Review: Best Singles Of 2007, Part 2 (Nos. 1-10)

Part two of my countdown of the best singles released in 2007. Some truly great tracks were released in the past year, which of course aren't all covered by my somewhat arbitrary lists. Feel free to dispute inclusions and suggest additions. The rule of no repeat artists means that noteworthy additional singles are listed under the same position.

1. Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse, "Valerie" [zShare] (from the album Version)
Also on the list: Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather, "Stop Me" [zShare]
This year's dream collaboration of singer Amy Winehouse and producer Mark Ronson hit their peak with the stunning "Valerie," a lively, life-affirming cover version of a recent Zutons hit. If this one doesn't make you smile and/or jump up and dance around, check your pulse immediately! Similarly, "Stop Me" proves covers can have just as much passion in them as the originals with its strong backing and excellent vocals.
2. Roisin Murphy, "Let Me Know" (Radio Edit) [zShare] (full version on the album Overpowered)
Also on the list: Roisin Murphy, "Overpowered" (Radio Edit) [zShare]
Róisín Murphy made the best decision of her life by signing with major label EMI for her second album Overpowered. With a bigger budget and promotional push, she was given the proper arsenal to craft "Let Me Know" and "Overpowered," two of the best dance singles of the past few years. "Overpowered" is the perfect love-lorn anthem, with a bassline you won't soon forget. "Let Me Know" is a infectious, shimmering slice of disco with enough bruised optimism to get you through the worst of times. A minor warning: once you start dancing to Róisín Murphy, you may not be able to stop.
3. Nelly Furtado, "Say It Right" [zShare] (from the album Loose)
Released as the third or fourth single (depending on country) from her album Loose, "Say It Right" is one of the catchiest tracks either Nelly or collaborator Timbaland have ever come up with, and you won't be sick of it six months later like some of their other recent hits ("Promiscuous" anyone?).
4. Gwen Stefani featuring Akon, "The Sweet Escape" [zShare] (from the album The Sweet Escape)
Seemingly out of nowhere, Gwen Stefani teamed with Akon to produce "The Sweet Escape," which is without a doubt her best single to date. A bright pop track infused with just the right amount of modern R&B, it's a struggle not to sing along and love it every time it gets played.
5. Robyn with Kleerup, "With Every Heartbeat" (Radio Edit) [zShare] (full version on the album Robyn)
The most unexpected comeback of the year has to be 90s popstar Robyn, who emerged from her self-imposed independent label obscurity with this show-stopping dance track. Back in the day, she followed all the current pop trends, but now it seems she has leapfrogged past all competitors to fashion a record that is ahead of the game in every way.
6. Amy Winehouse, "Back To Black" [zShare] (from the album Back To Black)
Also on the list: Amy Winehouse, "You Know I'm No Good" [zShare]; Amy Winehouse, "Rehab" [zShare]
2007 was Amy Winehouse's best and worst year, depending on your spin. While her personal life seemed to finally catch up with her emotional and often tragic lyrics, her records were all over the place. "Rehab," her first major hit, along with even better follow-up "You Know I'm No Good" established her as a voice and musical personality to be reckoned with for years to come. However, it was her album's title track "Back To Black" that really set Amy on a pedestal for me. With its messages of deep longing and hopeless, bitter pain, its effect on the listener is unmatched by anything else released this year.
7. Rihanna featuring Jay-Z, "Umbrella" [zShare] (from the album Good Girl Gone Bad)
Despite being passed up by numerous bigger stars than Rihanna, "Umbrella" ended up becoming the biggest hit of the year across the globe, and for good reason. Big synths and a truly irresistible chorus add up to establish this as one of the year's best singles.
8. Sugababes, "About You Now" (Radio Edit) [zShare] (full version on the album Change)
The Sugababes returned this year with the more stripped-back, entirely electro "About You Now," which unexpectedly became their biggest hit yet. After just one listen, you'll likely have the chorus stuck in your head for quite a while (I still do!).
9. Robbie Williams with Pet Shop Boys, "She's Madonna" [zShare] (from the album Rudebox)
No matter what the critics may have said, I really enjoyed Robbie Williams' much-maligned Rudebox album, mostly due to the presence of excellent pop songs like "She's Madonna." Robbie reunited with the Pet Shop Boys for it and ended up producing a single that outshines anything either of them has released in ages.

