a etc.  So I’m not sitting flush with free time anymore, but I still care.  Honestly, I still care.  So enjoy the remixes, witches.

mp3 : Bloc Party – Hunting for Witches (Crystal Castles Remix)
Imagine if you took Bloc Party and strained their music through a Nintendo soundtrack.  Then you added a grungy bass line and called it a remix.  Brilliant.

mp3 : Busta Rhymes – Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See (Valerna Remix)
Everything about this mix is perfection.  Busta spits like usual except this time the backing beats and remixed nature perfectly complement his nasty flow.  Rappers today wish they could drop lyrics like Busta.  This track is so good I’m tempted to simply stop now and publish this post.

mp3 : Chromeo – Destination Overdrive (DFA Remix)
This remix reminds me of Kill Bill.  Just when you start to think “OMG, is this ever going to end” you’re immediately stunned into silence at the beauty of the following moment.  Yes, it’s over seven minutes.  Yes, it’s worth it.

mp3 : Fenech Soler – Lies (The Phantoms Revenge Remix)
If anyone out there is looking to edit a sweet ass parkour video I highly recommend this song.  I don’t know why they should be lumped together, but it makes sense.

mp3 : Fever Ray – Seven (The Twelves Remix)
Hello 2009, welcome to 1974.  Or a Guy Ritchie film.

mp3 : Florence & The Machine – You Got The Love (The XX Remix)
I love the bass line in this remix.  It sets the perfect subdued mood and lets the string plucking float along like it was meant to.

mp3 : Ladyhawke – Paris is Burning (Cut Copy Remix)
This is another track that feels like it’s never going to reach a point worth caring about.  If you turn it off in the first minute you’re missing out.

mp3 : Major Lazer – Keep It Goin’ Louder (Feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze) (Diplo Remix)
I honestly should not have to sell you on this track.  Look at the group name.  Major + Lazer = Win.  This track = Massive Win.

mp3 : Major Lazer – Pon de floor (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix)
Oh colonial era drum beats, oh trumpet fanfare, oh crazy twisted drum and bass synth that cuts in after thirty seconds.

mp3 : Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (Ring Trick Remix)
Remember when everyone was claiming Passion Pit was going to be huge?  Remember when everyone was wrong?  Dead wrong?  Well guess what, no one cares anymore, because this remix is great.

mp3 : Peaches – I Feel Cream (Proxy Remix)
The opening of this remix could easily qualify as the essential ‘film noir’ of remixes.  I’m not quite sure if I’m supposed to think that is a good thing or a bad thing.

mp3 : Phoenix – 1901 (L’Aiglon Remix)
The first of three remixes of one of the most popular tracks of the year.  This takes a straightforward pop/rock track and makes it even more straightforward.

mp3 : Phoenix – 1901 (Pete Herrs Symphonic Remix)
If the previous remix was straightforward then this remix is literally so far out in right field it’s playing cricket.  It begins spread out and sparse but soon enters the realm of angels.

mp3 : Phoenix – 1901 (The Tremulance Remix)
I’m including this remix to round out the trifecta of what a remix can be.  We had a straightforward pop remix, followed by a minimalist symphonic remix/re-imagining, and this is a frenetic blip filled mix.

mp3 : Phoenix – Lisztomania (Redial Remix)
I know you’ve all be wondering what this track would sound like it was sped up and played frantically with more reverb than a live Prince show.  Well wonder no more.

mp3 : Radiohead – Videotape (Ring Trick Remix)
You can almost never go wrong with a Radiohead remix.  Especially one centered around the impressive track Videotape.  Ring Trick simply nails this remix.

mp3 : The Sounds – No One Sleeps When I’m Awake (La Dolce Vita Remix)
Sugar coated remix covered with whip cream, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles.  Bring your own cherries.

mp3 : Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
A fitting, wailing end, to this installment of BOTR.  The repeated “off, off, off, off, off” is what remix dreams are made of.

I hope it’s been worth the wait and we’ll all keep our fingers crossed that it’s not another year before BOTR returns.  Enjoy the music.

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Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I first heard an album by Phoenix a few years back as I was hanging out in a giant mall in downtown Bangkok.  I was bored, my traveling mates were all busy doing something else, and I used my free time to listen to a load of albums in a large music store. I loved their album in Bangkok so much that I bought it and gave it to my little sister for her birthday that year.  I’m not sure if she ever really got into their music like I did, but it says a lot if I think an album is good enough to buy and give to someone else as a gift.

