Shameless 02: Pet Shop Boys

For more than two decades now, the Pet Shop Boys have been at the forefront of pop music, putting out slick, sophisticated albums full of classic pop singles. In America, they fell out of the limelight long ago, disappearing into obscurity along with a handful of other acts that gained popularity in the 80s. Their early hits, including the unforgettable "West End girls", "It's a sin," and "What have I done to deserve this?", were years ahead of their time when they topped the charts in the late 1980s, but somehow didn't translate to long-term US popularity. Outside these shores, though, they've remained vital to modern pop music for much longer, and their output continues to satisfy countless fans, if no longer the public at large. From their camp cover of "Go West" to later albums like Release and Fundamental, they've maintained their status as cutting-edge pop artists. As a purely pop act, with a taste for the flamboyant at times, they've become something of a hidden pleasure for many Americans. I first got into them about four years ago, and have since been hooked on their particular brand of clever dance music. Check out some of the tracks below and you'll see why I still can't get enough of them. (A witty bit of trivia: They named their first album Please so that customers at record stores could ask the clerk, "Can I have the Pet Shop Boys album, please?")

"Suburbia" (video mix) (from the album Please)
"What have I done to deserve this?" (with Dusty Springfield) (from the album Actually)
"Left to my own devices" (7" mix) (from the album Introspective)
"Go West" (from the album Very)
"I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing" (Beatmasters 7" version) (original version on the album Very)
"Minimal" (from the album Fundamental; watch the video below)


If you enjoy these selections, definitely get a copy of their double-disc greatest hits compilation PopArt: The Hits. It's truly an essential addition to any collection.

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Open Your Box 05: International Passport

Here's something very different from usual posts - a handful of songs in languages other than English. I hesitate to call them "world music" as that's really a poorly-named genre that covers so many different types of music, but the songs do all come from completely different parts of the world. Enjoy! (And if you only listen to one of these, skip down to the third track. You won't regret it!)

1. Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin, "69 Année érotique" (from the compilation Initials SG)
This song is a perfect example of why singer Serge Gainsbourg is known worldwide as the "dirty old man" of French pop (albeit a much-loved and respected one). Picking up where the controversial hit "Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus" ("I Love You...Me Neither") left off, Serge and wife Jane Birkin engage in some more catchy sexual banter. After all, it is called "69 Erotic Avenue"!
2. Seu Jorge, "Tive Razão (I Was Right)" (from the album Cru)
I discovered Seu Jorge (like most did) as the crew member singing David Bowie songs in Portuguese in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. His second album Cru is worth checking out for those who liked his smooth Brazilian-flavored take on Bowie's classics.
3. Samira Saeid, "Aal Eah" (from the Putumayo Records compilation North African Groove)
An extremely addictive song in Arabic, I found this on a great collection of North African music put out on the highly-acclaimed and successful Putumayo World Music label. For those unfamiliar to world music (such as myself), their albums are perfect introductions to the sounds of pretty much everywhere, and most record stores have an entire section devoted to their albums. Check them out here (the albums French Café and Paris are strongly recommended if you like French music).

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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.

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Classics 05: R&B Rewind

As promised, here are some essential R&B tunes perfect for any classy party (or perhaps a more intimate gathering?).

1. Kelis featuring Andre 3000, "Millionaire" (from the album Tasty)
A huge hit in England, though for whatever reason unreleased in the US, it features a lively rap from the great Andre 3000 of Outkast and an awesome backing track.
2. Janet Jackson, "That's The Way Love Goes" (from the album janet.)
This classic Janet track basically sets the bar for sexy R&B jams, though I was much too young to realize that when it came out way back in 1993. Luckily, it's never too late to appreciate a well-crafted song.
3. Destiny's Child featuring Missy Elliott, "Bootylicious" (Rockwilder Remix) (from the compilation This Is The Remix)
The sultry R&B remix of my favorite Destiny's Child hit slows down the classic and includes a guest verse by Missy Elliott. Bonus points go to the girls for completely re-recording and re-inventing the track, and even filming a new video to accompany (watch it here; catch the original video here).

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Oops!

