Showing posts sorted by relevance for query groove armada. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query groove armada. Sort by date Show all posts

Friday, September 19, 2008

Mixtape 12/Pedestal 09: Groove Armada In Retrospect

Another treat for the weekend! While I was in Europe a while back, I picked up two really cool album sets. They were budget re-releases in eco-friendly mini-sleeves that bundled together two of an artist's back catalog classics. I got a Suede one (with their first two albums, to be featured in a future post) and a Groove Armada one including their first two major label records, Vertigo and Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub). I was going to do a quick review of each, but then realized that I haven't posted most of my favorite Groove Armada songs yet and decided instead to do a full mixtape (hooray!). Their first major release (and second overall), Vertigo set the tone for electronic artists in 1999. Taking trip-hop to its logical conclusion and reinventing lounge house, smooth tracks like "Chicago" were interspersed with uptempo bangers "If Everybody Looked The Same" and "I See You Baby" that would set alight the charts alongside Basement Jaxx, Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers and their fellow house music contemporaries at the turn of the century. Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) cemented their reputation as beat mavericks with the deep house thump of first single "Superstylin'," while expanding their sound with genre hybrids like "Suntoucher" and string-laden "Edge Hill." While tripping a bit with the poorly-received Love Box, they regained form on last year's great Soundboy Rock (featured in my favorite albums of 2007 list). In an effort to not repeat tracks, and to make this a worthwhile compilation for fans big and small, I left out some favorites like "At The River" and a couple of their biggest singles in favor of rarer cuts and album finds, including a handful of hard-to-find mixes from their excellent double-disc retrospective Ten Year Story: From The Vaults 1997-2007. Also making the cut are mixes of their recent smashes "Get Down" and "Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)," as well as two mixes by the duo of blog favorites Róisín Murphy and Madonna. Enjoy the Groove!

Groove Armada In Retrospect:
1. Groove Armada, "Suntoucher" [YSI]
2. Groove Armada, "Whatever, Whenever" [YSI]
3. Groove Armada, "Superstylin'" [YSI]
4. Groove Armada, "I See You Baby" (Fatboy Slim Radio Edit) [YSI]
5. Róisín Murphy, "Let Me Know" (Andy Cato Vedra Mix) [YSI]
6. Groove Armada, "If Everybody Looked The Same" [YSI]
7. Groove Armada Feat. Stush, "Get Down" (Calvin Harris Remix) [YSI]
8. Madonna, "Music" (Groove Armada 12" Mix) [YSI]
9. Groove Armada, "Lightsonic" (Re-rub) [YSI]
10. Groove Armada, "Chicago" [YSI]
11. Groove Armada, "Edge Hill" [YSI]
12. Groove Armada, "Easy" (Deep Shelf Remix) [YSI]
13. Groove Armada Feat. Mutya Buena, "Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)" (A1 People Panic Remix) [YSI]
14. Groove Armada, "Fogma" [YSI]
15. Groove Armada, "Save My Soul" (Live Acid Remix) [YSI]
16. Groove Armada, "Paris" [YSI]

Tracks 2, 6, 10 from Vertigo
Tracks 1, 3, 11, 14 from Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)
Track 16 from Soundboy Rock
Tracks 9, 12, 15 from Ten Year Story: From The Vaults 1997-2007
Tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 13 from various single releases
Tracks 3, 4, 6, 10 also available on The Best Of
Tracks 3, 10, 11, 16 also included on Ten Year Story: From The Vaults 1997-2007

Link: Find more GA in old posts.

***Note: Links removed***

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Friday, December 28, 2007

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!

***Note: Links removed***

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

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)

***Note: Links removed***

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Monday, September 15, 2008

Dear Ibiza 22: House Pjanoo

Though far from being new (it's been available on promo 12" releases for the past year), Eric Prydz's "Pjanoo" just infiltrated the upper reaches of the charts overseas. Like countless classic dance songs before it, it's based on a simple looped house piano riff, building with the kind of huge bassline that only Eric Prydz can properly achieve. Two Prydz remixes complement his extended original "Pjanoo," a driving remix of Duran Duran's "(Reach Up For The) Sunrise" and a juicy, synth-laden rework of Pet Shop Boys' delicate "Miracles." Five classic house piano tracks bring up the rear, starting with one of the most easily identifiable piano riffs in club music on a cover of "Strings Of Life" by Soul Central. Groove Armada recall the glory days of house and disco on the soaring "Easy," a deep house workout that remains one of their finest moments. New Order were entirely capable of incorporating Ibiza trends into their music, as on 1990s singles like "World (Price Of Love)" and their Technique album. Basement Jaxx popped up at the end of last decade and changed house music with their big sound, but never abandoned their roots as on the huge Latin house stormer "Bingo Bango." Jamiroquai and David Morales made a good pairing in the middle of the 90s, turning out ace remixes like those of "Space Cowboy" and "Cosmic Girl" (featured here). For more classic house tunes, check out other Dear Ibiza posts and the Back To Love special features (parts 1 and 2) also.

