JNSTY - Xmas Mix

I put together an indie/electro mix just in time for Christmas. Enjoy!!

JNSTY-Xmas Mix by JNSTY

Jay NaSTY - Xmas Mix [Soundcloud]

New Peter, Bjorn & John - Hey (Shut The Fuck Up Boy)

The video for the new Peter, Bjorn & John song, Hey (Shut The Fuck Up Boy), hit the internet early last week and everyone was immediately creeped out by the rhythmless, masked dancers. I think the paper eyes are the most abnormal aspect of the video. If eyes are the windows to your soul, then those motionless eyes are one sided windows, attached to paper cut-out masks, worn by horrible dancers. But enough about the awesome(?) video, the real reason I doing this post is the even awesomer hook. PB & J, always masters of crafting perpetually danceable beats with little more than their drum set and a random instrument (sometimes it's a bass guitar, sometimes it's a pair of maracas, this time it's a simple woodblock), have outdone themselves with their brilliant hook for Hey. The hook brilliantly combines profanity, primal mating rivalry, and alcohol fueled jealous the into the perfect sing-a-long for long family road trips.

Peter, Bjorn & John - Hey (Shut The Fuck Up Boy) [YSI]

Kendall's Favorite Songs of 2008 : Part 5

Fifth and final installment of Kendall's Favorite Song's of 2008. I'm glad it's over, now I can get back to my regular twice a month post schedule.

Dance
The Bloody Beetroots – Rombo
The Bloody Beetroots – Butter
Justice – Planisphere Parts 1 through 4
The Golden Filter – Solid Gold
The Phantom’s Revenge – Moondancer
Surkin – Chrome Knight ft. Dave 1
A-Trak – Say Whoa
BURNS – Make Love
Beni – My Love Sees You

Australia
Miami Horror – Summerfest ’86
Miami Horror – Make You Mine
Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars
Ladyhawke – Dusk Til Dawn
Ladyhawke – My Delirium
Cut Copy – Hearts On Fire
Cut Copy – Far Away
Cut Copy – Out There On Thin Ice
Empire of the Sun – Walking On A Dream
Empire of the Sun – Standing On The Shore
Empire of the Sun – Swordfish Hotkiss Night
BMX – WAR

Hip Hop
Kid Sister – Get Fresh
T-Pain – Can’t Believe It ft. Lil’ Wayne
Lil’ Wayne – 3 Peat
Lil’ Wayne – Let The Beat Build
The Count & Sinden – Hardcore Girls ft. Rye Rye
Wale – The Kramer
Young Jeezy – Put On ft. Kanye West
Kanye West – Street Lights
Dizzee Rascal – Dance Wiv Me ft. Calvin Harris
Herve & A-Trak – Roll With The Winners ft. Cadence Weapon
Kid Cudi – T.G.I.F. ft. Chip The Ripper

B More
Debonair Samir – Freaky Girl

Indie Rock
Metronomy – Heartbreaker
Magistrates – Make This Work
Ghostland Observatory – Freeheart Lover
Boy Crisis – L’homme
Bloc Party – Mercury
Starfucker – German Love
Black Kids – Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)
Cansei De Ser Sexy – Move
The Ting Tings – Shut Up and Let Me Go
Tokyo Police Club – Tessellate

Indie Pop

Priors – What You Need [YSI]
Lykke Li – Breaking It Up [YSI]
Lykke Li – I’m Good I’m Gone [YSI]
The Twelves – Works For Me [YSI]
Little Boots – Meddle [YSI]
N.E.R.D – You Know What [YSI]
Sam Sparro – 21^st Century Life [YSI]

* pic: The Struggle by Rik Oostenbroek aka NKeo

Kendall's Favorite Songs of 2008 : Part 4

This Kendall’s Favorite Songs of 2008 thing is starting to get old if I can say so myself (I can). Today we have my favorite “Indie Rock” songs of 2008. Basically I classified any group that uses a guitar as “Indie Rock”. That’s the way they taught us to label things at The School for Unimaginative People Who Can’t Think of Descriptive Words Good.

