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I'm Going For It

I have 12 and a half hours to finish this post before my midnight deadline. Best of 2007, or better said, what I listened to a lot in 2007. Honestly I am not even sure this is complete, but it's kinda close. There was a lot of stuff I listened to this past year and no matter how organized my iTunes is (it's pretty damn organized, I even use the music rating system), I know I missed something.

But we promised a year-end list, and it would be wrong not to present something.

Now, considering I am doing this from work (yes I'm at work on New Year's Eve), I most likely won't have too many MP3's to post, but I will try the best that I can (if you really want a song, shoot an email and I get it out to you, I promise).

The beginning of the year is a blur for me, the blog didn't kick off until May (it's been 8 months already!! 229 posts!! over 25,000 visitors!!! amazing!! thanks to all the regulars!!), so I had to dig deep to find stuff.

So let's start with the best albums of 2007 (in no particular order).

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - A MUCH anticipated follow up to their brilliant Funeral. The songs are bigger, the band knows its place this time around -- and channeling The Boss seemed to help. My Body Is A Cage still haunts me to this day.

MP3: Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running






Yeasayer - All Hours Cymbals - This is one of several of the "spiritual bands" (don't know what else to call them) that caught my ear this year. In fact, I think this ritualistic sound is going to be even bigger in '08. Think late 70's David Byrne. Their first single 2080 was on constant repeat on my iPod.

MP3: Yeasayer - Sunrise





LCD Soundsystem - Sounds of Silver - Lets just pause for a moment and remember that year that it was all about LCD Soundsystem. How many "extra" albums did Mr. Murphy release. Sounds of Silver is 9 tracks of perfection. It is impossible to even come to a consensus about which was the best track on the album. In fact, I think every month I had a new favorite track. In the end it is the lyrics of All My Friends that do it for me.

MP3: LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends



M.I.A. - Kala - Everybody predicted it, M.I.A. blew up/tore up/mixed up the scene. Who else can mixed political bombs with favela-booty-bass dance beats?

MP3: M.I.A. - Boyz (The Twelves Remix)






Radiohead - In Rainbows - It's funny because everybody loves Radiohead and everyone thought the album was great. But I find very few people that are still listening to it? Nevertheless, the album is amazing but more importantly the impact of how it was released I think will ring well into 2008. All I Need is classic Radiohead, I'll be first in line with the 2008 tour tickets go on sale.

MP3: Radiohead - All I Need




Burial - Untrue - Dark, mysterious, it is Portishead minus the sour times. (Besides, I am really doubting they are ever going to release a new album. It seems all they ever do is complain about other people and TALK about the release. I predict it an over-hyped flop...). Back to Burial, he taps into a common human feeling, loneliness but instead of feeling sad, you realize there is a freedom in being by yourself.

MP3: Burial - Raver



!!! - Myth Takes - I can listen to the band all day long. Pop songs that do not feel like pop songs. Long jams, acoustic instruments, electronic flourishes, proper remixes, amazing live energy. I am looking forward to their show at the Langaredo Festival in '08. (I remember giving Matt the track Heart of Hearts to play at PopLife because I could not get enough of that song.)

MP3: !!! - Heart of Hearts




Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank - This is one of those albums I had forgotten about until I dug into my iTunes and found it hanging out in the earlier part of the year. Missed The Boat with The Shins lead singer, James Mercer, should not be missed.

MP3: Modest Mouse - Missed The Boat





Matthew Dear - Asa Breed - I think this was one of the first posts for the blog. I'm a HUGE Ghostly Records fan, Matthew Dear is one of my favorite artists (Dog Days was a my ringtone for a while...), but this album just blew the roof off any of his previous albums. And then there was Hot Chip's cover of Don & Sherrie to top it off.

MP3: Matthew Dear - Don & Sherrie (M.A.N.D.Y. Remix)




Interpol - Our Love to Admire - You gotta give to these guys, their albums are consistent. This one seemed the most personal (check Rest My Chemistry) . Ignore their bored-with-life on stage persona's and you will get a glimpse of why our generation is discontent with the way some things are going.

MP3: Interpol - Mammoth





Shocking Pinks - self titled - This is proof that DFA is trying to break the mold and is on the hunt for new music. I think Shocking Pinks nailed it where Prinzhorn Dance School tried and only moderately succeeded.

MP3: Shocking Pinks - Yes! / No!