Turns out my vehement hatred of Virgin Megastore was entirely premature, as today they had three different editions of the new Kylie Minogue album in stock (just one day after release). Oops! To balance yesterday's bitter mood and soundtrack, look for some upcoming posts with more upbeat party tracks (hopefully as early as tonight).
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Classics 04: Bitter, Table For One

To my great displeasure, the incompetent bitches at Virgin Megastore failed to have Kylie Minogue's new album X in stores today (which is its release date overseas). While it is a bit much to expect it to be on shelves so immediately, their excuse of backed-up holiday shipping was more than a little unsatisfactory and pretty typical of yet another chain store caring less and less about their music products. As a result, my planned listening of upbeat pop numbers has been replaced with a handful of bitter songs of disappointment and frustration. On the plus side, melodrama does make for some great music (including one of my favorite songs ever, "Don't Speak"), and will make the long-awaited new record much sweeter by comparison. Feel free to add suggestions to the few I've picked out.

Garbage, "Only Happy When It Rains" (from the album Garbage)
No Doubt, "Don't Speak" (from the album Tragic Kingdom)
R.E.M., "Bad Day" (from the compilation In Time: The Best Of 1988-2003)
Amy Winehouse, "Love Is A Losing Game" (from the album Back To Black)

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Hits 04: Let's Dance

Craig David, "Hot Stuff (Let's Dance)"

While British singer Craig David is certainly no David Bowie, his new single "Hot Stuff (Let's Dance)" uses a pretty slick sample/rework of Bowie's seminal 80s classic "Let's Dance." It has its own merits as a fun, retro R&B number that doesn't destroy the original track, but you might end up going back to Bowie's hit after a few listens.

Craig David, "Hot Stuff (Let's Dance)" (from the album Trust Me)

Take That, "Shine"

Although it isn't exactly a new song, I just recently discovered Take That's great single "Shine." It hit number 1 in the UK way back at the beginning of the year while the reformed boy band were riding high on the success of their reunion. I never got swept up in the hype as I was never familiar with band in the first place (I always preferred ex-bandmate Robbie Williams), but I'm glad I finally got around to listening to this great pop number. The video's a lot of fun too.

Take That, "Shine" (from the album Beautiful World)

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Open The Box 04: Kookiest Videos

I'm a sucker for really out-there music videos. I don't mean just provocative either (although those are great too). I mean really weird, innovative, head-scratcher music videos. Björk's video output has satisfied these cravings many times over, as have numerous others, so check out a few below:

Björk, "All Is Full Of Love" (directed by Chris Cunningham, from the album Homogenic)

This is possibly my favorite music video of all time. It's a pretty simple love story, except with lesbian robots as the tormented couple. "All Is Full Of Love" is a result of two visionaries working together to great effect. Her collaborations with famed directors Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze and numerous others have been similarly fruitful.

see also: "Hunter", "I Miss You", "It's Oh So Quiet", "Cocoon", etc.

Garbage, "Push It" (directed by Andrea Giacobbe, from the album Version 2.0)

What a video! Also one of my hands-down favorites, this is one of the absolute strangest and darkest videos I've ever seen. Nuns with guns are only the beginning of the disturbing imagery making up Garbage's best clip, and it's very clear why it was nominated for eight MTV Video Music Awards back in 1998. If only this kind of artistry went into videos a little more often!

Goldfrapp, "Number 1" (directed by Dawn Shadforth, from the album Supernature)

One of Goldfrapp's finest tracks gets an eerie treatment by one of my favorite directors, the great Dawn Shadforth (best known for Kylie Minogue's seductive "Can't Get You Out Of My Head"). The lyric "I'm like a dog to get you" is the basis for the video, and sees both Goldfrapp and Shadforth stepping outside their normal comfort zones, with wonderful results.
see also: "Ride A White Horse"

Moloko, "Indigo" (unknown director, from the album Things To Make And Do)

The track itself is one of the weirdest singles to ever be called "pop music," and the video perpetuates and even raises the quirky factor. I never tire of watching Róisín Murphy dance, and the added effects of the glowing cross-shaped runway and chanting socialites are highly memorable.
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Holiday!

The Thanksgiving holiday is already upon us (at least in America), so make sure to overeat and relax for at least a day or two wherever you are. For the occasion, here's a hilarious fake trailer from the double-feature Grindhouse. Its for the imaginary movie Thanksgiving, which, if it existed, would be probably the bloodiest, most disturbing holiday movie yet. Be careful, if you don't like gory movies, you'll probably end up screaming at the trampoline section. After that, rock out to the classic holiday party track.

