BEST OF 2012: Party Music
Posted by Elise Peebles
Tags: best of 2012, dance, electronic, hip-hop, rap, pop, party, mixes, playlists
Today's recap and mix comes courtesy of RCRD LBL contributor Elise Peebles. Check her out online here and here.
Party music in 2012 was one big cluster of genre-bending goodness. New releases from favorite artists did not disappoint, while inventive producers and DJs creatively provided a diverse landscape of club anthems.
Members of the old guard held it down, but 2012 saw the rise of newcomers unafraid to blend street swag with dance music. The result has been the continuance of pounding global bass, a sprinkle of '80s synths and drumbeats and a brilliant revival of '90s house and R&B.
Oh, and let's not forget the vibrant comeback of trap music and its not-so-subtle influences on pop and indie. From the mobbing and booty-shaking bangers to the wavy tracks that made you go 'Damn, I'm faded,' here are some great songs for a New Years Eve party and an overview of notable party-related developments in 2012.
Azealia Banks Rules The World - Banks hit hard with her smash single "212," but it's been subsequent tracks such as "Jumanji" and "1991" that have kept our attention. She also has a knack for delivering kooky but highly-seductive videos, which is a plus. Her high energy and unapologetic attitude are palpable in her songs, which makes Banks a go-to for all the divas and divos wanting to be fierce for the night.
Brenmar Is Dope - What more can be said? As a producer and avid remixer, Brenmar has lit up the scene. He's like the reincarnation of everything great that we thought had died in 1998. He'll two-step you, house you and force you to make it clap all on one track. Simple titles such as 'R&B' or 'club' just aren't sufficient for him and some of his peers, but one thing is certain: He's brought straight swag to the dancefloor.
Solidisco - This DJ duo from Buffalo, NY simply can't be overlooked. Solidisco has delivered one sexy, lush remix after another and it's obvious they're not going to stop anytime soon. Personally, I'd love to see the duo bringing the house down at a sweaty summer festival in 2013.
Diplo - He's Diplo, and always will be – forever and ever.
All Hail G.O.O.D. Music - It's kind of hard to go to a party and not hear a G.O.O.D. Music track in some form. As a label and collective, GM has titans of hip-hop, some of the best new talent and an admirable collection of young producers, like Hit-Boy, who murdered the charts last year with "Niggas In Paris" and delivered equally well this year with "Clique." Kanye West boasts that he can 'build Rome in one day,' and he's done it here – musically speaking at least.
Avan Lava - With the recent debut of the intoxicating video for "Sisters," Avan Lava has reminded listeners that its Flex Fantasy EP still packs a punch, even though it came out nearly a year ago. I'd vote it as my favorite EP of the year, especially for dancing. With only a handful of tracks, Avan Lava comes off as Prince, multiplied by six and jack-full of liquid-sex funk. The momentum of this EP will carry on for awhile, but Avan Lava needs to keep making sticky and wicked music forever.
Dancing Is Getting Intense - Despite acts like Brenmar, Avan Lava, Teen Daze and Solidisco providing plenty of funk and house grooves, party scenes could not escape the clutches of trap, drill and bounce music. As a result of this and other aspects of YOLO culture, dancefloors have been turned into mob scenes, much purple drank has been consumed and many eyes have been taken-out by swinging hair.
This isn't entirely a bad thing. You'll never feel more accepted than when you're chanting the lyrics to "Bandz A Make Her Dance" with your rowdy comrades in a crowd. Nothing brings people together better than a twerk-off. Somehow the community-building ratchet madness that was once reserved for basement parties in Atlanta or Oakland has now found its way into venues and clubs around the world, so put your drink down and take your earrings out. Or just get the hell off the floor whenever our man 2 Chainz comes on.