Dance
The Bloody Beetroots – Rombo
The Bloody Beetroots – Butter
Justice – Planisphere Parts 1 through 4
The Golden Filter – Solid Gold
The Phantom’s Revenge – Moondancer
Surkin – Chrome Knight ft. Dave 1
A-Trak – Say Whoa
BURNS – Make Love
Beni – My Love Sees You

Australia
Miami Horror – Summerfest ’86
Miami Horror – Make You Mine
Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars
Ladyhawke – Dusk Til Dawn
Ladyhawke – My Delirium
Cut Copy – Hearts On Fire
Cut Copy – Far Away
Cut Copy – Out There On Thin Ice
Empire of the Sun – Walking On A Dream
Empire of the Sun – Standing On The Shore
Empire of the Sun – Swordfish Hotkiss Night
BMX – WAR

Hip Hop
Kid Sister – Get Fresh
T-Pain – Can’t Believe It ft. Lil’ Wayne
Lil’ Wayne – 3 Peat
Lil’ Wayne – Let The Beat Build
The Count & Sinden – Hardcore Girls ft. Rye Rye
Wale – The Kramer
Young Jeezy – Put On ft. Kanye West
Kanye West – Street Lights
Dizzee Rascal – Dance Wiv Me ft. Calvin Harris
Herve & A-Trak – Roll With The Winners ft. Cadence Weapon
Kid Cudi – T.G.I.F. ft. Chip The Ripper

B More
Debonair Samir – Freaky Girl

Indie Rock

Metronomy – Heartbreaker [YSI]
Magistrates – Make This Work [YSI]
Ghostland Observatory – Freeheart Lover [YSI]
Boy Crisis – L’homme [YSI]
Bloc Party – Mercury [YSI]
Starfucker – German Love [YSI]
Black Kids – Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo) [YSI]
Cansei De Ser Sexy – Move [YSI]
The Ting Tings – Shut Up and Let Me Go [YSI]
Tokyo Police Club – Tessellate [YSI]

Indie Pop
Priors – What You Need
Lykke Li – Breaking It Up
Lykke Li – I’m Good I’m Gone
The Twelves – Works For Me
Little Boots – Meddle
NERD – You Know What
Sam Sparro – 21st Century Life

* pic via Trend Land

Kendall's Favorite Songs of 2008 : Part 3

Ugh! I’m trying not to get another one of my Favorite Songs of 2008 posts stricken down by the nefarious DMCA, so I have begun to speak in code. Discodust found out that whenever a certain artist’s tracks were upped on the interwebs, the associated post is almost always deleted by the DMCA Bandits. The machines have taken over, we have been forced underground. So don’t be confused by that certain artist’s name, I’m sure you can figure it out.

On the post taken down yesterday, I lamented the fact that I forgot to include Everyone’s Got To Make A Living by Dances With White Girls on my favorites of ’08 list. Ask my roommate, this song ruled my life for about four days and annoyed the shit out of him. I won’t go back and amend the list but it would not be fair unless I posted Everyone’s Got To Make A Living here and here. Enjoy the rest of the best below.

Dance
The Bloody Beetroots – Rombo
The Bloody Beetroots – Butter
Justice – Planisphere Parts 1 through 4
The Golden Filter – Solid Gold
The Phantom’s Revenge – Moondancer
Surkin – Chrome Knight ft. Dave 1
A-Trak – Say Whoa
BURNS – Make Love
Beni – My Love Sees You

Australia
Miami Horror – Summerfest ’86
Miami Horror – Make You Mine
Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars
Ladyhawke – Dusk Til Dawn
Ladyhawke – My Delirium
Cut Copy – Hearts On Fire
Cut Copy – Far Away
Cut Copy – Out There On Thin Ice
Empire of the Sun – Walking On A Dream
Empire of the Sun – Standing On The Shore
Empire of the Sun – Swordfish Hotkiss Night
BMX – WAR

Hip Hop

Kid Sister – Get Fresh [YSI]
T-Pain – Can’t Believe It ft. Lil’ Wayne [YSI]
Lil’ Wayne – 3 Peat [YSI]
Lil’ Wayne – Let The Beat Build [YSI]
The Count & Sinden – Hardcore Girls ft. Rye Rye [YSI]
Wale – The Kramer [YSI]
Young Jeezy – Put On ft. K@nye We$t [YSI]
K@nye We$t – Street Lights [YSI]
Dizzee Rascal – Dance Wiv Me ft. Calvin Harris [YSI]
Herve & A-Trak – Roll With The Winners ft. Cadence Weapon [YSI]
Kid Cudi – T.G.I.F. ft. Chip The Ripper [YSI]