10. Groove Armada featuring Mutya Buena, "Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)" [zShare] (from the album Soundboy Rock)

Ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena one-upped her former group by working with dance maestros Groove Armada on this ace pop anthem. The booming bassline and roaring synths, along with the combined talents of its creators, make this one of summer 2007's defining songs.

Check out the top 10 club tracks list for some more tunes to count down to 2008 with.

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Review: Best Singles Of 2007, Part 1 (Nos. 11-20)

Part one of my countdown of the best singles released in 2007 features nos. 11 through 20 on the list. The top 10 singles are coming soon, so stay tuned!

11. Manic Street Preachers, "Autumnsong" [zShare] (from the album Send Away The Tigers)
12. Leona Lewis, "Bleeding Love" [zShare] (from the album Spirit)
13. Beyonce, "Irreplaceable" [zShare] (from the album B'Day)
14. Justin Timberlake, "LoveStoned/I Think She Knows" [zShare] (from the album FutureSex/LoveSounds)
15. Peter Bjorn and John featuring Victoria Bergsman, "Young Folks" [zShare] (from the album Writer's Block)

16. Britney Spears, "Gimme More" [zShare] (from the album Blackout)
17. Christina Aguilera, "Candyman" [zShare] (from the album Back To Basics)
18. Kylie Minogue, "2 Hearts" [zShare] (from the album X)19. Sophie Ellis-Bextor, "Catch You" [zShare] (from the album Trip The Light Fantastic)20. Pink, "U + Ur Hand" [zShare] (from the album I'm Not Dead)

Honorable Mention:

Justice, "D.A.N.C.E." [zShare] (from the album †)

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Review: Best Albums Of 2007

1. Róisín Murphy, Overpowered
After just two months of listening, this album from former Moloko singer Róisín Murphy is already among my favorite pop albums of all time. Composed of equal portions ace pop songs, killer club tracks and emotional midtempo jams, Overpowered is a bona-fide masterpiece extremely worthy of the heaps of critical acclaim it has attained. Featured track (and forthcoming third single) "You Know Me Better" is hands down my favorite track released this past year.
Featured: Roisin Murphy, "You Know Me Better" [zShare]

2. Amy Winehouse, Back To Black
Until Róisín Murphy came along, this was the uncontested favorite to be named my top album of 2007. Amy's powerful voice, with wisdom and depth well beyond her years, combined with Mark Ronson's slick, soulful production skills, make for a compelling record from start to finish. Regardless of your musical tastes, Back To Black is guaranteed to move you. It will be a crime if this doesn't win Album of the Year at next year's Grammy Awards.
Featured: Amy Winehouse, "Me & Mr Jones" [zShare]

3. Kylie Minogue, X
Her first new material since being diagnosed with (and beating) breast cancer, X is a triumphant return to the disco for Kylie Minogue. Full of catchy melodies and big synth-laden pop choruses, the album is a run-through of everything Kylie does best updated for 2007. It's far from a personal look at her recent troubles, but with music this addictive and carefree, that's hardly a worthwhile complaint.
Featured: Kylie Minogue, "In My Arms" [zShare]

4. Groove Armada, Soundboy Rock
Masters of both the dancefloor and the lounge, Groove Armada are in top form on Soundboy Rock. Without departing much from their greatest skills, the duo have come up with some of their best songs yet, from the bumping "Get Down" and "Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)" to the soaring downtempo number "Paris".
Featured track: Groove Armada, "The Things That We Could Share" [zShare]

5. Mark Ronson, Version
The production mastermind behind recent hits by Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen hits gold with an album of cover versions of modern British pop classics. Featuring a wide range of collaborators and backed by the Dap-Kings, it's a vibrant collection that stands its own ground as a solid work.
Featured track: Mark Ronson featuring Lily Allen, "Oh My God" [zShare]

6. Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Trip The Light Fantastic
Sophie's third album is a smart, sophisticated set of pop songs with minimal filler. With disco, electronica and even rock influences thrown in, it manages to be a cohesive and extremely catchy set with many standouts.
Featured track: Sophie Ellis-Bextor, "If I Can't Dance" [zShare]

