Ratatat

Normally I'm not huge into remixing music.  I used to believe that if someone remixed a classic, or used a riff in their rap song from something wonderful like the Rolling Stones or something, that the original song was losing it's initial power.  I still that way a lot, but the more I hear remixes done well, the more I can appreciate them.  I'm not talking about the same chorus playing over and over and over again in one song that has a no name rapper and then gun shots in the background, I'm talking about the use of one aspect of a song that is taken and morphed into something else.  I had a very interesting experience with this type of music this past weekend.  Clearly, I feel the need to share.

One song really stood out to me, more than any other that I had heard all weekend; Sleep Head-Passion Pit.  The amazing thing: it was not Passion Pit.  For those of you who have no clue who Passion Pit is, they are electronic/pop/alternative with some pretty high pitched lyrics.  Their song Sleepy Head just so happens to be a personal favorite of mine, so when I heard the opening beat I immediately tuned in.  Run Toto Run was the group who changed the way I listen to electronic music...mainly because they are not electronic.  They use a synthesizer for some of the harder sounds, but mainly a xylophone, a fiddle, and an acoustic guitar.  The breakdown is incredible.  It took me only a second to realize that instead of the high pitched sounds of Michael Angelakos I was listening to a woman singing, and an added bonus was that I understood what she was saying!

I would also like to take a second and acknowledge the amazing amount of folk music that is currently being created.  I talk about music and I say that I love a lot of things, folk is where my heart is.  I love the harmonies and the way they tell stories.  I love the use of a band, and not just a lead singer, but a collective group where everyone has a job.  Folk music has always been around, but it was pretty uncool for a while there.  I'm just happy that the world is finally coming to its senses again and seeing that folk music actually makes the world go round.

Caught in the crossfire

Oh Brandon Flowers, thank you for helping the Killers become awesome and thank you for making your solo efforts awesome.  I appreciate your lyrics and your music mixing abilities.  Thank you.

On to music picks for the week.  A long time ago I had the idea of listening to old albums that I never really paid any attention to anymore, so I've slowly been working my way through the mine field that is my itunes and also my cd collection.  I had completely forgotten how much I LOVE the Killers, and also, the Sex Pistols.  Many people don't realize that I am a huge fan of classic punk music.  Give me some Patti Smith, Sex Pistols, Velvet Underground, Ramones...I'm like a kid in a candy shop with that stuff.  It's powerful and raw, these people were singing about there generation, no sugar coating.  They weren't just outcasts from society, they were outcasts from the music scene too.  They fought for what they knew would change the way music was listened to for decades! Punk still influences us! Music amazes me.

Solid favorites of the week  that keep making it's way up the playlists:

Mumford and Sons
Florence and the Machine
Marina and the Diamonds
White Rabbits

as always, blogotheque.net for more!