Prefuse 73 - Preparations - This is an album you can start from track 1 and not get bored. It is suitable for background music to play dominoes to, to driving to work in rush hour traffic. I'm still annoyed that I missed this show a couple months ago.

MP3: Prefuse 73 - The Class of 73 Bells






YACHT - I Believe In You, Your Magic Is Real - Pop music at it's finest (well pretty damn close). Add to the the multiple bands that are linked to YACHT (The Blow, The Microphones) and you got quite a family.

MP3: YACHT - See A Penny (Architecture in Helsinki Remix)






Architecture in Helsinki - Places Like This - I admit it, I like the name of the band. Two albums of theirs where top in my list for 2007 (except one came out in late 2006). We Died, They Remixed had artists like Hot Chip, DJ Medhi, Mocky, and a host of others remixing their 2005 release In Case We Die. And then in 2007, they released Places Like This cementing themselves into my iPod for months. They're like Of Montreal except with lyrics that make sense.

MP3: Architecture in Helsinki - Heart It Races


A Mountain of One - Collected Works
Studio - Yearbook 1

These two albums are new for me, but are getting me excited for what is to come. Along with the Yeasayer album I mentioned above, I think they will dictate a new trend in music for this coming year. Along with Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, TV on the Radio they are going to lead a new wave of music. I think the general indie-music-listening public is ready to embrace this spiritual sound. No it is not a new sound per se, but a reemergence (with a twist) of sounds of prior generations.

MP3: A Mountain of One - Brown Piano
MP3: Studio - Self Service (short version)

So there you have it. Most of my favorite albums released in 2007. I have a ton of albums that I discovered in 2007, and I love equally. And I'm sure I missed a couple here and there. In fact, I know I did. I'll just admit it now.

How about you guys? What did you guys like?

UPDATE: I completely forgot about the Electrelane, Klaxons, Chromeo, and Joakim albums. I bet you this list is going to grow because of the knowledge I gain in 2008. Or better said my memory comes back to me.

UPDATE to the UPDATE: I also forgot the Simian Mobile Disco album. I Believe is a great track.

Feliz Navidad Amigos!

Here some music to play as you open your gifts from Santa. It's a mix of some of my favorites and a couple of new ones from this year (Cepia from Ghostly). Mix up your traditional playlist a bit. New interpretations of old songs can breath new life into traditions! And some of course should be played unchanged.

MP3: Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime (YSI)
MP3: Vince Guaraldi Trio - Linus and Lucy (YSI)
MP3: Cepia - Christmas Time Is Here (YSI)
MP3: Dean Martin - Jingle Bells (Dan The Automator Remix) (YSI)
MP3: Sufjan Stevens - Holy, Holy, etc... (YSI)
MP3: The Walkmen - The Christmas Party (YSI)
MP3: Erlend Oye - Last Christmas (YSI)
MP3: The Ramones - Merry Christmas (YSI)

Yeah, um. About those year end lists... How does that song go again?

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,and auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne!!!!!!!
MP3: Tony De La Rosa - Auld Lang Syne (YSI)

And for those that don't know... La Caja China (literally the chinese box - don't know why it's called that) is a requirement for all Cuban Christmas eve dinners. The coals go over the pig and my family will general fight to get the first piece of chicharron. It is similar (but obviously easier) to digging a hole in the ground and cooking the pig in a pit.

For the turkey... deep fried is the only way to go!! (Dang why did I eat such a big lunch?!?!?!)

We've Got You Covered

I realized I haven't posted one of these in a while. Cover songs always intrigue me because it is interesting to see what two different artists can do with the same song (sometimes the results are not too great).

I have already featured a track from his jazzy-dance band Mondo Grosso, but nothing about the artist himself, Shinichi Osawa. By himself, he is a rising producer/artist with resume full of edits for Kitsune (Boys Noize, Christopher Just and Digitalism) and in Japan, the term is "megastar". And somehow I can see that.
He just released an album in Japan called "The One" and promoted it by playing it at mobbed Apple stores around the country. He also DJ's at The Womb in Tokyo which was voted "best nightclub in the world"?!? (How did they figure that out?) Add that to my places to visit when I go in April.

Anyways, here I present his album opener, a cover of The Chemical Brothers' Star Guitar. It is a simple cover but done just right. Also I have include another track off itfeaturing Princess Superstar. Like the kids say, "It's a banger." I expect this be played at whatever New Year's party I'm at right around 12:25am (after all the Cuban kids have called the parents and abuelos, so we can dance). Shinichi Osawa is about to explode...