7. Björk, Volta
As one of my favorite artists, I have very high expectations for Bjork. While Volta didn't necessarily fulfill all of its pre-release hype as a "return to pop" (mostly due to Timbaland's involvement), it did contain some potentially classic Bjork songs. And though it might be hard for most to see Bjork in concert, it's really essential to see Volta performed live to truly appreciate it. Otherwise, it remains an interesting but somewhat bloodless album worth exploring only for more adventurous listeners.
Featured track: Bjork, "Wanderlust" [zShare]

8. Manic Street Preachers, Send Away The Tigers
Although perhaps past their prime, Manic Street Preachers had a great return-to-form with this year's Send Away The Tigers. They've succeeded in reigniting the passion that was missing from some of their more recent work, and this latest album contains a handful of their best tracks, including an excellent collaboration with Nina Persson of The Cardigans on first single "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough."
Featured track: Manic Street Preachers, "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough" [zShare]

9. Charlotte Gainsbourg, 5:55
Seemingly out of nowhere, and twenty years after her last musical output, Serge Gainsbourg's daughter Charlotte released her new album 5:55 to much fanfare this year. Produced by Air with lyrics by Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, Charlotte rises to the occasion and creates a surreal, uplifting album full of sentiment and nuance.
Featured track: Charlotte Gainsbourg, "The Songs That We Sing" [zShare]

10. Feist, The Reminder
A haunting collection full of heartache and cracked optimism, The Reminder will stay lodged in your mind long after your first listen.
Featured track: Feist, "Brandy Alexander" [zShare]

Still to come: The best singles of 2007, honorable mentions, favorite compilations, biggest disappointments and more. Check back in a few for more of the best of 2007!

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Dear Ibiza: Best Of 2007

As 2007 draws to a close, I give you my first "best of 2007" list. Here are my ten picks for the best club tracks of 2007, in order below. All of these selections would be perfect for ringing in 2008 in style. The rule with this and my other upcoming "best of" lists is that artists can't be repeated on the same list, so any deserving tracks are listed alongside the top pick by that artist. Let me know if I've ignored any of your favorites and hopefully I can feature them sometime soon.

1. David Guetta featuring Chris Willis, "Love Is Gone"(Fred Rister & Joachim Garraud Radio Edit Remix) [zShare] (original version on the album PopLife)
Possibly David Guetta's finest release yet, the bumping bassline on this will immediately fill any dancefloor.
2. Alex Gaudino featuring Crystal Waters, "Destination Calabria" (Radio Edit) [zShare]
An irresistible horn sample from the original "Calabria" plus some extremely catchy vocals makes for a real winner.
3. Groove Armada featuring Stush, "Get Down" (Radio Edit) [zShare] (full version on the album Soundboy Rock)
Bringing grime onto the mainstream dance scene, Groove Armada have crafted an infectiously modern dance track.
4. Beyonce & Shakira, "Beautiful Liar" (Freemasons Remix Edit) [zShare] (original version on the album B'Day Deluxe Edition)
Also on the list: Beyonce, "Green Light" (Freemasons Radio Edit) [zShare] (original version on the album B'Day)
Beyonce's chance pairing with the Freemasons has led to some of the best club tracks of the past year and a half, with each of her recent singles getting remixed with electrifying results.
5. Calvin Harris, "The Girls" (Radio Edit) [zShare] (full version on the album I Created Disco)
Offensive yet undeniably good, "The Girls" hits all the right 80s-nostalgia buttons.
6. Simian Mobile Disco, "Hustler" [zShare] (from the album Attack Decay Sustain Release)
The year's dirrtiest dance groove by far, this track belongs on any sexy playlist.
7. Eric Prydz Vs. Floyd, "Proper Education" (Radio Edit) [zShare]
Eric Prydz reimagines Pink Floyd for the clubbing masses to great effect.
8. September, "Cry For You" (Radio Mix) [zShare]
Simple and fun, "Cry For You" won't win any awards in the near future, but should have you dancing along happily.
9. The Chemical Brothers featuring Ali Love, "Do It Again" [zShare] (from the album We Are The Night)
An unexpected new direction for the Chemical Brothers, who somehow manage to make a minimal electronic track memorable.
10. Gwen Stefani, "4 In The Morning" (Thin White Duke Remix) [zShare] (original version on the album The Sweet Escape)
The best thing to come from Jacques Lu Cont since working with Madonna is this propulsive remake of Gwen Stefani's otherwise unremarkable single "4 In The Morning," which nearly matches his excellent remix of her debut release "What You Waiting For?".

