Summertime Sadness (REMIX)

How apropos. As I soon reach the 1 month mark of summer vacation, I have been listening to new albums that have come out and among them The Great Gatsby album. I have yet to see the movie because much to many people's surprise, I have never read the book but the soundtrack is wonderful. A few songs have stood out to me and I have to say that Lana del Rey's Young & Beautiful is a personal favorite. (Although I am not posting about that specifically, I have included it below for your listening pleasure) Lana del Rey is an artist that snuck up on me. I was initially unsure of how I felt about her sweeping, swooning sound until I got hooked on "Born to Die" and "Video Games". And now, the "Summertime Sadness"remix by Cedric Gervais. It takes the usual slow, deep sounding Lana and throws her into a club banger while maintaining the serious quality that naturally comes with a style like del Rey's.
The message about the fleeting nature of summertime is something that I think anyone can connect to and the beat is something that certainly anyone can dance to.
So before summertime is over, check it out below.

Poetic Justice (COVER)

So as I prepared for my internship this summer, I asked a bunch of people to send me a list of some of their favorite songs. Among these was one of my best friends from summers past, Jeny. On her list was Poetic Justice by Elli Ingram, a cover of Kendrick Lamar's song "Poetic Justice" which samples parts of Janet Jackson's "Any Time, Any Place". Now, honestly, I hadn't heard Kendrick's song before hearing Elli's version and I have to say that Elli's takes the cake. It may be simply because I like the way that Ingram's accent comes out in her rendition or that her voice takes the song to a completely new level. It seems to possess more meaning when she sings it and I (personally) think that it becomes increasingly powerful in her smooth cover.
You can check out both renditions below and be your own judge.

Follow the Sun REMIX

It is amazing what a beat can do to change a song.

I originally heard of Australian one-man-band (essentially) Xavier Rudd back in high school when "Better People" was playing constantly on my freshman dorm. This was a time when I was way into pacific rock and spent a lot of my time listening to Slightly Stoopid, John Butler Trio, Mishka, and other folk rock/reggae influenced bands so I was immediately hooked onto Xavier Rudd.

And here he is surfacing on my radar once again, but in a completely different light.
I had never heard "Follow the Sun", but after hearing the version that I am about to talk about, I knew that I needed to look it up. The lyrics are catchy and optimistic in true reggae style and immediately put me into a good mood when I heard them. Rudd jams on the guitar and harmonica and the original version is sweet and simple. I have posted the video below if you want to take a listen and escape.

And then there is the Talul edit. This song is essentially the same as the original version with an addictive beat that (dare I say) makes this song that much better.
You just have to check it out for yourself.

DAFT PUNK

Yes, you read right.
After an 8 year hiatus, Daft Punk announced a few months ago that they are making a comeback and releasing a full-length album through Columbia Records. They decided to tease all of America and air a 15 second teaser trailer (posted below) during SNL a little while back. The catchy background song went viral pretty quickly and a bunch of those clever electronic groupies made a bunch of fake songs.
Until, lo and behold, just a few days ago, "Get Lucky" was the first song to drop of the French quasi-anonymous duo's much anticipated album Random Access Memories. And it is wonderful.
It has a feel-good funk feel much thanks to the guitar skills of Nile Rodgers and the smooth singing of Pharrell Williams. Seems like a strange bunch, especially with the sweet melodies of Pharrell over the classic Robot Rock, but, hot damn, this song is catchy.
And people have seemed to agree. Since its release date just days ago, "Get Lucky" has broken Spotify's single day play count in both the UK and the US beating records held by "Pompeii" by Bastille in the UK and "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore in the US.
That is definitely saying something.
So keep an eye out in May for the full album because I know I am.

Post 2 of the night. Neil Young Remixed.

This is a song that you would hear and automatically expect me to like. Based on TGIK's "Atlantic City", the masterfully mashed song by The Boss, Springsteen and The Band, the classic rock song over some kind of electronic beat, I will automatically find infectious. This is no different. Sound Remedy takes Neil Young's "Old Man", a song that I grew up listening to and know well, and remixes it over some type of slow dubsteppy beat. It begins a bit creepy, but there is something about it that works so well. I can't put my finger on it.

Not doing work.

I don't feel like doing work, so here is a new post for all you lovelies. I have just recently burned a new CD for my car (I know, sorry I'm so behind. Who uses CDs anymore?) and this one made the cut.
If you keep up with the hip hop or house music scene, you probably know that Usher and Diplo teamed up to make "Climax" (below as a memory refresher), and that obviously wasn't enough. Posted below is the newest thang from this duo: "Go Missin'". The beat is a bit more low key than the dirty dubstep that we have heard from Diplo in his moombahton piece here (which you can probably thank Datsik for anyway, but whatever). Anyway, "Go Missin'" is a go-to any time of day.

Also, here is a picture of these two for your visual pleasure. Just hanging out.

Of Monsters and Men

So this song has been played a bunch on the radio recently and it's totally the kind of thing that I like. And then Dendix and StarBeam came out with this. It keeps the folk feel through the accordion-type breakdown. Anyway it's catchy.
Also, sorry for the absence.

also this Soundcloud has a download option.

The Weeknd

Ok. If you read my about me, you know that I went to school in California once upon a time and am actually a resident there, but whatever. I went out to California not knowing much about The Weeknd, except for the song, "Do It" which is posted below. Upon going out to California, I not only heard his music constantly, but I came to love the Weeknd and frequently listen to his music. On top of this, he has recently released his three mixtapes remastered as the retail album "Trilogy" which reached the number 1 spot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums this year. This guy is 22. Seriously.
If you aren't into the typical smooth, sensual rhythm that is The Weeknd's usual sounds, you may like the more upbeat nature of "Do It", but in addition to the two that I have already posted (High For This and The Morning) you need to check out my other personal favorite "XO/The Host".
I've heard mixed reviews on the east coast on this guy, but it's worth knowing his name if you can't appreciate the talent.
Do you want me to do it?

Jack Skellington

Merry Christmas to all and for all you non Christians, hope you're day was wonderful.
If not, here is something new to pick it up...
I have never seen "Nightmare Before Christmas", and Tim Burton is a freak, but it has a pretty big following so it must be good right? Anyway, G-Eazy, another white rapper who has gained my following dropped this one. The beat exemplifies the sassiness that is G-Eazy. Also, thanks for the free download.
"Lanky as a mothefucker, rap game Jack Skellington" wut.