MP3: Star Guitar Featuring Au Revoire Simone (Chemical Brothers cover) (YSI)
MP3: Detonator Featuring Princess Superstar (YSI)

The Boom Bip, The Boom-Boom Bip

Boom Bip has a new mini-ED/CD/LP out Sacchrilege and it is a bit of a departure from his last full length Blue Eyed In The Red Room. The beats drive harder and are quasi-made for the dancefloor (albeit an alternative dancefloor). The sound is crunchier than his previous tracks but stray far away from the "durr-durr" sound of the summer.

You know what I'm talking about. In fact from here on out I am christening the electro sound of the summer as "durr-durr" sound (after the Erol Alkan Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr edit of Waters of Nazareth -- I hear a collective "ooooh, THAT durr-durr sound"). There is just too much confusion on what is "electro" and that term honestly gets thrown around a bit too freely.

Back to Boom Bip, I still think his best work has been his collaboration with Gruff Rhys on the Do's & Don'ts single (I posted this a while back...). But I like the fact that I get to play some of his stuff out when I DJ now. AND the cover of the EP is a cake. And who can say no to cake?

I keep changing the track I'm going to post because they're all so good. Dangit. Okay this one because I can't say no to cowbells (I almost changed it again... I better post this before I change my mind again...).

MP3: The Pinks (YSI)

Oh and Miami, what is up for New Year's?!?!?!?!?!

Beep beedeep beep beedeep beep beep

Whatever that sound is when there is a news flash.

Fischerspooner has a new track out! AND it's on the new Kitsune Maison Compilation Vol. 5. After a quick (?) first listen it seems Kitsune has MORE than made up for let downs that were Volumes 3 and 4.

For the new single, the band does not stray too far from the formula of the last album. You can hear echoes of Never Win appear in the chorus and synths. But I think they still had plenty of things to explore with the sounds of Odyssey (at least they didn't go back to electroclash).

As far as the compilation, you have a nice even mix of established artists and newbies to make for an interesting listen. It's out January 14th. Run to you local record shop (Sweat) and pick yo'self up a copy!

Way to save yourself Kitsune. Just as 2007 was ending. Bravo.

Tracklisting
  1. Fischerspooner - The Best Revenge
  2. Late Of The Pier - Broken (Fairy Lights Mix)
  3. Alan Braxe - Addicted
  4. David E. Sugar - To Yourself
  5. Pin Me Down - Cryptic
  6. M.I.A. - XR2 (Silverlink V Kicks Like A Mule Aka 92juk)
  7. The Teenagers - Homecoming (Gentelmen Drivers Rave Mix)
  8. AutoKratz - Pardon Garcon
  9. Digitalism - Pogo (Digitalism’s Robotic Remix)
  10. DatA - Aerius Light (Kitsune DJ Friendly Edit)
  11. Does It Offend You, Yeah - Let’s Make Out (Extended Mix)
  12. Red The Dog - Circulate
  13. Bitchee Bitchee - Ya Ya Ya - Fuck Friend (CSS Remix)
  14. On Board - Friendly Fires
  15. Big Face - I Wanna Be A Style Crusader (Data Remix)
  16. Kid - I’ll Never Know
  17. Cazals - To Cut A Long Story Short (Vicarious Bliss Mellotron Mix)
MP3: Fischerspooner - The Best Revenge (YSI)
MP3: Kitsune Maison Compilation Vol. 5 Teaser (YSI)


Gildas & Masaya @ KITSUNE MAISON 5 GOLD EDITION RELEASE Ryogoku Kokugikan TOKYO

Porta-Party



At the Scope Exhibit last week they had this cool little Porta-Party cubicle. Once you go inside they have this little disco ball and like 2 little lights and music for an Instant Party! Thought it was pretty cool idea and more interactive than a lot of the displays at Basel. The inside picture didn't come out as good. It was too dark and the flash messes shit up. This space dude was cool too. Took tons of pics of me and my girl reflecting off the visor for a real artsy effect. Here's one of just the space dude, which is cool on it's own merit.

Me and Chris are gonna be working on our 'Best Of' lists this week-end, so if you have any tracks/albums you think we should consider for it please leave it in the comments section and we'll look into it.

In the meantime I have some sweet tracks to keep you occupied and dancing throughout the week-end! Try some of these in your Ipod when you jog. One of my favorite places to hear new music.

