Peaches

Coming to America, one of my favorite movies to re-watch, quote, and laugh to. This sample is taken from the montage of interviews, and captures the Rap zeitgeist of the mid 80's. Beat boxing and all are rolled into this sample, it makes the song. The bassline is furious, and perfectly rounds out the track. Enjoy!

Peaches - Esta (right click to save as)
Esta

The End Starts Today Mixtape #11

The last mixtape I recorded and posted was #8, so why are we at #11 all of a sudden? Because #9 and #10 have been started and not finished, thus we have #11. This mixtape I composed and recorded completely on my iPad using the Traktor DJ app.  Previous mixtapes were composed on my turntables with Traktor Scratch. Using the iOS app was something new, different, fun, and exciting. I did most of the pre-recording work on a plane. Some of the tracks on this mixtape were posted on the blog, some weren't. The mix is 36 minutes, my new found sweet spot for mixtapes. Enjoy!

Tracklisting
To Be Clear (Zimmer Remix) - Moullinex
Pale Shelter feat. Tegan And Sara - Matthew Dear
I Got U feat. Jax Jones (Original Mix) - Duke Dumont
Is This Love (Montmatre Remix) - Bob Marley
LES Artistes (Santigold Cover) - Lilly Wood and The Prick
Darling Are You Gonna Leave Me - London Grammar
Wonderland - CEO
Rhinestone Smile - Madeaux x Safra Nikoto
Something About You - Dornik

The End Starts Today Mixtape #11 - Ameer Says (right click to save as)
Ameer Says

Buggin

My favorite Tribe Called Quest song has been Buggin' Out, and I bought The Low End Theory album the week it dropped.  The first reminiscent note of Justin Martin's track teleported me back to that memory. The signature Dirtybird bass exists here in full force.  The extremely stripped down bridge, which sounds like finger snaps and beat boxing only help to accentuate when the big notes hit the floor. Enjoy!

Buggin - Justin Martin (right click to save as)
Justin Martin

Timeless Dream

I cracked the largest smile the first time this song played. The original Donna Lewis track came out in the mid-nineties and I was just a teenager.  It's strange to think that nearly two decades later I'd be rocking out to an updated iteration of her song.  I love the composition, each sound is magical and fitting for the piece as a whole. The icing on the cake is that piano. Enjoy!

Timeless Dream - Cajoline & Holic (right click to save as)
Cajoline & Holic

I'll Be Getting Down

"It's just a matter of time / before they make it a crime / until they do / I'll be getting down"

The wall of funky disco hits me all at once with this track. The percussion hits with attitude, the electric guitar is too funky, and my favorite is that hook. The track reminds us that life can be wasted taking things serious all the time. It is important to get down, and to get down when you can cause there may be a time when you can't. Enjoy!

I'll Be Getting Down - Discosocks (right click to save as)
Discosocks

Select Sundays: Amanaemonesia

I've covered Chairlift before, a few years ago when Something first came out in 2012. Hitting shuffle on my iPod, I stumbled upon another gem of theirs that fueled my late night drive. Give it another spin and revel in its vowel-ness.

Amanaemonesia - Chairlift (right click to save as)
Chairlift

I Miss Your Bones

There's a quirky cuteness to this track, even though it's stripped down garage session sound is more punk like than J-Pop like.  The fun and careless melody combined with a seemingly detached mood creates an interesting juxtaposition. She says she misses your bones, but I'm not convinced she does, unless she's putting on one of those too-cool-for-school personalities that I associate with the cool kids in high school. I keep putting this song on repeat while envisioning myself in a Freaks and Geeks episode. Enjoy!

I Miss Your Bones - Hospitality (right click to save as)
Hospitality

Elastic Heart

Diplo has the golden finger of music production, and this show holds that true. The most "Diplo" part of the song is that bouncy and repetitive sample that opens the song. I completely love the vocal melody of the chorus.  The Weeknd's touch on the track is the cherry on top, adding a bit of variance to the vocal landscape which I feel enhances the belting out during the chorus. The fact that this kind of track was produced for a major motion picture based on a YA novel doesn't make me like the song more or less, but it is not something I could have imagined 10 years ago. Enjoy!

Elastic Heart Feat. The Weeknd & Diplo (right click to save as)
Sia | The Weeknd | Diplo

Golden Arrow

This track could be the sound to a dark movie montage. The song takes its time, moving when it wants to, like a large cranky animal.  I find that this song likes to play on the stereo system I own that can produce the loudest and strongest heart pounding bass notes.  Around the 4 1/2 min mark there appears to be a drop off, and when it picks back up somehow the message that this song isn't ready to stop for quite a while is conveyed, as if the first 4 minutes are simply introductory.  Things get going like the erie vocals and the funky subtle electric guitar. I'm also just a straight up sucker for epics like this. Enjoy!

Golden Arrow - DARKSIDE (right click to save as)
DARKSIDE | Nicolas Jaar | Dave Harrington

Gun-Shy

The dancing synths on this track make my feet want to dance to the beat. Late in the track we're exposed to the lyrics, which are a garnish to the main dish. And if this track were a meal it'd be something like a thanksgiving feast. I love how the breakdown happens about 4 mins in, and the piano brings us out of it. Enjoy!