B-More

Debonair Samir – Freaky Girl [YSI]

Indie Rock
Metronomy – Heartbreaker
Magistrates – Make This Work
Ghostland Observatory – Freeheart Lover
Boy Crisis – L’homme
Bloc Party – Mercury
Starfucker – German Love
Black Kids – Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)
Cansei De Ser Sexy – Move
The Ting Tings – Shut Up and Let Me Go
Tokyo Police Club – Tessellate

Indie Pop
Priors – What You Need
Lykke Li – Breaking It Up
Lykke Li – I’m Good I’m Gone
The Twelves – Works For Me
Little Boots – Meddle
NERD – You Know What
Sam Sparro – 21st Century Life

pic via fuckyeahsharks

Blogger DMCA Was Here

The fucking DMCA Bandits took down my Favorite Songs of 2008: Part 2 post in one day. In less than 24 hours actually. When I set out making my list, I figured this would happen. They have taken down four or five of my posts since October. That's why I broke it up into five parts, so I wouldn't lose massive 50 song post. There is not much I can say or do other than pack up and move to Wordpress like everyone else. Really I think Mr. Lawrence says it best in the video above, "Shit just got real."

Free Ticket Giveaway to NYE Blowout at 333 in London

Attention to all you visitors in the London area, 333 will be hosting London’s biggest NYE blowout in two weeks. The shindig will encompass all three floors, with over 15 acts performing, including Trevor Loveys, We Have Band, and Hijack. You wanna get into the fracas for free? All you have to do is email info@ditchitall.co.uk with the answer to the following question: What is the name of Trevor Loveys’ record label?

The winners will be announced next week. For those of you not lucky enough to win free tickets, you can purchase limited early bird tickets for £20 at Ticketweb or buy regular priced tickets for £25 at the following locations:

333, 333 Old Street, 020 7739 5949
Rough Trade, 91 Brick Lane, 020 7392 7790
Phonica, 51 Poland Street, 020 7025 6070

Check the flyer for the full details and enjoy a mix from Solo, one of the performing at the NYE Blowout, below.

Solo Pre-NYE Mix (direct download)

Kendall's Favorite 50 Songs of 2008: Part 1

SSDT: Come for the music, stay for the pictures of Samuel L. Jackson's floating head.

Two weeks ago, I wasn’t planning on making any end of the year lists. Why? Because I don’t listen to full albums often, I have the memory of a 72 year old stroke victim, and the whole process of choosing the better song out of two equally good songs and then choosing the BEST song out of a larger list of better songs is too daunting. Plus I’m lazy. But then my friends over at We Wore Masks asked me to put a little something together and of course I obliged. I’m too nice. So here it is, Kendall’s Favorite Songs of 2008 list.

In it, you will mostly find danceable indie pop, straight dance music and smatterings of raps songs thrown in to reaffirm my Blackness. What you won’t find are remixes. Rummaging through the thousands of remixes that came out in 2008 to determine which Cross The Dancefloor remix was “the best” would have been far too time consuming. I couldn’t do it, I would have drove myself crazy. So I made the stipulation that all the songs included in the list must be in their original form. So in the end, what I’ve compiled is by no means a strict comparison of “the best” songs of 2008, it’s simply my favorite songs released in 2008 (that I could remember). Hope you like it.

First up are my “Dance” picks. The picks are pretty straight forward except for Butter and Rombo by The Bloody Beetroots. I’m aware these songs were floating around in 2007 but those versions were early drafts, my picks are the final Rombo EP versions. Check back tomorrow for “Australia” which is now a music genre.

