Archive for the 'busta rhymes' Category

BOTR vol 12

It has been a full year since the BOTR series graced this humble page.  And I do apologize.  I apologize.  But it is far better to apologize than to eulogize.  And in the end it is far better to actually post music than to take months off (sorry mates, but deadlines at work and real life adventures are simply dominating my time).

I started this series, and the BOTM series, because in my previous life I had much more free time than anyone else on the face of the planet.  Literally.  Well since then I landed a fairly demanding (and rewarding) job, a car, a girl, a life, a etc.  So I’m not sitting flush with free time anymore, but I still care.  Honestly, I still care.  So enjoy the remixes, witches.

mp3 : Bloc Party - Hunting for Witches (Crystal Castles Remix)
Imagine if you took Bloc Party and strained their music through a Nintendo soundtrack.  Then you added a grungy bass line and called it a remix.  Brilliant.

mp3 : Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See (Valerna Remix)
Everything about this mix is perfection.  Busta spits like usual except this time the backing beats and remixed nature perfectly complement his nasty flow.  Rappers today wish they could drop lyrics like Busta.  This track is so good I’m tempted to simply stop now and publish this post.

mp3 : Chromeo - Destination Overdrive (DFA Remix)
This remix reminds me of Kill Bill.  Just when you start to think “OMG, is this ever going to end” you’re immediately stunned into silence at the beauty of the following moment.  Yes, it’s over seven minutes.  Yes, it’s worth it.

mp3 : Fenech Soler - Lies (The Phantoms Revenge Remix)
If anyone out there is looking to edit a sweet ass parkour video I highly recommend this song.  I don’t know why they should be lumped together, but it makes sense.

mp3 : Fever Ray - Seven (The Twelves Remix)
Hello 2009, welcome to 1974.  Or a Guy Ritchie film.

mp3 : Florence & The Machine - You Got The Love (The XX Remix)
I love the bass line in this remix.  It sets the perfect subdued mood and lets the string plucking float along like it was meant to.

mp3 : Ladyhawke - Paris is Burning (Cut Copy Remix)
This is another track that feels like it’s never going to reach a point worth caring about.  If you turn it off in the first minute you’re missing out.

mp3 : Major Lazer - Keep It Goin’ Louder (Feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze) (Diplo Remix)
I honestly should not have to sell you on this track.  Look at the group name.  Major + Lazer = Win.  This track = Massive Win.

mp3 : Major Lazer - Pon de floor (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix)
Oh colonial era drum beats, oh trumpet fanfare, oh crazy twisted drum and bass synth that cuts in after thirty seconds.

mp3 : Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Ring Trick Remix)
Remember when everyone was claiming Passion Pit was going to be huge?  Remember when everyone was wrong?  Dead wrong?  Well guess what, no one cares anymore, because this remix is great.

mp3 : Peaches - I Feel Cream (Proxy Remix)
The opening of this remix could easily qualify as the essential ‘film noir’ of remixes.  I’m not quite sure if I’m supposed to think that is a good thing or a bad thing.

mp3 : Phoenix - 1901 (L’Aiglon Remix)
The first of three remixes of one of the most popular tracks of the year.  This takes a straightforward pop/rock track and makes it even more straightforward.

mp3 : Phoenix - 1901 (Pete Herrs Symphonic Remix)
If the previous remix was straightforward then this remix is literally so far out in right field it’s playing cricket.  It begins spread out and sparse but soon enters the realm of angels.

mp3 : Phoenix - 1901 (The Tremulance Remix)
I’m including this remix to round out the trifecta of what a remix can be.  We had a straightforward pop remix, followed by a minimalist symphonic remix/re-imagining, and this is a frenetic blip filled mix.

mp3 : Phoenix - Lisztomania (Redial Remix)
I know you’ve all be wondering what this track would sound like it was sped up and played frantically with more reverb than a live Prince show.  Well wonder no more.

mp3 : Radiohead - Videotape (Ring Trick Remix)
You can almost never go wrong with a Radiohead remix.  Especially one centered around the impressive track Videotape.  Ring Trick simply nails this remix.

mp3 : The Sounds - No One Sleeps When I’m Awake (La Dolce Vita Remix)
Sugar coated remix covered with whip cream, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles.  Bring your own cherries.

mp3 : Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
A fitting, wailing end, to this installment of BOTR.  The repeated “off, off, off, off, off” is what remix dreams are made of.

I hope it’s been worth the wait and we’ll all keep our fingers crossed that it’s not another year before BOTR returns.  Enjoy the music.

