Sunday 30 November 2008

Chinese Democracy

A week today, Guns 'n' Roses (or its remnants) released their long awaited album, Chinese Democracy. "Long awaited" doesn't really do the actual time-scale justice, for GNR's sixth studio album was fourteen years in the making running up a bill of thirteen million big ones!


I love Guns 'n' Roses. You can blame my brothers, 11 years my senior, for that. The fact is, I'm far from being the only one. Remember the band's massively popular Greatest Hits?

No album is worth waiting fourteen years for. That said, I'm shocked at how good Chinese Democracy sounds. I'm not saying it's the best album of the year, but really, I was expecting some overblown, self-indulgent tut, produced to within an inch of its life. I'd be lying if I said it didn't feature any of those things, but come on, this is Axl Rose.

Much of the album picks up were the dramitics of November Rain left off but interestingly begins with three tracks that wouldn't sound out of place on a Korn record. Shackler's Revenge is an album highlight. If The World should really have been this years Bond theme tune. Better than that White/Keys nonsense.

Axl's voice is still in tact. Somewhere in between a strangled cat and an aggressive feminist. Conversations I've had over the years has made me realise that to some, it really grates. Though, perhaps because of the memories of my youth, it makes my spine tingle.

If you think I'm going to post a track off the album, you've got another thing coming. Chinese Democracy contributed to the downfall of Geffen, and I can only imagine the legal team is like nothing I've ever seen. You'll have to make do with this cover, but fans of GNR should really download the album.

MP3: Mylo- Sweet Child o' Mine (Guns n' Roses Cover) DOWNLOAD

Tuesday 25 November 2008

No. 22

"The only difference between a flower and a weed is...judgement" Anonymous

MP3: Bag Raiders - Turbo Love (Tough Love Edition) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Vince P - Phanton III DOWNLOAD
MP3: Tough Alliance - Neo Violence (Shazam Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Mr Oizo - Gay Dentists (JFK Edit) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Like Woah! - Discomboulator DOWNLOAD

Thursday 20 November 2008

A-ux

New Yorker, A-ux, makes old school tinged dance music. I'm not talking about that drug fuelled rave crap. No, this is the kind of dance music you can unwind to and gently bop your hat holder. Kind of ambient. Kind of euphoric, and crammed with some gorgeous metallic synth work. He has an album out, y'know. It's available at itunes.

MP3: A-ux - Journey To New Hope DOWNLOAD

MP3: A-ux - Neon Generation DOWNLOAD

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Heads We Dance

Yorkshire's Heads We Dance are set to release their much hyped 12" (and digital download) on 24Th of this month, via Gold City Records. The lead track, The Human Touch, described as "a crunchin' five minute space-disco synth workout", received a 5/5 rating in I-DJ, and was made Song of the Day by Popjustice. The flip side, You Are Never Alone With Model 21, sees the band do a great impression of a slightly sinister Pet Shop Boys. Now, I know that maybe doesn't sound like a compliment, but you should come see my collection of PSB vinyl.

MP3: Heads We Dance - You Are Never Alone With Model 21 DOWNLOAD


MP3: Heads We Dance - My Heart Is Set On You (Geek Chic's Cardio Workout) DOWNLOAD

Tuesday 18 November 2008

New Metric Track

Prior to the release of Metric's as yet unnamed forth studio album (due early 2009, fingers crossed), the band distributed a track entitled Help, I'm Alive, to Canadian radio. The song is thought to be the albums leading single. My initial reaction was one of indifference. It was only after I watched the video posted on the bands website, in which vocalist/songwriter Emily Haines describes the difficult process of putting together new material, that I came to appreciate the vocal anguish of the record. I usually find this kind of thing pretty pretentious, but I guess I can forgive a bit of pomp for such a great band.
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MP3: Metric - Help, I'm Alive DOWNLOAD
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Monday 17 November 2008

Sleepyhead Remix

Passion Pit man, Ayad, was kind enough to send over his Bo Flex label's remix of Sleepyhead for posting. It's beefed up a bit and contains some lovely spacey keyboard stabs and melodic bass action, of which members of Giantess had a hand in writing. Weirdly, at the time I received this track from Ayad, I got an email from Brighton based band, The Mummers, containing their own interpretation (or reanimation) of the song. God moves in mysterious ways, blah, blah.

MP3: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Bo Flex Remix Feat. Giantess) DOWNLOAD

MP3: The Mummers vs. Passion Pit
- Sleepyhead (Reanimation) DOWNLOAD

Sunday 16 November 2008

Giantess

Introducing Giantess; your new favourite Boston based electronic-pop group. They interest me for two reasons: one, they're produced by Passion Pit man, Ayad Al-Adhamy on his very own Bo Flex Music Label; and two, they combine uplifting Bag Raider-esque power synths with kitsch 80's overtones (not to disimilar to Chromeo) and a vocal display of emotive American attitude. A lot of current music seems to be heading more and more in this direction, wouldn't you say? A fact I'm rather happy about.


MP3: Giantess - Tuff n' Stuff DOWNLOAD

No. 21

"If you want your dreams to come true, don't over sleep." Yiddish Proverb

MP3: Dan Black - Hyptz DOWNLOAD
MP3: Cut Copy - Far Away (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: MGMT - Electric Feel (Dskotek Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Around The Bend DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Whip -Fire (Geometri Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Joy Formidable - Cradle (Kyte Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: FM Belfast - Lotus (Rage Against The Machine Cover) DOWNLOAD

Monday 10 November 2008

The Dark Romantics

The picture suggests sunshine drenched indie pop. The reality is not so sun kissed, for The Dark Romantics make music that wouldn't sound out of place on a early to mid eighties noir-rock compilation. The girl, boy, girl, boy, girl band are signed to U.S. label Lujo, and are due to play the Anti-Pop Music Fest in Florida, on 14th of this month. If you like what you hear, go buy the full album over at itunes.

MP3: The Dark Romantics - Another Song For Another Night DOWNLOAD

MP3: The Dark Romantics - Let's Ride

Friendly Fires - I'm Good, I'm Gone

Woah! Friendly Fires have turned Lykke Li's piano fuelled hit, I'm Good, I'm Gone, into an über smooth hand-bag house track. This is pure Genius.

MP3: Friendly Fires - I'm Good, I'm Gone (Lykke Li Cover) DOWNLOAD

Thursday 6 November 2008

Billion Dollar DJs

As promised, UK DJ set Billion Dollar DJs sent over the finished version of their track How I Laid My Minions (The Secret Of My Excess). They bundled it with their edits of Robot Rock and Song 2 (highly recommended) both of which you'll be familiar with if you've caught them live recently. The Song 2 edit is superb.

MP3: Billion Dollare DJs - How I Laid My Minions (The Secret Of My Excess) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Daft Punk - Robot Rock (Billion Dollar DJs Edit) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Blur - Song 2 (Billion Dollar DJs Re-edit) DOWNLOAD

Monday 3 November 2008

No. 20

"Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others." Jacob M. Braude

MP3: Fortune - Bully DOWNLOAD
MP3: Robyn - Cobrastyle (The Bloody Beatroots Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Golden Bug - LookLookLook (In Flagranti Remix) DOWLOAD
MP3: Au Revoir Simone - Sad Song (Pacific! Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Mighty Underdogs - Want You Back DOWNLOAD
MP3: Menehan Street Band - Make The Road By Walking DOWNLOAD
MP3: Bonde Do Role - Geremia (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix)
DOWNLOAD

Bonus:

MP3: Treasure Fingers - Cros The Dancefloor (Alex Metric Remix) DOWNLOAD