BOTM vol 10

It turns out I am not well suited for waiting patiently.  That being said I’ll get straight to the music in this volume of Best of the Month.  If you’d like to check out all the previous volumes click through this link.

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

mp3 : Boy Crisis – Dressed to Digress
Love the title, love the opening couple of lines of this song, and love the dance beat that’s draped across the entire song.  Yeah it’s a bit retro eighties, but what isn’t these days?
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mp3 : Death Cab for Cutie – A Movie Script Ending (Acoustic)
This is a great version of this song.  It might even be better than the original album version.  Seriously, this is a wonderful track to have stumbled upon this month.
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mp3 : Gabriella Cilmi – Cry Me A River (Justin Timberlake Cover)
Almost sounds like Mary J. Blige doing a cover of J.Tim.  This track is a solid cover and well worth a download.  It’s always nice to hear popular artists covered by other talented individuals.
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mp3 : Kate Nash – I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You (Black Kids Cover)
This is easily one of the best cover songs I’ve heard in awhile.  It’s fun, it’s not too serious, and who doesn’t love to hear Kate’s British pronunciation of “dance”?
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mp3 : Kerli – Walking On Air
I blame this song on the copious amounts of television I consume.  If you think it sounds familiar that’s because this track has been used prominently to promote the upcoming premiere of the show Fringe on Fox.  The chorus is incredibly catchy.
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mp3 : Mates of State – California (Phantom Planet Cover)
I’ve been in love with all things Mates of State for awhile now {their latest album is brilliant}.  I found this older track the other day and it’s a wonderful cover.  It’s just the right amount of melancholy added to the once bright pop song.
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mp3 : Megafaun – Lazy Suicide
At times I have a single track by an artist that doesn’t necessarily warrant a full post, but nonetheless is an incredible song.  This is one of those tracks.  It reminds me a lot everything I loved about O Brother Where Art Thou?
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mp3 : Queen – One Vision
Not the best Queen song ever made, but who could resist putting it in Best of the Month.  I miss the days when Queen and other classic rock gods were all me and my friends listened to.
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mp3 : The Chemists – Toxic (Britney Spears Cover)
For some reason I can’t resist listening to almost anything that involves Ms. Spears.  The chorus in this cover is what made it worth the listen {and the post here on BOTM}.
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mp3 : The Kooks – All That She Wants (Ace of Base Cover)
I’m not sure what it is with me and my love for covers this month.  Regardless for the subliminal reasons I’ve been addicted to cover tracks this is another solid effort.
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mp3 : This Is Ivy League – You and Me and The Moon (Magnetic Fields Cover)
Why not include another cover song?  Really, why not?  This track stays in line with the rest of this list in that it’s mellow, relaxed, and makes for some easy listening.  Enjoy at your leisure.
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mp3 : Thom Yorke – After The Gold Rush (Live)
This track hails from the brilliant appearance Thom made at the Bridge School benefit concert in 2002.  I have the entire recording and it’s amazing {I might be persuaded to post it here}.
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mp3 : Your Vegas – In My Head
This is pop music as it was meant to be made.  Forget what you hear on the top forty, on the crappy local radio station you love, or even from your dorm room neighbors.  This is what pop music should aspire to be.  Solid verses, catchy chorus, hooks you’ll be humming for days.
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That’s all she wrote.  Short and simple on this time around.  Tell your friends.

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BOTR vol 09

OMG, TGIF, welcome at last to another BOTR on TWF.  I thought this month I would try to get this volume of Best of the Month onto the interwebs in time for the extended holiday weekend {only extended for us Yanks, much apologies to the rest of the globe.  And have fun working on Monday}.  For those of you looking to get some folks dancing at a Labor Day party {or just looking to get the ladies in the mood} feel free to download all the tracks below or cruise through this link to check out all the other BOTR volumes.

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

If you’d rather just download the music and not read my totally brilliant commentary {it’s currently 1:13 AM as I’m typing it} click the link above and be on your merry way.  All the tracks below are available to be downloaded directly from this page.  Simply right click and save it.

mp3 : Bugo – Sesto Senso (NT89 Remix)
I have no idea what’s going on in this remix.  It’s fast, it’s slow, it’s Italian.  It’s quite and loud and eerily it lacks a discernible beat for almost the entire track.  It reminds me of dreaming.

mp3 : Coldplay vs Nas – If I Viva la Vida (Starters Remix)
The Nas rhymes feel a bit overclocked up on this track, but they flow nicely with the Coldplay anthem.  I kinda wish Nas was actually on more of the song, but that’s just me.  It’s a great remix.

