THIS IS LIL WHY

Add N To (X)- Revenge of the Black Regent This equation adds up...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:01:00 -0800

Add N To (X)- Revenge of the Black Regent

This equation adds up to an oddity. For sporting a totally modern sound, can you believe this track came out in 1999? Add N To (X) sounds like a pre-millenial musical Delphi predicting the current house mania and general interest in darker, more atonal sounds. These crazy Brits completed the strangeness that is Avant Hard entirely on analogue synthesizers. The album truly lives up to its name, bizarre at times, apocalyptically sexy, and, of course, HARD.

But this track definitely puts the FUN into Functionals- f(x) = coolness.

Whitney Houston- Whitney Houston Megamix (Jody Den Broeder...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:25:11 -0800

Whitney Houston- Whitney Houston Megamix (Jody Den Broeder Mix)

Well, Whitney could do anything with her voice. So, she could definitely put the H-O-U-S into “house” music, but without the E - cocaine instead? We’re going to hell. Enjoy this compilation of her classics.

Even amongst the most prominent divas Whitney is the only Queen of the Night.

The Kills- Pale Blue Eyes (The Velvet Underground Cover) What a...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:34:03 -0800

The Kills- Pale Blue Eyes (The Velvet Underground Cover)

What a lovely cover. The Kills definitely re-interpret this classic, but they maintain some sort of hybrid 1950s guitar meets modern rock. Brilliant way to rock up Lou Reed’s mellow brilliance. If for some reason this is the first time you’ve heard this track, do go seek out the original as its a modern classic.

“Linger on…”

Nicolas Jaar- Space Is The Only Noise You Can See When the...

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:18:34 -0800

Nicolas Jaar- Space Is The Only Noise You Can See

When the world or your psyche feel ajar, check out the one and only Nicolas. His music is so incredibly strange like a Brian Eno “fun house” run by Jamie xx and Nick Cage complete with eerie sounds, odd noises, and not to mention ambient trance. Don’t let the slow intro turn you off. Do give this track your full attention. Especially since this title suggests some sort of theory of relativity about sound and sight- we’ll let you sort out that correlation…Space Is Only Noise is fully worth an exploration. It’s seems you don’t listen to the album per se, you almost experience it.

Jaar may take you through time and Space..

Verdi- Dies Irae The amount of epiphanies we’ve had to...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:53:15 -0800

Verdi- Dies Irae

The amount of epiphanies we’ve had to this Requiem…there’s not much out there that can musically convey such anger, such resentment, such explosive emotion- in this case the kind that surrounds the death of the composer’s good friend. It’s an impressively abrasive piece for a funeral mass and one that continues to express our inner Fury. Truly, at our most inflamed, no piece comes closer to expressing the battling raging in our head. Now, we’ll need to translate the Latin to see how off we are on this track…

On that note Happy Saturday!

Cher Lloyd- Swagger Jagger We need to create a word for that...

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:53:42 -0800

Cher Lloyd- Swagger Jagger

We need to create a word for that moment when you realize you’ve unknowingly begun to hum along/ boogie to a former X Factor contestant. Maybe this occurrence appears more pronounced in foreigners. Seriously though, why isn’t this an American hit? Decent voice, funky vid (tres Kreayshawn, honestly), a new word/dance craze presented in the track title, and an electro/pop fusion totally compatible with the American pop charts.

One more reason to turn your swag on!

Ani Di Franco- Untouchable Face The greatest Fuck You -and...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:31:05 -0800

Ani Di Franco- Untouchable Face

The greatest Fuck You -and your untouchable face- song? Ani weaponizes her words here allowing the music to remain mellow for an impressively calm invective. The quiet tone to the music might make the lyrics even more effective.

“Fuck you for existing in the first place.”

Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dog- Young, Wild And Free Feat. Bruno...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:55:20 -0800

Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dog- Young, Wild And Free Feat. Bruno Mars

Taking a cue from Chiddy Bang- and remembering that hip hop “it’s fuckin’ fun” (via Z-trip)- this track is as playful, charming, and simple as its lyrical themes. The basic piano melody almost recalls the brilliant simplicity of Kanye’s “Runaway,” reminding us all that the most complex sounds don’t necessarily produce the most memorable or effective music; moreover, the lyrics suggest such a universal time in any listener’s life. Perhaps high school, maybe uni, even your twenties, it’s not difficult to reminisce and apply such a sweet choon to some point in your own life.

Play time!

Alanis Morissette- You Ought To Know Can’t escape the...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:16:34 -0800

Alanis Morissette- You Ought To Know

Can’t escape the Fury that is Alanis (on this track). We’re not huge fans of the Canadian, but no one more effectively conveys the tragic anger inherent in the scorned/abandoned/cheated on/heart broken/ broken up with woman. It’s impressive that this translates to any dissolved relationship because ultimately, someone will always be hurt. The person in question, needs this track on repeat.

“It was a slap in the face/ how quickly I was replaced/ and are you thinking of me when you fuck her?”

The Weeknd- Montreal What an amazingly haunting track....