M.I.A.- Bad Girls
Kanye West ft. Pusha T, Chief Keef, Jadakiss and Big Sean- I Don't Like (Remix)
Azealia Banks - Jumanji
Mykki Blanco - Wavvy
Kirko Bangz - Drank in My Cup
Diplo ft. Nicky da B - Express Yourself
Justin Timberlake ft. Beyonce - End of Time (Brenmar Remix)
Miike Snow - Devil's Work (Dirty South Remix)
Passion Pit - Constant Conversations (St. Lucia Remix)
Tegan and Sara - Closer
St. Lucia - All Eyes on You
Avan Lava - It's Never Over
Usher - Climax (Flosstradamus and Diplo Remix)
G.O.O.D. Music - Clique
Icona Pop - I Love It (Solidisco Remix)
2 Chainz ft. Kanye West - Birthday Song
Alex Care - Up All Night (Nadastrom Moombathon Remix)
Zuzuka Poderosa - Psicodelia (Nego Mocambique Remix)
Martin Solveig - The Night Out (A-Trak Remix)
Teen Daze - Let's Groove
Kilo Kish - Navy
Miike Snow ft. Lykke Li - Black Tin Box
Crystal Castles - Affection
Le1F - Yup
Wrkd ft. Los Rakas - Purps
Juicy J ft. Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz - Bandz A Make Her Dance
Modular Party w/ Canyons, Jacques Renault (DFA), Justin Miller (DFA) & More This Monday!
PARTY ON FACEBOOK HERE
The lovely lads in Canyons have graced us with their presence for the past two weeks and this Monday they will be sprinkling their DJ magic one last time before they set sail for the West Coast...
MONDAY, AUG 17
Modular Presents
Arrivederci.....CANYONS !!
Free! No List!
w/ Guest DJs
Jacques Renault (Runaway/DFA)
Justin Miller (DFA)
Magic Happens (Modular)
Cliktrax Jen (Modular)
B.East
171 E. Broadway (at Rutgers)
New York City
10pm-4am
http://www.myspace.com/thecanyonsinfo
http://www.modularpeople.com
http://www.dfarecords.com
WORD.
Modular
A (capsule) Afterparty Hosted by Modular at The Ludlow 7/25
More details on (capsule) here: www.capsuleshow.com
Tuesday, July 21
6pm -9pm
The Ludlow - Means of Production Gallery
188 Ludlow (at Houston)
A Capsule Trade Show After Party
Hosted by Modular
with DJs:
JDH & Dave P (Fixed)
http://www.myspace.com/fixednyc
Cousin Cole (Flagrant Fowl)
http://www.myspace.com/cousincole
Jubilee (Nightshifters)
http://www.myspace.com/jubileeownsyou
FREE ENTRY - NO LIST
FREE BUDWEISER
Downtown Downturn Wednesday & Big Party June 11th w/ Tanlines, Solid Gold & Free Energy (DFA)
We've got a moment of Modular madness happening next week and your attendance is most certainly expected, nay required!! Featuring a line up of bands we've been feeling lately, we thought it was about time to step out of the club for a minute and put on an old fashioned show punctuated by far-from-old-fashioned bands. Tanlines are our buddies from Brooklyn and play a mix of tropicalia and disco jams (and have remixed our very own terrible twosome, Tough Alliance). Solid Gold have been building a strong rep for smooth indie and electronic sounds straight outta Prince's backyard of Minneapolis (We're told they've hung out at his house on occasion.) And finally, DFA's newest signing Free Energy will be shooting bolts of electricity out of their instruments with some tunes crafted in the City of Brotherly Love.
The party is only $5 if you RSVP HERE. And, it's part of the Northside Festival, so if you have a badge, you get in free.
Thursday June 11
Public Assembly (Front Room)
70 North 6th St. (Williamsburg, BK)
9pm
Modular Presents
A Northside Festival Event:
Tanlines (Live)
www.myspace.com/tanlinestheband
Solid Gold (Live)
www.myspace.com/solidgoldband
Free Energy (DFA) (Live)
www.myspace.com/freeenergymusic
w/ DJs
Justin Miller (DFA)
Cliktrax Jen & Marizla
& Soviet Panda
$5 w/ RSVP HERE
$8 without
FREE w/ a Northside Festival Badge
www.modularpeople.com/blog
www.northsidefestival.com
Check out pics from past parties:
HERE
HERE
HERE
& HERE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
Modular Presents
DOWNTOWN DOWNTURN
Hosted by PETE MISZUK
(BIRTHDAY BOY)
Free! No List!
$5 BEER SPECIAL
w/ Guest DJs
DISKOKAINE (Austria)
THE OLD SEADOG & PETE MISZUK
& Resident DJ
CLIKTRAX JEN (Modular)
B.East
171 E. Broadway (at Rutgers)
New York City
10pm-4am
Downtown Downturn is supported by our friends at LoudCrowd, a music gaming site soundtracked by indie dance and electro like our own Van She and Cut Copy. Play to beat matching dance and DJ games while winning virtual loot like music tracks and apparel. Check it out:
www.loudcrowd.com/welcome/modular
Modular Presents Downtown Downturn Hosted by LoudCrowd - May 27th
**Your RSVP on Facebook automatically registers you to win a prize pack of CDS and a t-shirt courtesy of Loudcrowd & Modular**
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27
Modular Presents
DOWNTOWN DOWNTURN
Hosted by Loudcrowd
http://loudcrowd.com/
Free! No List!
