Monday, April 29, 2019

Monday Mix 190429: Joubert Singers, Kirk Franklin, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Daft Punk, Ian Pooley, Modjo






Ripped this one together recently when it was a truly beautiful Spring day and the sun was pouring down, and I felt so joyful.

I learned of "Stand On The Word" via the Pet Shop Boys Back To Mine compilation. Interesting history of the song here. Quote: "There is no Larry Levan remix of “Stand On The Word.” It is a completely fictitious entity. Yet the circuitous history of this song, from its initial discovery through modern presentation, deserves to come out of the shadows of incorrect vinyl pressings, Discogs commentary and mislabeled Youtube uploads."

Capitalizing on the ecstatic groove of Patrice Rushen's "Haven't You Heard," [Featured in Monday Mix 181126], I am THRILLED every time I hear "Looking For You." Succinct and tight.

I encourage you to try to listen to "One More Time" as if you have never heard it before. Hard to do, but if you can, I hope you'll hear the child-like joy that bursts from its seams, a naive love of dance music and club culture. Try to remember the first time you went dancing and loved it. Try to remember the first dance record that blew your mind. Remember your friends, the camaraderie. P.S. If you haven't seen Interstella 5555, you simply must.

"900 Degrees" is one of my personal all-time favorite cuts. I still vividly remember bringing the 12" back after record shopping with friends, dropping the needle, and gasping at 4 seconds in thinking I Had a small scratch on the record. I now love that simple stuttery fill. Simple song that makes me go bonkers on the dance floor.

- Matt

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Viva Latina: "Música nueva" Jesse & Joy, Lalo Ebratt, Morat, Nicky Jam, Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, ROSALÍA, Becky G, Marc Anthony






For this month’s post, I wanted to focus on singles that have come out within the last two months.

I start off with “Mañana es too late” by Jesse & Joy and J. Balvin. I love the groove on this one and it’s really catchy

I keep the groove going with “Déjate querer” a collaboration with Lalo Ebratt, Sebastián Yatra, Yera, and Trapical minds. Yatra gives it a pop flavor while Lalo brings in the Trap influences.

In the middle, I selected “Kitipun” by Juan Luis Guerra and 4.40. This bachata infused catchy song has been a cultural phenomenon and celebrities have been making their own kitipun flow videos. I like Ricky Martin’s flow personally.

I end with “Parecen viernes” by Marc Anthony. I’m a long time fan of Marc Anthony and love his voice. This single is not my favorite of his but it brings a great tropical beat and does make me feel like it’s Friday.

- Elaine

Monday, April 22, 2019

Monday Mix 190422: DJ Kay Slay, Bun B, Cali Swag District, Mariah Carey, Trick Daddy, Jeezy, Lil Wayne






Spring is here. Time for driving with the windows down, and socializing outside.

You know, I think if Carter III had a tropically-themed cover, it could easily play like a compendium of summer anthems.

- Matt

Thursday, April 18, 2019

hooked.evd/SpringMix: Sabrina Carpenter, Tori Kelly, Jonas Brothers, benny blanco, Jessie J, Drake, Mabel, Becky G







The weather is finally heating up and so are my playlists.

This month's playlist is based on some fun, new tracks that I don't think will make the top ten but are very worth a listen, with a few oldies thrown in.

- Erin

Monday, April 15, 2019

Monday Mix 190415: Depeche Mode, Röyksopp, Kraftwerk, Hot Chip, Madonna, The Church






"Enjoy the Silence" was on the radio the other day and I had one of those moments where I was able to hear it as if for the first time. The song has been so popular both on the radio and in the club, that I have stopped appreciating it. It's tight, clinical, and precise. It's exhaustively emotive and sincere. It's fresh and groovy. Of its moment and timeless.

My original idea for this list was to homage the song with remixes, covers, and alternative versions. It got to be too much, though, and it lost its luster. Something in it made me think of Madonna's "Like a Prayer." Maybe because they were both Sire 12"s I played a lot in the same sets.

New Order's "True Faith" would have fit well here.

These songs have a feeling of being separate from time, paced neatly, always urgent, never hurried. The songs encourage self-reflection on the dance floor. I took that feeling to round out the list.

- Matt

Thursday, April 11, 2019

dolphinbright, "Bad girls and freaks" with Billie Eilish, Leon Bridges, Nightmares On Wax, Janelle Monáe, Erykah Badu, St Germain, Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir






In this month's dolphinbright we have deep beats and strong vocalists who play with the theme of dangerous women and the men who try to tame/love them.

To start it off we have a fresh track from Billie Eilish, who is my new obsession. Eilish is taking risks in "bad guy" that make her stand out from her peers.

From this opening track we take a journey from damnation to redemption.

This playlist includes some of my all time favorites -- Leon Bridges, Jenelle Monae, Erykah Badu -- and others who I've only recently found -- Nightmares On Wax, St Germain, Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir.

Enjoy.

- Leslie

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Top Tunes 1902-03 / Dance: Gesaffelstein, Zedd, DJ Snake, Silk City, Calvin Harris, Loud Luxury, Marshmello, Ellie Goulding, Hikaru Utada






NEW
#1 LOST IN THE FIRE / Gesaffelstein

Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Classic The Weeknd. Dark and moody, it’s everything I expect from him on a track. It’s been a while since we’ve had a single from him, so I appreciate its place in the mix.

