Archive for the ‘Features’ Category
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The Original/The Remix: The Knocks “Make It Better”
Everyone already knows I love The Knocks. I look forward to everything the NYC production duo sends my way and very rarely do they disappoint. Last week they sent me their new track “Make It Better” which immediately went into my “Best Singles of 2010″ playlist on iTunes. Today they sent me the remix of the track by Worcester, MA’s DOM. Worcester does not get a lot of love so I wish I could say I love the remix but I have to admit I do not like the remix nearly as much as the original. Check out both and let me know which you prefer.
The Original: The Knocks “Make It Better”
The Remix: The Knocks “Make it Better (DOM remix)” -
07.12.2010 Andrew W.K. at the Vans Warped Tour Hartford
Perhaps the one performer that tipped the scales for me to attend the circus known as the Warped Tour this year was Andrew W.K.. Mr. W.K.’s persona is dirty hessian mixed with motivational speaker. He preached his philosophy of living life and partying to a more than willing to listen crowd in the late afternoon in Hartford. Disappointingly, Andrew W.K. played the shortest set of any band I saw at Warped. Only playing seven songs, the set was heavy on selections from W.K.’s seminal debut album, I Get Wet. The set included opening with “It’s Time to Party” and playing such classics as “She Is Beautiful”, “Ready to Die”, and “I Get Wet”. Unsurprisingly the set included no songs from the disappoint The Wolf album and only one or two songs from the recently re-released Close Calls With Brick Walls. The set closed, of course, with “Party Hard”. Despite the short set, W.K.’s shenanigans more than made up for the fact. He stripped off several layers of Andrew W.K. tee shirts and threw them out into the crowd while making whoever caught them recite an oath that included “solemnly” swearing to “party as hard as possible”. He, also, introduced the crowd to his wife, Cherie Lily who worked as a hype woman while donning an outfit similar to a 1980′s Paula Abdul video. The stage antics made for one of the most entertaining performances of the Warped Tour.
MP3: Drink Up Buttercup “Even Think (Andrew W.K. Remix)” -
07.12.2010 The Bouncing Souls at the Vans Warped Tour Hartford
Bouncing Souls‘ lead singer, Greg Attonito has one of the most effortless voices in punk. His voice is perfect for the Bouncing Souls’ mixture of pop punk and hardcore but while other singers use their ferocity, Greg stage presence is like a crooner in a Las Vegas lounge. But the lack of energy Attonito seems to exhude is more than made up by his band mates. Guitarist, Pete Steinkopf and bassist, Bryan Kienlen give the energy of an old school NYC hardcore band. The Souls ripped through a set that included their greatest hits like “Say Anything”, “Quick Chek Girl”, “Gone”, “Anchors Aweigh”, and “Kids and Heroes”. They closed their set with a rousing rendition of “True Believers”.
MP3: Bouncing Souls “Quick Chek Girl” -
07.12.2010 Alkaline Trio at the Vans Warped Tour Hartford
For years I had considered seeing Alkaline Trio anytime they came to Connecticut but little birdies kept chirping in my ears that the “sucked live”. After watching their entire Warped Tour set, I can see why some people may disparage their live performance. The band is a power trio which means they do not exactly crowd the stage. In addition, Matt Skiba and company are not as young as they once were so movement is sparse. This makes for a not very visually stunning set but musically the band is as good as their albums. In their nine song set, the band played classics like “Stupid Kid”, “Private Eye”, and “In Vein”. They also mixed in tracks from this years This Addiction album including “Dine Dine My Darling” and “In Vein”. They closed their set with “97″.
MP3: Alkaline Trio “Warbrain” -
07.12.2010 Motion City Soundtrack at the Vans Warped Tour Hartford
It’s not easy to get up the chutzpah to rock out at a little before noon on a hot summer’s day but that was exactly the task Motion City Soundtrack was assigned. Justin Pierre and company were more than up for the challenge. Blistering through an abbreviated set, the band managed to squeeze in ten songs including favorites like “The Future Freaks Me Out”, “My Favorite Accident”, “L.G. Fuad”, and “Her Words Destroyed My Planet”. All the while, Jesse Johnson worked dually as a keyboardist and a hype man constantly trying to pump the crowd up with his stage antics. The band closed their set with a lunch time sing-a-long of “Everything is Alright”. -
The Original/The Remix: Hooray For Earth “Surrounded By Your Friends”
Boston-band Hooray For Earth just released their Momo EP earlier this month. The EP’s lead single is “Surrounded By Your Friends”. The track’s combination of strong keyboards and psychedelic pop vocals does not make it seem an obvious candidate for remixes but it has been announced several remixes are being curated. The remix we are offering is by Twin Shadow. The remix does not turn the track into a dance floor anthem but does a nice job of pepping it up. Enjoy!
The Original: Hooray For Earth “Surrounded By Your Friends”
The Remix: Hooray For Earth “Surrounded By Your Friends (Twin Shadow Remix)” -
The Original/The Remix: Pallers “The Kiss”
Swedish ambient pop duo Pallers released their latest single, “The Kiss” last month. The track is reminiscent of dream pop groups like Beach House and Memory Tapes. A remix of the track was just released. The remix is by Suburban Kids with Biblical Names. It is the first activity from the SKWBN since 2009′s EP #4. The remix definitely puts a disco spin on the original. Let me know which you prefer. Enjoy!
The Original: Pallers “The Kiss”
The Remix: Pallers “The Kiss (Suburban Kids With Biblical Names Remix)” -
The Original/The Remix: Admiral Freebee “My Hippie Ain’t Hip”
Admiral Freebee’s latest album The Honey & The Knife has produced the single “My Hippie Ain’t Hip”. The track sounds like a combination of Rolling Stones-esque blues with POP-era U2 production. The track is actually really catchy although maybe a little passe sounding. But to update the track, DJ Harvey comes in. Harvey does what he does best and discos up the track, creating a fun and bouncy remix. Check out both and let me know which you prefer!
The Original: Admiral Freebee “My Hippie Ain’t Hip”
The Remix: Admiral Freebee “My Hippie Ain’t Hip (DJ Harvey Remix)” -
The Original/The Remix: Delooze “Big Love”
United Kingdom dance trio, Delooze recently released their latest single “Big Love”. The track has a epic dubstep feel to it. To promote the single, Delooze has released a remix by Suxx. The remix is a little more standard dance fare. Let me know which you prefer.
The Original: Delooze “Big Love”
The Remix: Delooze “Big Love (Suxx Remix)” -
Music in Advertising: Weber “You Light Me Up”
Jingle writers do not get the credit they should. A good jingle is one of the most powerful tools in all of marketing. In Weber grills’ latest commercial, they have set a new high. Apparently it cost too much to license an actual Black Eyed Peas‘ song, so the Weber Grill people put it to some professional song writers to write a sound alike track. What they came up with was “You Light Me Up”. The track is so good that I think they should force these song writers to turn it into a full length track. Check out the 30 second song and tell me you don’t want to hear two minutes more of this infectious jam.
MP3: Weber “You Light Me Up”
