Posts Tagged ‘Dance’

The rise of electro-80’s-pop-indie-dance sounds seems to be a trend that is showing some staying power.  Its a sound that has roots back to the early 2000’s with Daft Punk.  Some notable early players in the genre include Royksopp, Basement Jaxx, Metro Area, Scissor Sisters and Kelley Polar.  More recently you have Hot Chip, Crystal Castles, The Whip, Friendly Fires and the most commercially prolific of the genre, Phoenix (to name a few).

As you know I obviously love finding music that is NOT exactly new… but sounds fresh… and makes an impact, which leads me to the subject of this post.  I have been into The Black Ghosts since early 2009 with their self titled album.  Full Moon is an amazing track off of a very good album and sounds something like a stoned version of Phoenix with an equal mix of Jamiroquai, MGMT and Gorillaz sprinkled on top.  I did not know however until very recently, The Black Ghosts put out a Mixtape in 2008 which totally crushes it.

The Mixtape features remixes by TBG’s among other great DJ’s.  If you are looking for some seriously infectious bass lines, grinding synths and 80’s electro pop beats in an album perfect for an hour long run get ready to be infected.  Of the standout tracks which are posted below The Black Ghosts remix of The One by Trabant is a BIG TIME track!  If your a fan of the genre discussed prior, get ready to clap your hands and peg your jeans.  How this track flew under the radar is amazing, not even a car commercial spot?  This mixtape has more hand claps than a high school cheerleading practice.

The Black Ghosts…. enjoy.

Listen: Trabant – The One (The Black Ghosts Remix)

Listen: The Black Ghosts – Full Moon

Listen: The Black Ghosts – I Want Nothing (Extended Mix)

Listen: The Black Ghosts – Something New

This is the first of 4 posts with 10 songs each which will make up the “Top 40 Songs of 2009 – According to Coach” at cutbucket.com.  Picking 40 songs out of all of the great music that has come out in 2009 proved to be a tremendous challenge which is a testament to all of the new and wonderful sounds that filled my ears this year.

The thing to remember here is that these selections are my opinion based on many things including “my taste”.  The beauty of music is that we all have our own taste and style of sound we prefer.  2009 was an exceptional year regardless of your taste and my selections are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all of the great music released this year.  Whatever your taste is, there are far more than 40 songs which can tell the story of music in 2009.  What an amazing musical time we are living in.  The maturity of the internet, while still far from perfect, has allowed so many more artists to find a channel in which to be heard over.  It’s a great time to be a fan of music.

The criteria that I considered were the following -

Number of Listens – How many times did I play each song (based on tracking within iTunes).  Of course, songs that came out later in the year were weighed against the available length of time listen to each song.

Sticky Factor - Did each song have the ability to “stick in my head” so to speak.? Was it recognizable again immediately after the first couple of listens?  Did I find myself humming the tune in my mind days after hearing it?

Overall Production Value – This speaks for itself…

Uniqueness – We don’t want no posers here.

Single Song Value – This was one of the hardest factors in my consideration.  Was the song strong enough to stand on it’s own without being part of an album.  In the day and age of single song downloads this is very important.   When picking the top “Songs” this has to be a factor.  If I were to pick the top “Albums” this would be a completely different mix of artists.

NOTE ::  As it relates to Single Song Value I had a very tough challenge placing the songs from Animal Collective’s release “Merriweather Post Pavilion”.  To truly appreciate the outstanding quality of their album I feel it needs to be judged as just that… AN ALBUM.  It is by far one of the top 3 of the year!!!  What is so special about Merriweather is it’s value as a work of art as a complete album in the day and age of the single song download.  That being said, none of the individual songs jumped into a natural spot within this list.  Therefore, I have included what I believe are the strongest singles from the album and put them at the bottom of the list.  This by no means represents the value of this album, I just didn’t know what else to do.  I highly suggest you listen to the entire album start to finish if you are going to listen to it at all. SORRY FOR THE LONG EXPLANATION.  I FELT IT WAS DUE.

NOW ON TO THE LIST….