The new Hot Chip track Ready for the Floor is pretty amazing! Kinda reminds me of the vibe of Over and Over. I think it will be a big dancefloor hit in the coming months. Just check out those amazing bleeps and booming bass! Dance sucker!!

Also got a new Presets remix of their new single My People. I like this Damage Edit better than the original. It's darker and more reminiscent of the Presets sound I love.

This self titled Lions at Your Door track mixed by Mailer Daemon is pretty sweet also. Got a little edge and kick to with some butt kicking female vocals to boot!

Finally the Vector Lovers track Hush Now is a little more mellow so I'm putting it at the end of the list, but not because it's the worst. Far from it, one of my favorites of the bunch. I love to start mixes/nights with this track. Nice and smooth. A perfect late night track...

Enjoy!



Music To Make Love To

And now back to finding those hidden gems. One of the reasons I enjoy writing this blog so much is discovering new talent. Untapped creative juices just waiting to explode (or trickle) onto unsuspecting listeners.

Chris Price sent us an email a few weeks ago, announcing his debut full length album Post Pop Parade. The album take cues from the 80's and 90's and twists them into relevant pop music. He is not afraid to use the four letter word "pop" when describing it (I know it's only 3 letters, ugh, never mind...).

Chris is from Washington DC and has a weekly there at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Thursdays. So if any you stop by tell them, "Off the Radar sent ya!" (a lá Pee Wee and Large Marge)

Oh man, reading over his bio, I just remember the best part of the story, how he got into music in the first place. Porn. (hence the post title...) He wasn't exactly in the movies, his music was. He was not even old enough to purchase the movies. You can check out his full bio here and how the Weather Channel, Gangsta Christians and Chris are related.

I have been playing out this track when I DJ and the reaction has been, "Who's that?" "Who sings this?" "Where did you find this?" I am not one to hide the music I listen too (okaaayyy sometimes, I hold onto it a bit longer than I should but doesn't everyone? Fine, not Ray, he's a giver.). Anyways, with that I present a song I have been keeping to myself.

MP3: Dim the Lights, Evangeline (YSI)

For the (2nd) Record...

For the record, In Rainbows 2nd disc is a worthy purchase. Touché Radiohead. Touché.

MP3: Bangers and Mash (YSI)

I promise no more Radiohead for a while. (Except maybe a mention in my top albums of 2oo7. I want my damn box set to arrive!)

Basel's Over! Time for New Music...



Wow! Art Basel is over! Such a crazy long ass weekend! I'm beat! Haven't spun that much in, uuuumm ever!! By Sunday night I was mixing with my eyes closed... One good thing about spinning so much. You only get better. Spinning at different venues with different monitors (or lack of) and sound systems only helps make you a better DJ. I have to say the sound system at Set was the best of all. Me and Mike Deuce were oohh and aawing the whole time at how good the music was sounding. Even with our shitty mp3's. Also now I will have like 3 months worth of great art to accompany the great music on our blog. Pretty happy about that! :) Check the pic on top. This guy does little miniature cut outs maybe only 6 or 7 inches tall and their amazing!

After we left Set we finished of the night @ Purdy for Chocolate Sundays and got our asses wasted! Justice was in town playing some not so secret gigs last night at Shoreclub then Rokbar. When we passed by Rokbar after Set they were still playing at Shoreclub and there were big signs saying private party and you couldn't get in unless you were on the list. Typical South Beach. So instead of jumping fences to get into Shoreclub we decided to just head over to Purdy. Probably best decision, I can't imagine how many snobby people were at these exclusive VIP gigs. Purdy was out of hand fun, like always! It's not the classiest place but everyone just goes there every week and lets loose. Always refreshing.

Anyways the last few days on MySpace Zoot Woman has been posting that you can download a New Track of theirs 'We Won't Break' for Free and today they posted a video for it also. I love Zoot Woman. This song and video don't disappoint! Can't wait for the new album.

With no further ado here they are.

Enjoy!


MP3: Zoot Woman - We Won't Break (YSI) (link removed by request, but you can still download the song directly at RCRD LBL....






Oh Dreidle!

I am a couple of days late on this one. Art Basel has kept me busy... But you still have 6 nights left!!

