The Worst Beatle

The Hood Internet - It Was A Rainy Day (Ice Cube vs CFCF)

2010-12-09T17:28:00.002-05:00

The Hood Internet - It Was A Rainy Day (Ice Cube x CFCF)

Ice cubes are small, roughly cube-shaped pieces of ice, conventionally used to cool beverages. Ice cubes are often preferred over crushed ice because they melt more slowly; they are standard in mixed drinks that call for ice, in which case the drink is said to be "on the rocks."

Ice cubes are produced domestically by filling an ice cube tray with water and placing it in a freezer. Many freezers also come equipped with an icemaker, which produces ice cubes automatically and stores them in a bin from which they can be dispensed directly into a glass. Ice cubes out of a tray are generally longer and thinner, requiring less force to remove them from the tray and thereby reducing the likelihood of the cube becoming stuck in the dispenser.

There are also dedicated ice-maker machines used to produce ice cubes for laboratories and academic use. Ice cubes are also produced commercially and sold in bulk; these ice cubes, despite their name, are often cylindrical, and may have holes through the center. An interesting characteristic of commercially made ice cubes is that they are completely clear, lacking the clouding found in the center of domestically made ice cubes.

Cloudy ice cubes result when water is frozen quickly, or when the water is high in dissolved solids. When water is cooled to its freezing point, and ice starts to form, dissolved gases can no longer stay in solution and come out as microscopic bubbles. However, as ice floats in water, once there is enough ice to form a layer on the surface, the ice layer traps all bubbles within the ice cube. Commercial ice-makers use a flowing source of purified water to make ice with cooling elements at the bottom, allowing the bubbles to be washed away from the top as the cube grows.

Melting ice cubes sometimes precipitate white flakes, commonly known as "floaties". This is calcium carbonate which is present in many water supplies and is completely harmless.

Ice cubes can also be crushed or sheared into irregularly-shaped flakes, adding an interesting aesthetic effect to some cocktails. Crushed ice is also used when faster cooling is desired, since the rate of cooling is governed by the number and average radius of the ice particles.

- Wikipedia, on Ice Cube

The Blog Is Back!

2010-12-03T09:38:00.000-05:00

The Worst Beatle is officially back! Like this huge, tacky, multicolored blanket, this blog simply won't end!

There's been a lot of music I've listened to since I stopped doing this blog, so expect a lot of great tunes in the near future.

Let's start with two very-current favorites.

Metric - Twilight Galaxy (Death To The Throne Remix)

DESCRIPTION:
Funky house with 8-bit sounds and indie rock band Metric's vocals.

Skrillex - Hey Sexy Lady - (ISquare Remix)

DESCRIPTION:
All-over-the-place dubstep, with a great drop, cheesy housey vocals, and enough variety to think, "I hate dubstep but I can dig this."

WORLD EXCLUSIVE! The Worst Beatle - Low On Drugs (Flo Rida vs Ratatat)

2010-08-02T10:45:00.006-04:00

The Worst Beatle - Low On Drugs

Both Flo Rida's Low and Ratatat's Drugs are in D minor.
It was my patriotic duty to mash them together.

- The Worst Beatle

The Worst Beatle Is Now On Hiatus

2010-06-22T09:01:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! Unfortunately I'm a little too busy at the moment to update this blog.

If you want great music, check out any of the blogs on my Blog Roll to the right, or just go to my Hype Machine playlist.

Part of the reason I'm leaving this blog for a bit is because I'm starting a new blog. It's NOT a music blog: more of an "ideas blog." Another reason: I'm broke. Need to make that skrilla, ya heard?

Doc Trashz vs Rihanna - Rude Boy (Docstep 2010 Reboot)

2010-06-17T10:02:00.000-04:00

Doc Trashz vs Rihanna - Rude Boy (Docstep 2010 Reboot)

New Tracks By Aeroplane

2010-06-16T13:34:00.000-04:00

I've covered Aeroplane before -- they're a Worst Beatle favorite. Well here are some more tracks from these funky, funky Belgian house producers. God I love the retro disco space funk on those fuckin pads! Makes me want to dance!

Breakbot - Baby I'm Yours (Aeroplane Remix)

Aeroplane - We Can't Fly (Extended Drums Mix)

Tiësto feat. Tegan & Sara - Feel It In My Bones

2010-06-15T16:31:00.000-04:00

Pretty late on this one, but it's a goodie. I've bagged on Tiesto before from migrating from his status as Trance God (before he dropped the "DJ" in his name Diddy-style) to watered-down commercial pop-dance crap with pseudo-electro influences and a lot of his trance roots still remaining ... BUT, I really like this song. Maybe Tiesto's still got it. Pictured above are Canadian identical twins Tegan and Sara (who both kinda look like Sharon Stone to me.)

Tiësto feat. Tegan & Sara - Feel It In My Bones

Uffie's LP Is Released Today

2010-06-14T13:02:00.002-04:00

"I never claim to be an artist. I can't even sing, you know?"

Uffie can't sing, and she can't really rap. One could say she has an exclusive record deal because of who she knows, and she knows people because of who she was Ed Bangin' (sorry, bad pun). But damn, she's honest about it.

"I'm a lost child, don't you see? I look good, you want me, buy my CD, and Google me. You work hard, I live sweet."

"If I get popular, I know it ain't fair."

Her first LP, Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans, was released today. The best track is Difficult, produced by SebastiAn and with a VERY catchy hook. The rest of the album is a lovable mess.

Uffie - Difficult

LBCK - Disco Thrills

2010-06-12T14:37:00.003-04:00

LBCK's got a funky, disco-influenced dance jam for your to get your boogie on ASAP.

LBCK - Disco Thrills

BONUS:

Chi Duly - The Fly Scientist (Drake vs Coldplay)

Trey Songz / The Radio Dept / Jay Electronica / Toro Y Moi / Usher / Sleigh Bells

2010-06-11T15:15:00.000-04:00

New 'Hood. Holla!

The Hood Internet - Trey-dio Departmentz (Trey Songz x The Radio Dept.)

The Hood Internet - Freak Exhibit (Jay Electronica x Toro Y Moi)

The Hood Internet - Oh My Kids (Usher x Sleigh Bells)

DJ Earworm - Like OMG Baby

2010-06-09T12:10:00.000-04:00

Hip Hop For Hip Hop Nerds

2010-06-07T17:33:00.002-04:00

Janelle Monae - Tightrope (Wondamix) Ft. B.o.B & Lupe Fiasco

The Cool Kids - Flying Kites

Travie McCoy feat. Cee-Lo - Dr. Feel Good

Jay Electronica - Exhibit C

The Tallest Man On Earth - Graceland (Paul Simon Cover)

2010-06-06T14:04:00.000-04:00

Here's another from a Worst Beatle favorite, The Tallest Man On Earth: a B-Side from his "King of Spain" EP. Nuff said, it's great.

The Tallest Man On Earth - Graceland (Paul Simon Cover)

Hugo - 99 Problems

2010-06-04T12:48:00.000-04:00

Being a fan of mashups, I'm sick of the Jay-Z acapella being put to just about goddamn everything. Seriously! There are thousands of acapellas out there -- and dozens of Jay-Z ones -- so why this same old acapella? Earlier I posted a mashup with The Dap Kings that was pretty sweet.

But this ain't an acapella, it's a cover. And it's damn good. It's barroom country, with banjo and big drums.

