Longing for the best

Another very diverse group of songs ranging from electro to pop to progressive house to progressive trance to indie rock to foreign rock to house to folk to borderline rap. Get excited!

Countries represented: France, USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Romania, Ireland, Netherlands.

1. Designer Drugs – Zombies (Kiddie Smile Remix): The remix includes French lyrics that make the song even more intense. Can’t wait for next Halloween.
2. Robyn – Dancing On My Own (Fred Falke Radio Edit): Robyn continues her comeback and Fred Falke continues to structure his remixes the same. And there’s nothing wrong with that…Yet.
3. Uffie feat. Pharrell – ADD SUV (Armand Van Helden Remix): Just funky enough and Pharrell really adds to the track.
4. George Acosta feat. Fisher – Beautiful: Soothing vocals and driving beat. Very progressive.
5. Beyoncé – Why Don’t You Love Me (EDX Remix): A very Hed Kandi type of song that will be perfect this summer. Loving the strings.
6. Wynter Gordon – Dirty Talk: Produced by David Guetta who continues to crank out the American dance-pop tunes. Not sure why there’s no release date slated for this extremely catchy.
7. Sam Sparro – Pocket (The Presets Radio Mix): One year old, but exquisite nonetheless. Great advice in these lyrics.
8. Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing: A la “She & Him”, this song is almost too cute.
9. Miami Horror – Moon Theory (Sam La More Remix): The original track was great, but Sam La More’s take is even more intriguing. Nice transfers of energy.
10. Sarah Blasko – Hold On My Heart (The Presets Remix): Sarah Blasko kills in the soft vocals department. 100% Australian and 100% worthwhile.
11. Example – Kickstarts (Radio Edit): This guy from the U.K. continues to produce unique rap-dance tracks. Cool video too.
12. Vama – Cantec De Gasit: Be the second non-Romanian to listen to this song. Don’t worry, most of this pop-rock is sans lyrics.
13. Andy Bell – Call On Me: Thankfully not a remake of Eric Prydz’s 2004 jam. Andy creates a very experimental sound.
14. Kaskade feat. Becky Jean Williams – Empty Streets: One of the two best tracks from the new album.
15. Kaskade feat. Haley & EDX – Don’t Stop Dancing: Perhaps the best song of the month. Hands down the classiest song of the season.
16. Don Diablo – A Million Miles: Great chorus. Less intense than some of Don Diablo’s previous work.
17. Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP – We No Speak Americano: HUGE in Australia right now – and for good reason. Flawless.
18. Lady Gaga – Alejandro (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit): The BPMs on the original were too slow anyway.
19. Sia – Clap Your Hands (Fred Falke Remix): You either hate or love Sia’s vocals, but either way, Fred Falke again succeeds in creating a momentum-laden track.
20. Minus the Bear – Excuses: For those cloudy sunsets.
21. Two Door Cinema Club – Eat That Up, It’s Good For You: Sweet indie rock.

1. Autotune never fails to please the ears of the masses
2. Snoop Dogg is a legend, and, even though this song is far from his roots, he will drive sales
3. Production by the same cast responsible for “I Kissed A Girl” (a #1 hit)
4. Similar structure and melody to recent pop hits “Party in the USA” and “Tik Tok”
5. A reference to ‘gin and juice’ cannot go wrong
6. “So hot we’ll melt your popsicle” sounds like a lyric young girls will remember
7. Empowers women through descriptions of California girls as “fine, fresh, fierce” (alliteration, even!)
8. Autotuned “California” is reminiscent of 2Pac’s “California Love”

Coming out of the dark and into Spring!

The blogs have been more active than ever with posts of new artists and remixes this season. It seems as if everyone is ready for some good weather and have put their anticipation into aural media. Check out the newly formed Fairtilizer for some great playlists and easy to download tracks incorporating the new indie-electro sound. In the meantime, here’s what TKBB listens to while cruising and commuting through the streets of LA:

1. Train – Hey, Soul Sister (Karmatronic Radio Edit). Best chorus ever: “Ain’t that Mr. Mister on the radio” combines with soft electro beats.
2. Alex Goose – Dear Winter. Somehow this was not selected for Jay-Z’s BP3, but the sample is killer.
3. Class Actress – Journal of Ardency. Love the song, not the video.
4. The Antlers – Two (Buffetlibre Remix). Wimpy sounding vocals that add to the dream-like qualities of this one.
5. NightWaves – Sweet Carrie. Songs about girls always seem to work out, especially when they have Volvos.
6. Pony Pony Run Run – Walking on a Line (Lifelike Remix). Song of the month, hands down. French power-pop remixed to the max. The original is great too.
7. Jupiter – Vox Populi (Lifelike Treatment). Off the new Kitsune Maison 9 compilation. Keep the treble low on this one.
8. Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix). The catchiest track on this list by an up-and-coming Irish band.
9. Paul – Born 2 Luv. Very French, very filtered, very 80’s.
10. Le Matos feat. Coeur De Pirate – How Do I Let You Know. Phoebe Cates may lack in the vocal department, but that innocence is what makes this remix work.
11. Tommy Sparks – Miracle (Grum Remix). More filtered goodness.
12. Radio Ink – Wish U Were Here (Diamond Cut Remix). Radio Ink is a new group out of Sydney. The original is typical Australian pop, but this version is much different.
13. Empire of the Sun – Half Mast (Slight Return). Powerful with all sorts of fun sounds.

And still a few from the March Playlist.