"Thanksgiving" - fake trailer from Grindhouse


Madonna, "Holiday" (unreleased 1983 video, from the album Madonna)

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Dear Ibiza 05: Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris burst onto the mainstream dance scene earlier this year, but already has become one of the hottest names in electronica. His breakthrough hit "Acceptable In The 80s" made big retro synthesizers and old-school electro viable on the charts again when it hit the UK top 10. Its follow-up, "The Girls", was an even bigger smash, and set up his first record I Created Disco for a respectable debut within the UK top 10 albums back in May. His unique throwback sound has made him an in-demand producer as well. He recently worked with Róisín Murphy (on an outtake from her album Overpowered), and two of his collaborations with Kylie Minogue feature on her upcoming album ("In My Arms" and "Heart Beat Rock"; listen here). Have a listen and you'll see why he's caught on so instantly. As a bonus, check out a bootleg mash-up of "Acceptable In The 80s" with the Destiny's Child favorite "Nasty Girl".

Calvin Harris, "Acceptable In The 80s" (Radio Edit) (full version on the album I Created Disco)
Calvin Harris, "The Girls" (from the album I Created Disco) *posted by special request
Róisín Murphy, "Off & On" (unreleased, produced by Calvin Harris)

Bonus:
Calvin Harris Vs. Destiny's Child, "Nasty Girls Are Accepted" (bootleg mash-up version)

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Mixed & Mashed 02: The Megamix

Often released to coincide with greatest hits collections or similar landmarks in an artist's career, megamixes are fun ways to quickly catch a handful of an artist's best moments. Their quality can vary, from completely juvenile takes sounding like back-to-back iTunes samples to expertly done mixes that segue well between tracks and keep up a consistent rhythmic thread throughout. Some of my favorites are below, with some notes about their origins to give some background.

Spice Girls Megamix - Just recently released to promote their upcoming Greatest Hits collection and reunion tour; an excellent medley that features some innovative layering of elements from different tracks

Jamiroquai Megamix - A megamix released around the time of their album High Times: The Singles 1992-2006 featuring club remixes of their best tracks, including many that were released as part of a new remix 12" series; the full mixes are definitely worth checking out also

Girls Aloud Megamix - Released last year alongside their hits set The Sound of Girls Aloud; a well-mixed selection with some great moments

Britney Spears Megamix - Released on the bonus disc for her compilation Greatest Hits: My Prerogative; not my favorite megamix, but a good summary of some Britney faves for those who need reminding of her (past) talents

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Preview: Kylie Minogue, 'X'

Listen to 30-second snippets of Kylie Minogue's tenth album X, released next Monday, November 26 (but only on import). US fans will have to wait until February for the record to drop, but until then check out some classic Kylie to whet your appetite. Eager listeners can grab downloads via the 7digital store starting next week (highly recommended: "Like A Drug", "In My Arms", "The One" and "Wow").

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Pedestal 03: Mark Ronson

The latest in a new wave of production geniuses starting an all-out assault on modern music is popular DJ Mark Ronson. Over the past few years, his production work for Lily Allen, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera and, most notably, Amy Winehouse, has earned him widespread attention and acclaim. Tending to favor horn-heavy compositions, and with a knack for the slick electronic production values that only come from DJ experience, his signature sound has infiltrated all the best airwaves. His excellent second album Version was released earlier this year, and is made up of cover versions of iconic British songs from the recent past, with vocals provided by many of his recent muses. Check below for a selection of his own songs and some of his best production work and a recent remix of Bob Dylan (the Amy Winehouse collaborations are crucial!).

Mark Ronson feat. Daniel Merriweather, "Stop Me" (cover of The Smiths) (from the album Version)
Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse, "Valerie" (cover of The Zutons) (from the album Version)
Amy Winehouse, "Back To Black" (produced by Mark Ronson) (from the album Back To Black)
Robbie Williams, "Bongo Bong / Je Ne T'Aime Plus" (produced by Mark Ronson) (from the album Rudebox)
Bob Dylan, "Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)" (Mark Ronson's Re-Version) (digital bonus track from the compilation DYLAN)

Get his excellent new album Version here, and Amy Winehouse's album Back To Black here (featuring mostly Ronson's production). They're among my favorite albums released in 2007.

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Dear Ibiza 04: Ooh La La

This entry in the Dear Ibiza series is an extension of the last entry on weekend jams. These songs, though, are best suited for more sultry moods. More than just party anthems, they're prime tracks for those particularly sexy nights out. Think of it as a stylish soundtrack for your hedonism!