Dance

The Bloody Beetroots – Rombo [YSI]
The Bloody Beetroots – Butter [YSI]
Justice – Planisphere Parts 1 through 4
The Golden Filter – Solid Gold [YSI]
The Phantom’s Revenge – Moondancer [YSI]
Surkin – Chrome Knight ft. Dave 1 [YSI]
A-Trak – Say Whoa [YSI]
BURNS – Make Love [YSI]
Beni – My Love Sees You [YSI]

Australia

Miami Horror – Summerfest ’86
Miami Horror – Make You Mine
Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars
Ladyhawke – Dusk Til Dawn
Ladyhawke – My Delirium
Cut Copy – Hearts On Fire
Cut Copy – Far Away
Cut Copy – Out There On Thin Ice
Empire of the Sun – Walking On A Dream
Empire of the Sun – Standing On The Shore
Empire of the Sun – Swordfish Hotkiss Night
BMX – WAR

Hip Hop

Kid Sister – Get Fresh
T-Pain – Can’t Believe It ft. Lil’ Wayne
Lil’ Wayne – 3 Peat
The Count & Sinden – Hardcore Girls ft. Rye Rye
Wale – The Kramer
Young Jeezy – Put On ft. Kanye West
Kanye West – Street Lights
Dizzee Rascal – Dance Wiv Me ft. Calvin Harris
Herve & A-Trak – Roll With The Winners
Lil’ Wayne – Let The Beat Build
Kid Cudi – T.G.I.F. ft. Chip The Ripper

B-More

Debonair Samir – Freaky Girl

Indie Rock

Metronomy – Heartbreaker
Magistrates – Make This Work
Ghostland Observatory – Freeheart Lover
Boy Crisis – L’homme
Bloc Party – Mercury
Starfucker – German Love
Black Kids – Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)
Cansei De Ser Sexy – Move
The Ting Tings – Shut Up and Let Me Go
Tokyo Police Club – Tessellate

Indie Pop

Priors – What You Need
Lykke Li – Breaking It Up
Lykke Li – I’m Good I’m Gone
The Twelves – Works For Me
Little Boots – Meddle
NERD – You Know What
Sam Sparro – 21st Century Life

New Maroon 5 Remixes

I admit to being a closeted Maroon 5 fan. Well a closeted It Won’t Be Soon Before Long fan, I will admit Songs About Jane was a baseball-sized wad of bubble gum pop. But I find it hard to believe that one, without prior knowledge (and preconceived disgust) of Maroon 5, could not fall in love with the electro-funk-R&B amalgamation Mr. Levine and his band present on their sophomore album. The funk presented on Makes Me Wonder will not be denied. You will snap your fingers. You will sing. You will pop your neck side to side a la MJ during his Bad era. And don’t get me started on the exuberant synths and funky guitar riff of If I Never See Your Face Again. Actually you won’t have to get me started cause that’s all I got on that particular song. I am not an actual music critic.

But anyway, back to the subject at hand. You’re probably flipping through your calendar to check today’s date because you swear it is 2008 and not 2007 and since it is 2008 you’re probably wondering why the hell has this kid wasted 158 words on a year old album. Well, wiseacre, I’m trying to tell you about Call and Response: The Remix Album. Yeah, the one with blog favorites Cut Copy and Cool Kids on it. And the one with the cool video directed by Eric Wareheim of Tim & Eric fame. Yeah. Not so smug now smart aleck. You might call me crazy, but the Swizz Beatz remix in the video above is my favorite remix of the three.

Also, the Black guy in the thick framed glasses and large gold rope chain is your father.

Maroon 5 – Harder To Breathe Remix ft. The Cool Kids [YSI]
Maroon 5 – This Love (Cut Copy Galactic Beach House Mix) [YSI]

Cut Copy - Far Away (The Golden Filter Remix)

New discocentric Far Away remix from The Golden Filter.


Here Comes A New Challenger!


Oh shit! It’s a funk battle. Who is more disco?! The Golden Filter remix or the Hercules & Love Affair remix? I don’t know which song will win this disco remix battle but no matter which artist wins you know who really wins? That’s right Denzel Washington. Wait a minute, I mean, we all win.

