About Me
In addition to writing for RCRD LBL, I edit/write/run Little White Earbuds and try to find places in Chicago that will let me DJ. It's a lot harder than you might think.
Steve Mizek
RCRD LBL BLOGGER
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Age: 25
- Website: http://www.littlewhiteearbuds.com
- Number of Blog Posts: 156 Steve Mizek's My RCRD LBL Profile
About Me
DOWNLOAD: The Pimps of Joy - San Francisco Bound (DJ Obah Remix)
The western world awash in "corporate social responsibility" initiatives in which companies find ways to be greener or donate money, and it's generally accompanied by at least a whiff of self-interest. By contrast, New York City's premier DJ training institute, Dubspot, is not only a positive and constructive environment for youngsters; they've also launched a series of charitable mix CDs. The first is Funk Aid for Africa, a 20-track CD mixed by DJ Obah whose proceeds are donated wholly to a foundation that's building schools and playgrounds for poor children in Dennilton, South Africa. One of the many bands eager to donate their music to a good cause are Brooklyn's The Pimps of Joytime. Their "San Francisco Bound" (remixed by DJ Obah) features the low-slung, hand percussion-led grooves you might expect with frothy synth details you probably won't. These Pimps conjure escapist vibes as they yearn for the easygoing San Francisco life -- for something better. You too can make the world a better place by lining up behind Dubspot and these 20 talented bands.
Sounds like: The Roots, Kutiman
VIDEO THRWBCK: The Streets - Blinded By the Lights (2001)
Any time someone even breathes a positive word about Asher Roth around me I want to sit them down and make them watch the video for "Blinded By the Lights" by The Streets. There is a way to write about intoxicated living in a thoroughly engaging way, and it doesn't involve reading LiveJournal raps over ripped off Weezer guitar parts.
DOWNLOAD: Norman Cook - Siente Mi Ritmo
(Photo: Richard Cannon)
It's been more than a decade now since Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, introduced America to Big Beat with the debut album, You've Come A Long Way, Baby. Although you can still hear "Praise You" or "The Rockafeller Skank" on radio every now and again, Mr. Cook has largely faded from public consciousness even after 2004's Palookaville. But look closely at Revolution, a compilation pairing UK/US producers with young Cuban musicians, and Norman's name peaks out from the tracklist. Even more surprising, the sensual somba of his track "Siente Mi Ritmo" is the record's most traditional cut. Where Cook diverges from tradition is the vocals, which he dunks in space-creating dub echos to give the tune a spectral edge. After this, one wonders where we'll find Norman Cook in 10 more years.
Sounds like: Bebel Gilberto, Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66
DOWNLOAD: The ReBel Yell - Heartbreak 101 + Army of Misfits
They say anything can be accomplish anything if you believe it will happen. Just from his name you can tell Singer/songwriter/producer SupaStar is one such believer; and it's his project The ReBel Yell that's most likely to help his profile match his name. Working in collaboration with The Roots' producer James Poyser, SupaStar crafted the sprawling album Love and War with ambitions as bold as the title. Although there are many styles at work here, you could say The ReBel Yell is a future soul outfit that evokes the progressiveness of Prince or Cee-Lo. "Army of Misfits," for example, pits blinking futuristic beats against simple piano chords and SupaStar's grinning admonishment of people who try to pigeonhole his sound. By contrast, "Heartbreak 101" unwinds Supastar's romantic woes over growling guitar licks and skittering technoid beats. So no matter what angle a listener comes at The ReBel Yell there's something to admire. Therein lies the secret to SupaStar's prospective ascendancy.
Sounds like: Cee-Lo, Prince, Black Eyed Peas
The ReBel Yell - Army of Misfits
EXCLUSIVE NEW DOWNLOAD: Cortney Tidwell - Watusii (Simon Baker Remix)
While most folks rightly associate Cortney Tidwell with rock and folk, she has a surprising following among dance music fans well. That's in no small part because of a sprawling Ewan Pearson remix of her song "Don't Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up." She also lent her voice to a track on deep house producer Sideshow's recent album, reigniting her following on dance floors. But if one track keeps the fire burning, it'll be Simon Baker's remix of her raucous tune "Watusii." Stringing together beads of sampled tones into a tense new melody, Baker jaunty tech-house beat keeps things light and bouncing. Although Tidwell is largely kept in the background, her concerned vocals dominate the beatless middle minute before receding into the background again. If rock and folk is Cortney Tidwell's day job, the club scene is always happy to have her moonlight with friends like Simon Baker in tow.
