Mixtape 13: Do You Believe?

For those of you who use iTunes as your main music player, you've probably noticed the strange new "Genius" feature that came with the latest update. Though at times it generates some pretty random playlists, it's actually a pretty cool way to explore your library based on a single track, especially when you have as many songs as I do (and hardly realize what songs are hidden away on your hard drive). This post wasn't a direct result of a "Genius" playlist, but Cher's "Believe" showed up when I hit the "Genius" button for Everything But The Girl's "Missing" (recently posted in its ubiquitous remixed form) and decided to roll with it. By some fortunate chance, I was able to find 15 tracks in my library about faith and belief that are all great. After the classic Cher opener, Kylie shows us her contemplative side on the mesmerizing, Scissor Sisters-helmed "I Believe In You" from a few years back. George Michael used to be a big deal in the music world, as pop standards like the extremely catchy "Faith" can attest to. The electronic segment of the mix kicks off with Simian Mobile Disco, on their epic "I Believe," and hits a high on The Chemical Brothers' post-millennial rave-ready "Believe." Little sister Dannii Minogue concealed the love cry "Do You Believe Me Now?" on her limited-release Club Disco record, but the collaboration with Roger Sanchez is worth looking into. Madonna generally tunes out of her album promotion campaigns by the third single, so the best track on Confessions On A Dance Floor, the thumping "Get Together," wasn't the hit it deserved to be. Regardless, it remains one of my favorites for its amazing Stuart Price basslines and simple, universal lyrics ("Do you believe in love at first sight?"). New Order broke through to the mainstream with "Blue Monday" but initiated their longtime residency in the ears of the public thanks to "True Faith," one of their finest moments and an absolute touchstone in pop music. Like it or not, everyone knows Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and it would have been impossible to leave out of such a mix. Cat Power's "I Believe In You," from her latest covers project, can't rival Kylie's eponymous track, but it's a typical, if unremarkable, reminder of her unique presence. Slowing it down towards the end, I Am Kloot clock up yet another haunting, minimal success with "I Believe," and Charlotte Church keeps things smooth on the lilting "Show A Little Faith." Mariah Carey, as always, delivers the keystone ballad of the mix on the stripped-back "I Still Believe." The Cardigans ask "Do You Believe" over a wash of ominous electronics and rough guitars. Mandy Moore closes us out nicely with a cover of "Have A Little Faith In Me" that everyone can identify with. So, do you believe?

1. Cher, "Believe" [YSI] (from Believe) [previously posted]
2. Kylie Minogue, "I Believe In You" [YSI] (from Ultimate Kylie) [previously posted]
3. George Michael, "Faith" [YSI] (from Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best Of)
4. Simian Mobile Disco, "I Believe" [YSI] (from Attack Decay Sustain Release)
5. The Chemical Brothers, "Believe" (Edit) [YSI] (from Brotherhood) [read my review]
6. Dannii Minogue with Roger Sanchez, "Do You Believe Me Now?" [YSI] (from Club Disco) [previously posted]
7. Madonna, "Get Together" (Radio Edit) [YSI] (original on Confessions On A Dance Floor)
8. New Order, "True Faith" [YSI] (from Singles)
9. Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'" [YSI] (from Greatest Hits)
10. Cat Power, "I Believe In You" [YSI] (from Jukebox)
11. I Am Kloot, "I Believe" [YSI] (from Acoustic 05)
12. Charlotte Church, "Show A Little Faith" [YSI] (from Tissues & Issues)
13. Mariah Carey, "I Still Believe" [YSI] (from Greatest Hits)
14. The Cardigans, "Do You Believe" [YSI] (from Gran Turismo)
15. Mandy Moore, "Have A Little Faith In Me" [YSI] (from Coverage)

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Review/Classics 28: Rock Trendsetters

