Z-Trip
I Want You Back (Z-Trip Remix)- Jackson Five
This reappeared courtesy of my iTunes shuffle last week and I remembered how much I like its retro tilt. Me thinks you will as well.
HotSnax
Tears Of A Clown (Hotsnax Remix)- Smokey Robinson
Another retro-ish remix that parallels Z Trips piece.
Mangled Heart (IAMXL mashupGossip vs The Emotions
He does it again. IAMXL is a rabid talent. Buy more of his remixy treasures here Crack4DJs
Flufftronix
Cross The Floor
Fluff is a Philly fav and this track was brought to my attention by the fine Matthewmixveigh
Blood Shakes
The Fire and The Reason – Fuckbailefunk Remix
Blood Shakes, the Brazilian duo of Zero and Laka) will be releasing their first album Dirty Ghetto Lovers via MySpace Nightlife. This is a nice bit of funky action to get that ball rolling.
Buffet Libre
Who Will (Buffet Libre Remix) – Patrick Wolf
Here is a delicious bite of remix action from the fellas of Buffet Libre. Its got a nice synth pop coating around group harmonies. Puts a nice spin on Wolf’s original.
Sammy Bananas
The Reeling (Sammy Banana Big Choon Mix) – Passion Pit
Waiting out the manic drops of Passion Pit remixes Sammy comes through with a well thought out edit of The Reeling. Establishing a echo-y base to reanimate the stems. It almost has a montage quality build. One of the best PP’s remix attempt in my opinion.
Skinny Friedman
Moth Wings (Skinny Friedman DJ Edit)- Passion Pit
Skinny’s remapping of Moth’s Wings is subtle but whip smart. Rustling the plumage of this track push it in the right spots and making a little more epic. The tiniest changes give it fresh layers and make you really listen hard to both this and the original. Contrast, compare & discuss!
I’m not gunna deny I have a thing for Dinosaur Feathers. They are making the kind of lo-fi pop I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of this year. Except they’re doing it better than the majority of the bands out there. Their first single Teenage Whore is deceptively tender despite it’s title and now we have this new nibblette of ear candy:
They’re playing Pet Ghost Project’s Record Release at Fontana’s on the LES Friday May 29th (this Friday) so come out and catch them live.
Today is my sister Lilly’s 30th birthday. From choreographing dances to NKOTB to camping in a van at Phish shows we have shared a number of amazing musical moments. Her incredible ability to remember the lyrics to any song she has ever heard (a talent I have envied my entire life) and true knack for finding a nice piece of pop music have both greatly influenced my musical tastes and knowledge. So in honor of this milestone birthday I salute her with a lil lilmix.
Sparkle – Phish (live)
Just Like Heaven – Kat Edmondson
Listen Girl - The Frames
Getting Better (Beatles cover) - Fionn Regan
I was on deadline for two projects today and the cosmos were just not aligned for efficiency. Internet fail at the mobile office, man passing out/seizing next to me at Starbucks , late trains, I could go on. Despite insanity breathing down my neck I kept getting drawn into some musical awesomeness. Fortunately I made my deadlines so as a little long weekend treat I’m putting out a little post of what caught my fancy amidst the chaos.
Saw White Rabbits last night at The Bowery Ballroom (full review to come) and the album doesn’t even touch the electricity of the live show. This has been on loop pretty much all day…
You know I can’t resist a dance video and this guy has got a nice mix of geek + groove + carefree attitude I immediately adored him.
DaveyDanceBlog -64- NYC Union Square from Pheasant Plucker on Vimeo.
And finally IAMXL is apparently using the peppy pills cause he’s been pumping out really awesome work lately. The assortment compliments the RANDOM theme for this post. He tackled Gogol Bordello and Stars, of course.
Gypsy Part Of Town (remix)
The Night Starts Here (remix)
Put these on, take a deep breath, and let long weekend status officially set in!
One of the reasons I put the effort I do into maintaining The World In A Paper Cup is the incredible community of people involved in creating, producing, promoting, debating, supporting and sharing music. In the last six months I have met (both virtually and literally) some sincerely passionate, fascinating and knowledgeable music heads all with their own unique stories and perspectives to share. One such person is John Wood the man behind The Learning Music Series. You may recognize his name, he has manned the keyboards for a wide swath of act out there today (including Inara George, Sebastien Tellier, Mike Andrews etc). He is also a fervent supporter of all things creative.
In 2006 he began a collaborative effort to produce a homemade “album” a month. These initial efforts included cassette recordings, music videos, new material from electro, folk and pop artists, even a autobiographical musical contributed by a robot. The material isn’t limited to one genre or aural aesthetic. The only consistent thread is the high quality of intent and skill put into each piece. As the momentum grew the project became a live act performing with a revolving cast ranging from four to 20 musicians. Wood has tapped the talents of some of his friends in the Bird & The Bee, The Section Quartet, Beck and Obi Best to lend their hand to these performances. An experience that I have no doubt must be a sight to behold.