Hugo - 99 Problems

BONUS:

Hugo - Bread and Butter

The-Dream

2010-06-02T10:37:00.000-04:00

"Tricky" Stuart, known as The-Dream, could be my favorite pop songwriter. He cowrote and coproduced the hella catchy megahit "Umbrella" that Rihanna ended up singing, but I prefer his own material. His new album Love King comes out soon. Judging from the first single, Love King, it sounds a lot like his previous stuff -- which is a good thing. Expect lots of "AYYYYYY"s.

The-Dream - Love King

The Dream feat. T.I. - Make Up Bag

The-Dream feat. Diddy - Champagne

Yay! Pop Music! (Justin Bieber and Rihanna Remixes)

2010-06-01T00:17:00.000-04:00

Here is a mashup and a remix of two Top 40 hits. Yay!

Justin Bieber vs. MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker Baby (CJ Milli Mix)

Rihanna - Rude Boy (Reggae Remix)

If You Like , You Might Also Like _

2010-05-29T17:26:00.004-04:00

If you like Flying Lotus or experimental hip hop in general, you'll probably like this remix by BoomBaptist. It's dark, wonky, with pitched down hip hop vocals and effects in the right places. Remember the original of this track? It sampled the Godzilla soundtrack -- and yes, I'm talking about the Godzilla movie from the 1990s.

Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says (BoomBaptist Remix)

If you like Louis La Roche, you'll dig NEUS. House DJs will want this one. Viva la French House!

Breakbot - Iron Zombie (NEUS Remix)

More Mashups

2010-05-28T16:19:00.002-04:00

Ratatat vs. Lupe Fiasco - Pushin' Drugs (SposhRock Mash-Up)

The White Panda- Ritual God

Random Songs I Found On My HypeMachine Playlist

2010-05-23T12:46:00.000-04:00

8-bit dubstep is good fun.

Unicorn Kid - Dream Catcher

From 8 bit to 16 bit ...

Plan B - She Said (16bit Remix)

And now for something completely different ... CocoRosie!

Cocorosie - Lemonade

The Roots - Dear God 2.0

2010-05-22T23:07:00.000-04:00

Sampling Monsters of Folk -- the indie super-group with Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Bright Eyes, and M. Ward -- is a great call for The Roots. The Roots have some of the sickest mixtape material of any hip hop group, and this is no exception. Dark, smooth, and beautiful, this is great hip hop.

The Roots - Dear God 2.0

A-Trak - Dirty South Dance 2

2010-05-21T03:46:00.001-04:00

A-Trak just released the second installment of his freakish electro house and southern hip-hop hybrid experiment.

This is nutty stuff. I don't think it always works, but when it does, it's brilliant. It's well mixed, it's kind of weird, and it's a joy for a mashup, hip hop, and electro lover like myself. Hell, I've made hip-hop mashes with the Siriusmo remix of Bag Raider's Shoot Stars too!

Highly recommended if you're of my musical persuasion, but not for everyone. Then again, if you don't agree with my musical tastes, why are you reading my blog?

<a href="http://atrak.bandcamp.com/album/dirty-south-dance-2">Intro by A-Trak</a>

Skrillex

2010-05-19T13:11:00.003-04:00

I've posted a couple Skrillex remixes just a few days ago, and I've posted the Bad Romance remix a while ago. But Skrillex, from LA, is one of my favorite electro producers right now, so I thought he deserved a post all to himself.

He makes wild electro bangers with lots of eclectic sounds, including 8-bit, dubstep, and yes, trance. Skrillex uses all those old trance sounds everyone thought had died in 2002. I think this is such an interesting direction, and it takes a lot to keep some of these songs from sounding cheesy. But overall I think he pulls it off.

The Alejandro remix, his latest, is a good example. The breakdown sounds like circa-2000 trance, with that cheesy little breakbeat during the build. But the drop....goddamn! It goes hard. Such a surprising track!

The Black Eyed Peas remix is more consistent. Sounds like it was influenced by Wolfgang Gartner to me, and that's a very good thing. The Bad Romance remixes are top notch, of course, being what Skrillex is most known for. Keep an eye on Skrillex this year, he's doing big things.

Lady Gaga - Alejandro (Skrillex Club Mix)

Black Eyed Peas - Rock That Body (Skrillex Remix Extended)

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (Skrillex Radio)

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (Skrillex Club)

Darwin Deez

2010-05-17T23:01:00.001-04:00

Punchy guitar chords, a drum machine, lyrics about heartbreak, DNA, and outerspace, and a quirky but loveable indie pop-rock voice that reminds me of Built to Spill's Doug Martsch, Midlake's Tim Smith, and Grandaddy's Jason Lytle are what make up Darwin Deez's awesome self-titled release.

Self-described as "happy music for sad people," "white music for black people," and "indie rock with a side of calisthenics." Listen below. So far, this is one of my favorite albums of 2010.

Darwin Deez - Darwin Deez

Sexy John Lennon?

2010-05-17T14:11:00.002-04:00

For today, we've got the latest Bruno Mars single and two mashups. And what do you think? John Lennon girl. Sexy or not?

In other news, I'm finally about to graduate from college. Being the age I am makes me wonder what kind of music I'll be listening to when I'm middle aged or older. Will I keep up with the latest music? Or will I resort to listening only to what I know and love? Time will tell.

Bruno Mars feat Cee-Lo & B.O.B. - The Other Side

Jay-Z feat. The Dap Kings - 99 Problems

Rick Ross (Hustlin') vs. Real McCoy (Another Night) by Glitch Jockey

Phantogram - Mouthful of Diamonds (Alan Wilkis Remix)

2010-05-13T13:12:00.000-04:00

I love, love, love this song. Alan Wilkis, who's previously done fantastic remixes of The Temper Trap and Swayze, turns this kind-of-melancholy Phantogram track into bubblegum indie pop for sunny days and lazy afternoons. Watch out for Alan Wilkis, he is a top-rate producer who doesn't deserve to be lumped together with the majority of Web 2.0 bedroom remixers and mash up "artists" clogging up Hype Machine. I would love to hear a full album produced by Wilkis.

Phantogram - Mouthful of Diamonds (Alan Wilkis Remix)

The Powder Kegs

2010-05-11T13:32:00.000-04:00

Talent may not always make money, but on the Internet it is almost always recognized by somebody. I love the fact that independent bands with an original sound are out there, people like me can find them, and then people like us can enjoy them.

The Powder Kegs is from Philly. Their latest EP is considerably better than their first LP, maybe because it's produced by Brian McTear, who worked with the awesome neo-folk band Espers.

There's a lot that's awkward about the above photo, a lot that's good about La Mariposa, and a lot Vampire-Weekend-esque about Window On Your Wall.

<a href="http://music.thepowderkegs.com/track/la-mariposa">La Mariposa by The Powder Kegs</a>

<a href="http://music.thepowderkegs.com/track/window-on-your-wall">Window On Your Wall by The Powder Kegs</a>

The Beatles Remixed

2010-05-10T00:45:00.001-04:00

The Beatles were no squares. They got drunk and partied hard. There were notorious for destroying hotel rooms. Their first gigs were Amsterdam strip clubs. So when I listen to these house remixes, I don't think "Sacrilege!" I think: yeah, they would've danced to this while smashed.

The Beatles - Getting Better (Punk Rollas Remix)

The Beatles - Twist and Shout (Pat Swayzak Remix)

Rafter

2010-05-09T00:28:00.003-04:00

Rafter - Juicy (Video By Dax Norman)

Rafter - No Fucking Around

Rafter - Salt

Uffie - ADD SUV (Armand Van Helden Vocal Remix)

2010-05-08T16:45:00.000-04:00

This is how you do a remix. I got to admit, this is one of the best house tracks I've heard in a while. It's funky, it's hip hop, it's got vocoder, it's fucking Uffie! I wouldn't put this on your iPod, but this is fantastic for DJs.