Suede, Suede (1993):
Another one of the albums I picked up in those cool budget re-release bundles, Suede was a wise purchase. Any proper fan of Britpop or even just British music in general will tell you that Suede's debut was a pivotal moment. Their self-titled first album is often cited as the record that began Britpop, preceding giants like Oasis and Blur by a matter of years. With one listen, it's easy to see how one 11-track record was able to kick start one of the biggest movements in rock music. Right from the start, with the yearning hooks of opener "So Young," it's impossible to deny that Suede are a unique set. With lyrics both timeless and perfectly in tune with their day and generation, backed by intricate, pop-driven rock melodies, Suede instantly defined the sound of the next decade, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in UK history at the time. Breakthrough hit "Animal Nitrate" is one of many moments on the record that stick with you for ages after hearing them, and the pacing and balance remain perfect nearly the whole way through the rest of the disc. So many sounds and styles populate the songs that it's pretty easy to understand Suede's broad influence. On tracks like "Moving" and "Metal Mickey" it's possible to pinpoint where dozens of bands have pulled inspiration from over the past fifteen years. The slow songs on the record, especially standouts like "She's Not Dead," "Breakdown" or closer "The Next Life," present a depth and range of delivery that paved the way for much of the alternative rock of the 1990s. Suede has been included in numerous "must-hear" album lists for a good reason, so don't miss out on this landmark record.

Suede, "Animal Nitrate" [YSI]
Suede, "Pantomime Horse" [YSI]
Suede, "Metal Mickey" [YSI]

Radiohead, The Bends (1995):
With all the hype surrounding last year's In Rainbows, I was kind of turned off of Radiohead for a while (despite how good their new album really is). I guess that's a downside of blogging and being constantly overexposed to the latest hip music at all times! Luckily, I haven't stopped liking them, and finally got around to picking up The Bends a few weeks ago. It seems that everything said about the album is pretty dead-on. Blowing their debut album out of the water, The Bends is an alternative rock touchstone. While never approaching the scope of subsequent milestone OK Computer, it established Radiohead as a rapidly-evolving leader of the genre. The album ranges from all-out rockers ("The Bends") to subtle, dreamy pieces ("(Nice Dream)," "Street Spirit (Fade Out)"). Classic singles like "High And Dry," "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Just" hold the record together well, with absolutely no space given over to filler. The Bends ends up being a highly contemplative, yet entirely natural album with none of the pretensions or overarching desire to be experimental that plagued some of their later albums (with a wide range of results). It's the sound of Radiohead just being themselves and focusing on their songcraft while developing their niche in the rock world, and ends up sounding nothing like the transitional album that it essentially is. For those who aren't that into Radiohead, don't get bogged down by their overwrought later work (like I briefly did) and go back to their roots. It's a starting point well worth revisiting.

Radiohead, "The Bends" [YSI]
Radiohead, "High And Dry" [YSI]
Radiohead, "(Nice Dream)" [YSI]

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Ridin' Dirty 11: Sexy Beats

As a complement to the recent rave themed post (the one that strangely vanished earlier), here are five more heavy dance tracks, this time with a distinctly sexual bent to them. First up is a fresh bootleg remix I recently found via Hype Machine of Khia's "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)," one of the finest filthy tracks and the theme song of all Ridin' Dirty posts. It's a smooth, laid-back take with a seductive basssline that completely transforms the nature of the vulgar tune. Next up is the definitive sexy Kylie Minogue song, the stunning Fischerspooner remix of "Come Into My World." With their trademark electroclash melodies and sharp bass, they deconstruct the song's otherwise subdued vocals into its component parts, bringing up the sultry backing vocals while layering and processing her moans and coos for an overwhelming build and climax. If you only listen to one song on this blog for the next month, make it this one! Its video was featured ages ago in a much earlier post, but Benny Benassi's ridiculously sexual "Who's Your Daddy" must be included in any dance-heavy filthy playlist. Moby's "I Love To Move In Here" has had some amazing remixes, especially those by Crookers (an earlier post featured a different Crookers mix). This one is a bit more repetitive, but it is undeniably perfect for ridin' dirty. Fifth on the list is a stilted electro cover of Nelly's "Hot In Herre" by Tiga, retaining the original's heat but remaking it for all the hippest dancefloors.