Honorable Mentions:
Air, "Mer Du Japon" (Remix by Kris Menace) [zShare] (original version on the album Pocket Symphony)
Felix Da Housecat, "Like Something 4 Porno" (Radio Edit) [zShare] (from the album Virgo Blaktro and the Movie Disco)

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Mixed & Mashed 06: Mashin' It Up

Mash-ups are an essential part of any good DJ set (and perfect for spicing up any holiday party playlist). Once in a while, a really remarkable mash-up comes along that perfectly mixes the best elements of completely disparate songs, creating a hybrid that adds new layers to both. Here are a few of my personal favorite mash-ups. Kylie's best-known hit "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" seems destined to play over New Order's genre-defining "Blue Monday" in this excellent official version. Mylo's "Drop The Pressure" became a top 5 hit in the UK thanks to this great blending with a Gloria Estefan oldie, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a Daft Punk mash-up that didn't work. Know of any other great ones?

Kylie Minogue Vs. New Order, "Can't Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head" (from the album Fever Special Edition) [zShare]
Mylo Vs. Miami Sound Machine, "Doctor Pressure" (Dirty Radio Edit) (from the re-issue of the album Destroy Rock & Roll) [zShare]
Britney Spears Vs. Daft Punk, "Daft Slave" [zShare]

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Classics 10: Pop For The Holidays

Thanks for being awesome and visiting my blog this past year. I hope you've enjoyed it so far and continue to check it out in the coming months for some great new music. Here are some tracks to get you through tonight and tomorrow's Christmas festivities on a good note (and with some always-necessary oversinging courtesy of Christina Aguilera). Happy holidays everyone!

Mariah Carey, "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (from the album Merry Christmas) [zShare]
Wham!, "Last Christmas" [zShare]
Christina Aguilera, "Christmas Time" (from the album My Kind Of Christmas) [zShare]

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Covered Up 04: Santa Baby

"Santa Baby" is a well-known Christmas standard, originally performed by Eartha Kitt to much acclaim in 1953. Madonna's 1987 cover version has become quite popular as well, and over in the UK Kylie Minogue's nearly-identical 2000 take has also gained some attention. The two covers are included below for your judgment. Who does "Santa Baby" the best?

Madonna, "Santa Baby" [zShare]
Kylie Minogue, "Santa Baby" [zShare]

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Mixed & Mashed 05: Britney & Bimbo

Dance group Bimbo Jones have recently become known for their club-ready remixes of hot pop songs. Their remixes of some of P!nk's recent singles have given her unexpected success in the clubs, and are nearly as recognizable as the original versions. They've also done a great remix of Britney Spears' latest single "Piece Of Me," which is currently doing the rounds on radio and in clubs with a January 2008 release date set. Check out that mix below along with some of Bimbo Jones' other well-known remixes.

Britney Spears, "Piece Of Me" (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit) [zShare]
Pink, "U + Ur Hand" (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit) [zShare]
Mika, "Grace Kelly" (Bimbo Jones Club Mix) [zShare]

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Dear Ibiza 06: Hot Chip

Hot Chip are quickly becoming one the most well-known names in both the indie and dance music scenes. With their third album, Made In The Dark, being released in early February, its prime time to check out some of their impressive back catalog. Signed to influential DFA Records, their first record Coming On Strong didn't make too many waves when it was released overseas in 2004, but their follow-up, 2006's The Warning, earned them widespread critical acclaim and a sea of new admirers. The singles "Over And Over" and "And I Was A Boy From School" became underground classics, and remixes of their work popped up on countless hip compilations. Their new album is preceded by the extremely catchy "Ready For The Floor," which lives up to its name by making any listener want to dance. In fact, it was nearly given to Kylie Minogue to record for her comeback album X, but due to scheduling conflicts (and Hot Chip's last minute selfishness with the track) a collaboration never materialized. With a quirky video and a nice line-up of remixes, it will hopefully propel them to the heights of fame they deserve. Enjoy!

"Ready For The Floor" (from the forthcoming album Made In The Dark)


Downloads:
Hot Chip, "Ready For The Floor" (from the forthcoming album Made In The Dark) [zShare]
Hot Chip, "And I Was A Boy From School" (from the album The Warning) [zShare]
Hot Chip, "My Piano" (from the mix album DJ-KiCKS: Hot Chip) [zShare]

Their DJ mix album for the excellent DJ-KiCKS series is also highly recommended, featuring some classic tracks in a well-ordered and uniquely mixed set, alongside exclusive Hot Chip track "My Piano." Check it out!