I've blogged about Uffie before. I got to admit: not excited for her solo album. But, like usual, some more good remixes will surely come out of the woodwork.

Uffie feat. Pharrell Williams - ADD SUV (Armand Van Helden Remix)

Bruno Mars

2010-05-08T15:20:00.000-04:00

Bruno Mars is best known for singing the hook to B.o.B.'s catchy-as-hell hit, Nothin' On You. I'm loving this guy. Check out his collab with Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, and the Villains remix of Nothin On You is good for parties, ya dig?

Travis McCoy ft. Bruno Mars - Billionaire

B.o.B. - Nothin' On You (feat. Bruno Mars, Bei Maejor) (Villains Remix)

Remixes For Dirty Nasty Dancing

2010-05-07T00:14:00.000-04:00

Today I've got 3 great tracks to get your dirty stinking nasty freak on. The first is a remix of Love King, the first single from The-Dream's upcoming album. I love The-Dream and I love Ludacris, so this is a no-brainer, even though there isn't really a hook on this one. The other two tracks are bangin' remixes from peeps in The Glitch Mob. The Lollipop remix is especially "nasty".

The Dream - Love King (Remix ft. Ludacris)

Haiku D'etat - Mike, Aaron & Eddie (Boreta Remix)

Lil Wayne - Lollipop (Nasty Ways Remix)

Dope Mashups by The Hood Internet and Vodka & Milk

2010-05-06T21:51:00.000-04:00

Here's some music. (If you hate mashups, fuck off.)

The Hood Internet - Paper Luv (Snoop Dogg x The-Dream x Rafter)

Danger Vs. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Thug-h30 (Vodka & Milk Mash) feat. Tupac

Amazing Visual Scores

2010-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

Debussy - First Arabesque

Chopin - Nocturne in B Major, op. 32 no. 1

DJ Dain - Don't Worry, I'm Yours (Jason Mraz vs. Bobby McFerrin vs. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)

2010-05-01T19:24:00.000-04:00

Happiest mashup in the world? Maybe.

DJ Dain - Don't Worry, I'm Yours (Jason Mraz vs. Bobby McFerrin vs. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)

Objektiv One

2010-04-24T02:59:00.001-04:00

Objektiv One makes sick mashups. He's got the mentality of an old school crate-digger. He's mean on the MPC. And he is a great designer.

Watch him rock the MPC:

<a href="http://objektivone.bandcamp.com/track/im-a-hustla-the-graveyard-shuffle-mash-up-cassidy-vs-belle-sebastien">I'm A Hustla (The Graveyard Shuffle Mash Up)(Cassidy Vs. Belle & Sebastien) by Objektiv One</a>

<a href="http://objektivone.bandcamp.com/track/mr-slow-flow-afropick-mash-up-evidence-vs-hubert-laws">Mr Slow Flow (Afropick Mash Up)(Evidence Vs. Hubert Laws) by Objektiv One</a>

The National & The Radio Dept.

2010-04-23T11:08:00.000-04:00

Not too often do I post indie rock. When I first attended college, I was obsessed with the genre. I read Pitchfork religiously. I was downloading at least 4 albums a day. I can't even remember the names of half the bands I listened to during that period, which really says something.

When young people want to dance nowadays, they listen to hip-hop or house. And now many of them, when they want to relax, listen to rock! Rock used to be the raucous party music, but now it seems sedate, and pleasantly so.

The National feat. Sufjan Stevens - Afraid Of Everyone

The Radio Dept. - Heaven's On Fire

I Love Bill Evans

2010-04-22T13:15:00.000-04:00

artwork by brad howe

Bill Evans is the poet of jazz pianists. His style is not only beautiful, it invites introspection. His slumped over posture on the piano, head down, evokes to us a depressed genius battling his demons with heroin, cigarettes, and music. But his music evokes to us ourselves.

My favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning is drink coffee, read a few poems, and listen to Bill.

The thoughtfulness, and the pain, that Bill Evans put into his music is evident by listening to just the first few bars of any Bill Evans ballad. So it's no surprise that it's also interesting to read what Evans himself wrote in the linear notes to Kind of Blue.

There is a Japanese visual art in which the artist is forced to be spontaneous. He must paint on a thin stretched parchment with a special brush and black water paint in such a way that an unnatural or interrupted stroke will destroy the line or break through the parchment. Erasures or changes are impossible. These artists must practice a particular discipline, that of allowing the idea to express itself in communication with their hands in such a direct way that deliberation cannot interfere.

The resulting pictures lack the complex composition and textures of ordinary painting, but it is said that those who see well find something captured that escapes explanation.

This conviction that direct deed is the most meaningful reflections, I believe, has prompted the evolution of the extremely severe and unique disciplines of the jazz or improvising musician.

Group improvisation is a further challenge. Aside from the weighty technical problem of collective coherent thinking, there is the very human, even social need for sympathy from all members to bend for the common result. This most difficult problem, I think, is beautifully met and solved on this recording.

As the painter needs his framework of parchment, the improvising musical group needs its framework in time,. Miles Davis presents here frameworks which are exquisite in their simplicity and yet contain all that is necessary to stimulate performance with sure reference to the primary conception.

Miles conceived these settings only hours before the recording dates and arrived with sketches which indicated to the group what was to be played. Therefore, you will hear something close to pure spontaneity in these performances. The group had never played these pieces prior to the recordings and I think without exception the first complete performance of each was a "take."

Now for a taste ...

Bill Evans - Waltz In B Minor

(Perhaps my favorite Bill Evans composition.)

My Foolish Heart:

Blue In Green:

Download Blue In Green via Mediafire

Wale - Pretty Girls (Remix) (feat. Chris Brown & Fabolous)

2010-04-21T13:19:00.000-04:00

This new remix of Wale's Pretty Girls is hot. Chris Brown and Fabolous are admittedly pretty wack, but when Chris starts going off about Leonardo da Vinci, Aristotle, and plus-sized models, it's almost enough to forgive him for beating the shit of out Rhianna. (Kidding!)

Wale - Pretty Girls (Remix) (feat. Chris Brown & Fabolous)

Nas & Damian Marley - As We Enter

2010-04-20T10:32:00.000-04:00

The Nas & Damian Marley collab album is out today. (April 20th)

It's smart for Nas to collab. His output after Illmatic has been famously irregular in terms of quality. And after selling out on his last album -- he wanted to call it "Nigger" but record execs informed him his album wouldn't sell at Wal Mart, what the fuck was he thinking, was he on drugs, etc... -- collabing with someone who sure seems "authentic" is smart.

I haven't heard the album yet, and I don't have high hopes for it, but I like "As We Enter" a lot. The energy exchanged between the two is a nice touch.

Nas & Damian Marley - As We Enter

More Hood Internet Mashups

2010-04-19T16:50:00.001-04:00

The Hood Internet - DepRock (Young Money x Javelin)

The Hood Internet - Dwrcan 'Em Up (Big L x Bibio)

Tycho

2010-04-18T12:34:00.000-04:00

Tycho - Adrift (Shigeto's Adrift a Dream Mix)

Tycho - Cascade

Tycho - The Daydream

Tycho - Coastal Brake

Tycho - Sunrise Projector

Tycho - Dictaphone's Lament

Rick James - Give It To Me Baby (Bardeenz Rejuice)

2010-04-17T12:52:00.000-04:00

Found this fun remix of Rick James over at Dani Deahl's blog. It's all over the place, in a good way. Check out the Kid Cudi "easter egg" at 1:43.

