Sweetness Alive

I get imagery of slow motion sexy models, glitter floating in the air, taking place at parties that even the elite dream of being a part of when these sound waves hit my drums.  The song is delicate and elegant, but also something that could soundtrack a trashed mansion at sunrise.  Enjoy!

Sweetness Alive (Feat. SLL) - Goldroom (right click to save as)
Goldroom | SLL

San Francisco

This happy melody had me at San Francisco. The happy go lucky indie-pop song makes me feel ready to face the day, the city, the rat race, and all those other things that can either bring you way up or slam you below ground. The optimism of the song fills me with hope. I am also a sucker for the careless "doo doo doo doo..." Enjoy!

San Francisco (Little Daylight Remix) - The Mowgli's (right click to save as)
The Mowgli's | Little Daylight

CompuRhythm

This track is humongous!!! The way that the bass line introduces itself is like a skyscraper falling on its side. The track reminds me of producer, Gui Boratto. I feel that the bass line quick steps around the industrial movements and steam driven machinery that comprises this dark song. Enjoy!

CompuRhythm (Dixon 4 4 Treatment) - Ian Pooley (right click to save as)
Ian Pooley | Dixon

Night Braces

In 5th grade band I chose to play the saxophone. The following years I quickly learned that band was not for winners, at least the school band wasn't, so I quit. I never stopped loving the beautiful sound of the sax, and when I discovered house music with saxophones there was an instant connection. This song in particular speaks to me, it's got such a strong groove with an extra thick layer of soul slathered on top. Enjoy!

Night Braces (Sammy Bananas Sax Dub) - Free Magic & Jkriv (right click to save as)
Free Magic &  Jkriv | Sammy Bananas

Chariot

There's a slight bit of rasp in his voice that I really adhere to. That rasp is offset perfectly with the innocent and crisp sound of the metal keys of the xylophone. This song paints a carefree and fun picture for me, there's lots of positivity. Enjoy!

Chariot - Page France (right click to save as)
Page France

New Years Day

Today is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. What better day to jam a song titled New Years Day, if for no reason other than the comedic irony. This track is much better than the irony that can be had playing this track on any other day than Jan 1.
I especially enjoy those infrequent tambourine hits. The song also completely provides the feel of those emotional east coast coming of age films of the early 2000's, at least for me it does. Enjoy!

New Years Day - Exlovers (right click to save as)
Exlovers

It's You

What a bangin' track! There's no reluctancy, staring out with "I feel the heat" and moving right along.  The background singers in conjunction with her voice is dance floor magic. I also enjoy how the track takes its time getting going, allowing for some fantastic mixing from a DJ perspective. Those warm synths don't drop until almost the two minute marker. Enjoy!

It's You (Charles McCloud & VIn Sol Remix) - FCL (right click to save as)
FCL | Charles McCloud | VIn Sol

The End Starts Today Mixtape #5

I've really enjoyed mixes in the 30minute range vs the traditional hour mix so I'm keeping with what works on this mix. A DJ I admire said "track selection over transition every time". These words are so wise. On the fifth track I took some sound bytes from a favorite youtube video of mine by Dom Mazzetti, and played it over the beginning of the track. Enjoy!

Tracklist:

1.) California Daze - Peace

2.) Now We Only Wave - Fifty Grand

3.) D-D-Dance - The Royal Concept

4.) Spitting Image (Little Daylight Remix) - Freelance Whales

5.) Promised Land (Villa Remix) Dom Mazzeti EDM Edit - Findlay Brown

6.) Cochon Ville (The Magician Remix) - Sebastien Tellier

7.) We Can't Fly (Oliver Remix) - Aeroplane

8.) Get This Party Rockin - Trouble Men

The End Starts Today Mixtape #5 - The Nose (right click to save as)
The Nose

Love Is All I Got

Singing about 'the only thing you have is love' has been done, but it can always be done. This track has a indie-Black Eyed Peas feel to it, if that means anything. I do like the temperature of the music video, [link here]. I can't fight the desire to play this song at an inappropriately loud level, but perhaps some music lovers have more self control than myself. Enjoy!

Love Is All I Got - Feed Me & Crystal Fighters (right click to save as)
Feed Me & Crystal Fighters

I Won't Kneel

I dig this electro dance indie twist on the Groove Armada anthem. Learn the lyrics and then shout them out when blasting this song in your car, even when you're at a stop light with the windows down. Bouncing laser lights everywhere... Enjoy!

"But you give me something, something to hold!"

I Won't Kneel (Beaumont Remix) - Groove Armada (right click to save as)
Groove Armada | Beaumont

The Wheel

That cut up sample that persists through the track is just so good! I love when songs that are so minimal and stripped down are able to fill a room with sound. This track sounds like much more than the clanky clank percussion, smooth keyboard, and vocals that make it up.
"All this fuss over nothing, reinventing the wheel" can be interpreted in so many ways particular to your own life experience. The line is powerful and inspiring. Enjoy!