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Hits 08: Piece Of Britney

Trainwreck of the year Britney Spears can't seem to get a break these days. Whether its her outfit choices or her complete lack of judgment in every aspect of her life, the tabloids jump on all of her mistakes with enthusiasm. Her last single, "Gimme More," went down well with fans, but its promotion was entirely screwed up. A disastrous VMA performance and an even more lackluster music video couldn't slow Britney down, though, and she's back with the equally catchy "Piece Of Me." The "personal" lyrics (predictably, she had no contribution to its writing or production) address her status as queen of the tabloids over twitchy beats by production team Bloodshy & Avant (of "Toxic" fame). Even the video is something of an improvement, though it's no "I'm A Slave 4 U." As a bonus, here's an old Britney track dedicated to her trainwreck-on-the-rise younger sister Jamie Lynn.

"Piece Of Me" (from the album Blackout)


Download: "Piece Of Me" (from the album Blackout) [zShare]

Bonus: "...Baby One More Time" (from the album ...Baby One More Time) [zShare]

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Classics 09/Mixed 04: Love At First Sight

While studying for my recent exams, I caught up on one of my old biology lectures. In this particular lecture, the professor discounted the idea of "love at first sight," bringing up the possibility of pheromones (fragrant particles used by animals to attract mates) controlling this alleged phenomenon. Apparently, it could all just be down to a person smelling someone with different genes than theirs and falling in love based solely on that! Ever the hopeless optimist, I took offense at that proposition. According to Kylie Minogue (and Sex And The City and so on) there is such a thing as genuine love at first sight. To refute my evolution professor, here is the ultimate optimistic Kylie hit from way back in 2002, "Love At First Sight." It's backed here by some of its ace remixes, from the likes of Ruff & Jam, The Scumfrog and the team of David Guetta & Joachim Garraud with a nice French filtered disco treatment. Maybe if we stick to her upbeat attitude, it won't be so impossible to find.

The main version:
"Love At First Sight" (from the album Fever and compilation Ultimate Kylie) [zShare]

The remixes:
"Love At First Sight" (Ruff & Jam US Radio Mix) (from the album Fever Special Edition) [zShare]
"Love At First Sight" (Ruff & Jam Lounge Mix) (from the DVD single) [zShare]
"Love At First Sight" (The Scumfrog's Beauty and The Beast Vocal Edit) (from the single and Fever Special Edition) [zShare]
"Love At First Sight" (David Guetta & Joachim Garraud Dancefloor Killa Mix) (from the French release of the single) [zShare]

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Review: Nelly Furtado Live

I just picked up Nelly Furtado's new live DVD, Loose: The Concert, along with some other concert DVDs (Beyoncé and Amy Winehouse, which I haven't watched yet). The show was filmed on her international "Get Loose" tour, in support of her critically-acclaimed hit album Loose. I was pleasantly surprised by the show for a number of reasons, and reminded of why I love Nelly Furtado in the first place. The song selection, pacing and overall staging were all spot-on. Starting out with "Say It Right," Nelly got the show off to an upbeat start, singing old favorite "Turn Off The Light" and Loose single "Do It" before segueing into the show's next segment, a nearly-acoustic set. With her dancers performing a well-choreographed ballet-based routine, she started off the slower section of the show with "Showtime," also from Loose. On the album, it didn't stand out as one of my favorites, but on stage she turned it into a heartfelt piano ballad that completely redefined the song. Other highlights of the middle segment were her cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" and acoustic renditions of "Try" and "All Good Things (Come To An End)." Her stage presence for the most part held up well throughout the slower tracks, and her audience interaction was great, especially with the crowd singalongs during "Crazy." It did seem a bit long here though, so splitting up the section into two separate acts throughout the show might have been a wise move. After an outfit swap, she returned to the stage to perform her hit Timbaland collaboration "Give It To Me" before jumping into the highly-charged final portion of the show. Including spirited renditions of "Forca" and "Promiscuous," the highlight of the very fun last section was definitely Loose track "Glow," which included an unexpected interpolation of the Blondie classic "Heart Of Glass." Saving the best for last, the encore finished with perhaps her signature track, "Maneater," and definitely got me out of my seat to dance around the room. Her stage persona and the choreography worked well alongside great material to make for an excellent concert overall. With a few more albums of material and some more touring experience, I can definitely see her earning a respectable reputation as a live performer. I'm already looking forward to her next tour so this time I can have a chance to see her! Check out a video from the show and some downloads from the accompanying live album.