Rick James - Give It To Me Baby (Bardeenz Rejuice)

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Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce vs. Metallica - Enter Telephone (DJs From Mars Club Remix)

2010-04-16T10:54:00.001-04:00

OK I've resisted posting this for a few weeks. Here's why.

I hate Metallica.
I post too many mashups as it is.
It's ... yet more Lady Gaga.

But despite all of these hurtles to leap over, I like this mashup. And at The Worst Beatle, it's my duty to provide you with the best music. So it would be positively criminal to deny you this fabulous "guilty pleasure".

Lady Gaga vs. Metallica - Enter Telephone (DJs From Mars Club Remix)

Treasure Fingers - What Am I Supposed To Do

2010-04-15T13:28:00.028-04:00

Picture entirely unrelated.

This is another funky house track by Treasure Fingers.

I imagine this would go great mashed up with Three 6 Mafia's Stay High. I can hear it perfectly in my head, and if anyone does it, props to you. I'd make it myself once I buy a computer and stop borrowing my friend's net book.

Treasure Fingers - What Am I Supposed To Do

(Download via The Fader)

B.O.B. - Nothing On You (DJ Kue Edit)

2010-04-14T13:00:00.001-04:00

Here's one for the DJs.

DJ Kue, who has great remixes of both The Lonely Island hits, recently cranked out this edit.

Don't put this on your iPod, it's a bit repetitive, but it's wonderful to have a DJ-friendly edit of this B.O.B. jam. It's around 130 bpm but drops in tempo momentarily to play a cut of the original.

<a href="http://djefx.bandcamp.com/track/b-o-b-nothing-on-you-dj-kue-edit">B.O.B. - Nothing On You (DJ Kue Edit) by dj efx</a>

Noisia - Red Heat

2010-04-13T10:33:00.041-04:00

The latest Noisia album, Splitting the Atom, is interesting. It's part traditional drum and bass, part insanely hard electro, part house, part ambient IDM.

"Red Heat" is one of the housier tracks on the album -- it has that filtered nu-disco vibe with the hard electro sound of the last few years.

I like it a lot. It's funky, it's house-y, and most importantly, it goes fucking hard.

Noisia - Red Heat

Mos Dub

2010-04-12T08:31:00.001-04:00

So the guy who did the awesome Jaydiohead mashup album, Max Tannone, has released a new brilliant mashup album, Mos Dub.

Mos Dub is a collection of new Mos Def remixes/mashups that sample dub tracks.

Yeah, I don't know shit about reggae, but I know a lot about mashups, and this is an excellent album.

Highlights include: History Town and Hurricane Black. But like I said, listen to the whole damn thing.

Radiohead - Nude (City Rain Remix)

2010-04-11T02:01:00.001-04:00

Remember that remix competition for Radiohead's "Nude"?

There were a few gems ... and a lot of flops.

This remix is my favorite. It sounds enough like the original and enough like it's own song. Understated, groovy, a little dark. It sounds like Radiohead for the 2010s -- or what Thom Yorke's next solo album -- if he was making one -- could sound like.

Radiohead - Nude (City Rain Remix)

Maria Callas Sings Puccini

2010-04-08T11:44:00.000-04:00

I am far from an opera buff, but I know enough to know that my tastes in opera are hopelessly vulgar. I love Puccini. I love Maria Callas.

Puccini -- with his overly dramatic plots and gorgeous but saccharine melodies. Maria Callas -- with her sometimes harsh technique (which to some opera buffs is the epitome of ingratiating) but incredible feeling and passion.

She sings the way I love literature to be: beautiful sometimes, ugly sometimes, but everything is for the art, everything is approached passionately, as if one was willing to die for it. I get chills listening to her.

On my sister's hard drive is my entire collection of Maria Callas -- a staggeringly huge thing that I would love to cherry pick from to show you my love for Maria. But since I don't have it near me, YouTube will have to do.

From Madame Butterfly:

From La Boheme:

Wait What - the notorious xx

2010-04-04T22:41:00.001-04:00

So today, after listening to an offbeat mashup between Kid Cudi and Snoop Dogg's That Tree and M.I.A.'s Paper Planes, I realized why mashups get such a bad rap.

Even listening to pleasant combinations can feel cheap.

But this is one of the better mashup albums -- probably the best so far this year. The secret is that the dark, sparse production of the xx highlights Biggie's famous delivery.

I got to admit: it made me appreciate the xx debut more. And isn't that the point of mashups? To recontextualize music so that we appreciate it more.

Lauryn Hill - So Many Things To Say (Bob Marley Cover)

2010-04-04T09:55:00.002-04:00

In many ways, this cover is a train-wreck. Lauryn improvises out of her range, straining like hell for 4 minutes straight. There's also this weird verbal tic that she has where she sounds like she's laughing.

The reason I'm posting it is because it's beautiful at the beginning. Marley's lyrics come from the heart for Lauryn, which makes sense considering that she married a Marley. When the song goes, "So don't you forget who you are and where you stand in the struggle," you believe that Lauryn damn sure hasn't forgotten.

I think Lauren dropping out of the public eye and then returning to record this song and a few others for MTV Unplugged shows both her talent and how her personal life conflicted with this talent. Her squealing "They don't know me" repeately near the end pretty much sums it up. Once she was allowed to be as "authentic" as she likes, she proves to be a mixed bag.

Lauryn Hill - So Many Things To Say (Bob Marley Cover)

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Bob Dylan - Lay Lady Lay (Cover and Remix)

2010-04-03T09:37:00.003-04:00

Now that Bob Dylan has gone insane, it's up to other artists to cover, remix, and reinterpret his old works. Please don't let Dylan himself do it.

I've never heard of Magnet or Gemma Hayes, but I like their cover of Lay Lady Lay. It's sexy. It sounds indie (whatever that means.) It pauses in all the right places. And the Kid Cudi song works better than you'd think. Sampling Bob Dylan has got to be difficult, but producer Dot Da Genius did just fine.

Magnet feat. Gemma Hayes - Lay Lady Lay

Kid Cudi - Highs N Lows

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If Madonna And Bjork Were A Lesbian Couple, Lady Gaga Would Be Their Adopted Baby.

2010-04-01T02:42:00.046-04:00

Lady Gaga - Telephone (Loose Cannons Redial)

I was sent this video by Loose Cannons. It edits the awesome 10 minute Kill Bill-esque video for Lady Gaga's Telephone to fit with their remix. The remix itself isn't amazing, but the video is, and I prefer the remix to the original.

I think Lady Gaga is good for pop music. Glamor and trash are two entertaining qualities that today's sugar-sweet autotuned ballads -- from Iyaz to Justin Bieber -- just don't have. Check out her cigarette sun glasses.

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Jónsi - Time To Pretend (MGMT Cover)

2010-03-31T21:57:00.000-04:00

I've blogged about Jónsi (the lead singer of Sigur Rós) several times before. Just so everyone knows, I want to make something clear.

I HIGHLY recommend getting his new solo album, Go. It's beautiful, playful, sad, spiritual, [continue inserting positive adjectives...]

Also, if you get a chance to see him live, do it.

I saw Sigur Rós live in Cleveland 4 years ago, and it was a transcendent experience.

Sure, you can make fun of his falsetto, which can sound like cooing, but get past the initial weirdness and his voice can move you like no other.