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:42:20 -0800

The Weeknd- Montreal

What an amazingly haunting track. It’s sounds like two songs and who doesn’t want to hear the side of the player? Somewhere between “creepy” hip-hop and R&B lies The Weeknd or the mastermind behind it, Abel Tesfaye. If R&B has future it’s right here. Maybe with Frank Ocean not far behind. We prefer this darker side to the recently ~~lame~~ uninspired genre. This third online release of the genius doesn’t disappoint, may even be his most personal. He’s delved deeper than his exploration of love and drugs in House Of Balloons and come back with more of a Thursday piece filled with confidence instead of insecurity. Also loving oh so Carly Simon- kind of turned on its head- reference in this track…

“Happiness exists when you don’t know a thing, so I hope you don’t think this song is about you…”

The Sex Pistols- God Save The Queen It may be angst-y of us,...

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:04:00 -0800

The Sex Pistols- God Save The Queen

It may be angst-y of us, but we’re totally in love with the Sex Pistols. And while we explore our brethren country, why not rock out to its critical anthem?! We can’t help but remember how relevant this song remains:

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/02/its-the-queens-60th-anniversary-why-is-britain-still-a-monarchy/252608/

“England’s dreaming.”

Grouplove- Tongue Tied Can’t help but root for this...

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:00:17 -0800

Grouplove- Tongue Tied

Can’t help but root for this Group. From the interviews we’ve read, they seem like genuine artists who only want to express themselves and connect to others through music. Their music conveys an idealized adolescence, an experience that these free spirited kidz probably happily endured. If an alien were to understand teenagedom through this music, if would seem lovely, free from acne, and unable to convey awkwardness.

Love this group. Period.

Vamos A Los Levels- The Friendly Giant Mashup (Avicii versus...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:47:47 -0800

Vamos A Los Levels- The Friendly Giant Mashup (Avicii versus Loona )

How fun is this one? Nothing like un peceño Español in a track to get your fist pumping. If you’re not a fortunate Los Angelino then use this track to imagine a Summer-y beach with loads of people rocking out. The lyrics paints a pretty clear picture…Is it embarrassing we try to tango a bit to this one?

Vamos Chicos!

Scissor Sisters- Shady Love Feat. Azealia Banks This track...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:15 -0800

Scissor Sisters- Shady Love Feat. Azealia Banks

This track takes some time to warm up, but once it does get ready to boogie. Scissor Sisters know how to make a song a you’ll wanna dance to. Furthermore, a general rule of thumb: if you see Azealia’s name on anything, bank on it being awesome!

Shades of cool fosho!

The Knocks- Midnight City Feat Mandy Lee (M83 Cover) Hearing...

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:11:00 -0800

The Knocks- Midnight City Feat Mandy Lee (M83 Cover)

Hearing Midnight City for the first time. last year was like taking a shot of bliss. Up and coming DJ duo, The Knocks, take a decent whack at it taking the happiness of the track and making it more suitable for a clubby atmosphere. That is a significant duty of the DJ, no? Mandy Lee’s contribution evokes the vocals of Avril Lavigne, except we don’t find her very presence totally irritating.

May not be a knock out, but they’ve definitely won the round.

Re:Enactment- Higher Duties Gotta love...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:00:27 -0800

Re:Enactment- Higher Duties

Gotta love the humor that goes into a production team that names itself “Paper Street Records.” Frankly we love their music too! Some fabulous new electro-punk for your Winter Blues. Make sure your Higher Duties include marijuana over religiosity:

“The triumph of being alive.” -Ingmar Bergman

Foxes- Youth This will curb our insatiable obsession with The...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:31:27 -0800

Foxes- Youth

This will curb our insatiable obsession with The Naked And The Famous- for a while, at least. Thematically, the groups are so similar crooning frenetically about disillusioned adolescence…who has ever written a song about that? Not breaking any new ground here, but we’re content to see what this British duo have in store.

Not a fountain of youth, but maybe a spout?

Notorious B.I.G & Frank Sinatra- Juicy New York, New York ...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:38:00 -0800

Notorious B.I.G & Frank Sinatra- Juicy New York, New York

No one says it better or more concisely than Neo, “Whoa.” What a game, what a sequel, what a “tush” down (via Billy Crystal)! Let’s give it up for another fabulous Super Bowl and promise to never eat chicken wings for another 364 days.

After the rematch of all rematches, let us bask in the glory of this Giant performance.

Dr. Dre- Still California (Wick It Remix Moombathon) Recall the...

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:36:00 -0800

Dr. Dre- Still California (Wick It Remix Moombathon)

Recall the undeniably intoxicating harp-ish opening beats to “Still Dre?” How could you forget? This remix breaks it down in an almost tango-like manner as if the DJ intended to make the song sound more appropriately Californian with a mix of house and Latino inspired fusion. Perhaps overwhelming at times- especially for the audacious re-touching of such a hip-hop classic- but definitely a fun one to get your hips boogying!

Don’t you wish they all could be California girls?

Bob Dylan- Masters Of War If there was ever a better written...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:45:00 -0800

Bob Dylan- Masters Of War

If there was ever a better written vituperative track, please do let us know because we haven’t heard anything to match the invective evidenced here. Moreover, this song hasn’t aged whatsoever. The litmus test of a classic? Students have still been questioned for playing this one at schools, if Greenday covered this (oy don’t get any ideas) their fans would believe this was written recently, although protest songs were much more fun during the ~~Bush~~ Rove/Cheney administration.

“Is your money that good? / Could it buy you forgiveness? / Do you think that it could? / I think you will find / when your death takes its toll / all the money you made / will never buy back your soul.”