"Showtime" (from the DVD Loose: The Concert)

Live Audio (from the live album Loose: The Concert):
"Do It" [zShare]
"Glow / Heart Of Glass" [zShare]

Listen to her cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" in my old post Covered Up 02: Crazy Nelly. If you liked these selections, definitely check out the live DVD or the live CD.

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Classics 08: Can't Mistake My Biology

It's finals week at UC Berkeley, which means lots of studying and not a whole lot of time for blogging. To tide you over for the weekend, here are some highly topical songs about science and math. I know, it sounds lame to be making a post related to my tests, but once you hear the tracks, it won't matter. First up is endlessly fun UK girl group Girls Aloud, with possibly their best single ever. "Biology" is far from typical British dance-pop, and showcases why they've managed to beat the Spice Girls' record of most consecutive top 10 hits for a female group in the UK (seventeen and counting!). Next up is a predictable choice for school-related
thoughts--Coldplay's "The Scientist." Here I've featured an amazing live acoustic version recorded on KCRW radio. The lyrics give me hope that after all my chemistry and biology classes are done, I might just be a bit less clueless about life! Last, but far from least, is a track by Nina Persson of The Cardigans taken from her debut album, recorded under the moniker A Camp. "Algebra" is a beautiful, simple ballad that highlights her memorable voice. So, students and (lucky) actual adults, don't let the rough times get you down and enjoy the music instead!

Girls Aloud, "Biology" (from the album Chemistry and the compilation The Sound Of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits) [zShare]
Coldplay, "The Scientist" (Live Acoustic on KCRW) (original version on the album A Rush Of Blood To The Head) [zShare]
A Camp, "Algebra" (from the album A Camp) [zShare]

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Hits 07: Love Is (Really) A Losing Game

Amy Winehouse just released "Love Is A Losing Game" in the UK, making it the fifth single from her ridiculously good and mega-selling album Back To Black. While not one of the more immediate tracks on the album, it does stand out as a memorable, heart-wrenching ballad. Perhaps it was too subdued for the masses, though, as it only managed to reach a measly no. 46 on the charts. It remains eclipsed by her collaboration with Mark Ronson, "Valerie," which is (rightfully) still in the top 20 after twelve weeks. Nevertheless, it is a track that should not go unnoticed, so here is the unremarkable video alongside an amazing acoustic version of the single (thanks to Said the Gramophone for this one).

"Love Is A Losing Game" (from the album Back To Black)


Download: Amy Winehouse, "Love Is A Losing Game" (Acoustic) [zShare]

Bonus: Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse, "Valerie" (from the album Version) [zShare]

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Open Your Box 07: Live

Today I thought I'd feature some of the best live recordings from a handful of acts I've had the good fortune to see live in concert. Björk, one of my favorite artists and possibly my favorite live performer, always puts on an amazing show. I've somehow been able to see her twice, the first time during her "greatest hits" tour at the Hollywood Bowl, and again this past May at the start of her lengthy Volta tour. She's well-known for reinventing her songs live, and her extensive Live Box (featuring a live companion to each of her first four albums) is an extremely rewarding listen. I saw Coldplay during my senior year of high school, and needless to say it was pretty awesome. This live take of "Yellow" is a stirring acoustic rendition recorded during a session for the legendary Santa Monica radio station KCRW. More recently, I went to see electronic pioneers Goldfrapp at the more intimate Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. While not completely re-imagining their work like Björk might, they put on a powerful performance, and their ridiculously-costumed dancers (wolf masks and string bikinis during "Train," pictured above) topped off a wonderful night. My advice would be to see every live show you can possibly afford and attend. You won't regret it!

Bjork, "All Neon Like" (Live in Spain, August 9, 1998) (from the album Homogenic Live, also part of the Live Box) [zShare]
Coldplay, "Yellow" (Live on KCRW) (from the Clocks EP) [zShare]
Goldfrapp, "Deer Stop" (Live at Somerset House)
(from the single Twist) [zShare]

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