Khia, "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" (DJ Weekend's DiscoCrack Remix) [YSI]
Kylie Minogue, "Come Into My World" (Fischerspooner Mix) [YSI] (from Fever [Special Edition])
Benny Benassi, "Who's Your Daddy" (Original Radio Edit) [YSI]
Moby, "I Love To Move In Here" (Crookers Lemmesee Mix) [YSI]
Tiga, "Hot In Herre" (Nelly Cover) [YSI] (from DJ-KiCKS: Tiga)

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Open Your Box 23: Live Pop

Over two decades into each of their respective careers, Madonna and Kylie Minogue are in the midst of their most elaborate, successful tours yet, breaking down box office records and industry expectations every step of the way. Kylie Minogue's X album didn't go down as well as hoped for, but its supporting tour, KYLIEX2008, has been a remarkable success across the board. Selling out multiple nights at massive arenas in all its European stops, including many the pop princess has never before visited, its been a record tour for Kylie. Featuring enormous movable video screen curtains and even video-lined stage floors, it's as much a technological marvel as it is an all-out celebration of pop music. At over two hours, it's a jam-packed show featuring all the best classic Kylie singles reworked alongside many tracks and outtakes from the heavily electronic X, bringing many of the album's lesser moments triumphantly to life with the immense setup. As always, the show is bathed in avant-garde outfits and elaborate choreography, with several costume changes and theme switches throughout. I'm clearly very excited for the DVD, as I've been previewing some tracks from the TV broadcast over the past two weeks. Par for the course, the show is a total sensory experience, with the songs more lively than on any of her past tours. New track "Ruffle My Feathers" fits in perfectly with the electro vibe of show openers "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" and "Speakerphone," while "Heart Beat Rock" is given a cheer-squad makeover as a precursor for a lively "Wow." "In My Arms" is destined to be a longtime fan favorite, much like "Love At First Sight" has become. "Step Back In Time" also gets one of the better treatments on a half-singalong-half-techno remix.

From the KYLIEX2008 tour:
Kylie Minogue, "Ruffle My Feathers" (Live at the O2 Arena) [YSI]
Kylie Minogue, "Heart Beat Rock" (Live at the O2 Arena) [YSI]
Kylie Minogue, "In My Arms" (Live at the O2 Arena) [YSI]
Kylie Minogue, "Step Back In Time" (Live at the O2 Arena) [YSI]

Madonna, on the other hand, has perhaps not been getting the same level of universal praise with her just-launched Sticky & Sweet tour. Coming soon after her record-smashing and critically-applauded Confessions tour, it is in support of her most recent album Hard Candy, which hasn't received the same warm reception from fans and critics as the Confessions On A Dance Floor album and is paling in commercial comparison. The Sticky & Sweet tour, despite some great reviews and overall fan satisfaction with the setlist, has been plagued at several stops by sound and technical problems, often a result of Madonna's choice of venue. This time around, following the multiple arena sellouts in each city, she's opted to perform in stadiums instead on several of her stops. In theory, upgrading from the O2 to Wembley (as in London) doesn't seem like a huge switch, but for the added thousands it's a big difference. Instead of multiple nights in an already huge arena, now the biggest markets have just one concert in an enormous stadium, leaving many fans in the dark. Regardless, if I had the extra money I'd definitely be spending it on a seat right near the stage. Listening to the studio-recorded tour versions (like the four included here) just makes me wish I could see her again! As always, she has reinvented her past hits for the new show, turning "Vogue" into a mash-up with "4 Minutes" and giving "Into The Groove" a saucy makeover surpassing its bagpipe-led reincarnation from her Reinvention tour. "Borderline" is given a rock edge and samples several of past hits in the process, much like "Impressive Instant" is turned into a lively segue into "Burning Up." Ultimately, this last one actually wasn't used in the setlist, but it's great to see that she spent a lot of time and creativity hammering out the show's inclusions.

