Nobody Gonna Slow Me Down!

So it's been a while since I posted or even created a mix. This will be the another recurring theme I hope to continue now that the holidays are over. This is a mix of songs that are on heavy rotation on my ipod and I feel they need to be shared. Enjoy the first edition of

Listen



1. Matt Costa - Cold December (Itunes)

2. The Little Ones - Face The Facts (Itunes)

3. Dashboard Confessional - In a Big Country (Itunes)

4. Office - If You Don't Know By Now (Itunes)

5. Paolo Nutini - Jenny Don't Be Hasty (Itunes)

6. The Heights - Night Relay (Itunes)

7. Phoenix - Long Distance Call (25 Hours a Day Mix) (Itunes)

8. Hot Chip - Boy From School (Itunes)

9. Natalie Walker - Quicksand (Stuhr Remix) (Itunes)

10. The Radio Dept. - Pulling Our Weight (Itunes)

11. Psapp - Hi (Itunes)

12. k-os - Valhalla (Feat. Kevin Drew and Sam Roberts) (Itunes)

13. Amy Winehouse - Rehab (Hot Chip Remix Edit)* (not available on Itunes)

14. Wolf Parade - Lousy Pictures (Itunes)

15. Ok Go - Here It Goes Again (Itunes)

16 Headlights - TV (Itunes)

17. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Vs. Daft Punk - World Maps (Along Came Jones Edit) (Itunes)

18. Whitey - Non Stop (Itunes)

19. Muse - Starlight (Itunes)

20. Ratatat - Lex (Edit)* (Itunes)


*These are edits of the originals I worked on for one reason or another.

A Case of You

I keep a playlist in my itunes for things I am not certain I want to purchase. Contained in this list of 30 second snippets , lies a track by Neko Case. Idley biding its time there since September of 2005, waiting for me to realize the beauty that lies beyond the vague sample someone decided was enough to illustrate her talent. It wasn't until I received a copy of Fox Confessor Brings The Flood from my dear friend and sometimes musical sensei Daniel that I came to know of one few men have had the pleasure.

The reason I had yet to purchase this song is simple, it doesn't showcase Case's remarkable voice. It's really quite incredible. She sounds as if from another time, when Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee and Loretta Lynn were in their prime, and yet her music is completely distinctive. Her lyrics create such textured imagery and the drive in her voice ensures that there is surely not a word wasted.

I had a terrible time trying to decide what songs I was going to include for you to sample. Since receiving the album for Christmas, I haven't taken it out of the Cd player in my car. I have listened to it at least 10 times all the way through (which isn't difficult as it clocks in at just over 35 minutes) so these songs only really exist to me as a complete story and it's very difficult for me think of them as otherwise. I honestly couldn't tell their names, or where one song ends and the next begins until I ripped it into my computer and clicked on them song by song. I have chosen 4 tracks that I cannot stop humming to myself and I hope they represent her well. Please go out and purchase this album!!

Itunes

Amazon

From Fox Confessor Brings the Flood




Star Witness

Hold On, Hold On

Maybe Sparrow

At Last

Maybe Sparrow Live on Letterman (Effing Amazing!)

No Glow Stick Necessary

New (To You) Music Tuesday

Ratatat

Mike Stround & Evan Mast of Ratatat


The first time I heard the single "17 Years" by New York based electronic group, Ratatat, I was in love. It was just what I had been searching for. An electronic sound with a distinctive guitar base. Not the usual "untcha untcha" of boring techno, but a brilliant blend of synth and rock. Then I listened to the rest of their debut self titled album, and was mildy disappointed. All of the songs kind of sounded the same, and none of them had the energy of the first single so I more or less dismissed them as a one hit wonder. *Sigh* Then they released Ratatat Mixtape Vol. 1. A collection of hip-hop and rap artists remixed by the duo. It showed promise and so I remained patient.

Then a couple of months ago, the internet started buzzing with leaked material from their sophmore release Classics. SA-WEE-TAH! This was exactly what I had been waiting for. Classics was officialy released August 22, 2006 and the songs are as varied in texture and pace as they are part of a complete unit. They seem to complete the album story from beginning to end. Fran-Tastic! Seriously, go out and purshace this album!


For those who relish the physical feel - Amazon
For those who live in the digital age - Itunes


From Classics

Wildcat

Tropicana

From Ratatat

17 Years*

El Pico

and a Ratatat remix for good measure

Shout Out Louds - The Comeback (Big Slippa Mix by Ratatat)


* for those who have received a mix from me with this song on it, it was an edited version I created because there were parts I didn't care for and I'm crazy like that. This is the orginal, album cut version of the track and will sound different.

Bad English

Starting now I'm going to be posting on a more regular basis. At least a couple of times per week, and some with reocurring themes. This way those of you who are actually interested in what I have to say, or at least what I am listening to, will have a some more good tunes. The first regular post will be new music tuesday. Now, I am not so bold as to assume that the music I offer has until my post fallen on deaf ears. Some of these artists have had some sort of buzz surrounding them for some time now. But as NBC once proudly proclaimed, "if you haven't (heard) it, it's new to you." So today officially begins:

New (to you) Music Tuesday

Bad English

I mean Bad as in good, and I mean English as in.... well English. Blog friends, meet Lily Allen.


(CLassy!)

Lily has been compared to several artists including M.I.A. and even Gwen Stefani, but I personally think she reminds me more of the female Mike Skinner. Her lyrics are sharp and smart and the sweetenss of her voice might make you forget for a moment hat she just ripped you to shreds. Oh, Lily, I can't stay mad at you!



Smile ( 1st US single.)

LDN (My Favorite Track)

Cheryl Tweedy (Kick Ass B-side)

Knock 'em Out (Kick Ass Early Demo)


**Bonus

LDN (STH LDN WRNGTM RMX) ["It's country, and you look country in it!"]


Ps. I know this is getting out in the 11th hour, literally, but I had a busy day!

Pps. If you know what that last quote is, you're kick ass!

Ppss. Did anyone else catch that bloke in the background of the picture wearing heals? anyone?!?

"It's a fair cop."

While sampling the new Bloc Party album "A Weekend in the City" (02/05/07 scheduled release date) I came across a riff in the song "Hunting for Witches" that caught my attention. This is the 2nd time in recent months I have heard a very distinct similarity to the strings in the Eurythmics' track "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." The other songs that seems to be using the sample is pop newbie Stefy's "Chelsea."

Now I'm not saying this is a bad thing in either instance, they're both enjoyable songs in their own space, and that strings line is one of my favorites, I just hope Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart are pickin up some sort of royalties.

Listen for yourself.

Bloc Party - Hunting for Witches

Stefy - Chelsea

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

**Bonus Track

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)[Steve Angello Bootleg]