Eric Prydz Selections:

Eric Prydz, "Pjanoo" (Original Mix) [YSI]
Duran Duran, "(Reach Up For The) Sunrise" (Eric Prydz Mix) [YSI]
Pet Shop Boys, "Miracles" (Eric Prydz mix) [YSI]

Classic House Piano Cuts:
Soul Central Feat. Kathy Brown, "Strings Of Life (Stronger On My Own)" (Full Length Vocal) [YSI] (from the Hed Kandi compilation Disco Heaven 01.05)
Groove Armada, "Easy" [YSI] (from The Best Of)
New Order, "World (Price Of Love)" (Radio Edit) [YSI] (from Singles)
Basement Jaxx, "Bingo Bango" [YSI] (from Remedy)
Jamiroquai, "Cosmic Girl" (David Morales Classic Mix) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

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Friday, February 8, 2008

Serve Chilled 07: Soundtracking

Sometimes, when my imagination has nothing better to consider, I envision that my life has an ongoing soundtrack playing in the background. Walking through campus is a lot less monotonous when your thoughts come complete with a well-selected accompaniment! Here are a few chilled out tracks that could easily fit into the soundtrack of anyone's life. Perhaps because it was used so well in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited, "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" by Peter Sarstedt could easily play during a particularly contemplative moment. Moloko's "Absent Minded Friends" seems made to complement a classy party with shady undertones. Coldplay's little-heard b-side "Crests Of Waves" would perfectly fit a moment of triumph or a relaxing drive. "Electrical Storm" by U2 would be great towards the ending of a film in a climactic moment, followed by Groove Armada's sweeping "At The River" playing over the credits. If only actual music directors had such good taste!

Peter Sarstedt, "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" [YSI] (from the soundtrack album The Darjeeling Limited)
Moloko, "Absent Minded Friends" [YSI] (from the album Things To Make And Do)
Coldplay, "Crests Of Waves" [YSI] (from the Clocks single)
U2, "Electrical Storm" (William Orbit Mix) [YSI] (from the compilation The Best Of 1990-2000)
Groove Armada, "At The River" [YSI] (from the compilation The Best Of)

***Note: Links removed***

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Monday, December 31, 2007

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.

***Note: Links removed***

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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Covered Up 03: Radio 1 Turns 40

Capitalizing on the concept behind the Live Lounge radio show (and highly successful compilation series), Radio 1 decided to celebrate its fortieth anniversary by gathering up a roster of today's most popular artists and allowing them to each choose one song to cover from the station's past. The catch is that each artist is assigned a specific year in Radio 1's history, and gets to pick a top 20 hit from that year to cover, making for a very interesting collection of renditions. Here are a few of the cover versions from that set worthy of note.


Kylie Minogue, "Love Is The Drug" (originally performed by Roxy Music, 1975)
Groove Armada, "Crazy For You" (originally performed by Madonna, 1991)
Mark Ronson, "You're All I Need To Get By" (originally performed by Method Man & Mary J. Blige, 1994)

Grab the full Radio 1: Established 1967 album here.

***Note: Links removed***
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Pedestal 01: Róisín Murphy

Way back in 1995, the unlikely pairing of musician Mark Brydon and clubgoer/vocalist Róisín Murphy released their first album as Moloko, with the cheeky title of Do You Like My Tight Sweater?. Full of quirky sounds and eccentric beats, it didn't find much of an audience, and they remained strictly a niche act with sophomore effort I Am Not A Doctor. They skyrocketed to fame with the Boris Dlugosch remix of their single "Sing It Back," which quickly became a monster hit across Europe in the summer of 1999. It ended up being featured on over 100 compilations, and is still remembered as one of the biggest crossover dance hits of recent years (see also Dear Ibiza 01). Moloko followed this up the next summer with "The Time Is Now," reaching no. 2 on the UK singles chart. This was a taste from their third album Things To Make And Do, which subsequently hit no. 3 on the albums listing. Their fourth album Statues followed in 2003, coming after the breakup of Brydon and Murphy's romantic relationship. It contained some of their best work yet, including European hit singles "Familiar Feeling" and "Forever More." They parted ways after the lengthy tour in support of the album. Their greatest hits are chronicled by the recent collection Catalogue.

After years without any new material, it was announced that Róisín Murphy was set to release a solo album, her first work away from Moloko aside from a few side collaborations. Her first album, Ruby Blue, was a collaboration with electronic artist Matthew Herbert. It was released in 2005 after first coming out as a series three limited edition 12" EPs (called the Sequins series). Though immediately gaining widespread critical acclaim, its left-field sensibilities kept it from reaching much of an audience and she found herslef back on the fringes of pop music. Then, just this year, she signed a new record deal with EMI, leaving behind her lifetime independent label home of Echo Records. Her debut release with the label was the "taster" EP Overpowered in July. This month, she released her first chart-eligible single, the excellent "Let Me Know." It debuted inside the UK top 40 ahead of her sophomore solo album Overpowered, which came in a respectable at no. 20 on this week's charts. With production help from dance giants like Groove Armada, Bugz in the Attic, Richard X and Paul Dolby, the album is one of the best pop records released in ages, and a definite contender for my personal album of the year. This is a record that must be heard by any fan of pop or dance music, or just anyone curious for some truly great songs. I've included a link to listen to the whole album (I love her too much to give away her music - but I've included a link for legal downloads). For good measure, I've thrown in some classic Moloko tracks and a few solo tracks for your listening pleasure.
Listen to the album Overpowered by Róisín Murphy!
(Choice selections: "You Know Me Better," "Movie Star," "Cry Baby," "Let Me Know")
Purchase tracks from the album from 7digital!
Order the physical album from Amazon!
Visit her lovely YouTube channel!