31. About Face – Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest

32. Tell Me True – Sarah Jarosz, Song Up In Her Head

33. Soldier (Feat. Santigold) – N.E.R.D.

34. Walking On a Dream – Empire of the Sun, Walking On a Dream

35. What You Do to Me (feat. Billy Danze, Jim Jones & Nicole Wray) – Blakroc, Blakroc

36. Ghosts N Stuff – Deadmau5, Ghosts N Stuff – Single

37. Higher Than the Stars – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Higher Than the Stars

38. Things Will Never Be the Same Again – JJ, JJ N° 2

39. Summertime Clothes – Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion

40. Brother Sport – Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion

Ladyhawke’s self titled album came out in late 2008 to great response in the UK and she was one of the first of the new “UK Pop Girls” as I like to call them. The genre includes CSS, Little Boots, La Roux and Mpho.  If you haven’t plugged into this phenomena, I suggest highly that you do.

What I love most about these ladies of the “new” “new wave” is that they write and perform most of their music.  All, including Ladyhawke, are accomplished musicians who play keyboard, guitar and drums.  As opposed to Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus.  The worst part is I totally agreed with Kanye.  Although I HATE both Kanye and Taylor.

I digress…. I hope you enjoy my ladies… Ladyhawke and CSS.

Listen: Ladyhawke – My Delirium

Listen: Ladyhawke – Back of the Van

Listen: CSS – Move

Author: Coach

I love music that fits into life.  What I mean is, you can listen to it in different setting or while in different moods.  Walking On a Dream by Empire of the Sun is exactly that sort of cut.  I have already chilled to it while making dinner, getting ready to hit “da club”, working out, doing laundry and drinking pina coladas by the pool.  OK, seriously, I have only listened to it while making dinner, but you will see what I mean when you listen to it.

PS – I included a great remix by Van She.

Listen: Empire of the Sun – Walking On a Dream

Listen: Empire of the Sun – Walking On a Dream (Van She Tech Remix)

Author: Coach

As summer winds down (everywhere but here in Arizona) I’m savoring the number of pool days left. A few more backyard BBQ parties are certainly in order before we start the ridiculously long holiday season.  So here are a few songs to add to your pool party mix.  Get out your blenders and mix up some margaritas, throw some Coronas on ice and don’t forget the sunblock.

Author:  Shike

Listen: The Dirtbombs – Wreck My Flow

Listen: Stellastarr* – Graffiti Eyes

Listen: CYNE – Pretty Apollo

Listen: Q-Tip – Move

Listen: Silversun Pickups – Panic Switch

I happened upon a documentary on the Sundance Channel about a singer/songwriter/cellist named Arthur Russell who performed in the famous “Kitchen” (a downtown avant-garde performance space) in New York. His music is amazing and spans the realms of folk, rock, soundscapes and dance. Just totally unique and amazing sounds.

He was relatively unknown during his lifetime, and a series of reissues and compilations have raised his profile in the 2000’s. Russell died of AIDS on April 4, 1992, at the age of 40. In an April 28 th column, Kyle Gann of The Village Voice wrote: “His recent performances had been so infrequent due to illness, his songs were so personal, that it seems as though he simply vanished into his music.”

This guys was WAY ahead of his time. Many of the indie folk dance sounds coming out today don’t touch the freshness of some of his sounds. I suggest browsing his records in iTunes and see what you like. There are so many different styles, you are sure to hear a few songs that turn you on.

Listen: Arthur Russell – That’s Us/Wild Combination

Listen: Arthur Russell – I Couldn’t Say It to Your Face

Listen: Arthur Russell – See My Brother, He’s Jumping Out (Let’s Go Swimming #1)

Author: Coach

Being that it is “hump day”, I figured I would pump up the BPM with a few Indie-Electro jams.  Try and see if you can get through these without tapping your feet or bouncing your head.   Great stuff for the gym.

LCD Soundsystem – Pioneers in the field of such music.  I wonder if Daft Punk really played at their house?

Listen: LCD Soundsystem – Daft Punk Is Playing At My House

MSTRKRFT – Very cool duo from Toronto who has remixed tons of great artists.  Probably the reason they were able to get some big names to join them on their album “Fist of God”.  The cut below features John Legend.  Very nice…

Listen: MSTRKRFT – Heartbreaker (feat John Legend)

iTunes – MSTRKRFT – Fist of God

–cutbucket–