Jónsi - Time To Pretend (MGMT Cover)

The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

2010-03-30T04:35:00.000-04:00

Highly anticipated, the sophomore LP from The Tallest Man On Earth is just as wonderful as expected.

At its best, The Wild Hunt is more beautiful, more robustly sung, than its predecessor. And there's something new. Kristian Matsson's roots in indie rock are displayed in "You're Going Back," which sounds like what was good about The Strokes.

The album comes out April 13. The leak is available now.

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The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

The Tallest Man On Earth - Burden of Tomorrow

The Tallest Man On Earth - Troubles Will Be Gone

The Tallest Man On Earth - You're Going Back

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Dirt Nasty - My Name Is

2010-03-29T16:23:00.028-04:00

Dirt Nasty - My Name Is

In 1999, Eminem was a controversial pop icon. In 2010, Simon Rex (Dirt Nasty) is neither controversial, nor an icon.

Download his new mixtape, The White Album, here.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - New Year's Kiss

2010-03-27T19:42:00.000-04:00

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - New Year's Kiss

Indie White Kids Might Like This Hip Hop

2010-03-27T13:40:00.002-04:00

DANCE WHITE BOY DANCE.

Chiddy Bang - Under The Sheets

B.o.B. - Nothing On You (Remix Feat. Big Boi)

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HYPER CRUSH

2010-03-26T08:49:00.001-04:00

Two L.A. douchebags? Check. Girl with fake tan and fake breasts? Check!

Actually there is a tongue-in-cheek quality to this group that I enjoy. They remind me of LMFAO, only less talented lyrically and more interesting with their production. Don't let their looks fool you. Their mainstream trashiness might be a badge of ironic indie honor. They did remix La Roux. Not exactly Guido material.

Here's why you should listen to HYPER CRUSH. Their drops are AMAZING. Instant party starters or peak time jams. The Drake and La Roux remix are the standouts.

Drake - Over (HYPER CRUSH Remix)

La Roux - Bulletproof (HYPER CRUSH Remix)

LMFAO - LA LA LA (HYPER CRUSH REMIX)

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Memoryhouse

2010-03-25T14:07:00.000-04:00

This Toronto duo sounds like Camera Obscura with an element of electronica. Artsy, melancholy, and great for those introspective afternoons with a joint, a cup of coffee, a book of poetry, and your favorite metaphor for ennui.

I have evidence to support my theory that this is a band for literature nerds. One of their singles is called "To The Lighthouse."

Memoryhouse - Bonfire

Memoryhouse - Bonfire (Demo) (via their blog)

Memoryhouse - Foreground (Grizzly Bear Cover)

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The Best Disney Mashups

2010-03-24T22:30:00.002-04:00

djDOYOU - Stuntin' Like Mufasa (Simba vs. Lil Wayne)

djDOYOU - I'm a Lion King (Simba vs. T.I.)

Tanner4105 - Fat Joe and the Beast

Tanner4105 - The Wham Boom Bam Toaster

Great Disney Songs Annotated

2010-03-24T10:56:00.001-04:00

I still remember seeing this in the theater. It was a double feature with Angels in the Outfield. Do they even have double features anymore?

This is Alan Menken at his best. All of his Disney songs were epic. Just listen to the orchestral intro. Might have to lift that and use it to open a set.

Post-Avatar this is significant again.

CRAZY OLD MAURICE.....CRAZY OLD MAURICE.

Classic result of Stockholm syndrome.

Ariel is a fucking idiot. 3 days to get a guy to fall in love with you after you're dropped onto a shore, butt naked and mute? What kind of conditions are those?!?!

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The Middle East

2010-03-22T11:25:00.001-04:00

The Middle East, like other brilliant but tortured indie folk acts, only managed to record a single album (The Recordings of The Middle East) ~~before splitting up~~ and fortunately a new album is supposedly coming out this year! (thanks Michael!)

Their sound is an interesting mixture of folk, pop, and post-rock. At times their instrumentation is folksy, like the band Espers, other times it sounds like Explosions in the Sky, and they have one song, Beleriand, which is pretty damn close to a clone of Sigur Ros' ().

The Middle East - Blood

The Middle East - The Darkest Side

The Middle East - Beleriand

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Designer Drugs Live At Oberlin (With Bastille)

2010-03-20T14:44:00.004-04:00

Concert Review.

So I paid $7, snagged my ticket, put on a wifebeater and sunglasses, and went to the 'Sco to hear Designer Drugs. They played a mixture of their own stuff and, especially at the end, ridiculous banger after banger. Think: lots of Crookers, lots of Steve Aoki. There was no finesse. The audio was cut off several times and the guy on pictured on the left (the biggest hipster I have ever seen) often made incredibly lazy transitions. Come on, dude, you can't keep pushing the crossfader from one side to the other and expect people to keep dancing.

However, I will give him credit. There is a part of me that wants to hear one blog house electro banger after the other, and that's exactly what was delivered. Some of those peak time moments were insane, especially the Crookers remix of Thunderstruck. A remix of Pon De Floor was played, too, and that will always get people rowdy. All in all, a good time.

My Verdict:

GO SEE DESIGNER DRUGS IF YOU LIKE ELECTRO BANGERS.

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Here's some of what he played:

Mariah Carey - I'll Be Lovin U Long Time (Designer Drugs Remix)

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (Skrillex Radio)

AC/DC - Thunderstruck (Crookers Remix)

Fake Shark Real Zombie - Designer Drugs (Designer Drugs Remix)

Kid Cudi & Ratatat - Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix)

Mr. Oizo - Gay Dentists (JFK Edit)

Let's also give props to the opening DJs.

Bastille are an LA DJ duo and the creators of the awesome blog Apes with Barrels.

The stuff they played was fuckin' dirty. Tribal and minimal tracks, with bass that pleased.

You can tell they love the music, and really, if you're into this kind of thing, check out their blog.

Kavinsky - Nightcall

2010-03-18T12:08:00.000-04:00

Kavinsky has the hook-up with every major name in French electro house: Justice, Daft Punk, SebastiAn, Mr. Oizo ... He's moved away from producing pounding, video-game style bangers to something a bit more intelligent. I really like Nightcall -- a multi-faceted electro house ballad(?) that I can only say sounds like Daft Punk mixed with dreamwave. If that makes any sense to you, download this right now.

Kavinsky - Nightcall

Jónsi

2010-03-14T23:10:00.000-04:00

Go, Jónsi's first solo album, comes out March 22.

Jónsi - Tornado

Jónsi - Kolnidur

Villa-Lobos - Rudepoêma

2010-03-12T13:14:00.008-05:00

One of the most difficult solo piano works by a noteworthy composer, Rudepoêma was written for pianist Arthur Rubinstein. Rubinstein was a virtuoso who, like Richter, was interested more in breadth than in a particular specialty. He not only singlehandedly recorded a huge part of the romantic repertoire, he also knew much of it by heart, thanks to a photographic memory. Here he plays Chopin's Barcarole in a grand and very embellished fashion:

To Rubinstein, a man who was fully enjoying his genius, Villa-Lobos' Rudepoêma must have seemed to be a cumbersome gift: needlessly difficult, obscure, and with little reward.