Sounds like: 2020Soundsystem, Holger Zilske, Audion
DOWNLOAD: Faunts - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of (Lemonade Remix) + Explain (Home Video Remix)
It seems like Edmonton's Faunts are equally interested in hearing others' interpretations of their music as they are in making it. Last year they released a CD of 14 remixes of earlier material; and now that album number three, Feel.Love.Thinking.Of, has had time to rest on store shelves they've commissed another batch of remixes. Like Faunts, Lemonade and Home Video straddle the line between electronic dance music and rock. Lemonade turn their cumbia fascination on "Feel.Love.Thinking.Of." and end up taking it seaside to let balmy guitar lines whip through listeners hair and rolling bongos provide the beat. Meanwhile, Home Video finds Radiohead in Faunts' "Explain," letting the tension build behind swelling synths and smoldering guitar lines. Now it's time for Faunts to step up to the remixing console.
Sounds like: Radiohead, Senor Coconut, El Guincho
Faunts - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of. (Lemonade remix)
Faunts - Explain (Home Video remix)
Previously:
Faunts - M4 (Part II) (The Paronomasiac Remix)
Faunts - Memories of Places We've Never Been (T.H. White Remix)
Faunts - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of.
DOWNLOAD: Pezzner - Chapter Two
In anticipation of their 15th year of existence, San Franscisco house label Om Records has commissioned a two disc CD compilation that looks over its past and future. OM 15 is split into two halves: one to get the blood moving featuring Om's house and techno side, while the other brings you down while highlighting the label's downtempo artists. Sandwiched between uber producer Radio Slave and Fish Go Deep on the first disc, Pezzner brings an Eastern feel to his hypnotic "Chapter Two." Punctuated by handclaps and Chiclet-sized marimba melodies, the tune catches dancers in a whirlwind of Asian influenced motifs. May Om be blessed with another 15 years to explore this further.
Sounds like: Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts, SIS, Luciano
VIDEO THRWBCK: Alkaline Trio - Stupid Kid (2001)
There are certain bands and songs I didn't think would stick with me past high school, when bands like Saves the Day and Alkaline Trio seem the peak of musical existence (or at least junior year). And yet tracks like "Stupid Kid," from right before AK3 completely lost sight themselves, still grab me and make me want to bounce around like an idiot.
DOWNLOAD: Dada Life - Happy Hands& Happy Feet
Heavily affected vocals that blur gender lines are often seen as the purview of mysterious dubstepper Burial or eerie The Knife. Yet "Happy Hands & Happy Feet," a track from Dada Life's forthcoming debut album, proves the effect works just as well in balls out maximalist electronic music as well. Grunged up with copious distortion, Dada Life pits growling synth lines against androgynous vocals extolling "happy hands and happy feet dancing to the disco beat." Happily, Dada Life seem more enamored with the vicious offerings of Alter Ego than Justice, which makes for tighter structures that fit nicely into DJs' hands. Don't be surprised if you find yourself singing along to this song in your head, your own vocal cords wiggling to keep up.
Sounds like: Simian Mobile Disco, Alter Ego
DOWNLOAD: Santigold - Anne (King Britt Moody Mix)
Few young artists have received such rigorous remix treatment as Santigold, whose remixed material literally outweighs the originals. So new remixes of Santigold tracks have to be rather special to stand out from the pack, and King Britt's "Moody Mix" of "Anne" has novelty in spades. Further departing from typical house beats, King Britt pairs Santigold's dejected moan with shuddering dubstep rhythms and simmering tension, care of a quartet of guitar lines. The whole thing feels like it was born in an alley at midnight, begging for the world to take mercy on its tortured (and alluring) vocalist. Any revision to make listeners empathize with Santigold this far into the remix cycle deserves to be heard.
Sounds like: Gwen Stefani, Flying Lotus
Santigold - Anne (King Britt Moody Mix)
Previously:
Santigold - L.E.S. Artistes (XXXChange Remix)
Santigold - Shove It (Switch Remix)
Santigold - Shove It (Three 6 Mafia Remix ft. Project Pat)
Santigold - Unstoppable [feat. Lil Wayne & Drake]
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