Countries represented: USA, France, Ireland, Canada, England, Australia, Spain

Trees/birds or face? You decide.

All songs can probably be found on the Hype Machine.

March 2010 – Springlike qualities abound with this selection of current tracks:

1. Penguin Prison – The Worse It Gets. Two layers of lyrics make it happen.
2. Carmen Rizzo ft. Jem – Ecouter. For the night.
3. Groove Armada – I Won’t Kneel. Very light.
4. Temple One ft. Hannah Ray – Autum Leaves. Great trance tune.
5. Kisses – Bermuda. Summer is here.
6. Jamaica – I Think I Like U 2. Very upbeat.
7. The Vanish – Hold On (Russ Chimes Remix). Great instrumentals.
8. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Death Metal Disco Scene Remake). A completely different (sorrowful) take on this classic.
9. Penguin Prison – Something I’m Not (Krispin Korg Remix). One of the best songs of the month.
10. Pin Me Down – Time Crisis (Co-Pilots Turbulence Remix). Awesome chorus.
11. Jump Jump Dance Dance – Show Me The Night (Human Life’s West Coast Girls Remix). Great remix.
12. Grum – Can’t Shake This Feeling. Cool song.
13. Hey Champ – Cold Dust Girl. Nice guitar.
14. Evil Nine ft. Spoek Mathambo – No Manners. Exciting the whole way through.
15. The xx – Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit). For night.
16. Kavinsky – Nightcall (Breakbot Remix). The vocals make it work.
17. Tom Boxer ft. Antonia – Morena. For the Romanian in all of us.
18. The Bird And The Bee – Private Eyes. Great cover of a classic.
19. The Bird And The Bee – I Can’t Go For That. Another great cover.
20. Italian Japanese – Le Pony. Great rock tune. with an even better chorus.
21. Dragonette – Pick Up The Phone (Van She Mix). Listen for the momentum into the chorus.
    
22. The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition. One year old and still soothing.

Love {valeriecollective}

Every month a collection of new songs is released to radio stations, DJs, and promotional outlets around the world. One such disc is intended for mainstream radio, and consists of pop songs. Some months have more potential than others, but just think about what was on the October 1998 CD:

Now there is success – all of the acts besides Cleopatra and N-Tyce either had already been huge or later went on to success. Most notable were the tracks by Alanis Morrissette, Brandy, Shawn Mullins, Goo Goo Dolls, Will Smith, Lenny Kravitz, and Britney Spears. Who knew “Music Sounds Better With You” made it to this stage of commerciality?

Needless to say, November 1998 was not as successful. It featured forgettable songs by Jennifer Love Hewitt and Five, but it did contain jams by New Radicals and The Offspring.

February 2010:

1. Florrie - Call 911 (Fred Falke Remix). More of that new sound for a new decade.
2. Hurts – Unspoken (Fred Falke Remix). A gently driving tune.
3. Boys Like Girls ft. Taylor Swift – Two Is Better Than One (Smash Mode Radio Remix). A downtempo take on Taylor Swift.
4. Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed (Russ Chimes Remix). Great keyboard action.
5. Selena Gomez – Naturally (Dave Audé Remix). Young talent, fine remix.
6. Rye Rye – Bang (Addeboy vs. Cliff Remix ft. Adam Tensta). Nice Scandanavian rap touch.
7. BT – Suddenly (Cicada Mix). A powerful song featuring the vocals of Christian Burns.
8. Gramophonedzie – Why Don’t You. The artist name describes this one well – gramophone meets electronic music.
9. Moam – Last Night In Paris. Pure love emanates from this one.
10. M’Black – Heartbreak. Love the inflection on the vocals.
11. Dr. Dre – Keep Their Heads Ringin’. For the West Coaster in all of us. Great intro too.

1. Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on the Run: For group runs, plus the intro is pretty sweet.
2. The Eagles – The Long Run: Slower tempo, but good for what-the-title-says runs.
3. Chuck Berry – Run Rudolph, Run: Replace Rudolph with your name and you’re good to go.
4. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – The Runner: The perfect song for a running montage. The runner’s “Eye of the Tiger”.
5. Jackson Browne – Running on Empty: For late in the run.
6. Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill: Make a deal with God to get up those pesky hills.
7. Van Halen – Running With the Devil: Sometimes it takes the devil to push us along.
8. Steve Miller Band – Take the Money and Run: Generally inspirational, applies more for professional athletes.

Newer songs that aren’t often found on running playlists. In fact, relatively few people know of these:

1. Tocadisco – Better Run: A house song with the chorus “you’d better run, you don’t know what you’re in for.” Pretty good motivation.
2. The Energies – Born Again Runner (Lifelike Remix): The instrumental is from another planet, and great lines like “endless circulation now” will keep you going for a few additional minutes.
3. Dash Berlin – Man On The Run: A radio-friendly vocal trance song with some powerful climaxes.
4. Real McCoy – Run Away: Sure, songs about running away don’t necessarily apply to a training run, but this one is exceptional. 90’s dance at its finest.
5. Doman and Gooding – Runnin: This song works best while on the track, since it talks about running circles out of love.
6. Evermore – Running (Sneaky Sound System): An Australian remix of an Australian track about staying afloat by running.
7. Max Coveri – Running in the 90’s: A Japanese euro-dance song intended for the auto crowd, but perfectly applicable for those runners stuck in the past, especially stylistically.
8. Empire of the Sun – Walking On A Dream: Probably one of the greatest least-known running songs. Lyrics like “running for the thrill of it” never grow old.