Several decades after Rudepoêma was composed, Canadian virtuoso Marc-André Hamelin would prove to be the piece's rightful performer. Hamelin was a child prodigy who was exposed by his father to obscure and difficult composers such as Alkan, Sorabji, and Godowsky. He would eventually specialize in this sort of virtuosity and become an unrivaled authority on difficult and obscure solo piano works. His interpretations of more popular works can be disappointing. For instance, Hamelin falls flat performing Scriabin, but playing Leo Ornstein he is dazzling. Watch him perform Rudepoêma:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Bach - Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903 (Glenn Gould)

2010-03-10T21:07:00.000-05:00

"You know something? That's Bach for people who do not like Bach."

Mashup Manifesto

2010-03-08T20:13:00.002-05:00

Mashups are not a trend. Mashups follow the same principle that virtually all modern music follows: arrange and master a collage of samples. Rather than sampling individual sounds, a mashup takes a lazier approach. Put hip hop acapella X with looped instrumental Y. The mashup, being the laziest modern music form, is also one of the most entertaining. Take away the cloying singing and godawful lyrics of Owl City, and "Firefiles" becomes a damn good electro pop song, with The Postal Service plagiarism less apparent. The Hood Internet takes an even lazier approach with "Blowin' Money At The Deli" -- is there any hip hop acapella that would sound bad over that Delorean track?

The White Panda - Fireflies Goin Down (Yung Joc vs. Owl City)

The Hood Internet - Blowin' Money At The Deli (Drake x Birdman x Delorean)

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Reni Lane - A Place For Us (Monsieur Adi Remix)

2010-03-04T11:07:00.000-05:00

I feel you, Reni. Sometimes all you need is a place for you and your "hot-to-trot" to be alone at last. With this remix by Monsieur Adi, Reni's voice has been altered to sound like she's singing trance, and with the string intro you might think it's trance. But no! This is pretty, well-produced house. Good for headphones, or when the crowd is getting romantic ...

Reni Lane - A Place For Us (Monsieur Adi Remix)

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Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better

2010-03-02T17:45:00.000-05:00

So I've realized that some of my blog readership is sick of house and just wants more Phoenix.

Well, here's your fucking Phoenix, then!

Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better

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Ludacris - How Low (The Filth Remix)

2010-03-02T11:00:00.000-05:00

This is the best electro banger I've heard in a LONG time. I thought electro bangers were pretty much dead until I heard this monster. A spooky keyboard build-up finishes with an absolutely insane drop of pulsing hard electro and chiptune. Did I mention Ludacris is in it? This is serious, throw your drink in the fucking air and start dancing. The Filth is a new producer out of Boston, so new his myspace at the time of writing has just a single post. A very creative remix. I hope to hear more from him.

Ludacris - How Low (The Filth Remix)

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Hawa - D.A.N.C.E. (Justice Cover)

2010-03-01T12:05:00.022-05:00

What happened to Justice? Who cares.

No album is planned for 2010, and their recent "leaked single" turned out to be a fake. If Justice is going to come out with new material, it has to sound different than Cross. As I'm sure most people felt about 80's music in the early 90's, I just can't groove to it any longer.

This soulful rendition of D.A.N.C.E. by Hawa, on the other hand, hits the spot.

Hawa - D.A.N.C.E. (Justice Cover)

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Slipknot Remixed

2010-02-27T11:29:00.001-05:00

Just look at these guys...

I never listened to Slipknot. I knew a few guys back in junior high who were all about them. I just couldn't get into the whole heavy metal/nu metal thing. I used to listen to ISIS, which was about as close as my arty, liberal arts ass would ever get.

Years after they've peaked in popularity, and about 8 years too old for it, I've decided to give Slipknot a listen.

If you've never heard of them, think if Dream Theater and Disturbed had a lovechild that was about as cheesy as P.O.D.. It's pretty bad. The other thing you may not know about Slipknot is that, besides headbangers for 14 year olds, they have some goth/emo ballads with acoustic guitars and whiny, Wurthering Heights-esque lyrics.

My sudden interest in Slipknot came about from this monster electro remix of a Slipknot song. I can imagine this completely wrecking a dancefloor -- either for good or for bad. This is the first new electro banger I've enjoyed in a while.
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Slipknot - Duality (Belzebass Remix)

Fuck You, Diplo

2010-02-26T11:15:00.002-05:00

For some reason, I have an extreme disliking for Diplo.

He's got to be the most overrated producer / DJ in the United States.

He recently produced the new Snoop Dogg + Kid Cudi song, That Tree, which SUCKS.

I remember when he dropped that mixtape with M.I.A. that was critically acclaimed (for a mixtape, I suppose.) Anyone actually listen to that garbage?

From what I remember it was shoddy, sampled beats with weird reggae singing over it.

Two exceptions. His remix of Hip Hop is a stormer. And I have a soft spot for Major Lazer (Diplo and Switch).

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Dead Prez - Hip Hop (Diplo Remix)

Major Lazer feat. Collie Buddz, Lindi Ortega - Good Enough

Flight of the Conchords - Sugalumps

2010-02-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

Nice production on this one. From their 2009 CD, I Told You I Was Freaky.

Flight of the Conchords - Sugalumps

The xx Remixes

2010-02-22T12:50:00.002-05:00

Yeah, yeah, blogging about The xx is so 2009.

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The xx - Shelter (Flinch Remix)

Florence + The Machine - You've Got The Love (The xx Remix)

The Flinch remix is new. It's understated dubstep with a groovy bassline -- which is refreshing.

The Florence + Machine remix is a classic. I would classify this as downtempo -- what do you think?

Now here's a mashup...

The Hood Internet - The XX Gon' Give It To Ya (DMX x The XX)

The Golden Filter

2010-02-19T15:30:00.000-05:00

The Golden Filter makes pretty and slightly strange electro-pop / house.

The singer is from Australia, the producer from Ohio, but now they both chill in New York.

I like the Alice and Wonderland-esque lyrics and the minimal but fat synth work, especially the bass.

Their new album, Voluspa, comes out in April. "Hide Me" is the first single.

The Golden Filter - Hide Me

The Golden Filter - Solid Gold

The Golden Filter - Solid Gold (Russ Chimes Remix)

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Threesomes

2010-02-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

On Usher's latest about pulling a threesome from the club, he fails to rival what is the greatest threesome-allusion in all of hip hop ...

R Kelly: "Man, three's company. Bitch, call me Jack Tripper!"

Nonetheless, Usher's latest track, "Little Freak", does have fantastic production.

Plug your Macbook up to some nice speakers and just listen to that bassy kick...

Usher feat. Nicki Minaj - Little Freak

And now for some Kells...

R Kelly - Double Up

Passion Pit - The Reeling

2010-02-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

Passion Pit - The Reeling
Passion Pit - The Reeling (Yasutaka Nakata Capsule Remix)

The Hood Internet - How Purple Can You Go (Ludacris vs. Joker & Ginz)

2010-02-16T11:21:00.000-05:00

I've been a big fan of The Hood Internet for years. They were really the first great A+B mashup artists.

Actually, The Hood Internet is composed of two Chicago hipsters, DJ STV SLV and ABX.

I've always thought ABX had a much better ear -- his mashups just fit together.

DJ STV SLV is more concerned with eating Beef 'n' Cheddars at Arby's and Twittering on his Macbook.

Now ABX just took Ludacris' newest single (which is pretty much a straight up stripper anthem) and buttf****d it senseless by putting a Sega Genesis-influenced dubstep track by Joker & Ginz under it.

It's really when the bass drops at 0:40. OMG. The chipmunk sound with the stripped down percussion isn't really my thing....

The Hood Internet - How Purple Can You Go (Ludacris x Joker & Ginz)

DCUP - Style (Rainbows of Death Remix)

2010-02-15T11:52:00.000-05:00

OK so, I've got some more house for you ...