Check up on some vintage Moloko:
"Day For Night" (from Do You Like My Tight Sweater? and Catalogue)
"Sing It Back" (Boris Musical Mix Edit) (from Things To Make And Do and Catalogue)
"Pure Pleasure Seeker" (from Things To Make And Do and Catalogue)
"Familiar Feeling" (Timo Maas Main Mix) (from the Familiar Feeling single)
"Forever More" (from Statues and Catalogue)

Róisín Murphy solo recordings:
"If We're In Love" (from Ruby Blue)
"Ramalama (Bang Bang)" (from Ruby Blue)
"Off & On" (outtake from Overpowered, produced by Calvin Harris)

***Note: Links removed***

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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Attention: 2007 Music Blog Zeitgeist

At the end of the year, the music blog aggregator Hype Machine (of which this site is a member) rounded up the best of lists of a number of its contributing bloggers. As I had put together a series of "Best of 2007" lists (see them all here), I submitted my rankings of top singles and albums. Hype Machine's top tracks list is based on the hottest tracks on that site for each month, so my list didn't end up counting, but my album rankings did contribute to the overall list for the 2007 Music Blog Zeitgeist. Here are how the albums I picked fared in the comprehensive survey (follow the links to see how other blogs ranked them):

Best Albums of 2007:
1. Róisín Murphy, Overpowered: #169
2. Amy Winehouse, Back To Black: #23
3. Kylie Minogue, X: #152
4. Groove Armada, Soundboy Rock: #232
5. Mark Ronson, Version: #109
6. Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Trip The Light Fantastic: n/a
7. Björk, Volta: #65
8. Manic Street Preachers, Send Away The Tigers: #214
9. Charlotte Gainsbourg, 5:55: #216
10. Feist, The Reminder: #8
Honorable Mentions:
The Chemical Brothers, We Are The Night: #172
Girls Aloud, Tangled Up: #179
Stéphane Pompougnac, Hello Mademoiselle: n/a
Disappointments:
The Smashing Pumpkins, Zeitgeist: #103
Calvin Harris, I Created Disco: #190
Air, Pocket Symphony: #239

Overall, it's pretty obvious that most of what I listen to isn't what's typically considered "cool" or in any way "indie" blog fare (some of those rankings are based solely on my vote!). Clearly, that doesn't matter much, though, or you wouldn't be reading this! Cheers and bring on 2008's new music!

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Hits 26/Mixed & Mashed 20: More Big Hits & Big Beats

And here comes another (likely brief) flood! Since it's been a while, I've got a pretty enormous round-up of new tracks and remixes to post. Instead of spreading it out, I thought I'd just get it all out at once! It's a mix of recent classics, fresh remixes and stuff I've just randomly discovered. There's a lot to get through, so I won't give a full rundown of all the tracks like usual. The standouts of the mixes are the new Basement Jaxx remix of Adele and Bimbo Jones' rework of Alphabeat's latest, along with LA Riots' club remix of Hot Chip. Madonna sees a handful of great remix action in the awesome "rebirth" mix of "4 Minutes," an extremely catchy mash-up of "Music" with Fedde Le Grand's "Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit" and another new bootleg "4 Minutes" mash-up with Fatboy Slim's "Praise You."

Mixes:
Adele, "Cold Shoulder" (Basement Jaxx Classic Remix Edit) [YSI]
Alphabeat, "10000 Nights" (Bimbo Jones Remix) [YSI]
Fergie, "Fergalicious" (MSTRKRFT Remix) [YSI]
Groove Armada, "Love Sweet Sound" (Mark Knight & Funkagenda's R.H.B. Mix) [YSI]
Hot Chip, "Ready For The Floor" (LA Riots vs. Villains Remix) [YSI]
Kylie Minogue, "In My Arms" (Death Metal Disco Scene Mix) [YSI]
Lykke Li, "I'm Good, I'm Gone" (Fred Falke Vocal Mix) [YSI]
Madonna, "4 Minutes" (Rebirth Remix) [YSI]
MGMT, "Time To Pretend" (Tronik Youth Shr-Edit Remix) [YSI]
Moby, "Disco Lies" (Spencer And Hill Remix) [YSI]
N.E.R.D., "Rockstar" (Jason Nevins Club Edit) [YSI]
Robyn, "Who's That Girl?" (Seamus Haji Radio Edit) [YSI]

Mash-ups:
Madonna, "Music" (Fedde Le Grand Mix) [YSI]
Madonna Vs. Fatboy Slim, "Praise 4 Minutes" (XAM Remix) [YSI]
Marvin Gaye, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (Freemasons Mix) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

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