They still release an album a month on a sliding scale from $.01 for the digital edition to $59 for a beautifully packaged album with homemade cover art delivered to your door every month for a year. The 2009 series began in March so you’re not too far behind (and you can still catch up). The material thus far is astounding. My personal favorite being the single off of May’s album; 87 Year Old Brain. An enjoyable little morsel featuring hand clapping and sing songy harmonies that leave you wanting more. The full album is a collection of frequent LM contributor Jeff Eliasson’s favorites from the first LM series; re-recorded by Jeff and his band with Wood providing vocals. Listen to the single from April Electric Letter and you will get a sense of the variety these albums provide. Enjoy these two tracks but go and sign up for the full she-bang. It will be like Christmas coming every month when that Learning Music package is delivered.
*Art courtesy of Jeff Eliasson
Will Dailey, a singer/song writer who hails from Boston who has been hovering on my radar for a while, is finally breaking the surface of wider, much deserved, acclaim so I thought I’d do my job of keeping you in the loop on acts you need to know about.
Will’s voice has a fresh rasp to it which allows for a surprising degree of flexibility when delivering his work. This year he will release a new EP every three months, each with their own focus. So far, vol. 1 Fashion Of Distraction tossed a nod to the southern rock of the 70′s, captured perfectly on the track Piece of Mind. Vol 2. By The Blue Hills is a homage to his Boston musical roots. The vocal cameo’s that support the effort range from Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo) to Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses) to Elliott Easton (The Cars) and even Tim Brennan (Dropkick Murphys). The eight tracks on this EP prove his dedication to and respect for the musical community distinct to Boston. I’m particularly fond of Tomorrow Still Comes and the wonderful How Can I Make You Happy.
He is setting out on an East coast tour this month and you should really make an effort to see him. I’ll be at the World Cafe show on July 25th. See what you’ll be in for … watch him cover the Tears For Fears classic then go buy your ticket.
Enjoy this video of a track off of Vol 1.
Keep You A Mystery from Will Dailey on Vimeo.
A little while back I featured a video of an international “cover” of Stand By Me. Well, it turns out it is just one track of many featured on Playing For Change a recently released two disc CD/DVD. The project started in 2005 and has gone all around the world recording various musicians singing the selected tracks. Then the recordings are interwoven to create collaborative covers that really demonstrate that music is really a universal language. Starbucks [a company that has totally restructured itself in the last six months from world devouring coffee conglom to refocus on localized services and higher standards of service] has been promoting the CD at it’s POS and the Playing For Change team is continually working on new tracks and posting new video.
I am so beyond envious of these guys. I would love the chance to travel the world recording music. But until that check from winning the dutch lottery I keep getting emails about arrives I will have to make due with being the person who brings this good work to you.
This edition of remix rehash is a mixed bag of soul, pop, electro and awesome. A lot of heat was put on my in box this week and there was absolutely no way I was going to be able to sort through it all. I leave such insanity to my fellow manic dedicated efficient bloggers. However, there were a few that really grabbed my ear.
Gypsy Woman (mike Genius remix)
My current roommate and I are about to part ways and this track reminds we of him a little glammy a little old school a lot of fun. So it is for him I put this out there.
Little Secrets (Pepepe Remix)
There are a gajillion and one Passion Pit remixes out there right now. Some are pretty fantastic and deserve you seeking them out. I like this one because it tosses a little nod to Passion Pit’s first EP while still putting a wicked edge on their new track.
Hooligans (Don Diablo’s Drive By Disco Mix)
This has a little bit of a eighties pop punchyness to it. Another grand roll with Don Diablo
Make It Funky
This mix hit me so right this week. Coming to me courtesy of Cubik Musik it scratched a soul funk itch that was nagging me all week. I have had this on regular replay all week and has been instrumental in averting some crazy making melt downs.
Dance Dance Dance (Buraka Som Sistema remix)
I really can’t tell you how very very much I like this remix. It continues to find me at the absolutely best moments. Load it on your shuffle and let it speak to you as well!
My mother is the person responsible for instilling in me a passion for three of life’s greatest things politics, books and music. She’s the one who always made sure Dire Strait’s Money For Nothing was playing every time we drove Glacier’s Going to The Sun Road. The one who expected me to know who played lead and who took vocals on all the Beatles tracks. The main supporter of my decision to feature the Fixin To Die Rag in my report on songs of protest in seventh grade. She came to my music listening competitions and has kept me on my toes with new music discoveries over the years. There have been times when music was the only way she and I could communicate. She sent me on the road to Philly (a move she referred to as “something I was doing to her”) with a mix CD series that broke my heart, made me laugh but let me know that, despite her inability to say so, she was proud of my independence. So, it is only natural that today I would honor her with a playlist that I know will speak volumes without me having to tell her much more than I wish I were on the deck with you at the lake right now.
•I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Damien Rice
•Tracks Of My Tears> Cupid > People Get Ready
Gavin DeGraw
•Into the Mystic
Tres Tangled Truckers (Jason Isbell, Caitlan Cary, Kevn Kinney, Dave Bartholomew)
•Mamma Mia
Miniature Tigers
•Beast Of Burden & Sweet Jane
The Kooks
•Always On My Mind
Ryan Adams
•These Days
Gregg Allman
•Tonight You Belong To Me
The Bird & The Bee