The production on this track is remarkably clean. Good headphones or huge speakers would do this justice. This style of house is really growing on me. It doesn't hit you over the head with any particular sound but makes you smile with the totality of every element working together. The vocals remind me of the 90's dance music they played at the hair salon I went to when I would get my hair cut in high school. And I think I hear cowbell near to the end.

DCUP - Style (Rainbows of Death Remix)

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New Jónsi Single, "Go Do"

2010-02-14T13:19:00.000-05:00

Jónsi - Go Do from Jónsi on Vimeo.

Toro Y Moi

2010-02-13T12:27:00.000-05:00

Alright, time to get your genres straight. I'll give you an education.

Toro Y Moi, along with Washed Out, Neon Indian, and Memory Tapes, makes music in the micro-genre chillwave.

He also makes music in the similar but different micro-genre dreamwave.

"Low Shoulder" is a good example of dreamwave. "Blessa" is a good example of chillwave.

Don't fuck it up again.

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Toro Y Moi - Low Shoulder

Toro Y Moi - Blessa

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I like this guy. He's my age (23).

His recent release Causers Of This is worth checking out.

Just listen to this remix of the Brookyln's Body Language ... It's bee-yoo-ti-ful ...

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Body Language - At A Glance (Toro Y Moi Remix)

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PNAU - Embrace (Remixes)

2010-02-13T01:49:00.002-05:00

Sophisticated, romantic house music for the young, attractive, trendy, and in love

PNAU - Embrace (Fredrick Carlsson Epic Remix)

PNAU - Embrace (Fred Falke & Miami Horror Remix)

Ratatat - Mirando

2010-02-10T20:52:00.000-05:00

Saw Ratatat live last year. They were alright.

Mirando, from 2008, is nonetheless dope, mayne.

Ratatat - Mirando

E-603 - If You Wanna

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The Kickdrums

2010-02-09T01:33:00.003-05:00

The Kickdrums are two dudes from Cleveland who make funky, piano-heavy hip hop.

In their original tracks they sing and get out the guitars, which is a little weird. Reminds me of 90s alt-rock, but a little blunted.

They are also known to fuck around with mashups, electro/rap, and all that good stuff on their mixtape with League Crew. (Example: they have a MGMT vs. Justice vs. Kanye mashup.)

Anyways, their remixes are really stellar. Check them out.

The Constellations - Setback (The Kickdrums Remix)

Kanye West feat. Nas - We Major (The Kickdrums Remix)

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Greatest Interpreters of Chopin, Part 3 - Martha Argerich

2010-02-04T10:56:00.001-05:00

Martha Argerich

Chopin - Andante Spianato (performed by Martha Argerich)

Chopin - Scherzo No. 3 (performed by Martha Argerich)

Greatest Interpreters of Chopin, Part 2 - Alfred Cortot

2010-02-03T18:40:00.003-05:00

Alfred Cortot

Today there are many players of unusual abilities playing Chopin -- players who seem at home in his melancholically lyrical style, who can apply rubato to a melody without breaking the pulse and attend to the music's inner voices -- but there are no Chopinists. There are no pianists whose reputations are primarily based on Chopin performance or whose playing of Chopin is consistently compelling.

[...] some of the most important recorded performances of Chopin were made by a Frenchman who was rarely flip or colorless and who made "poetic divination" a musical religion: Alfred Cortot. Cortot studied with a Chopin pupil, Emile Decombes, and recorded many Chopin pieces several times before his death in 1962. Few of his performances have been easily accessible in recent years, but a six-CD EMI set available as an import amply documents Cortot's standing as a consummate Chopinist.

from here.

Chopin - Prelude in C minor op. 45 (perfomed by Alfred Cortot)

Chopin - Ballade no. 4 (performed by Alfred Cortot)

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Greatest Interpreters of Chopin, Part 1 - Vladimir Sofronitsky

2010-02-02T18:14:00.016-05:00

Vladimir Sofronitsky

The name of Sofronitsky is connected above all, and properly so, with the music of Chopin and Scriabin. For Sofronitsky's generation, nineteenth-century interpretations of Chopin had long been considered problematic. The numerous layers of sentimentality under which the salon school buried Chopin's music had been replaced by technically perfect renditions, irreproachable in their purity of sound, but clearly deficient. Something imperceptible escaped the majority of performers, even the greatest. A certain Chopin "nerve" was left untouched.

This sense of Chopin's music, inexpressible in words, and impossible to teach, was God's gift to Sofronitsky. Those who heard him in concert recall the invisible but tangible connection he established with his audience. In this bond lay the very essence of Chopin's music. Sofronitsky's loftiness of inspiration, and the exactness with which he could strike the Chopin "nerve", were qualities possessed by no other pianist-at least those whose art is accessible to us, if only in recordings.

from here.

Chopin - Impromptu No. 3, Op. 51 (performed by Vladimir Sofronitsky)

Chopin - Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49 (performed by Vladimir Sofronitsky)

Chopin - Barcarolle, Op. 60 (performed by Vladimir Sofronitsky)

More Sofronitsky from The Worst Beatle

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Louis La Roche

2010-02-01T09:21:00.052-05:00

Louis La Roche is everything good about French house. Filtered, funky, and fucking danceable, La Roche makes classy 21st century tracks for people sipping on mixed drinks to get their groove on. A little too sophisticated for your dorm-room house party, perhaps, and a little too repetitive to play on its own, La Roche none-the-less is a brilliant producer any house DJ should be very familiar with. Plus he has the my all-time favorite remix of Thriller.

Louis La Roche - Prick Stick
Louis La Roche - Malfunction
Louis La Roche - Super Soaker (buy) (listen)

Michael Jackson - Thriller (Louis La Roche Remix)
The Amplid - Bernadette (Louis La Roche Remix)

Bob Dylan. Then and Now.

2010-01-30T11:31:00.001-05:00

There are two different types of Dylan fans.

The first type has a deep appreciation for "Dylan in his prime." It starts January 1961 when Dylan moves from college in Minneapolis to New York, seeking fame and fortune, and ends in 1970 with the release of Self Portrait, an album which prompted Rolling Stone writer Greil Marcus to ask, "What is this shit?"

The startling burst of creative energy that defined Dylan's twenties may have no equal in popular music. But Dylan's career did not end there. He continued producing album after album, continued touring (he is now on what is called the 'Never Ending Tour'), and in 2009 released two albums, one of them (LOL) a Christmas album.

The second type of fan is a Dylan loyalist. They love, more or less, everything in the man's catalogue. They listen to live performances, B-sides, and rarities. They view the critically acclaimed Modern Times and Love and Theft as albums that rival his work in the '60s. And whenever Dylan is in town, they go.

Personally, I find Dylan's material after the 1960's -- with the exception of Blood on the Tracks -- to be at best only a glimmer of the genius of his youth, at worst an absolute joke.

Compare these two live performances of "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall".

The first is from 1964.

Now watch this performance, from 2003. Can you take this seriously? I can't.

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Van She

2010-01-29T10:48:00.000-05:00

Fucking crazy Aussies.

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Van She - Kelly (M83 Remix)

Van She - Kelly (Shinichi Osawa Remix)

Dragonette - Pick Up The Phone (Michael Di Francesco [Van She] Remix)

Dan The Automator - Rapper's Delight (Van She Tech Remix)

I Am Finn - I Love You (Van She Tech Remix Animalistics Re-Work)

The Tallest Man On Earth - King of Spain

2010-01-28T19:17:00.000-05:00

The Tallest Man On Earth is a Worst Beatle favorite. I've blogged about him before.

