IT'S THE MONEY SHOT!!

working towards an intellectual understanding of booty chatter.

miércoles, febrero 27, 2008

sam amant: ding ding down.

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The first sixteen seconds of "Ding Ding Down" give off a bit of that '80s Nintendo/Atari energy that can be heard on myspace quite often, but as soon as things really kicks in...it's so much more than that. With nothing but a sampler and her Stratocaster guitar, Amant busts out a beat that's evocative of The Neptunes' earlier work (tracks like N.E.R.D.'s "Lapdance" come to mind) yet entirely original and decidedly less poppy. The lyrics are rather dark for a song with such a cheery title as "Ding Ding Down", including mention of either having your brain "washed" or "watched". Maybe I'm not listening closely, but both options are equally creepy.

Sam makes it clear on the space that she's "so solo she doesn't need a backing band", but it hasn't always been that way. She's a former member of the trip-hoppy pop group My Favorite Dentist Is Dead, who opened for The Cure's 2001 show in Grenoble, France. Clearly she's no stranger to performing, and I can only hope I can witness her "freaking all over the stage"
some day.
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- BUY IT - SPACE IT -

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viernes, junio 30, 2006

june playlist: who invented the remix?

THE REMIX-- P. Diddy once released an album on Bad Boy Records called We Invented the Remix. I think it's quite obvious that Mr. Combs and friends did not invent the remix. Which leads me to wonder...who did?

I wasn't wondering very long until I came to a conclusion of...um...who cares? I'm just glad they invented it. Sort of. Remixes, like most things, can be used for both good and evil. They come in many forms-- mash-ups, reinterpretations with a similar theme, changed instrumentation, the same song with an additional verse, etc. They can be everywhere from disasterous (see Mariah Carey's "Say Somethin" remix f/ Dem Franchize Boys) or glorious. The pace of the song can be slowed down or sped up depending on the goal of the remixer. An artist puts their work into another's hands to be reinterpreted, redefined, and reworked.

This June, I pay tribute to those behind the artists with the second official playlist from IT'S THE MONEYSHOT!! Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: zip file, or individually (maybe)
  1. TWEET- Turn Da Lights Off (RJD2 remix): I mentioned Tweet and the disappointing sales of this record a few posts back. RJD2 brings us a flawless, dancier mix with this one. I wonder if this single would have done better if this version was released?
  2. MISSY ELLIOTT f/ LUDACRIS- Gossip Folks (siik remix): Siik doesn't like the word mash-up, but he can make one like no one's business. He caused a bit of a stir in the blogosphere a while back with his remix of Amerie's "One Thing" (MP3) and has continued making us some hot mixes ever since. Have a listen to this Missy/Some Daz mash-up, and then check him out on the space. I'm a big fan of the Next/Outkast mash-up.
  3. TIGARAH- Japanese Queen (Mr. D's crunk remix): Mr. D is one of the few producers on this list who had the advantage of crafting the original song. In this remix, he brings in a crunk ass beat that would make Lil Jon jealous.
  4. CASSIE- Me & U (mc DJ remix): A lot of my friends don't understand my draw to mc DJ, but I really like some of his work. Here, he remixes "Me & U" with a touch that even makes Cassie sound talented. No offense to her, "Me & U" is a great song...but it doesn't necessarily make her sound like she's got the voice of our generation.
  5. MARY J. BLIGE- Be Without You (A Brucker & Sinden remix): I found this remix on Diplo's site. Mary J. Blige is awesome.
  6. DESTINY'S CHILD- Say My Name (Haldan's opportune mash-up): Haldan of Palms Out Sounds switches up this number one jam by Destiny's Child by mashing it up with an instrumental by DMX Krew. The result is much smoother than the original.
  7. SADE- By Your Side (Neptunes remix): What? The Neptunes remixed Sade? Yup! Also, The Rolling Stones. They're all over the place, and I'm glad for it. I used to hate this song because the original would always be playing on the radio station at the bagel shop I used to work at. Once I heard The Neptunes remix, I realized that it's actually a really cute song. And you know me. It just needs to be cute to get me sold on it.
  8. JAY-Z- December 4th (EK remix): I couldn't find out much about EK for obvious reasons (impossible to google). This is one of the many remixes of "December 4th" floating around the net, and it's certainly one of the best.
  9. SHARON PHILLIPS- Want 2 Need 2 (Trentemoller remix): Trentemoller has a resume which includes remixes for The Knife and Röyksopp, so this is some good stuff. I didn't know anything about Sharon Phillips before hearing this, but now I'd like to know a little bit more.
  10. JENNY WILSON- Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward (The Knife remix): Jenny Lewis is a former child actress, Jenny Wilson is Swedish. That's the only difference you really need to know. OH, also...Jenny Lewis does not have a remix done for her by The Knife. In that respect, Jenny Wilson wins.
  11. ROBYN- Be Mine (Meatboys remix): I swear the theme from Jeopardy is sampled in this song. You don't want to know what came up when I googled "meat boys". Okay, so it wasn't that bad. But just imagine!
  12. ANNIE- The Crush (Richard X version): Richard X really fixed this song. I have to agree with fluxblog on that one.
  13. MARIAH CAREY- It's Like That (McSleazy remix): Mimi's emancipation just got gayer, as McSleazy takes this jam to the club.
  14. BUSTA RHYMES- Touch It (Diplo remix): Diplo fleshes this remix out with a sample of the Daft Punk song that was used for the original. You know how I feel about Busta Rhymes, so let's not even talk about him.
  15. THE CLIPSE- Drop It (Les Biches remix): Blogs have been pissing themselves over how good this mixtape is...but it's, you know, okay.
  16. RICK ROSS- Hustlin' (DJ Benzi refix): This is by far my favorite remix on this entire playlist. Here, the man responsible for The Clipse mixtape, mashes Rick Ross with the instrumental from Nelly Furtado's "Maneater". It doesn't sound like it'd work, but it actually makes both songs better. Truly, a successful mash-up. Truly, a reFIX.
BONUS TRACK: CHAM f/ AKON- Ghetto Story (remix): Honestly, I just forgot to upload this one on the zip file. It's a prime example of a song that instrumentally remains the same, but brings in the voice of another artist. In this case, that artist is Akon. I often wonder if the world will grow tired of Akon...his voice is EVERYWHERE-- remixes, hooks, and his own songs. It's either going to solidify his career or ruin it.