The Wheel - S O H N (right click to save as)
S O H N

Regular Town

Here's a nice Vampire Weekend-like track from New Navy.  The instruments are fun and light, the message is a bit of a broken heart, and everything put together is an overall fun song to listen to. Enjoy!

Regular Town - New Navy (right click to save as)
New Navy

Ether Drift

Embrace the 80's, embrace the keyboards, embrace this song. I usually am partial to electronic songs that build to the melody, but this one starts straightforward with the melody, and it makes me smile. I always drift into daydream when I hear this track, ether not included. Enjoy!

Ether Drift - Ether Drift (right click to save as)
Com Truise

Monsters

After hearing this track, and visiting Angus's webpage I  was not surprised to see a picture of a Volkswagen bus.  Unsure of what that meant, all I could do was give a head nod to myself and move on. In other news, I have found that I've grown quite the affinity to the banjo. This song's pace and feel are beautiful, humble, and interesting. Enjoy!

Monsters - Angus Stone (right click to save as)
Angus Stone

Changes

I have always loved the Bruce Hornsby original, and I am a big fan of the Tupac take on this song. It's hard to accept someone's spin on a classic, but after a few listens of this track I found myself wanting to hear it again. "Things won't change until we do" is a very basic and common sensical statement, but when you get wrapped up in all the details it's easy to forget a fundamental like this. Inspiring words are powerful when simple, and this song drives that. Enjoy!

Changes (CFCF Remix) - LOL Boys (right click to save as)
LOL Boys | CFCF

Take A Walk

I get excited when I see the words (Classixx Remix) behind a song title, and this is a prime example why. The song has been completely retooled, toned down a few notches, and given completely new life. It has a humble epicness to it, it's understated and poised all while being a complete stand out.

Take A Walk (Classixx Remix) - Passion Pit (right click to save as)
Passion Pit | Classixx

My Hands

Right away her voice is just so cute and innocent. As the lyrics unfold, the picture of a stronger woman is painted. This woman is independent, confident, and sick of being wronged. The arrangement is powerful while still being delicate. Enjoy!

My Hands - Chaos Chaos (right click to save as)
Chaos Chaos

Where I Stand

I discovered this track from a set my buddy over at Pacha threw down recently for the new Destino venture (check out the soundcloud page). I love how the subtle bassline drives the song with a hit of funk, but doesn't steal the show -the synthesizer steals the show! I do also love the soft male vocals that slide over the track expressing those dance floor indecisions. Enjoy!

Where I Stand Feat. Lostcause (Karmon Remix) - Fabo (right click to save as)
Fabo | Lostcause | Karmon

None Of Dem

I keep changing my mind about what it is that I like about Robyn so much. Do I like her independent I-don't-need-you-attitude, her cute yet strong sounding voice, or is it her raw and catchy melodies? Standouts for me are that small giggle after "None of these drugs, get me high", and "None of these beats are raw, none of these beats ever break the law".  I continue to love the Robyn songs that cross my path. This remix has an especially nice danceability to it. Enjoy!

None Of Dem (Clancy Discoteca Remix) - Robyn (right click to save as)
Robyn | Clancy

The Same Love

There's something special that happens to me when a solid remix hits my ears. This is what happened with this track. The lyrics of Mr. Withers used in a soulful and danceable beat that carries on for a very short 10 minutes. This song is probably the fastest 10 minutes of my day. Enjoy!

The Same Love (Whiskey Barons Rework) - Bill Withers (right click to save as)
Bill Withers | Whiskey Barons

Select Sundays: Gettin Up

New York took a beating from Hurricane Sandy, as we all know. One of the things I've re-discovered since coming back out here in recent months is how much certain bands need to be enjoyed in their natural environment. In this case, it's A Tribe Called Quest and the subway. Q-Tip's 2008 solo album, "The Renaissance," is what Tribe fans wanted from him years ago. The whole album is killer but this one is classic and smooth. ATCQ!

Gettin Up - Q-Tip (right click to save as)
Q-Tip

Harlot

Felix has this style that is so glimmery, so glammy, the track essentially sparkles. I didn't know exactly what a harlot was, until this song prompted me to look it up. That didn't taint the song for me in the least, I still enjoy every note, it's fun and sexy. The track also sorta does this go-stop-go-stop flow, which makes it more interesting, but not ideal for a dance floor. Enjoy!

Harlot - Felix Da Housecat (right click to save as)
Felix Da Housecat

The Cricket

This song comes with power! There's a strength that comes from the commanding notes that make up this song. I don't think this song sounds anything like a cricket, per the name, more like a titan or Godzilla. Enjoy!

The Cricket (R/D's Emo Mash-Up Remix) - R/D (right click to save as)
R/D