From the Sticky & Sweet tour:
Madonna, "4 Minutes/Vogue" (Sticky & Sweet Tour Version) [YSI]
Madonna, "Into The Groove" (Sticky & Sweet Tour Version) [YSI]
Madonna, "Borderline" (Sticky & Sweet Tour Version) [YSI]
Madonna, "Impressive Instant/Burning Up" (Sticky & Sweet Tour Version) [YSI]

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Attention: Missing!

I've made the odd discovery in the past few days that some of my posts are going missing without explanation. It's kind of a scary thing to have two big posts just completely disappear, especially since I received no emails or comments asking me to take them down or anything. While I'm determined to repost them (and just did), I'm a bit worried that I've had to re-upload two Hits posts now, and that the most recent Dear Ibiza post was taken down within a mere few days (plus, though I can't remember which ones, this has happened once or twice before with Mixed & Mashed posts in summer also). Strange that the author of the blog is the one without any idea what's going on! I have a few posts that I already made waiting to be unleashed, but I might need to get to the bottom of this before I do any more large star-studded posts (let's be honest though, those are the best kind, so we'll see how long that lasts!).

Re-uploaded posts:
Hits 35
Hits 36/Mixed & Mashed 26
Dear Ibiza 23/Mixed & Mashed 28: RAVE!
NEW: Ridin' Dirty 11: Sexy Beats

Download:
Everything But The Girl, "Missing" (Todd Terry Club Mix) [YSI]

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Review/Mixed & Mashed 29: A History Of Remix Albums

By some chance, I've ended up getting three remix albums within the last month. I thought this called for a big recap of a bunch of old remix albums. Most remix albums come in one of two forms. Most common are remixed versions of entire albums, featuring most or all of the original record's tracks in remixed form. Also standard are remix compilations, spanning certain lengths of an artist's career like alternative forms of greatest hits collections. Less common are mutliple artist compilations featuring the remix work of a specific producer, but these are often the most rewarding. I picked up one recent compilation of Ewan Pearson's remix called Piece Work. The double-disc collection spans two discs and features such big-name artists as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, The Chemical Brothers, Moby, Pet Shop Boys and more. The album is an expansive showcase of the past decade of his career, featuring many hard-to-find mixes, and works amazingly well as a cohesive set. Pearson's mixes are consistent, but each one is astonishingly unique. Quirky pop remakes like Seelenluft's "Manila" and Ladytron's amped-up "Evil" complement sprawling electronic soundscapes like the "Disco Odyssey" mix of Goldfrapp's "Ride A White Horse." A refreshing update is given to several tracks, like Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence." The standout on the entire collection is undoubtedly the "Bari Girl" remix of Silver City's "Shiver," a building, shimmering masterpiece worth discovering. For fans of modern dance music, Piece Work is an essential retrospective.

From Piece Work (2007) by Ewan Pearson:
Seelenluft Feat. Mixmaster Michael Smith, "Manila" (Ewan Pearson Remix) [YSI]
Silver City, "Shiver" (Ewan's Bari Girl Remix) [YSI]
Goldfrapp, "Ride A White Horse" (Ewan Pearson Disco Odyssey Parts 1&2) [YSI]
Ladytron, "Evil" (Ewan Pearson Radio Edit) [YSI]
Depeche Mode, "Enjoy The Silence" (Ewan Pearson Extended Remix) [YSI]

The second of my recent remix purchases was Casino Classics by Saint Etienne, a double-disc career-spanning mix compilation released way back in 1996. The first disc features mixes of some of their biggest hits, and was included on limited pressings of their previous hits compilation, Too Young To Die: Singles 1990-1995. "Pale Movie" gets a trippy, trance-flavored mix by Secret Knowledge, while "Who Do You Think You Are" is transformed into an avant-garde piece by Aphex Twin. "Hug My Soul" is treated to a more traditional club makeover by Sure Is Pure, alongside several other classic mixes and dubs from their early career (including the recently-featured Andrew Weatherall remix of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"). The second disc features rare and previously unreleased mixes, including some mixes of tracks that were themselves still unavailable in original form (like the classic mid-90s club portrait, the Way Out West mix of promo-only single "Angel"). At times it feels like an odd set, but many of the mixes are able to tap into new aspects of the originals and would interest any fan of the band.