Matt - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" The Weekend's over-the-top sexual imagery isn't for me, but I do like it when he does this sort of upbeat, staccato dark-pop.


NEW
#2 365 / Zedd

Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" “I want you to be the one that’s” is so catchy. The chorus is the real winner here, as tends to be my opinion on many dance tracks. I can’t figure out Zedd’s signature, but thinking that may be a good sign. I’m inclined to call Zedd boring, but I keep listening so joke’s on me.

Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" KP coming in low and slow here. Reminds me of Taylor Swift's "Delicate," and I wonder if it will have the same slow burning extended life that one has had. Smooth and entrancing.


DOWN 2
#3 TAKI TAKI / DJ Snake

Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" I love a song with so many parts; it allows me to shift my focus and my favorite part as time goes on, and keeps a song evergreen for me. This is such a tight collaboration, allowing each contributor to shine while feeling cohesive.

Matt - ⭐️ "Turn it off" Sorry -- good song but it's time to retire. Though I did just hear, for the first time, Cardi B's line "I'm kinda scary, hard to read -- I'm like a Ouija board," and I'll admit it made me chortle just a little bit. This song has a lot of components and I think that's part of why it's still popular. Keep hearing new things.


DOWN 1
#4 ELECTRICITY / Silk City

Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" This song is really growing on me, especially the build up to the second verse. A few months ago I noted that the last 10 seconds were my favorite part of the song and I stand by that.

Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "My jam" Just love this one too much. I feel like Silk City came together just for this song. Text book. LOVE.


NEW
#5 GIANT / Calvin Harris

Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Rag’n’Bone Man has such great timbre that drives this song. Very enjoyable, but in Calvin Harris’ catalogue, I see this song quickly being forgotten.

Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" This one grew on me. I used to think there was too much emotional distance between the earnest vocal and the silly horns, but, over time, I've been hearing them move towards each other. And I think Harris can put together a club beat probably the best of anyone on the radio rn.


NEW
#6 BODY / Loud Luxury

Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" I get into this song at around 56 seconds. The first verse really just serves to move us into the more interesting vocal play of the rest of the song. This is a song I’m inclined not to like, but I’m sure will grow on me as it maintains its chart position.

Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" I am NOT into this lyric, acting like he's owed sex. It's not ok. But this bouncy instrumental and cut up vocal in the chorus is pretty hot.


NEW
#7 HERE WITH ME / Marshmello

Erin - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" I like this song in the way that I like a CHVRCHES song. Marshmello happens to have a hand but he’s not why I’m here or why I stay.

Matt - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" Marshmello doing what he does best, sitting in the back seat and letting the feature drive. Love CHVRCHES on here.


DOWN 1
#8 CLOSE TO ME / Ellie Goulding

Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "My jam" I turn this song up and sing along every time. I can’t explain why I love it so much, but the rhythm is fun, I like the story being told, and Swae Lee’s part is fun and easy to sing along with.

Matt - ⭐️ "Turn it off" All the pieces are here, Ellie Goulding, Diplo, Swae Lee -- I'm a fan of them all. It just doesn't come together here for me. Shrug.


NEW
#9 FACE MY FEARS / Hikaru Utada

Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" The vocals are so interesting on this track. I’m a long-time Skrillex fan and I believe he does a good job keeping a song interesting beginning to end.

Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Close to 4 stars, and if it sticks around (unlikely), it might get it. I rate it as highly as I do because of Skrillex's programming. I believe he's actually composing those cuts and stabs, not just messing around and then letting the computer do the work. I hope he can break out of his reputation as a single-dimensional dubstep guy so he can show the world what he can really do.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Run With It 0419: Britney Spears, Will Smith, Danity Kane, Röyksopp, Kim Petras, Panic! At The Disco, Ariana Grande






This month's playlist starts with the ultimate running track, Work B**ch, followed by some solid tracks that will keep you moving.

This is Gospel is what I call my "pacing" track. With my cadence, if I keep with the beat I run a ten minute mile, so this track ends up on a lot of my playlists.

What are the tracks you find showing up on multiple running playlists?

- Erin

Monday, April 1, 2019

Monday Mix 190401: M.I.A., Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Glowie, Ariana Grande, Tove Lo






The kernel track for this playlist was "bloodline" from Ariana Grande's latest release. My initial take was to ferret out some other reggae-influenced pop (as can be heard in  "Galang" and "Body"), but the list took on its own voice over time.

"Galang," though it sounds dated here, is a pioneer song for today's politically-charged feminist pop music. The rough simplicity in this track keeps me coming back. "YA-YA-HEYYYYYYY!!!"

Headlines around the release of Lorde's Melodrama seemed to look back instead of forward, asking how she will redefine pop again, like she did with "Royals" and other singles from Pure Heroine. In that noise, I lost track of the actual music, and so ended up sleeping on this really energetic, heart-felt pop number. It came back on my radar in the form of the Chromeo remix, which I loved a lot, but it didn't fit this playlist.

"Body" is on here in honor of Saweetie's new release, Icy. I'm about her flow, but sometimes it doesn't translate in feature spots. I wanted to put a track from the new album on here, but nothing fit as well as this. I suggest "Dipped In Ice."

- Matt