Cut Copy – Far Away (The Golden Filter Remix) [YSI]
Cut Copy – Far Away (Hercules & Love Affair Remix) [YSI]

Timothy Leary via

New Meterhead EP

When I saw that Discobelle and IHEARTCOMIX received the new EP #4 from Meterhead yesterday I was downtrodden to say the least. I mean, I’ve been down with Meterhead from the get go, where was my EP I thought. Well, apparently their email was simply lost in the shuffle, I received the EP today. You know how this email thing works, sometimes the emailman loses a package or two, takes the wrong exit on the information superhighway, stops by a couple of porn sites. No biggie…..which is a brilliant segue to talk about my favorite track off of Meterhead’s new EP, Biggie Dance. On Biggie Dance, Meterhead remixes a hip hop classic with their signature banging electro style. Big bass, big synths, awesome breakdowns. The Hardcore Girls electric-disco remix is nothing you would expect (but still great), the Blue Monday cover is everything you would expect (but still great), and if Rick Astley’s soulful voice is anywhere in Rick Rollin, I got rick rolled.

Meterhead – Biggie Dance [direct download]
Meterhead – Blue Monday ft. Emma Lucia [direct download]
Meterhead – Rick Rollin’ [direct download]
The Count & Sinden – Hardcore Girls ft. Rye Rye (Meterhead Disco Remix) [direct download]

Download zip file containing all four tracks here.

The Bloody Beetroots - Cornelius (Video)

CORNELIUS from Theo Stefanini on Vimeo.

The video for the new Bloody Beetroots song Cornelius was everywhere today but I don't care, I'M POSTING IT ANYWAY! Cornelius comes out December 18th. And if I have to tell you who The Bloody Beetroots are, GET THE F OUT OF MY BLOG!!!!*

* Sorry for all the e-yelling. I was raging as I typed this post.

Tittsworth - WTF (Eli Escobar Remix)

With this flurry of post-semester posting going on here at SSDT, it looks like I’ve forgotten to post some hip hop influenced dance music. I was in my Australian/French electro comfort zone the past three posts until the new Eli Escobar WTF remix came and woke up my hip hop side (that and the new Clipse mixtape, pick it up here). Tittsworth’s WTF has seen its fair share of remixes since its release in October but Mr. Escobar’s remix is by far the funkiest.

Tittsworth – WTF ft. Kid Sister & Pase Rock (DJ Eli Escobar Remix) [YSI]

Miami Horror - Summerfest '86

The last time I posted a Miami Horror track, I threatened to sneak into your home and upload Make You Mine into your iPod while you slept. Well, I did that. Maybe you should think about locking your window at night buddy. After leaving your house, I downloaded the whole Bravado EP. Bravado is supremely good, especially the track Summerfest '86. The guitar riff used throughout Summerfest '86 lends a sense of edgy exuberance not found in the other four tracks. It adds a variety to the EP that throws listeners for a loop after they thought they had this Miami Horror guy figured out. If I had the patience to construct a "Top __ Songs of 2008" list, Summerfest '86 would easily make the top 15. Download it now before the Music Fairy* has to make another visit.

Miami Horror - Summerfest '86 [YSI]

* Unfortunate choice of words, I know.

Diamond Cut Remixes

With all the time I spend celebrating the works of various Australian producers, I sometimes overlook the gems coming from producers right here in the good ‘ol US of A. New York producer Diamond Cut was one of those overlooked American gems until two weeks ago. With the four remixes below, her* bass driven synth melodies have ignited my musical patriotism. What is even more refreshing is the artists Diamond Cut chooses to remix. I admit to never hearing any work from any of the artists below before being introduced to them via a Diamond Cut remix.

Hail Social – No Paradise (Diamond Cut Rebuff) [YSI]
Professor Groove & The Booty Affair – Lose Control (Diamond Cut ReLoss) [YSI]
Datostrom – All That I Ever Needed (Diamond Cut Remix) [YSI]
Heavy Rotation – Run For Your Life (Diamond Cut Instrumental) [YSI]

* If you go to Diamond Cut’s myspace you will find Brandy and Ray J, R&B artists and stars of 1990s sitcom Moesha, in her Top Friends. Because I can’t think of any reason for an electronic producer to have Brandy, let alone Ray J, in her Top Friends, I’m guessing Diamond Cut is Moesha costar, Countess Vaughn. Think about it.

Chic and the Tramp - AnoraK+

Chic and the Tramp are two young DJ/producers coming from the Swiss alternative scene. They are back with a brand new song based on their love for guitar riffs and old rock songs!

Chic and the Tramp - AnoraK+ [YSI]

Live set mix:

Chic and the Tramp - Pogo Set 2008 (tracklist)