The King Of The World

At first the beautiful harmonies sang by the sisters of First Aid Kit caught my ear. Continually listening allowed me to soak in and appreciate the lyrics of this song also. I love the positive energy this song emits, especially when they belt out the last line of the chorus. This feels like a time warp to me, from the arrangement using hand claps, to the violins and accordion who knows what decade this could have taken place in. Enjoy!

The King Of The World - First Aid Kit (right click to save as)
First Aid Kit

AWWWKWAARRRDDD

I feel that everyone can relate to the point of low self esteem that occurs moments before a pivotal moment. Of course it's the advice of your friend in their early 20's to use good ol' liquid courage to boost that self esteem before asking the girl out. When the inevitable happens, you over do the drink and end up as a drunk, super awkward. Enjoy!

"I'll probably end up fucking up, and make it super awkward"

AWWWKWAARRRDDD (ft. Kate Na$h) - FIDLAR (right click to save as)
FIDLAR | Kate Na$h

Juicy

I still am amazed by a phone bill that's $2,000/month. But really, that's besides the point. Few times can an artist can take an anthem, redux it in their own vein, and come out a winner. Emily does so on this track. The cut is gothic, emo, classic, and sensitive. Biggie had no idea that he wrote something so pretty. Enjoy!

Juicy - Emily Wells (right click to save as)
Emily Wells

Concrete Wall

"Boom She Clack Clack" I love it. Zee's voice is so soft and soothing, she uses her voice very well. Usually I have a clear favorite between the original and the remix (or one of the many remixes at times). This is a rare occasion where both remix and original are so enjoyable that I'm unable to say I like one over the other. I chose the remix to post here, but as with every other artist on this site, if you like what you hear go see their show, buy their merch, or pick up an album. I'll be Boom She Clack Clacking all weekend. Enjoy!

Concrete Wall (Pumpkin Remix) - Zee Avi (right click to save as)
Zee Avi | Pumpkin

One Day / Reckoning Song

"One day baby we'll be old,
oh baby we'll be old
think of all the stories,
that we coulda told"

The two things that grab me is that beautifully simple guitar riff, and the raw emotion that is conveyed when Asaf belts out the above four lines. This remix is also very tastefully done, enhancing the original material quite a bit for me. Enjoy!

One Day / Reckoning Song (Wanklemut Remix) (Club Mix) - Asaf Avidan & The Mojos (right click to save as)
Asaf Avidan & The Mojos | Wanklemut

Fuck U All The Time

Don't be put off by the lewd title of this sexy jam. The warm synths wrap you like a comforter, and the gated vocals cutting in and out every quarter second create a dream like cloud that engulfs your ears. The track is rough and sensual, there's a bit of vulnerability underneath the skin of the song. I also dig the expletive beeping, it almost gives more power to the word. Enjoy!

Fuck U All The Time Ft. Natasha Mosley - Jeremih (right click to save as)
Jeremih | Natasha Mosley

Super Into On It

I've heard Linkoban describe herself as a rapper, but I think that label puts her in a box far to small to contain all that her style is. Let me caution you to not fret if you don't get her right away, I wasn't sure what was happening when I first had a listen. This track is grimy, it's filthy! I love the big bass bumps, the shrieking lalala's, and well... I'm also in love with the internet! Enjoy!

Super Into On It - Linkoban (right click to save as)
Linkoban

Ghost

This beautifully bittersweet song captivated me upon my first listen. The lyrics are powerful, creating very precise imagery, yet still being general enough that you are able to fit your own personal experiences in between the cracks. Enjoy!

Ghost - Yellow Ostrich (right click to save as)
Yellow Ostrich

Retro

I dig the soul that this song brings to the table. Listen to the gentile sounds layered over a mellow drum and bass beat. The sound byte is so spot on. The artist's struggle, the process of pioneering and constant uphill battles to ultimately walk alone anyhow. I feel pain and respect for those pioneering artists just over those few sentences. Then the energy picks up, and the song is completely changed, yet still the same as a drum can be so influential. Enjoy!

Retro - E-Z Rollers (right click to save as)
E-Z Rollers

Voices

The heavy synths on this dance floor shaker are exactly what I need late night towards the end of a DJs set. They are so heavy that along with the bass kick these shake your chest and move the floor. The tune is a strong 7+ minutes, and is easy to get lost in with the lights, smoke, and dance floor energy pulsating in unison. Enjoy!

Voices (Hannulelauri Dub) - Headman (right click to save as)
Headman | Hannulelauri

X

M83 has become quite the success with his latest album, but that does not mean that his prior are to be discounted. The raw energy that explodes on the first measure of this track is enormous. The song continuously builds and like a rocket ship taking off is beyond sight after a few short minutes. Enjoy!

X - M83 (right click to save as)
M83

The Crow

Instantly I envision a ninja sneaking around a quite town in the dead of night. I'll let your mind paint its own picture as the scene unfolds. Many different sounds and emotions enter the scene. I can't get enough of that bass line, and when everything comes together I always get tingles down my spine. Enjoy!