Then along came 2009 and Phoenix released a new album called Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (amazon) (itunes).  And again I am taken with the sound they create.  The album is great and I’ve been listening to it on and off for at least a month now and I still think it’s good.  Overall Phoenix has captured modern pop music and made it something clever and captivating, avoiding the ubiquitous banalities that drag down so many other bands.  Enjoy the two tracks I’ve put up here and rest assured the remainder of the album is just as addicting.

mp3 : Phoenix – Lisztomania
mp3 : Phoenix – 1901

I would honestly post almost every single track from this album.  They remind me a lot of The Strokes by way of a california/across-the-pond surf rock.  Really nice.

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BOTM vol 11

The end of the month draws nigh, and I have sought only to serve the blogosphere what meager offerings I could find.  In my endless search of great music there are, on occasion, songs that fall through the cracks.  Sometimes they’re brand new tracks, in other instances they are old and almost forgotten.  It is for this reason that each month I present to you my Best of the Month series.  Enjoy the tracks below, I’ve done all I could to bring you only that which is worthy of your precious time.  If you’d like to peruse all the other BOTM volumes click this link.

All the tracks in one zip file : here {zshare = left click}

mp3 : Arcade Fire – Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs Cover)
It’s almost a sure bet that when one of my favorite bands covers one of my favorite songs it’ll be worth listening to.  This cover comes from the wonderful year 2005 and it’s still hot.

mp3 : Coldplay – Death Will Never Conquer
The four boys from England gave this track away for free on their website.  I’m not sure if it would qualify as a b-side, as a hidden track, or whatnot.  Regardless of nomenclature it’s a nice slice of Coldplay.

mp3 : Enur (feat Natasja) – Calabria 2008
Yes, this is that song, from the Target commercial featuring two undergrads setting up their dorm room {with an appropriate amount of dance off panache}.  It’s good, trust me.

mp3 : Jack White and Alicia Keys – Another Way To Die
Could the upcoming bond be as good as this summer’s Batman movie?  A large part of me thinks it will be impossible, but I can always hope.  This is for certain, Jack White makes amazing songs.

mp3 : Kanye West – Love Lockdown
It’s been remixed to shreds, already, and to be honest I hope Kanye realizes his albums sell because of his rhymes, not his vocals {however computer aided/distorted they are}.  As a single song this track is nice, I would cringe if it filled out an entire album.

mp3 : Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)
Katy Perry ranks right down about the same level as Rhianna or Amy Winehouse on my list of those who shouldn’t have a recording career.  But even broken clocks are right twice a day.  Or in Katy’s case, once.  This cover proves yet again that anyone can sound decent when they’re playing someone else’s song.

mp3 : Mystery Jets – Bleeding Love (Leona Lewis Cover)
While my mind is as of yet undecided about whether Leona Lewis is talented or not, one thing is for certain.  Mystery Jets have yet to do something that disappoints me.  This track is superb.

mp3 : Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better
I’ve often thought of Phoenix as the much much more talented version of Maroon 5.  See Maroon 5 is terrible {always}.  Phoenix, on the other hand, seems to be getting better and better with each and every album they produce.

mp3 : Snow Patrol – Take Back The City
It’s officially a toss up whether or not the upcoming Snow Patrol album will be amazing or terrible.  I like the progress they’ve made with their latest two albums, although I know some fans would vehemently disagree.  This song shows promise.

mp3 : The Kooks – Kids (MGMT Cover)
If you skipped over the Katy Perry cover of MGMT {which you rightly could do, she’s not that talented} then this is definitely a track you should hear.  One word comes to mind when I listen to this track, and that word is love.

mp3 : The Postal Service – Grow Old With Me
Will they ever release another album?  Not likely.  If they do somehow get the tracks together and release an album will it be epic?  Probably not.  Probably not even close.  It’ll probably disappoint as much as the second half of Weezer’s latest disc {and I really wanted to love that one}.

mp3 : TV On The Radio – Family Tree
Their latest album is solidly in the running for best album of the year.  Honestly, every track is brilliant off this album, and Family Tree is one of those tracks.

mp3 : Yannis Kamarinos – Money Shot
Yes, this is that song from the AT&T techno twins commercial.  I had to search high and low for this little slice of danceable goodness.  You are welcome.  The next volume in the Best of the Remix series should hit tomorrow.

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