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BOTM vol 07

Once again it’s time for the Best of the Month series. This is volume number seven. If you’d like to see all other volumes in this series click here. Every month I comb the web, the blogs, my email, my mailbox, for the best tracks. I have more free time than the average web savvy individual so I use that time to compile what I believe is a mix of the best tracks I found this past month. Enjoy the music, tell your friends, and go see one of these artists play a live set.

All the tracks in one zip file : here {zshare = left click}

mp3 : AA Bondy - There’s A Reason
I love this track for the simple reason that I feel it could play over the soundtrack to any number of my favorite dramas. Maybe a romantic, comedic, drama. One with a lot of rainy days and melancholic moments.
for more : myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Amy Milan - I Will Follow You Into The Dark (Death Cab for Cutie Cover)
I like Amy Milan as a part of her group, Stars, and it turns out I like her just as much on this slightly countrified version of a Death Cab staple. It’s a great cover for Amy, and it’s true that it always helps when you start with a great original.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Arcade Fire - All The Umbrellas (Live Magnetic Fields Cover)
Although I’m not a huge fan of where Magnetic Fields have gone as of late I’ve been a fan of the older work for awhile. So when you combine a good song with one of the best bands currently performing you’re sure to get a golden cover song.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Busta Rhymes - Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em)
Busta has long been one of my favorite rappers. It began back in the day when rap was the king of the musical hill. You know, back when beats were solid, lyrics were important {or at least not so mind numbingly repetetive}, back when it was Dre, Snoop, Em, Busta, 2Pac, Fugees, Beasties, Ja Rule, Nas, etc. This track reminds me of what rap can be.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Death Cab for Cutie - Spring Break Broke
A fairly rare track here by Ben Gibbard and company. In fact I’m not sure I’d heard it before this month. It hails from back near the turn of the millennium but it still sounds fresh and consistent with the newest Death Cab {well, except for the decidedly lo fi production}.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Fall Out Boy (feat John Mayer) - Beat It (Michael Jackson Cover)
I love this track for showcasing all that I love about John Mayer and leaving out all that I find boring, vanilla, and lacking in talent. It’s a fact, John Mayer can flat out play guitar. He’s gifted, talented, ad nauseam. His lyrics are terrible and usually stupid. Here you get all the good with none of the bad.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Lily Allen - I Don’t Know
I like Lily for her brutal honesty. And for the fact that she’s better than Lady Sov and knows it {and proves it time and time again}. This track is a delightful combination of the current everything-is-a-dance-song trend with Lily’s trademark witty lyrics.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Madonna (feat Kanye West) - The Beat Goes On
She’s older than most of her competition and yet she still brings it all to the table. Sex appeal {kinda getting gross} check, cross promotion check, a slew of guest stars check, and a decent danceable album check. What’s not to like?
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : MGMT - Destrokk
To me this song is great because it’s not immediately recognizable as an MGMT track. For that matter, other than the overplayed Time to Pretend, I’m not sure if there is a standalone MGMT sound. And I like that.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Phantom Planet - I Don’t Mind
This is still my favorite track off of the newest Phantom Planet disc. I’m not sure if these boys will ever achieve massive success {they might have peaked in regards to popularity with California}, but I think they deserve it. Track after track, album after album, they’re still good.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Radiohead - True Love Waits
One of my favorite songs by Thom and company this track has never received an official studio recording. Although it was released on their live album, I Might Be Wrong, it usually only surfaces at the rare and random concert {regardless of how loudly I might yell my requests}.
for more : site amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Scarlett Johannson - Anywhere I Lay My Head
She is gorgeous, she is a serious actress, she’s this month’s cover artist on Paste, and she also has a cover/tribute album for Tom Waits. It’s the last one I’m still unsure about, but I liked this track enough to include it this month as a bonus. {usually there are only thirteen tracks in the BOTM series, so consider this your lucky day}
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : The National - Mansion On The Hill (Live Bruce Springsteen Cover)
They’re one of my favorite bands and in this instance they’re covering one of my favorite artists {c’mon rise up anyone?}. It seems like a match made in heaven right down to the crooning baritones and mellow yet socially aware mindsets of both The National and The Boss.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Weezer - Pork and Beans
I couldn’t let this little ditty slip through the cracks here at TWF. I’ve long loved the four boys who reimagined and reinvented guitar driven surf/nerd/diy rock. Here’s to hoping the rest of their new album will be as good {or better} than this first single.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

That’s all for this month’s roundup. Come back tomorrow for the next issue of BOTR {Best of the Remix}. Enjoy the music.

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