Favorites.

"I never give up on anything, I just move on to something else."

Enough with the sad sack shit I've been posting lately(god love it). Alas, spirits are up in stereo-land. The dj gig has been treating me well(meaning they actually pay me).

It happens every 1st, 2nd, and 4th Thursdays at Merchants, 401 2nd St in Oakland. 

Meanwhile I can't wait until Coleco's rework of Foreigner's "Urgent" is made available soon as an MP3 because it's absolutely perfect for a dive bar DJ attempting to make smashed people dance. Hallelujah.  

On Deck - Cut Copy and my obsession with Ellie Goulding's "Lights"

  School started two weeks ago, and I started a second job last week, so posting a new entry fell by the wayside. It's also been absolutely GORGEOUS out with record high temperatures in the Bay Area this week. The last thing I want to do is sit inside (anywhere) and type (about anything, including music). Alas, here we are in February, and it feels like summertime. Time for sunblasted days in the park, tank tops and tan lines, bike rides to barbecues, and sweaty dance parties.  Lucky thing Cut Copy is releasing their new record Zonoscope tomorrow. It's kinda perfect for these mild, fuzzed out California afternoons. Now before I go any further, I must admit I'm especially fond of this particular Aussie trio (now quartet). They exemplify, for me anyway, the picky balance between synths and guitars, dance and indie rock. Their last effort In Ghost Colours is the most enduring record in my collection in the last five years. It's perfect for the kid who was raised on guitars but always liked to dance. 

So I've been eagerly anticipating the release of new stuff from these guys, with slight apprehension knowing they couldn't (and shouldn't) make the same record twice. 

There are tracks that sound straight off the pop block, notably the first single "Take Me Over" with CC's trademark harmonies wistfully floating over lush synths and jungle-like percussions. I've never been to Australia, but when I hear this song I get the whole drive-to-the-outback to go hang out with the koalas - vibe. 

"Where I'm Going" sounds like a modern Beach Boys single, baked and mixed with ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down." It stands out from the rest of the record, with it's "yeah, yeah, yeah" chants and its chance to become Cut Copy's first real bonafide hit. The rest of the record is tailor made to get cute girls(and the rest of you) to dance. Songs start one way, and end another, with six minute tracks evolving from straightforward groovers to outright atmospheric dance epics. 

In fact, the last track "Sun God" lasts 15 glorious minutes, which at first seems laborious until you find yourself completely entranced and air drumming ten minutes in and it took you there, wherever that place may be.

All in all, it's Cut Copy, doing it big. Perhaps some tracks could of used some preening, but taking it as a sort of blissed out, groovy jam session, it's a win. Can't wait to finally see them live in April.

p.s. I am completely obsessed with Ellie Goulding's "Lights." The pop starlet from the UK has some heavy buzz, and I'm feeling it like I was feeling Florence this time last year. She plays the Rickshaw Stop April 14th for a whopping $13. Watch the original cut on the 'tube and afterward check out the Wired dubstep remix, and the Bay Area's own Bassnectar do it fabulous here. 

Three months and counting.

november.

the front porch. november. oakland. the chill of autumn. ocean blue soaked clouds. lampshades in windows. an american flag in the hood. the blinking red lights on the top of matching buildings. the soft hum of asphalt against rolling cars. the smoke of a girl as i exhale. 

Top Tracks of 2010

How appropriate that I'm kicking off my ALL NEW music blog with a highly subjective year-end top tracks list? My favorite kind of list! I'm keeping it short and sweet, until I regain my writing bearings. It's been awhile folks. 

10. Robyn -"Dancing On My Own" This song is so far up my alley I can't stand it. And because it elicits such a response it sits snugly at #10. Ugh.

9. Sleigh Bells - "Infinity Guitars" Crunchy guitars, thundering sub-worthy beats, and girl group chants. Do I really want anything more from the music I enjoy? Plus, the track's accompanying video is my favorite of the year. I can't stress enough what pretty girls with wayfarers and baseball bats (along with burning guitars) can do for a song's cause.

8. Zola Jesus - "I Can't Stand" This 21-year-old opened for the XX and Warpaint at Oakland's Fox Theater in September, and arguably had the best vocals of the night. Another beat-heavy, moody trip that doesn't sound too far off from anything on The Cure's "Disintegration."

7. The Black Keys - "Everlasting Light" Dudes, this rock 'n' roll grooves. It's soulful as hell, making you wish for summer's sunshine, with the windows down. In fact it feels a bit like a southern summer, and it's a bit sticky in this car. But alas, this track kicks off their album Brothers with a sweetness and fuzzy warmth that'll last you through the winter.