BLOGWATCH: Perez Hilton is streaming Fergie's new single "London Bridge (Oh Shit!)"...and oh shit! I actually kind of like it. If you tell anyone, I will cut you.

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sábado, mayo 27, 2006

party like it's our anniversary

Pharrell Williams has produced some of the most memorable songs of our generation. Hollaback Girl. Slave 4 U. Hot in Herre. Milkshake. Whether you love 'em or can't stand them...you can't deny that they're hits. He's been nominated for Grammies, had minor success with his band N*E*R*D, was voted World's Best Dressed Male by Esquire magazine, and has had his name included on pink t-shirts which say that the wearer kissed him.

Despite all this, I am unsure how his solo career will work out for him. His first single effort with Gwen Stefani "Can I Have It Like That?" only reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is nothing compared to the number one he reached with Gwen earlier in the year. Surprisingly, it reached #3 in the UK, mirroring the lack of success Kelis had over here in her pre-Milkshake days. His second single "Angel" only managed to climb to #15 in the UK with good reason thanks to the line-- "She got an ass like loaf of bread. You want a slice?"

The third single with Kanye West is much more promising, but people's expectations of a collabo between two of the hottest producers today are going to bring it down. It's currently meeting mixed reviews on the web...

  • "This is just as gay as I expected."
  • "officially the worst song of 2006!!!"
  • "Pharrell took a page from the book of Michael Jackson I see. This needs to grow on me, I’d expect better from these trendsetters of hip-hop culture."
  • "IT SOUNDS LIKE KAYNE IS BEHIND P PUMPIN !...THEIR EGOS ARE GETTING IN THE WAY OF GOOD MUSIC."
  • "nah u people need 2 eat a dick….u shud b lucky u got blessed with heat like this…u guys take music 4 granted…and u shud b lucky kanye n pharrell even exist…otherwise well b…i fucked ur momma n her pussy…and i shot ur pops etc etc….so fuck all yall"
  • "This is real creative…. I’m a big MJ fan and its hot… I’m so sick of da same ole club songs and lean wit it rock wit it… The music today is terrible EXCEPT for a few…I call it the “STUPID” generation cuz it seems like no one is using intelligence or creativity…big up to 2 MCs/Producers tryin to be different… 1" (all taken from XXLmag forums)
My impression is that fans expecting uber-masculine bling-bling "I came on your girlfriend's face...twice" hip-hop are disappointed. That's not what this is. Fans of N*E*R*D would be disappointed because there's no rock influence on this. Pharrell is trotting on territory he hasn't been on since "Frontin" and I'm not quite sure if consumers are going to buy that. It's a risky move and I salute Skateboard P for going for it. Even if "Skateboard P" is a gay name.

DOWNLOAD: PHARRELL WILLIAMS f/ KANYE WEST- Number One
EDIT: I re-uploaded the track. I neglected to realize that John Legend also has a track with Kanye called "Number One".

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