From Casino Classics (1996) by Saint Etienne:
Saint Etienne, "Pale Movie" (Secret Knowledge Trouser Assassin Mix) [YSI]
Saint Etienne, "Who Do You Think You Are (Aphex Twin - Quex-Rd) [YSI]
Saint Etienne, "Hug My Soul" (Sure Is Pure Kodacolor House Mix) [YSI]
Saint Etienne, "Angel" (Way Out West Mix) [YSI]

Contrasting with the retrospective sets, remix albums based on a single album tend to be more hit-and-miss. Pizzicato Five's turn-of-the-century self-titled album (renamed The Fifth Release From Matador outside of Japan) got the remix treatment on the EP Remixes 2000. Mixing five album tracks and a further two non-album tracks, the set varies wildly in style, achieving a lot of what the band had aimed for with the parent album (but didn't successfully pull off). P5 musician Yasuharu Konishi starts things off with a smartly remixed medley of album tracks ("The Groove Room Suite"), and later in the set "A Perfect World" gets a jazzy lounge makeover with new vocals. The real standouts, though, are a girly punk rock remix of the (originally) overly-cheeky "Tout, Tout Pour Ma Cherie," bringing a new sound into Pizzicato Five's repertoire, and an awesome remix of the rarity "Jolly Bubbly Lovely." It's a sunny club track on par with their best upbeat anthems (along the lines of "It's A Beautiful Day" or "Week End" for the dance scene). It definitely makes me want to go out clubbing with Maki Nomiya (their singer) in Tokyo some time soon!

From Remixes 2000 (2000) by Pizzicato Five:
Pizzicato Five, "Tout, Tout Pour Ma Cherie" (I ♥ Kiss & Kids Mix) [YSI]
Pizzicato Five, "Jolly Bubbly Lovely" (Cubis Tout-jour Mix) [YSI]

To round out this remix album mini-retrospective, I picked out some of the best reworks from a few older remix discs. Björk's music has always been so open to interpretation that it's only natural she'd have a remix album to follow up her breakthrough sophomore disc Post. Featuring a wide array of genres and a range of producers taking on mixing duties, the tracks on Telegram are completely changed in most cases. "Enjoy" gets a rough industrial makeover, while "I Miss You" proves it works well as a hip-hop groove and "Isobel" benefits from added orchestration. Beck's Guero was heavily remixed leading up to and after its release, leading to the inevitable release of remixed companion Guerolito the same year. The mixes are mostly faithful to the originals, with some standing out as formidable additions to his catalog (especially the mixes by 8-Bit and Octet). Goldfrapp try hard to please their fans, with numerous side releases and special projects going on at all times, so to make up for the lack of US single releases, they compiled We Are Glitter exclusively for the States. Featuring mixes of tracks from their most successful record, Supernature, the disc is a star-studded trip to all reaches of Goldfrapp's distinctive, often dichotomous sound. Driving club mixes abound (T. Raumschiere's take on "Lovely 2 C U" and club mixes by Benny Benassi, Francois Kevorkian and others), broken up by more laid-back grooves and experimental reworkings. The best mixes are from dance legends, with the DFA turning "Slide In" into a 13-minute disco journey, and Carl Craig exposing the real depth and nuance in an addictive club reworking of "Fly Me Away." It's a set worth picking up for fans of its excellent parent album.

From Telegram (1996) by Björk:
Björk, "Enjoy" (Further Over The Edge Mix) [YSI]
Björk, "I Miss You" (Dobie Rub Part One - Sunshine Mix) [YSI]
Björk, "Isobel" (Deodato Mix) [YSI]

From Guerolito (2005) by Beck:
Beck, "Girl" (Remix By Octet) [YSI]
Beck, "Ghettochip Malfunction (Hell Yes)" (Remix By 8-Bit) [YSI]
Beck, "Broken Drum" (Remix By Boards Of Canada) [YSI]

From We Are Glitter (2006) by Goldfrapp:
Goldfrapp, "Lovely 2 C U" (T. Raumschmiere Remix) [YSI]
Goldfrapp, "Fly Me Away" (C2 Remix 4) [YSI]
Goldfrapp, "Slide In" (DFA Remix) [YSI]

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Attention: Refreshed!