The Crow - DJ Food (right click to save as)
DJ Food

Memory

This track hits hard with a slab of slap bass funk. There's more to the track, as synths and vocals enter. I just love the dramatic up and down this song produces, guaranteed to put a funk in your step while walking so beware when jamming with headphones. Enjoy!

Memory (Le Crayon Remix) - Peter & The Magician (right click to save as)
Peter & The Magician | Le Crayon

Closer Than This

St. Lucia is no stranger to this blog, and will continue not to be as long as he keeps churning out amazing tunes. This track in particular is extremely listenable, it catches your ear within the first few notes. There's a magic in the simple synths and vocals that open the song.

I've got a feeling we will never get loser than this
I can't imagine there's a way to get closer than this

I'm not sure if that's happy or sad, or both. Enjoy!

Closer Than This - St. Lucia (right click to save as)
St. Lucia

Hell Is Round The Corner

Regardless of how old this track is, it's dark, smoky, and sexy. The snaps and pops of vinyl on most tracks are about as annoying as instagram filters on pictures, but for this track they work. I love the continuousness of this song, how it starts straight into the chorus, even though it doesn't feel like the chorus. And of course, how could you not love the line "say reduce me, seduce me, dress me up in Stussy". Enjoy!

Hell Is Round The Corner - Tricky (right click to save as)
Tricky

Bionic

This DJ friendly tune is sure to rock the dance floors. The calculated startup, the energetic build, and the general aesthetic of this song are right on. If I were to put this song into a set, it wouldn't necessarily be the show stopper that gains all attention, but it'd sure be memorable. Enjoy!

Bionic - Fake Blood (right click to save as)
Fake Blood

White Knuckles

I never noticed this Ok Go track in its original form, but this remix I noticed right away. It's a bit of a club banger, but not overly cheesy as most club bangers tend to be.  Standouts for me are the percussion, the use of the vocal track, and the fun feeling the song exudes. Enjoy!

White Knuckles (Static Revenger Club Remix) - Ok Go (right click to save as)
Ok Go | Static Revenger

Rise And Shine

This is your monday wake up call. I love how this track bursts through a brick wall a la the Kool Aid man, and keeps going. The song has happy horns, a very upfront synthesizer hook, and heavy ups and downs. Keep energized. Enjoy!

Rise And Shine - Big Gigantic (right click to save as)
Big Gigantic

We Used To Dance

For me, this is one of the most epic of songs. The beat is so deep. It's one of those beats that can play all night and I'd be able to dance nonstop.
Then there's the voice. It's just so perfect, talking about every day of the week, where they went to dance. The vibe is genuine, there's no attitude boasting the message of "I was there before you".  The story is similar to that of a junkie, just scoring hit after hit, but this junkie's heroin is dancing the night away.
I love how he paints a vivid picture, not powder coating anything, explaining how bad things were at times, but "we didn't care, we just wanted to dance". Some of the places he mentions (DNA, The End Up) still exist here in our fair city of San Francisco, which makes things even more fun. I've blasted this song for years, and will do so for years to come. Enjoy!

We Used To Dance - Dubtribe Sound System (right click to save as)
Dubtribe Sound System

When You Said You Headed Home

I'm digging this soft and tender song that's simply overloaded with emotion. Perhaps it's the dingy recording of the guitar. Or maybe the double-y sound of her voice softly flowing over the top of that rusty guitar. Either way I feel like remembering my worst break up, or sad life moment in a very emo scene while this song plays me to tears. Enjoy!

When You Said You Headed Home - Winter Took His Life (right click to save as)
Winter Took His Life

You're So

I feel as though I say this all the time on this blog, but I love this vocal sample. I'm a huge fan of all things involving vocal samples.  It boggles my mind to think about how many recorded vocals exist, and of those infinite decisions how does a producer choose which to sample. Regardless, this track is hot, and uses some fantastic samples. I'm also hooked by the piano on this track. There's a 90's R&B vibe here but the song is not very 90's sounding. Enjoy!

You're So (Star Slinger Refix) - Bondax (right click to save as)
Bondax | Star Slinger

BrightLightsBigCity

I'm reminded of Born Slippy by Underworld when I hear this track. I appreciate this track differently than the aforementioned, but the synth sounds are so similar it's great. I like the lengthy introduction and gentle build "and i'm okay". The song is beautiful. Enjoy!

BrightLightsBigCity (Mercury Remix) - Clubfeet (right click to save as)
Clubfeet | Mercury

Kickin' Back

Take a journey back to the late 90's with me on this one. Those bass notes, that 1990's drum and bass vibe, and what a great sample. "Kickin' back relaxing at my homie's place, chillin on a groove at a mellow pace". This is a slowed down version of what I know to be drum and bass,  which perfectly fits. Enjoy!

Kickin' Back - Wild Palms (right click to save as)
Wild Palms