The Worst Beatle

Monsieur Bird, aka Mr. Oizo, is X parts genius, Y parts shit.

The X and Y variables vary. But the recipe remains the same.

This is true for each track, each album, each remix, and even each tweet.

@oizo3000: Best of 2009 : 1-some of my stuff. 2- MJ death. 3- world trade center terrorist attack. 4- dj mehdi's coming out. 5- hitler's blog.

@oizo3000: Jhfufxhuffigdsdvofffifehhi

@oizo3000: just saw DAVID GUETTA selling crack on sunset bvld.

@oizo3000: 'fag and fat' is a better name than 'digitalism', don't you think?

LOL, right?

The face of experimental French house, Mr. Oizo is definitely the most interesting DJ / producer signed to Ed Banger. While it seems everyone is tired of the in-your-face Justice sound, Mr. Oizo never really made "bangers". He's always made weird, off-kilter house.

While his original tracks are mostly destroyed miniatures, and quite frankly are to this listener more annoying than they are enjoyable, many of his remixes are funky as hell.

Below are my favorite Mr. Oizo tracks.

Want more Oizo? All Mr. Ozio remixes, including a few Oizo rarities, are available here (via Apes With Barrels).


Mr. Oizo - Gay Dentists (JFK Edit)

Calvin Harris - Merrymaking at My Place (Mr. Oizo Remix)

Busy P - To Protect and Entertain (Mr. Oizo Remix)

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The Kooks aren't exactly indie darlings.

First strike against them: they've sold remarkably well, having a number 1 album in the UK. Second, Pitchfork hates their guts, since they are popular and have choruses like: "I want to make love to you. I know you want to make love to me." Third, it seems every band on the other side of the pond is taking the piss because they sound like a more accessible Artic Monkeys.

And get this: the lead singer of The Kooks, Luke Pritchard, actually kicked the lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys (Alex Turner) in the face!

His explanation?

I had to kick Alex in the face after he tried to pull the leads out of my guitar pedals while we were on stage.

Anyways, there's no denying the pop appeal of The Kooks, who are obviously influenced by 60s Brit Pop, as well as, yes, bands such as the Arctic Monkeys

But are they talentless hacks? I think not. Perhaps these live covers will endear them to the ever-skeptical hearts and minds of hipsters and indie-heads.

The Kooks - Despair in the Departure Lounge (Artic Monkeys Cover)

The Kooks -  Crazy (Gnarls Barkley Cover)

The Kooks - Kids (MGMT Cover)

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This gorgeous track reminds me of Chicane, only produced a decade later.

There is something at once cutting edge and yet vintage about the sounds used. Love it.

Put on your best pair of headphones for this one.

Drake had an incredible year in 2009.

While Lil Wayne was mostly high out of his mind, grunting on autotune, and trying to play guitar, Drake was making hits, picking up where Wayne left off after Tha Carter III.

Drake used Wayne's silly wordplay, autotune the way R&B cats were using it, clever sampling, catchy hooks, and had some serious swagger. Think "Kanye West" cocky, not "I moved keys on the streets, so back the fuck off." Yeah. Drake ain't hood.

2010 will see the release of his first major album. If it sounds worse than his mixtape, we'll know we've reached an era where music is free, period.

Got remixes for you:


New shit:

Birdman feat. Drake & Lil Wayne - Money to Blow (Vodka & Milk Remix)

Drake feat. Lil Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem - Forever (Nero Remix) 


Old shit:

Drake feat. Lil Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem - Forever (Travis Barker Remix)

Drake - Best I Ever Had (Grandtheft Remix)

Drake - Best I Ever Had (Matamatics Remix)

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