Gun-Shy (Lindstrom Remix) - Grizzly Bear (right click to save as)
Grizzly Bear | Lindstrom

1978

"It's my house, and I'm livin' here!" The instrumentation on this funky disco track is astounding! Flutes, some sax, a brass section, some strings, and record pops and snaps just to help transport you directly to the year 1978.  I just re-watched the movie 54 and this song makes me wish I was in that club for reals, dancing to just this song deep in the night. Enjoy!

1978 - Flamingosis (right click to save as)
Falmingosis

Crystalized

This track is presented by Art Department, and I can tell that it falls in line with the same high quality work that Art Department has put their name on in the past. I just love the melody of this song. You can catch me playing air electronic xylophone notes to the beat every single time. Of course I have to sing along as well, since this song is technically a cover of the modern classic by the epic band The XX. Enjoy!

Crystalized Feat. Mark Langham & Warpaint -  Matina Toply Bird (right click to save as)
Martina Toply Bird | Mark Langham | Warpaint

Swimming

This track opens with glamour. The laid back beat and lyrics secrete confidence and some "I don't give a fuck-ness". I like the verses more than the chorus, but I still find myself singing along to the chorus cause it's so catchy. I can see this song playing late night or poolside, it will easily back both situations. Enjoy!

Swimming - Holy Models (right click to save as)
Holy Models

Platja

This song is dedicated to my partner in crime (aka partner in blogging) Jonyangorg. I have a soft spot for flutes and saxophones, he has a life dependent obsession with the two famous woodwinds.  Fun fact: I played the alto and tenor sax in grades 5th-8th. Had those horrible middle school band songs not sucked so much, or if we were exposed to anything nearly as cool as this track, I may have stuck with it. I guess there's always today to get back on the horse. While we're at it Jonyangorg can jump on the flute, I'll pick up the sax, and I'm sure we can find someone for the keys, electric guitar, and hand claps. Oh nostalgia. This song takes me there. Enjoy!

Platja (De Hofnar Remix) - Freddy Verano (right click to save as)
Freddy Verano | De Hofnar

Taste

The sample on this song is so lewd, provocative, and bold. I love the stripped down notes, the playful tone choices of the electric sounds, with that sample chiming on from time to time in a monotonous tone instructing dirty thoughts.  I like the muted crash sound of the snare drum for some reason, it sounds like a baking tin sitting on top of a real snare drum and it works. Enjoy!

Taste - Daniel Avery (right click to save as)
Daniel Avery

Cumbanchero

I've been feeling retro lately, and this song is brings me racing to that retro feeling. There's a nostalgic feeling that accompanies this one, with humble instruments like shakers, congas, electric piano keys, and of course the accordion. The track brings with it culture and soul, the lyrics remind me of the neighborhood uncles that look out for everyone and know how to appreciate life. Enjoy!

Cumbanchero - Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel (right click to save as)
Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel

Baby Let Me Kiss You

This song is just as groovy as it is playful, and I love how it spans those two vastly different styles so well. The bassline groove makes me want to strut instead of walk, It's like I'm cooler than I really am when I walk to the beat of this song. As a huge fan of well placed background vocals, I can greatly appreciate the subtle and sexy "oh oh oh ahh" background vocals on this track. Enjoy!

Baby Let Me Kiss You - Fern Kinney (right click to save as)
Fern Kinney

This Last Year

Just like everyone has a "feminine side", I'm a firm believer that everyone has a "rock and roll side" that they need to get in touch with.  This Last Year gets me in touch with my rock and roll side in a way that no song has done for loner than I can remember. The song is comprised of rage, regret, remorse, and reflection. I'm grabbed by the ups and downs, the large swing from composed to top of the lungs carries my emotions right with it. Enjoy!

This Last Year - Palms (right click to save as)
Palms

Silver Timothy

I didn't grow up in the 70's, but this track makes me wish I did. There's a heavy psychedelic embrace with the overall feel of the track. The drums and bass are amazing, but easily overshadowed by an amazing chorus, mesmerizing keys, and fantastic guitar. The piece is extremely cohesive, and ends with a psychedelic tinge that leaves you hanging in happy wonder. Enjoy!

Silver Timothy - Damien Jurado (right click to save as)
Damien Jurado

Breathe

This pick me up track caught my ear upon first listen. There's so much with the simple line of "she can't breathe" that can be interpreted. She could be in awe, or she could be in a suffocating relationship, or maybe she's been running nonstop. Inability to breathe is the result of many things, and all we know is that she can't breathe.  I like the big drums in this track as well, they give the song additional aggression. Enjoy!

Breathe - Anna Lunoe (right click to save as)
Anna Lunoe

Select Sundays: Fantasy

This is the perfect moody stuff to listen to when you feel a little dark--but not too dark. One of MS MR's songs soundtracked Game of Thrones' Season Three trailer but it's their other stuff I like better. Every time I've put them on the stereo, someone in the room has asked, "Who is that?!" Miz Mister!

Fantasy - MS MR (right click to save as)
MS MR