mp3 : Crystal Castles vs Health – Crimewave (LAZRtag Remix)
If I was in the dark on the Bugo remix above then this track leaves me standing outside, in freezing rain, with a new moon.  Yet for some reason I love the cold, I like the rain, and darkness, apparently, is a good friend.  Wait for the beat to drop about ninety seconds into this one.  It is worth the wait.

mp3 : Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire (Knightlife Remix)
Question; Who knew a remix of Cut Copy could make them sound even more like they’re a band from the eighties?  Answer; Knightlife knew exactly what to do to make Cut Copy into even more of a cliche.  A very danceable, lovable, Miami Vice-able cliche.

mp3 : Daft Punk – Harder Better Faster Stronger (Coin Operated Boy Remix)
Just when you thought this song had been remixed far {and I do mean far} too many times, along comes a new track that simply begs to be heard.  Easily one of the top three tracks in this volume this is a must download.  Wait for everything to hit the floor at exactly one minute into the track.  Just brilliant.

mp3 : Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal (Black Dominoes Remix)
I have nothing to write here, I’m still listening to the Daft Punk remix.  Ok, that’s done {played it twice}, on with the show.  This track is short and sweet and serves as a perfect transition piece between dance beats.  Dig it.

mp3 : Gorillaz – Kids With Guns (Hot Chip Remix)
What’s not to like about a band made up entirely of cartoon characters?  Nothing.  And sweet and steady remixes of their tracks are welcome as well.  Especially this one.

mp3 : John Legend and Andre 3000 – Green Light (MSTRKRFT Remix)
I’ve died and gone to heaven {twice} and this is the music they play while you wait in the queue at the pearly gates.  Honestly it is that good.  This is magic {or is it “illusions!, Michael”} contained in four amazing minutes.  Could this be the surprise smash hit of the summer?  Could this be a one song repeat style playlist for an entire party?

mp3 : Lil’ Wayne – Lollipop (LAZRtag Remix)
Who the frak allowed Lil’ Wayne to make this list?  Have no fear, I’m firing my editors tomorrow.  As long as it’s on the list you should hear the way LAZRtag makes Lil’ Wayne not only bearable but actually relevant.  They should win a Nobel Prize for this.

mp3 : MGMT – Kids (Burntpiano Robo Remix)
Be warned, this remix might be the most addicting song you’ve heard all month.  Not kidding.  The entire track has been reworked {this could almost count as a cover song} into pure digital bliss.  Even the vocals.  Not kidding.  And you’ll love it.  Double not kidding two point one.

mp3 : Red Hot Chili Peppers – By The Way (Headburn Remix)
This is the perfect kickoff track for any party the world over.  Throw this seven minute wonder onto the top of each and every playlist you’ve ever created.  It’s a slow starter, it’s a quasi crowd pleaser, and it just might be the best RHCP remix I’ve ever heard.

mp3 : The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name (LA Riots Remix)
Hand. Claps. Are. Awesome.  Period.  LA Riots have made this track into something great.  Great things are awesome too.

mp3 : This Is Ivy League – London Bridges (FHR Remix)
Hey kids, now that you’re home from school let’s think of something constructive we can do with our holiday weekend.  I feel like this could easily be the background music to some trippy modern day after school special.  The type of school special that would feature copious amounts of high fives and thumbs ups.  Maybe even a cut-it-out or two.

Ok, enough of my blathering on and on.  I’m tired, it’s after 2 in the morning and I was partying hard the last day or so.  Have fun this weekend on whatever continent you’re currently residing.  Cheers, and come back often.

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This Is Ivy League

The weather today is gorgeous and some gorgeous tunes from This Is Ivy League are a perfect match for low humidity, sunshine, and temperatures in the upper seventies.  On their debut, This Is Ivy League (amazon) (itunes), this duo creates pop music that sounds bit like the Beach Boys, a bit like Kings of Convenience, and a bit like Belle and Sebastian {minus the Belle}.  Overall it’s breezy pop music that moves along nicely from track to track and is as fun as it is well crafted.

mp3 : This Is Ivy League – The Richest Kids
mp3 : This Is Ivy League – Love Is Impossible

I first listened to these boys a few months back when I stumbled up on their brilliant cover of an Arcade Fire classic.  After I posted about that, over here, I was sent a copy of their album to listen to.  Some albums just get lost in the shuffle {well that and I do my best not to have the same artist appear twice at the same time on the main page – gotta spread the love}, but it’s a shame that I’m just now putting these tracks up.  The album is really solid and laid back.  Listen.  As a final note, sometimes, on some tracks, I feel like some of this album would be what The Strokes would sound like if they grew up in the bright sunshine of Boca Raton instead of the cavernous streets of New York.

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