04.28.06
Posted in music, coachella, adam, bloc party, depeche mode, eric, ernie, hella, madonna, mylo, scissor sisters, she wants revenge, the like at 6:28 am by admin
Yeah, it’s true — this is my first time ever using Northern California’s premiere word: Hella. But it was the only thing I could think of that rhymes with Coachella other than Nutella, so you can certainly understand why I had to make the choice I did.
Tomorrow I depart with Ernie and his friend Adam to meet up with Eric and his posse (or harem, perhaps) of what are certain to be tendy, beautiful SoCal boys so that we can party our asses off poolside at a luxurious Palm Springs vacation home, inbetween dancing our asses off at Coachella, SoCal’s most fabulous music festival.
The schedule is jam-packed for Saturday and Sunday and I’m going to get to see some artists I’ve never seen live, one that I have, and potentially a lot more that I’ve never even heard of. Here are some of the acts that have me nearly wetting myself:
- Depeche Mode - I can’t believe that I’ve never seen them live! Along with Erasure and the Pet Shop Boys, DM is one of those bands that has completely defined my taste musically, and for whatever reason, I’ve been missing them every single time I’ve had the chance to go.
- Madonna - Stereotype police! The reality is that Madonna puts on one hell of a show, and even though I’m going to be seeing her in San Jose in May, seeing her in the Sahara Dance Tent (a smaller venue for certain) is going to be as close to having her in my own living room as I will ever get without chloroform and duct tape.
- Scissor Sisters - *swoon* I’ve loved them since I first heard their album and their tracks are probably at the absolute top of every playlist I’ve ever made. And Jake Shears (a.k.a. Jason Sellards) shall someday be mine.
It can’t come quickly enough.
- Mylo - I just recently discovered this DJ. His infectious song In My Arms samples Waiting for a Star to Fall by Boy Meets Girl, and Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes. Any song that mixes these two cheesy 80s staples has got to be by someone who kicks some serious ass. And he went deaf briefly this year. How dramatic and deliciously tragic!
- She Wants Revenge - This band reminds me of Dead or Alive. Dark, a little bit dancey, and a tiny bit pained-sounding. I haven’t listened to most of their album, but the tracks I know are really intriguing.
- Bloc Party - I don’t need to elaborate on this one.
New wave retro rock is still fashionable, no matter what anyone tells you.
- The Like - What I Say and What I Mean is the track by these hot rock chicks that got me really interested in their music. Girls who aren’t afraid to sweat and play guitar are hot.
There are also a few more artists I might be seeing (lord knows there are enough to choose from) but I will save that for after the show is over, the sweat stops flowing, and the porta-potty line shrinks to a manageable size.
Until then…
Tags: adam, bloc party, coachella, depeche mode, eric, ernie, hella, madonna, music, mylo, scissor sisters, she wants revenge, the like
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02.07.06
Posted in music, depeche mode, iPod, music tuesday, iTunes, mp3, alphaville, crystal method, devo, download, echo and the bunnymen, erasure, howard jones, INXS, morrissey, new order, new wave, remixes, review, richard x, synthpop, the cure, tiga, yaz at 10:24 pm by admin
Okay, I will admit it. I’m a remix fiend. Some of my favorite versions of songs by the artists that I love are remixed. However, I’m pretty picky about the remixes I like.
For instance, if you’re going to remix Into the Groove, don’t waste my time by just looping Madonna saying “…and you can dance!” over and over again. The measure of a good remix, in my opinion, is whether it maintains enough of the original song to be recognizable, and whether it is musically engaging. Placing a cappella Cher vocals over a tribal beat does not qualify. However, take those same vocals and rework them over some Spanish flamenco guitar, and we might just talk.
Future Retro, a compilation that was released today, is a pure synthpop new wave masterpiece. It is one of the rare discs that follows the magic formula of combining amazing artists (Erasure, New Order, Depeche Mode, Morrissey), songs that were great to begin with (A Little Respect, Bizarre Love Triangle, Suedehead), and retooled versions by remixers who are actually talented (Tiga, Richard X, The Crystal Method).
The best part of this album is that the remixes are very true to the synthesized new wave roots of the songs. Instead of awkwardly forcing these classic gems into awful uptempo Dance Dance Revolution-style Europop mixes performed by boring stock vocalists (case in point: DJ Sammy’s Heaven), these productions, many of which are down-tempo, feel organic and natural. There’s none of that frequent feeling of disappointment I get with remixes: “I really like the song, but it just wasn’t meant to be remixed!”
Standout tracks include the synth-heavy Jaded Aliiance remix of A Little Respect, a totally glam rock remix of Book of Love’s Boy, and a minimalistic (yet still melodic) remix of New Order’s Bizarre Love Triangle.
For your listening pleasure, here’s a sample track from the album, which can be purchased through iTunes.
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (Crystal Method Extended Mix)
Track List (from Amazon)
1. Walk (Infusion Mix) — The Cure
2. Situation (Richard X Remix) — Yaz
3. Lips Like Sugar (Way Out West Remix Edit) — Echo and the Bunnymen
4. Need You Tonight (Static Revenger Mix Edit) — INXS
5. Shake the Disease (Tiga Remix) — Depeche Mode
6. Little Respect (Jaded Alliance ‘Electrospect’ Remix) — Erasure
7. New Song (Peter Black & Hadrock Striker Mix Edit) — Howard Jones
8. Forever Young (Hamel Album Mix) — Alphaville
9. Bizarre Love Triangle (Crystal Method Extended Mix) — New Order
10. White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It, Elite Force Mix) — Grandmaster & Melle Mel
11. Girl U Want (Black Light Odyssey Mix) — Devo
12. NoWhere Girl (Adam Freeland Mix) — B-Movie
13. Boy (DJ Irene Rockstar Mix) — Book of Love
14. Suedehead (Sparks Remix) — Morrissey
Tags: alphaville, crystal method, depeche mode, devo, download, echo and the bunnymen, erasure, howard jones, INXS, iPod, iTunes, morrissey, mp3, music, new order, new wave, remixes, review, richard x, synthpop, the cure, tiga, yaz
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