Goldfrapp, "Ooh La La" (from the album Supernature)
Nelly Furtado, "Maneater" (from the album Loose)
Tiga, "You Gonna Want Me" (extended vocal) (original version on the album Sexor)

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Mixed & Mashed 01: Kris Menace

Remix culture has grown and evolved greatly since altered versions of songs began appearing on the flipside of vinyls in the '60s and '70s. With the rise of disco, the concept of the extended version became popular to make tracks suitable for club play, and eventually artists started toying with the arrangements and structures of their revised songs rather than just elongating them. Aided by the rise of hip-hop, artists and producers began remixing the works of other artists, and the remix has grown in popularity and relevance ever since. Today, many singles are remixed numerous times to appeal to different audiences, including all shades of dance remixes for club play in differing environments, hip-hop and r&b mixes to vary genre accessibility, and countless more innovative mixes that completely reinvent songs to the whim of the remix's producer.

I've recently been listening to a lot of mixes by dance artist/producer Kris Menace, which generally transform the songs in question into upbeat, quirky dance numbers on par with or surpassing the work of some of my other favorite mixers (Jacques Lu Cont and Alan Braxe immediately come to mind). You may not know the original tracks, but these mixes definitely stand their ground regardless. Be warned, they are all extremely catchy!

Air, "Mer Du Japon" (Kris Menace Remix)
Róisín Murphy, "Overpowered" (Kris Menace Remix)
Robbie Williams with Pet Shop Boys, "She's Madonna" (Kris Menace Vocal Re-Interpretation)
Dirty South & Evermore, "It's Too Late" (Kris Menace Remix)

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Open Your Box 03: The Darjeeling Limited

I finally went to see Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited last week. After looking forward to the film for months, I at last gave up hope of seeing it with friends (who all slowly saw it on their own) and just went. While it didn't match my favorite movie of his (The Royal Tenenbaums), I really enjoyed it and his trademark intricate style was thankfully not absent, nor did every element get overblown as in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. One of the reasons he is among my favorite directors is the care he takes in selecting the music for his films, something he has in common with my other favorite Quentin Tarantino. The original soundtracks for his past few films have been truly remarkable. He tends to favor classic British pop alongside original or more traditional classical pieces. His last two films each also had a unique twist to their musical backing. The Life Aquatic featured Seu Jorge reinterpreting several David Bowie songs in Portuguese with thrilling results. Likewise, The Darjeeling Limited also features countless snippets of music taken from Indian film scores to complement the film's setting. While some selections are more exciting than others, they blend well with several songs by The Kinks and others to make another eclectic, satisfying soundtrack that greatly enhances the film experience. (I excluded the best Kinks song from the soundtrack here, "This Time Tomorrow," since I didn't think it stood out very much in the movie and was more typical of Wes Anderson's soundtrack picks. Sorry if you missed it!)

Peter Sarstedt, "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" - the song Jason Schwartzman's character plays repeatedly anytime his various lovers make an appearance
Alexis Weissenberg, "Suite Bergamasque 3. 'Claire De Lune'" - a beautiful (and well-known) classical piece that fits the film's underlying tone of sadness perfectly
Shankar/Jaikishan, "Typewriter Tip, Tip, Tip from Merchant Ivory's film Bombay Talkie (sung by Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle)" - my favorite Indian music selection from the film (though I can't remember where it showed up, it's a cool Bollywood piece regardless)

Check out the full soundtrack if you liked the film. I'd recommend the soundtracks for The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and The Royal Tenenbaums more strongly, though, especially if you aren't as into Wes Anderson and his more adventurous choices.

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Classics 03: Britpop

Today I was randomly in the mood for some good old-fashioned Britpop. About ten years ago, it seemed like everything coming out of Britain was miles ahead of anything the Americans were putting out. A wave of new bands collectively formed the "Britpop" movement in rock music, taking the public by storm on both sides of the Atlantic. Many of these bands became household names and are some are still around today (while some of the best sadly have disbanded since). Here are some key Britpop-era releases (circa 1994-1997) by the undisputed leaders of the pack. If you're interested in checking out the bands further, the albums they're from were also major Britpop records, and the best-of compilations by each group are excellent introductions to the era.

Blur, "Girls & Boys" (from the album Parklife; also on The Best Of)
Oasis, "Wonderwall" (from the album (What's The Story) Morning Glory?; also on Stop The Clocks)
Pulp, "Disco 2000" (from the album Different Class; also on Hits)
Suede, "Beautiful Ones" (from the album Coming Up; also on Singles)

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Hits 03

Spice Girls, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)"

As much as I wanted to like the new single by the reunited Spice Girls, I just can't bring myself to feel anything but disappointment. Released as the teaser for their upcoming greatest hits album, as well as being the official 2007 BBC Children In Need single, it's a big ballad in the tradition of their past hits "2 Become 1" and "Viva Forever." Sadly, it doesn't come anywhere near the standard set by their earlier ballads. "Headlines" is too slow, lacks a killer chorus and has an overall sloppiness to the structure that makes it far from headline-grabbing material (excuse the pun). It fails to reignite that "Girl Power" magic that made us all love the Spice Girls in the first place, which was essentially the whole point of their reunion. The video doesn't help matters much, only proving that the girls are all experts at standing around in expensive clothing looking bored out of their minds. Well done!

