Spotlight…Sunday? #4

Spotlight Saturdays is a day late this weekend, and as my buddy Chris reminded me, this is unacceptable. I had an incredibly late night on Friday, and by the time I was awake and functioning the next day, more drinks were being forced down my throat as the Halloween festivities continued. Needless to say, I am alive and well as of this moment, but most likely only for another twenty four hours. Time to get to work.

Someone who has been hard at work lately is none other than Kaskade. As I’m sure most of you have heard already, Ryan has recently released his seventh studio album and it is quite the accomplishment. What I love so much about this album is the amount of variety. There are house bangers like Turn It Down, Ice, and Lick it, yet there are other tracks that are more along the lines of music you’d hear in the background of the trendiest lounges in town. What really impressed me was the true musical quality of the second disc; the ICE side. As he said in the video, Ryan made alternate versions of each of the ten tracks and I’m almost tempted to say I like them more than their more upbeat counterparts. It really showcases his true talent as a producer, being able to create masterpieces out of any style or genre. Some of the songs that I’ve put below are almost completely unrecognizable in the world of Kaskade. If you haven’t already, get out and buy the full album, it is worth every penny.

Happy Hallowasted,

Grant.

Kaskade – Turn It Down ft. Rebecca & Fiona (Extended Mix) [Mediafire]

Kaskade & Skrillex – Lick It (Original Mix) [Mediafire]

Kaskade – How Long ft. Late Night Alumni (Original Mix) [Mediafire]

Kaskade – Room For Happiness ft. Skylar Grey (Kaskade’s ICE Mix) [Mediafire]

Kaskade & Skrillex – Lick It (Kaskade’s ICE Mix) [Mediafire]

I was completely shocked to hear this on the album. So far unlike any other Kaskade song.

Kaskade – Let Me Go ft. Marcus Bently (Kaskade’s ICE Mix) [Mediafire]

Bonus just for you Chris. Sorry I had to make you wait one more day for your music fix.

Kaskade & Skrillex – Lick It (3LAU Monstamash Edit) [SoundCloud]

Dirty South – Alive ft. Kate Elsworth (The Noisy Freaks Remix) [Mediafire]

Five Four Fridays. #5

Happy Hallo…wait, it falls on a Monday this year doesn’t it. Personally, I don’t know why everyone is complaining about this minute detail. It may be because I have Tuesdays off, but really this just means that partying is necessary on the days leading up to the thirty first. And would you look at that, there’s three nights of opportunity before the big day.

For a weekend filled with substance abuse, very little clothing, and unavoidable frostbite, I’ve got a few treats for you party people; no tricks here (I had to say it). New track from Steve Lade and XspectiV that I’ve been obsessing over all week, the best remix of the new pop club anthem, a preview of Fussy Boy’s turn to remix Mord Fustang, and a rework that surpasses the original from the sixteen year old talent known only as Caveat. Hope these will do you some good tonight.

Be safe, and ladies: don’t worry, jackets are still sexy,

Grant.

Sexy Haus.

Steve Lade & XspectiV – Our World Is Here (Original Mix) [Mediafire]

Calvin Harris & Rihanna – We Found Love (Chuckie Remix) [Mediafire]

Electro House/Electrothrash/Whatever. I hate categorizing stuff.

PREVIEW Mord Fustang – The Electric Dream (Fussy Boy Remix) [PurchaseOnly]

Atari Teenage Riot – Black Flag (Andy’s iLL Remix) [Mediafire]

Dada Life – Happy Violence (Caveat Remix) [Mediafire]

Special Halloween bonus.

PREVIEW Alesso – Raise Your Head (Original Mix) [ListenOnly]

And I actually have a request.

Dillon Francis is a bit of a hit or miss with me. The guy clearly has a musical ear since he’s always got some of the most harmonious melodies out of almost any producer out there, especially in his genre; moombaton. Who the hell made up that name… Anyways, the guy undeniably has talent. His latest release I.D.G.A.F.O.S. has a melody that is straight orgasmic before the insanity kicks in. Great track, but for me the buildup and the drop don’t quite suit each other.

If there are any ambitious producers out there, please, please, PLEASE, use from 0:00 – 1:27 and 2:54 – the end as a sample for a remix or bootlegged track. I will personally mail you two fifty (the going rate for a track on Beatport) and a photocopied image of my hand (to signify a high five) as a token of my gratitude.

Dillon Francis – I.D.G.A.F.O.S. (Original Mix) [Mediafire]

I wish I was made out of time.

Between my twenty seven page design book, company rebrand assignment, weekly ad analysis’, psychology scrapbook, typography project, presentation on the Marlboro cowboy, various midterms, and two marketing campaigns, I don’t have a lot of spare time. Who would’ve thought that a degree program would take a lot of work.

Unfortunately, I have an entire folder filled with new music that I’ve been meaning to really have a listen to but haven’t had the chance. If the posts from now until about November 17th are a bit lacking in content I’m truly sorry. I’ll do my best to make sure the music I’m showing you guys is worthwhile, although not as frequent. Luckily, the Remix Artist Collective boys have put out two fresh reworks. I think I’ve talked about these guys enough that I shouldn’t have to bore you with my adoration for their work. Enjoy!

I have never wanted a back rub so much in my life,

Grant.

Katie Herzig – Free Your Mind (RAC Mix) [SoundCloud]

Death Cab For Cutie – Some Boys (RAC Maury Mix) [ListenOnly]

I’ll have a DL link up for Andrew’s remix when I do Friday’s post.

Don’t worry, be happy.

So one of my friends is having a bad day, it happens. People read too far into texts all the time. It is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. How can you honestly say after a fight that a text ‘sounded’ mad.  Texts are faceless, voiceless, and oftentimes pointless blurbs put together in about fifteen seconds without a second thought. If I was mad, I would say those three words as opposed to dancing around meaninglessly in a hundred and sixty characters or less. Anyways, on to happier thoughts and happier tunes.

I’m a big fan of raw, simple music. It’s the reason why I love bands like Matt & Kim. It’s the reason why I love Jason Mraz more when only equipped with a guitar and no band. It’s the reason why I love going to live concerts, and why I love the music that these young Finnish guys are making. I stumbled across this fourtet on SoundCloud last week, and I couldn’t have been happier to have found the long lost, incredibly talented love child of The Kooks and Two Door Cinema Club (they’re actually not love children, just an analogy). Either way, keep an eye on these cats in the near future, I’m expecting big things.

This one’s for you bud,

Grant.

Satellite Stories – Family [Mediafire]

Satellite Stories – Helsinki Art Scene [PurchaseOnly]

Satellite Stories – Mexico [PurchaseOnly]

Satellite Stories – Kids Aren’t Safe In The Metro [Mediafire]

Spotlight Saturdays. #3

I am so tired. Twas another late night yesterday once again, and somehow my name ended up on the guestlist of a wicked venue in the city tonight. Going to need some insanity to keep me going tonight.

It’s been a good weekend for electronic music. Yesterday you wonderful internet folk got both Avicii’s and Mord Fustang’s new remixes, and now Skrillex has dropped yet another gut wrenching late night anthem. Many always argue that all of Skrillex’s songs sound the same. I think he’s just so in tune and comfortable with his style that he can churn out one amazing track after another. I’m not a fan of artists changing their sounds, so I’m more than happy with what I always hear from this cat. In saying that, I’d have to state this is a bit off the beaten path and incredibly musical for all you haters. New fav? Uhh yeah.

I swear Monster’s stocks will drop when I’m too old to party,

Grant.

Skrillex – San Diego VIP (Original Mix) [Mediafire]