As many longtime visitors may have noticed by now, I've updated a bunch of stuff on the blog. While the link lists on the sidebar still need some housecleaning, I finally changed out the old logo picture (to another Goldfrapp one, naturally!) and mixed up all the fonts and colors. It's not a huge deal, but it's refreshing nevertheless. Also new is a subscribe tab in the top left, letting you subscribe to posts or comments with various feed types. That way, you can be kept up to speed on when new posts are ready to sample. For those of you with Blogger accounts, check out the new "Following" feature that allows you to be alerted when I update (how convenient!). So far, two of you have already jumped the gun, but if you're a regular visitor definitely check it out.

No Doubt, "New" [YSI] (from The Singles 1992-2003)

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Dear Ibiza 23/Mixed & Mashed 28: RAVE!

Inspired by my co-op's recent room-to-room party (and my room's theme of "rave"), I've collected some tracks optimal for intensive after-hours clubbing. First up, some deep basslines from Crookers on a remix of "Day N Night," with the pace kept up nicely with Benny Benassi's electric (and Grammy-winning) remix of Public Enemy's "Bring The Noise." The Prodigy heralded a new era for dance music with their legendary Fat Of The Land album, as on number one single "Breathe." The more recent Pendulum remix of classic "Voodoo People" updates their sound for the next generation. Benassi shows up again on a bumping remix of Fischerspooner's great "Never Win." Axwell regularly turns out mixes full of bass and hooks, like the roaring club versions of Madonna's "Jump" and Hard-Fi's "Hard To Beat." The last track featured is an Angello & Ingrosso remix of Eurythmics' classic "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" that takes the famed synths to new extremes for the dance floor.

Kid Cudi, "Day N Night" (Crookers First Remix) [YSI]
Public Enemy, "Bring The Noise" (Benny Benassi Pump-Kin Remix) [YSI]
The Prodigy, "Breathe" [YSI] (from Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005)
The Prodigy, "Voodoo People" (Pendulum Remix) [YSI] (from Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005)
Fischerspooner, "Never Win" (Benny Benassi Mix) [YSI]
Madonna, "Jump" (Axwell Remix) [YSI]
Hard-Fi, "Hard To Beat" (Axwell Mix - Firstclass 2006 Edit) [YSI]
Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" (Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso Vocal) [YSI]

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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.

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Shameless 08: J. Lo

It seems September has been a very slow month for Different Is Dangerous, with only four posts so far (yikes!). To raise that figure, I've got five more posts in the works for this weekend! To kick off the spree, I compiled some tunes perfect for the two-day break from school and work. At some point in all of our lives, we've listened to and secretly liked Jennifer Lopez (admit it!). Whether for her excessive, overdone diva glamor, her terrible movies or her manufactured pop music, everybody has a soft spot for some J. Lo. From the triumphant beginning to her most recent flops, the whole of her music career has been one big guilty pleasure. "If You Had My Love" introduced her to the world in a big way with its Latin flavor and time-tested pop formula. "Waiting For Tonight" is the ultimate party jam, and should definitely be played at some point in any weekend. "Love Don't Cost A Thing," "Play" and "Ain't It Funny" see her on top form with her blockbuster second album. From there, things got a bit spottier, but better moments like "Jenny From The Block" and the Moto Blanco remixes of recent singles "Do It Well" and "Hold It Don't Drop It" inject some life in her later catalog. She may no longer care about her music career, but at least she left us some trashy hits (and that dress) along the way!

Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love" [YSI] from On The 6)
Jennifer Lopez, "Waiting For Tonight" [YSI] (from On The 6) [previously in Classics 16]
Jennifer Lopez, "Love Don't Cost A Thing" [YSI] (from J. Lo) [previously in Classics 15]
Jennifer Lopez, "Play" [YSI] (from J. Lo)
Jennifer Lopez, "Ain't It Funny" [YSI] (from J. Lo)
Jennifer Lopez, "Jenny From The Block" [YSI] (from This Is Me...Then)
Jennifer Lopez, "Do It Well" (Moto Blanco Remix) [YSI] (original on Brave)
Jennifer Lopez, "Hold It Don't Drop It" (Moto Blanco Radio Mix) [YSI] (original on Brave)

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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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Mixed & Mashed 27: Underground Combos

Since I started school again, I've managed to amass a big handful of new mash-ups. Some of them (the ones below) are definitely worth hearing, so I thought I'd share. M.I.A.'s early single "Sunshowers" gets a fun, upbeat electro reworking when layered over Mylo's bubbly instrumental "Otto's Journey." Coldplay are reversed and looped for a surprisingly effective mash-up with T.I., revealing both the versatility of Coldplay's music and the skill that goes into writing memorable rap lyrics. M.I.A.'s "partner in grime," Santogold, has her otherwise passable album track "Unstoppable" turned into a catchy beat-driven piece with the instrumental from Treasure Fingers. Kelis gets her "Milkshake" all shaken up with a laid-back rock groove added courtesy of El-P. To wrap up this set of unique combinations, Calvin Harris's "Certified" has an old Cassius track laid on top, again proving that sometimes he works better as a producer and musician than a standalone artist (see "In My Arms" and "Off & On" if you're not sure what I mean).

M.I.A. Vs. Mylo, "Sunshowers" (A+B Mash-up by Luminfire) [YSI]
Coldplay Vs. T.I., "What You Know, Scientist?" (ELLIOT vs. QUIX Mash-up) [YSI]
Santogold Vs. Treasure Fingers, "I've Got To Be True" (Immuzikation Blend) [YSI]
Kelis Vs. El-P, "Good Milkshake In The Morning" [YSI]
Calvin Harris Vs. Cassius, "Certified One" (B-Ju Mash-up) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

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Shameless 07: B'Day!

27 years (and almost a week) ago, the world changed forever. On September 4, 1981, the unstoppable force that would become known worldwide for her whip-smart pop-laden R&B (and her signature underarm-revealing pose) was born. Of course, I'm talking about Beyoncé. For reasons known to my closest friends and myself, Beyoncé holds a unique place in all of our lives, and hopefully in yours too. As frontwoman of R&B supergroup Destiny's Child, she rose to fame for her sassy attitude, astute lyrics and overpowering voice. Though the music may no longer rival the best of her days as a trio, her solo career has put her onto a new plane of stardom. Her high-glamor persona, backed up in no small part by her constantly evolving songwriting skills, have kept her at the very top of the pop game. To celebrate her "b'day," here are ten of my favorites from throughout her group and solo career (though it's not a definitive list, since I tried picking songs I haven't featured yet, including some excellent Freemasons remixes). Are you ready for this jelly?

Destiny's Child:
Destiny's Child, "Say My Name" (Edit) [YSI]
Destiny's Child, "Jumpin', Jumpin'" [YSI]
Destiny's Child, "Independent Women Part I" [YSI]
Destiny's Child, "Bootylicious" [YSI]
The above tracks can be found on the hits album #1's.

Beyoncé Solo:
Beyoncé Feat. Jay-Z, "Crazy In Love" [YSI] (from Dangerously In Love)
Beyoncé Feat. Sean Paul, "Baby Boy" [YSI] (from Dangerously In Love)
Beyoncé, "Naughty Girl" [YSI] (from Dangerously In Love)
Beyoncé Feat. Jay-Z, "Upgrade U" [YSI] (from B'Day)

Beyoncé Remixed By Freemasons:
Beyoncé Feat. Jay-Z, "Deja Vu" (Freemasons Radio Mix) [YSI] (original on B'Day)
Beyoncé, "Ring The Alarm" (Freemasons Club Mix Radio Edit) [YSI] (original on B'Day)

Check out old posts for more tracks by Beyoncé and Destiny's Child.

***Note: Links removed***

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