Here is "Baby Spice" Emma Bunton's cover of "Downtown," released this time last year as the 2006 BBC Children in Need single. While it isn't the best track she's released, it remains miles ahead of the suckfest known as "Headlines," and proves that charity singles are in fact allowed to be good (despite recent evidence). A song download is also included, since this one's actually worth a listen.

Emma Bunton, "Downtown" (from the album Life In Mono)

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Serve Chilled 01: Sun-drenched Sounds

I've selected some bright downtempo music to lift moods from the gloomy weather we've been having in Northern California (today's sunshine excepted). Songs like these are perfect for a relaxing day by the beach or poolside, with a well-made cocktail in hand and some suntan lotion nearby. Since temperatures appropriate for such luxury are still many months away (unless you're in Australia), you'll have to use your imagination for full effect. The full albums from which the tracks below were taken are highly recommended listening as well.

Hot Chip, "Colours" (Fred Falke Remix) (from the Hed Kandi compilation Beach House 69)
Jamiroquai, "Seven Days In Sunny June" (from the album Dynamite)
Röyksopp, "Eple" (from the album Melody AM)
Lemon Jelly, "Stay With You" (Radio Version) (original version on the album '64-'95)

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Dear Ibiza 03: The Weekend

The theme for this entry in the ongoing club music feature is weekend anthems. Some songs are just made for going out, or (better yet) for getting ready to go out. Here are some of my all-time favorite weekend jams. Table dancing (at home or while out) is completely optional, but highly recommended.

Michael Gray, "The Weekend" (Radio Edit) (see above for the awesome video)
Infernal, "From Paris To Berlin"
Spice Girls, "Never Give Up On The Good Times" (from the album Spice World)

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Open Your Box 02

Assorted oddities and discoveries, round two:
1. Primal Scream, "Swastika Eyes" (Jagz Kooner Mix Edit) (from the album XTRMNTR)
The aggressive first single from their electronic assault of an album XTRMNTR. The entire album is a highly-charged statement against pretty much every form of establishment, and is definitely worth checking out.
2. Texas, "Getaway" (from the album Red Book)

A fun pop song by British band Texas. This marked their comeback to the charts overseas, and its catchy melody reveals why after the first listen.
3. Yoko Ono with Peaches, "Kiss Kiss Kiss" (from the album Yes, I'm A Witch)

I've never known much of Yoko Ono's work, but her recent album of collaborations/re-recordings (featuring the likes of Peaches, The Flaming Lips, Cat Power and many other) caught my eye. This reworking is a fun electro number typical of Peaches, with a whole lot of Ono's weirdness thrown in.

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Shameless 01: Geri Halliwell

I had the inspiration for this new section while walking home from class and listening to none other than ex-"Ginger Spice" Geri Halliwell. She definitely rests atop my list of ultimate guilty pleasures. Sadly, most will publicly deny taking a fancy to some of their most embarrassing favorites, but I find that there is no use pretending in some cases - everyone needs their guilty pleasures!

Geri famously walked out on the Spice Girls right before their sell-out US Spiceworld tour. Soon afterwards, she released her debut single "Look At Me" (a schmaltzy mess that turned heads, but just missed out on the number one spot in the UK). She followed it up, however, with four consecutive number one hits, each one sassier (and trashier) than the last. The last of those, her cover of "It's Raining Men," went on to become one of the biggest international hits of the 2000s (even without a US release). Since then, her popularity has waned, and her third record flopped harder than Glitter. I still can't decide whether to categorize her run of hits as golden pop moments or just the work of some really effective marketing teams. I'll leave that debate up to you, but in the meantime...

Geri Halliwell, "Look At Me" (from the album Schizophonic)
Geri Halliwell, "Mi Chico Latino" (from the album Schizophonic)
Geri Halliwell, "It's Raining Men" (from the album Scream If You Wanna Go Faster)
Geri Halliwell, "Ride It" (from the album Passion)

(And don't worry, I won't tell anyone!)

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