Electrotastic

Here's a little something I put together from some of my favorite electro tracks these days. Listen up:

930 Mix

1. Max Power – Intro
2. Talking Heads – Psycho Killer (Lexicon Avenue Remix)
3. Pet Shop Boys – Sodom
4. Soulwax – E Talking (Rex The Dog Mix)
5. Tomcraft – Overdose (Lady Radio Version)
6. Alloy Mental – Alloy Mental (Boys Noize Remix)
7. Goose – Black Gloves (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)
8. Hostage – Gluttony (Felix Cartal Remix)
9. The Living Things – Bom Bom Bom (Boys Noize Remix)
10. Superbass – I’m With You (Richard Dinsdale Remix)
11. Paul Johnson – Hot (Surkin Remix)
12. Justice – Stress (ZUER Edit)
13. Pryda – Rage
14. Eric Prydz vs. Pink Floyd – Proper Education (Dub)
15. Para One – Dudun-dun (Boys Noize Remix)
16. Trentemøller – Beta Boy
17. Nine Inch Nails – Capital G (Switch Remix)
18. The Chemical Brothers – Do It Again (Daft Mix)
19. Sneaky Sound System – I Love It (Riot In Belgium Forest Rave Mix)

Read more!

Rocking Without Vowels

The subject of today's musical exploration is, I'm afraid, kind of predictable--yes, its about remixes. Today we shall focus on our friends from the north, MSTRKRFT. The duo, Jesse F. Keeler (former member of the band Death From Above 1979) and Al-P (producer of Death From Above's "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" and former member of the electroish group, Girlsareshort), hail from the wonderful world of Ontario, Canada. For anyone who hasn't heard them, I guess it's apt to mention that I discovered MSTRKFT on a gay-centric blog some time ago, under a picture of Paris Hilton--in other words, they pretty much epitomize the whole happy gay sound. Lots of fun, in deed. Strangely enough though, these synth-and-keyboard-thumping-party-makers sound almost nothing like DFA 1979. So then, where did that gritty-guitar, wailing-ballad sound go? Where do these crazy Canadians vent their urge to rock the fuck out....? Well remixes, of course. Since the release of their first single in early 2006, MSTRKFT has produced a slew of rocky sounding remixes, selecting songs from an eclectic range of genres. Anyway, to make a long blog shorter, these remixes bring forth the best of rock and electro, creating a head-bangin, dance-inducing combination, that is sure to get a party bumpin'. If not, they certainly make for some fun listening (Or, at least, I sure enjoy them.)


MSTRKRFT - Got Love To Kill (Juliette & The Licks Remix)
Bloc Party - Two More Years (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Death From Above 1979 - Little Girl (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Death From Above 1979 - Sexy Results (MSTRKRFT Edition)
The Gossip - Listen Up! (MSTRKRFT Relick)
Wolfmother - Woman (MSTRKRFT Remix)

Read more!

Nothing Special

Ok, I must admit, even I was suckered into the whole Spank Rock thing. I, whom for years tried to claim some form of status through hip hop snobbery, fell for the tricks and flashy ways of these dirty pseudo-Bmore beats. Perhaps it was their attempts to incorporate an electroish sound, perhaps, I just wanted to dance; who knows? Suffice to say that, at the very least, I have been quite excited about seeing the fabled Spank Rock perform for quite some time now. So granted, the Apple store in mid-town Manhattan is no real club, and for sure, free shows don't always prompt the best performances, but GOD DAMN, that was a real flaky show. I'll try to leave aside the uncontrollable factors--the hipster scummery, the faulty equipment, the tight quarters--but criticism is needed. I mean, I hate to say it, but the performance sucked.

First off, XXXChange, what's the deal man? I mean, as a DJ, and not even a very good one at that, I was kind of upset with some of the sloppy mixing and predictable choice of music. Stopping for 20 seconds because you fuck up, or dropping out the volume for a moment or two by accident, is no fun. I mean, of all places, it wasn't as if this was a high pressure show--there are no excuses for those kind of mistakes. Oh, and playing catchy Bmore stuff, that everyone's heard a million times, does not make up for a sloppy performance.

Next, Mr. Naeem Juwan, let me make this real clear---being a class A hipster, talking about vagina's and penises, and shaking your ass, does not make you a good MC. Do yourself a favor, go back, and watch all those late 70's, early 80's hip hop movies where all the hipsters steal their style from, and watch how a real MC rocks a show. I'll give you some hints, first: when you spit, do the whole verse, don't just start in the middle, or stop for that matter, and definitely don't just let Amanda Blank say your lines. Oh, try rapping over instrumentals rather than vocal edits, it kind of gives you the illusion of talent. Lastly, throwing water in a store full of computers, iPhone and iPods probably isn't the best idea.

I'm sorry if I sound like a complete hater right now, but I am REAL disappointed, and I've heard no real criticism of this group. So, Spank Rock, please get your act together.

Sincerely,

(speakeasy)

Read more!

Baby Got Bass: Volume 2.0

If you're not coming, you're lame. But seriously, walk, run, drive, fly, or do whatever you have to to be at Sarah Lawrence College tonight. If you're coming from New York, take the White Plains Metro-North to Bronxville, and then ask around for the school shuttle. Starts at 11.

We've got Max Neely-Cohen (you may know him as the Kleptonian), Manatee, DJ Pravo, our boy SpeakEasy and myself destroying everything until 2 AM. Don't miss it.


Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Soulwax - NY Lipps

Read more!