$5 drink specials all night!
w/ Guest DJs
Rok One (The Bangers)
Fucci (Loudcrowd, Excess Energy)
Dirty Jean (Crucial Get Down, Loudcrowd)
& Resident DJ
Cliktrax Jen (Modular)
B.East
171 E. Broadway (at Rutgers)
New York City
10pm-4am
Past Photos by Hobo Gestapo:
http://hobogestapo.com/galleries.cfm?id=113
http://hobogestapo.com/galleries.cfm?id=88
http://hobogestapo.com/galleries.cfm?id=63
http://hobogestapo.com/galleries.cfm?id=68
Downtown Downturn is every Wednesday at B.East.
Downtown Downturn is supported by our friends at LoudCrowd, a music gaming site soundtracked by indie dance and electro like our own Van She and Cut Copy. Made by guys who worked on Guitar Hero and Rock Band, all of Loudcrowd's music is handpicked by DJs- Check em out:
May 20th: Downtown Downturn Hosted by 2 Mandy DJs at B.East (NYC)
Check out pics from past parties:
HERE
HERE
HERE
& HERE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 Modular Presents
DOWNTOWN DOWNTURN
Hosted by 2 MANDY DJS
http://www.myspace.com/2mandydjs
Free! No List!
$5 BEER SPECIAL
w/ Guest DJs
MANDY C. & MANDY B. (2 Mandy DJs)
ANNA LUNOE (Sydney)
& Resident DJ CLIKTRAX JEN (Modular)
Early set by Tavlin & Kristin!
B.East
171 E. Broadway (at Rutgers)
New York City
10pm-4am
Downtown Downturn is supported by our friends at LoudCrowd, a music gaming site soundtracked by indie dance and electro like our own Van She and Cut Copy. Made by guys who worked on Guitar Hero and Rock Band, all of Loudcrowd's music is handpicked by DJs.
Check it out: http://beta.loudcrowd.com/welcome/modular
CMJ: FEATURED: Bond Music Showcase W. Good Magazine Tonite! + DOWNLOADS
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If you're down to dance tonight, our buddies at Bond Music are hosting a pretty damn riotous slew of performances, from DJ sets by Moby to Le Castle Vania, to dance-pop electro rockers Kudu and Blonde Acid Cult at the debonair West Village hang, Le Poisson Rouge. Plus, co-sponsored by the publishing good-doers, Good Magazine, all donations go to non profits....So essentially you can party till dawn and still feel good about good deeds, all thanks to Good Magazine? Get it, got it, good. In the meantime, here's some tracks for these artists to get you through the day.
Download: Kudu - Suite Life (Carli Remix)
Download: Jacques Renault - Magic Games
Download: Grum - Go Back (Le Castle Vania Remix)
The Institubes Dysfunctional Brotherhood of Blood is back in the US
Bobmo and Jean Nipon (joined by homeland hero Curses! on select dates) are coming for a quick rampage within the US borders. It will be, as you Americans in tight white jeans say, "rad".
Go say hello to our friends at The Fader to cop a brilliant teaser mix put together by Jean Nipon, featuring exclusives such as his new single '4WD', a remix by Bobmo of Surkin's 'Kid Gloves', a snippet of Teki's verse from Orgasmic's take on 'White Knight Two', a taste of Laidback Luke's remix, Feadz' track from the upcoming Eurogirls go to Baltimore part II comp, David Rubato's remix of 'Lights Out' by Santogold and some other goodies.
July 26th: Modular Pool Party at The Standard Hotel Hollywood
The LA summer heat would be absolutely unbearable if it weren’t for two very simple things, awesome pools and kick-ass music. Who better to bring you both at the same time than Modular Records? Our 1st of 3 summer pool parties is kicking off at The Standard Hotel in Hollywood on Saturday, July 26th with DJ sets by Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Health, DJ Kid Lightning, and Jordan Z. FREE with RSVP!
Beans' Birthday Bash
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Thursday.
Be there or be square.
Stream: Beans - Mutescreamer (Prefuse 73 Remix)