6. Gold Panda - "You" That beat drops at the ten second mark and the chirps come in and next thing you know, you're taking a trip around the world, stopping off in London and New Dehli, and you're back again in three minutes. p.s. Gold Panda's 2010 benchmark is a wonderfully perfect bike ride jam if there was one.

5. Deerhunter - "Desire Lines" I heard this track two weeks ago. You could confuse them with Deerhoof, another band I know close to nothing about (i know! I should do my research). But immediately, I wondered WHERE HAVE I BEEN? In the dark listening to dubstep, my good friend Frankie Burton reminds me. Oh yeah.

4. Florence + the Machine - "Howl" Florence killed it this past year. I was fortunate to see her perform in the somewhat quaint Mezzanine in April, and knew then this English songstress was too powerful of a singer, so striking in her style, to stay unknown for long. Next thing you know, she's doing the VMAs, being nominated for a Grammy, and "Dog Days..." is on Glee. I'm sorry, I totally called it.

3. Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce - "Telephone" I love pop songs. The really effing good ones too. The ones that give the hooks easily and plentifully. "Telephone" was a floor filler dance pop gift that keeps giving. Gaga has on point production, with songwriters behind her writing straight pop GOLD. Someone was a genius for telephoning Beyonce in for the best two-for-one in years. (Madonna and Janet never happened, mind you).

2. Class Actress - "Journal of Ardency" I don't know what this journal of ardency is. No matter. This song by Brooklyn trio, led by lady singer Elizabeth Harper is sexy, regardless of it's pretentious title. The beat, and that wholesale, yet killer synth line is where the goods are, and let me tell you, it's good. This track definitely should have a rightful place on any proper horizontal dance mix.

1. Arcade Fire - "Ready to Start" So glorious and right and earnest in it's goodness. These brilliant Canadians channel a little Tom Petty and a bit of their own "Rebellion(Lies)", taking their album The Suburbs where you so desperately want it to go. "Sprawl II(Mountains Beyond Mountains)" has been the favorite on other year-end lists, but "Ready to Start" does it for me. When Win simply states, "my mind is open wide, and now I'm ready to start," I can't not be moved. Now i'm ready.

2010 was also a fine year for remixes, and I will dispense of them now. You can thank me (and Aiden, king of all remixes) later.

Small Black "Despicable Dogs(Washed Out Mix)" Just lovely. Bought a split 7-inch on a whim from these chummy chillwavers at their show at the Rickshaw in March, and this was the b-side to the track I initially wanted (Small Black's mix of Washed Out's "You'll See It"). Absolutely my favorite discovery of the year.

The XX "Infinity(Flufftronix Dubstep Bootleg)" Oh dubstep. This now official remix of The XX sold me on the genre, on all the wah-wah-wah-wahs and zoops and blips and breaks and UGHHHHHHs.

Oh Land "Son of a Gun(Yuksek Mix)" One listen to the original and one realizes just how much a retake can elevate a track into the proverbial stratosphere. Sunday Girl "Four Floors(Diplo Remix)" The BEST remix of the year. Diplo takes this harmless pop track and makes it all dubby and grimy and completely satisfying. This track alone will make you go buy better speakers. 2010. Word. I'm out for now. Always, here's to good tunes and great times in '11. P.S. Props to Girl Talk for Rihanna over Fugazi, that ultra special Toadies moment, Skee-Lo and T'Pau, Weezy over New Order, and U2 with Twista. Props to Enrique Iglesias. I like that damn song. Ugh.

Drive VHS by James White

Don't play no game that I can't win...

Beastie Boys are back May 3rd with Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. This track featuring Santigold is what I wished Santi's new drop "Go" with Karen O was gonna be: SUPER DOPE. 'Dem analog infused horns do it every time. 

The new St. Lucia remix ep "We Got It Wrong" is out of control. This week Lenno's bouncier and disco-y take is a standout, while Starslinger's moody version is no slacker in the goods department either. And eventually, I'll mix the Xaphoon Jones' redux with something grimy and presto! 

Listening to the original "We Got It Wrong"(streaming above) and the Brooklyn artist's other breakout track "All Eyes on You"  leaves us desperately wondering about a full-length's arrival.

Brooklyn, NY based noise-poppers Sleigh Bells were remixed earlier this year by maestro and stereo-land favorite Diplo. Here he strips down the opening track off Treats, "Tell 'Em" with fantastic results.

Sleigh Bells kick off two-sold out shows tomorrow, Memorial Day, with Neon Indian at The Independent in SF.

I'll be there undoubtedly with a sunburn left over from this weekend.