Happy Chanuka! Happy Chanukah! Happy Chanukkah! Happy Channukah! Happy Hanukah! Happy Hannukah! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Hanuka! Happy Hanukka! Happy Hanaka! Happy Haneka! Happy Hanika! Happy Khanukkah!

Did you know there is no direct English translation of Chanukah? Hence we have the different spellings. I did not knew.

Jigsaw Falling Into Place

Only heard the Radiohead album 'In Rainbows' a few times when it first came out and right away I thought Jigsaw Falling Into Place (Track #9) was the Single and played it at Circa Saturdays a few times. Now I check my inbox and I got a message from my friend Mike from Filter saying New Radiohead video and lo and behold it's for 'Jigsaw Falling Into Place'. I swear I'm in the right business, I got a knack for this stuff... Check out their new video and a slower track off the album that I like alot also called 'All I Need'


MP3: Radiohead - All I Need (YSI)




Get Your Itinerary Ready

Worm-Hole Labs does it better than I do, so here is a listing of all (most?) Art Fairs taking place this week in Miami via Worm-Hole Laboratories (20+ fairs!!)

Here is my tentative schedule. Subject to ridiculous change as the evening progresses. In fact, you can take this with a grain of salt...

Tuesday
NADA Opening @ Ice Palace (Deerhoof!)
Takeshi Murakami @ Prive

Wednesday
ArtPositions
Iggy Pop & The Stooges
Cocorosie @ The Raleigh Hotel (good luck)
Jorge Sanchez Gallery
DJ Language @ White Room

Thursday
Generators ABMB @ Upper Eastside Garden - High Places performing hosted by Dublab and P.S.1 Art Radio
SCOPE Opening @ Opium (Ray will be DJ'ing with Induce)
APT407 @ Abraxas Lounge (Where I'll be DJ'ing with Ray and Friends...)

Friday
SCOPE Art Fair
Bridge Art Fair @ Catalina Hotel
GenArt Vanguard Exhibition Opening @ Palm Court (Ray will be Dj'ing)
Glass Candy @ Studio A
Italians Do It Better @ PS14

And that's only through Friday and only the evenings (except Friday, got the day off!). There are so many things to check out. Le Baron throws THE party to go to every year but I think this year they missed the mark by choosing Rok Bar as their venue but don't blame them, everything was booked by the time they started looking! That place will reach capacity in ... oh wait, it's already full. Private parties on yachts and million dollar homes. After parties for the after parties... and the art, welcome to CostCo for billionaires!

The best part of Art Basel week(end) are the surprises, you have no idea who you will meet, what you see, when you will be at a certain place, but the experience is unforgettable.

Postings will be a little sporadic this week. Back to our regular scheduled programming as soon as the writer's strike is over or Art Basel. Whichever comes first.

Murakami @ Prive

So I told myself I was going to limit myself to one event a night until Thursday since I have Friday off. Yeah, go ahead and forget those plans. So after the NADA opening (with Hot Pants DJ'ing), I will be heading off to Prive for the Takashi Murakami show.




After a Ridiculous Good Pre-Basel Weekend...

I open my email to find this:

Your Discbox has been dispatched

Hello,

Just to let you know…

Your “In Rainbows” discbox has now left w.a.s.t.e. in the UK

You can expect delivery of your discbox in the following estimated times.

UK 1-8 days

Europe 1-14 days

Rest of World 5-18 days

Wherever possible (especially to customers in the USA), we’ve sent these by road and sea.

December is a busy time of year for postal services globally, so please be patient.

We thank you for your custom and hope you enjoy your discbox when you receive it.

Best wishes.

us @ w.a.s.t.e.

Seriously, times are good.

Cheers,

C.

Win Passes to see Deerhoof and Ken Kagami

The NADA Art Show Preview Party
Ice Palace Studios
Tuesday, December 4th, 8:30PM
1400 North Miami Ave

These are special price passes for reduced admission (regular tickets are upwards of $100 to $200 the day of the show! See online.). It's hard enough to get into special events during Basel, let alone pay less than the general public.

All you gotta do is leave a comment with your favorite Art Basel memory or what you would like that memory to be and we will randomly pick 2 responses to get 2 fliers each for reduced admission. LEAVE a way to contact you on the comment (email, MySpace, phone, beeper, etc...)

*Since the show is next week, we won't have time to mail them out, you will have to visit Ray at Circa28 for CircaSaturdays or Purdy Lounge for Chocolate Sundays (backroom) to pick them up. Deadline is Saturday evening~ish.