Here's the new single from his upcoming album, The Wild Hunt.

The Tallest Man On Earth - King of Spain

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Treasure Fingers

2010-01-27T10:01:00.000-05:00

I've been a fan of Treasure Fingers for a while -- thought I'd might as well blog about them now.

Treasure Fingers basically sounds like Chromeo, only less funk more house.

Their one hit "Cross the Dancefloor" was pretty popular ... 'cross the dancefloor.

Here are my favorites:

Ocelot - Our Time (Treasure Fingers Remix)

Little Boots - Meddle (Treasure Fingers Remix)

Classixx - I'll Get You (Treasure Fingers Remix) (blogged this earlier)

N.A.S.A. feat. Kanye West, Lykke Li, and Santogold - Gifted (Treasure Fingers Remix)

The Death Set - Negative Thinking (Treasure Fingers Remix)

OH SNAP!! - Plus Sized Model (Treasure Fingers Remix)

Treasure Fingers - Cross the Dancefloor (Lifelike Remix)

Treasure Fingers - Cross the Dancefloor

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Grammy Rant

2010-01-26T09:36:00.001-05:00

A 2007 duet album by famous Led Zepplin lead singer and probably the most bluegrass, Raising Sand, won the 2009 Grammy for Album of the Year.

This is a typical haul for Alison Krauss, who has won 26 Grammys! (Christ!)

Usually I disagree with the Grammy picks.

In 2006, U2 won for How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. (I totally forgot about that crap.)

In 2007, the fucking Dixie Chicks won.

And undeniably the greatest affront to good taste -- in 1998, Bob Dylan's over-hyped pile of crap Time Out of Mind beat out OK Computer!

However -- Raising Sand has moments of brilliance. It's not my favorite album of ~~2007~~ 2009, but I have to give the Grammy people credit.

I'm just glad Viva la Vida didn't win.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Killing The Blues

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Phoenix Remixed

2010-01-24T17:58:00.029-05:00

Phoenix had the best album of 2009.

Introducing... the best remixes.

Phoenix - Armistice (Yacht Remix)

Phoenix - Fences (Neo Tokyo Remix)

Phoenix - Lisztomania (Classixx Version)

Phoenix - Lisztomania (Alex Metric Remix)

Phoenix - Lisztomania (Redial Remix)

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KiD CuDi I H8 YoU

2010-01-23T22:05:00.001-05:00

I don't really like KiD CuDi. He has a recognizable voice, sure, and his indie/stoner persona makes him an alt favorite. While other rappers talk about bangin' Pac, he talks about bangin' MGMT. Big deal.

1st strike against CuDi: the alternating caps. Please. Are you 14? Is this your instant messenger screen name?

2nd strike: The only reason he's hot is because of a Crookers remix. Day 'n' Nite was the big track of 2008. Where's your big track of 2009? Huh?

Alright. CuDi is growing on me a little bit. I'll admit it. (OK I'm a huge CuDi fan.)

Party Ben - Shame (At Nite)

BONUS:

Jackie Chan feat. KiD CuDi - Rollin' (Remix)

(Yes, that's "Robert Miles - Children" sampled on the bonus track!)

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Aeroplane!

2010-01-22T13:46:00.001-05:00

This fantastic duo makes fantastic, funky as hell remixes!

All of these remixes are top-notch. I highly recommend them all.

Aeroplane is from Brussels, but their style is self-described as Italian Pop. Whatever.

Lindstrom and Christabelle - Baby Can't Stop (Aeroplane Remix)

Sebastien Tellier - Kilometer (Aeroplane 'Italo 84' Remix)

Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix feat. Au Revoir Simone)

Robbie Williams - Bodies (Aeroplane Remix)

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The Clientele

2010-01-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

The Clientele are based in London, and their 2009 release, Bonfires on the Heath, is fantastic.

Their work is pretty, slightly melancholy, reverb heavy, and with a 60's influence. Think The Velvet Underground and Pink Floyd mixed with Band of Horses.

I should have put this on my Best of 2009 list, but I was too late in discovering it. Oh well.

The Clientele - Bonfires on the Heath

The Worst Beatle

The Hood Internet - It Was A Rainy Day (Ice Cube vs CFCF)

The Blog Is Back!

WORLD EXCLUSIVE! The Worst Beatle - Low On Drugs (Flo Rida vs Ratatat)

The Worst Beatle Is Now On Hiatus

Doc Trashz vs Rihanna - Rude Boy (Docstep 2010 Reboot)

New Tracks By Aeroplane

Tiësto feat. Tegan & Sara - Feel It In My Bones

Uffie's LP Is Released Today

LBCK - Disco Thrills

Trey Songz / The Radio Dept / Jay Electronica / Toro Y Moi / Usher / Sleigh Bells

DJ Earworm - Like OMG Baby

Hip Hop For Hip Hop Nerds

The Tallest Man On Earth - Graceland (Paul Simon Cover)

Hugo - 99 Problems

The-Dream

Yay! Pop Music! (Justin Bieber and Rihanna Remixes)

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More Mashups

Random Songs I Found On My HypeMachine Playlist

The Roots - Dear God 2.0

A-Trak - Dirty South Dance 2

Skrillex

Darwin Deez

Sexy John Lennon?

Phantogram - Mouthful of Diamonds (Alan Wilkis Remix)

The Powder Kegs

The Beatles Remixed

Rafter

Uffie - ADD SUV (Armand Van Helden Vocal Remix)

Bruno Mars

Remixes For Dirty Nasty Dancing

Dope Mashups by The Hood Internet and Vodka & Milk

Amazing Visual Scores

DJ Dain - Don't Worry, I'm Yours (Jason Mraz vs. Bobby McFerrin vs. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)

Objektiv One

The National & The Radio Dept.

I Love Bill Evans

Wale - Pretty Girls (Remix) (feat. Chris Brown & Fabolous)

Nas & Damian Marley - As We Enter

More Hood Internet Mashups

Tycho

Rick James - Give It To Me Baby (Bardeenz Rejuice)

Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce vs. Metallica - Enter Telephone (DJs From Mars Club Remix)

Treasure Fingers - What Am I Supposed To Do

B.O.B. - Nothing On You (DJ Kue Edit)

Noisia - Red Heat

Mos Dub

Radiohead - Nude (City Rain Remix)

Maria Callas Sings Puccini

Wait What - the notorious xx

Lauryn Hill - So Many Things To Say (Bob Marley Cover)

Bob Dylan - Lay Lady Lay (Cover and Remix)

If Madonna And Bjork Were A Lesbian Couple, Lady Gaga Would Be Their Adopted Baby.

Jónsi - Time To Pretend (MGMT Cover)

The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

Dirt Nasty - My Name Is

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - New Year's Kiss

Indie White Kids Might Like This Hip Hop

HYPER CRUSH

Memoryhouse

The Best Disney Mashups

Great Disney Songs Annotated

The Middle East

Designer Drugs Live At Oberlin (With Bastille)

Kavinsky - Nightcall

Jónsi

Villa-Lobos - Rudepoêma

Bach - Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903 (Glenn Gould)

Mashup Manifesto

Reni Lane - A Place For Us (Monsieur Adi Remix)

Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better

Ludacris - How Low (The Filth Remix)

Hawa - D.A.N.C.E. (Justice Cover)

Slipknot Remixed

Fuck You, Diplo

Flight of the Conchords - Sugalumps

The xx Remixes

The Golden Filter

Threesomes

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