I wouldn’t normally post videos on here, but for this song I’ll make an exception. If you read my Top of 2008 list you saw that “Strawberry Swing” was on there. Coldplay finally made it into a video and, wow, it’s amazing. I’ve seen this stop-action technique used before and have thought it was pretty cool, but I’ve never seen it used to such a degree as they’ve done here. It is absolutely mind numbing how they have managed to turn an ordinary piece of ground into a masterpiece. And props to Chris Martin for being so physically involved in the process, it couldn’t have been easy. You can read more about the creative process on their website. Hopefully this will inspire other artists to think outside the box a bit more, as this will be hard to beat.
Archive for July, 2009
I wouldn’t normally post videos on here, but for this song I’ll make an exception. If you read my Top of 2008 list you saw that “Strawberry Swing” was on there. Coldplay finally made it into a video and, wow, it’s amazing. I’ve seen this stop-action technique used before and have thought it was pretty cool, but I’ve never seen it used to such a degree as they’ve done here. It is absolutely mind numbing how they have managed to turn an ordinary piece of ground into a masterpiece. And props to Chris Martin for being so physically involved in the process, it couldn’t have been easy. You can read more about the creative process on their website. Hopefully this will inspire other artists to think outside the box a bit more, as this will be hard to beat.
I’m not going to write much about this song because I haven’t really enjoyed what Madonna has done since Music and this isn’t any different. It could have easily been a cut off of her last two albums which doesn’t show much growth…just another dance track without much substance. The song is currently being remixed by Benni Benassi, Paul Oakenfold, and a host of other dj’s. Hopefully they’ll rework the song into something a bit better suited for the dancefloor. Maybe it will grow on me, but as of now there isn’t much to celebrate.
Madonna – Celebration
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Cover Me #4
Jul 29
mp3: Dan Black – HYPNTZ (Biggie Smalls cover)
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mp3: Denison Witmer – I Can’t Make You Love Me (Reba McIntyre cover)
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mp3: Duffy – Ready for the Floor
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mp3: Daphne Rubin-Vega – Rocket Man (Elton John cover)
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mp3: Death Cab for Cutie – Love Song (The Cure cover)
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Remember how it happened? It was during that one searing, muggy, center-of-the-sun summer. The sky was a purple haze over the lake, the faint stars craning their necks to see what would come next. The live brass band over at the dance hall was playing the soundtrack to our evening; we pretended to be too cool for it but secretly loved every minute. We said our goodbye’s and made our silent escape to the dock. Your boat shoes made that click-clack sound on the wood that I loved, the same noise that made me spin around that first day we met. The same day I knew my life would now be…happy.
This song makes me smile.
mp3: Michael Franti & Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)
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LMFAO – I’m in Miami Bitch
Jul 27
There are times when you fall in love with a song because of its brilliant lyrics or stunning instrumentals. This is not one of those times. The electro-hop group from L.A. has made a stupidly fun track to dance to, and sometimes that’s what music is all about. The rhythm and inflection in the opening lines sound eerily familiar to Missy Elliot’s “Gossip Folks”, which is a fantastic throwback even if it was unintentional. You can tell they are having a killer fun time with this song, smiling on the upswing of the word “gurrrrl” (which I can hear now at the many parties this will be played at). Listen, enjoy, and let the fuzzy staccato baseline get into your legs and make you DanceYFAO.
mp3: LMFAO – I’m in Miami Bitch
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Oh, Ms. Blank…why’d you have to go and make a song about the inner most truths of a person’s soul? I’m sorry, but I do love a girl who can put it all out there…just be all nasty and dirty. Kinda hot to listen to. Peaches and Lil’ Kim both do it wonderfully. Add Amanda Blank in the mix and you now have a threesome that would make anyone clutch their pearls. It’s a hot song and not a bad pickup line if you have the balls to use it. I put this song on a cd for a friend and he later told me it came on in the car while he was on a date…mission accomplished.
mp3: Amanda Blank – Might Like You Better
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Kings of Leon
Jul 23
It’s always interesting to see how a song can explode almost a year after it’s original release. Kings of Leon dropped their album Only by the Night in September ’08 but within the last month their single “Use Somebody” has been flying over the airwaves. As of today, it has also reached #11 on the Hot 100. I’m glad they’re finally getting the attention they deserve.
My other two favorites on their album bookend this song, creating a musical hat trick of sorts. “Manhattan” and “Sex On Fire” slip into the category of what critics call “too commercial” for this band (hey Pitchfork, enough already). But, why is that a bad thing? They’re songs you can sing along to, songs that you are excited to hear on the radio. “Sex On Fire” is gritty rock, “Use Somebody” is stadium-worthy. Nothing wrong with that. Ok, so they may not be the best band lyrically, but have you taken a look at what song is #1 on the charts right now? Don’t even get me started. Kings of Leon may have some growing up to do, but this album is definitely a step in the right direction.
mp3: Kings of Leon – Sex On Fire
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mp3: Kings of Leon – Use Somebody (Andre Anjos remix)
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Mika – We Are Golden
Jul 22
I know I haven’t been the only one anticipating the release of a new Mika jam. Well, the wait is over. After Life in Cartoon Motion burst onto the scene, I was nervous how he would follow it up. Mika doesn’t disappoint, but also doesn’t break any barriers here. It’s what you expect from him, a happy, bright, upbeat summer song. His trademark glass shattering falsetto is in full swing, along with a huge chorus of voices backing him up throughout the track culminating in a raucous delivery of the song title at 2:37. “We are not what you think we are | We are golden.” Mika makes me see color when I listen to his songs, and this time I’m seeing gold.
mp3: Mika – We Are Golden
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Dan Black – You + Me
Jul 21
I first heard of Dan Black about a year ago when he covered “Hypnotize” by Biggie Smalls. He has since released that song as a single and also created some original tunes to appease the throngs of fans he gathered over his cover. I checked out a few of his songs, but to me there was a standout among the electro europop feast he has given us. “You + Me” sounds like a Mika + Sam Sparro hybrid. This song could be much more polished, leaving out some of the background noise (what’s that deep “yeah” voice? get it out!) and adding base that shakes my bones instead of just hitting the skin. But the chorus is mighty catchy, definitely summer, definitely house party.
Dan Black – You + Me
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