Weekly Roundup

Because there are so many good songs, good and old, lying around my harddrive, just waiting to be shared with the world, I decided the time is ready for a weekly roundup of music.

That is, I will try. I am already seeing myself desperately fighting for more time so I can make Sundays the weekly roundup days, but bear with me and my efforts if I don’t make it on time. Anyway- the weekly roundups are soley based on what I deem a good song, particularly one that I’ve been listening to the whole week. As I said, it doesn’t have to mean I’ll be picking out only new songs, though they’ll probably be rather recent than old.

So here are the rules: Every week, I’ll add a new post about 10 songs that have been somehow intruiging. I might even simply post the charts from my Last.FM account, but I’ll leave that to creativiy. If you have any more suggestions on how to improve this game, let me know. And if you have any more criticism, feel free to hit the comments.

Here are this weeks top songs I loved listening to (that is, what was left besides Kings Of Leon):

Florence, maker of awesome music

Florence and the Machines – Cosmic Love
This is a powerful song. Florence has got herself some energetic voice there. This sounds like it should be played when the hero rises from the ashes to the sky. Sounds a lot like Bat For Lashes, though not yet exactly of the same quality.

M.I.A. – Way Down In A Hole (ft. Blaqstarr)
That woman just knows how to make my brain pop. This one’s an awesome interpretation of the Tom Waits original, Blaqstarrs voice gives it the hardcore dark-spirited touch it carries throughout the whole track. There should be more M.I.A. songs, preferably on a daily basis.

The Gossip – For Keeps
I hate when people say that The Gossip are post-punk. They’re not. Actually, they’re more techno than post punk. This song proves how decent and quality pop music should be done. Beth Ditto, you had me at Hello.

Prince – Erotic City (Morsy Remix)
Really, there are only a couple of remixes I like, there are only a couple of Prince songs that I like. A perfect match right here, enjoy.

Robots In Disguise – Turn It Up
Meh, I don’t usually like electroclash/pop/hipster music, but there are a couple of exceptions. This one, albeit old, still gets me hooked. It’s also the only song from the RID-discography that I like.

She Wants Revenge – Sister
She Wants Revenge have some sort of talent for making evil music. Seriously, when I listen to them, it’s like I’m watching a movie about drugs and sex and human brain waste. Sounds a lot like Interpol, even catchier though. Song is not very special, but a hooker.

The Trucks – Zombie
“You just can’t hate a girl that looks good dancing”. So true. Indie-pop, synth-pop, call it what you will, I approve.

The Dance Party – Sasha Don’t Sleep
Yeah, I don’t know what that is exactly. Fall Out Boy meets Metro Station meets a shrill voice meets something about Sasha who likes to dance alot and you’ve got me a dance floor boomer. I don’t really approve, and yet I do. Figure that.

Michael Jackson – Scream
Yeah, it’s caught up with me too… I swore I wouldn’t fall into the hype-trap but I eventually did. I’ve always loved that song and someone played it a couple of days back at a party, and here I am now, dancing to it like it’s 1999…

Alright, that’s it for last week’s random picks, let’s see if I can find something new for next week then.

Hooked on Katy Perry

Katy Perry (also unconventionally hot for a pop chick)

One of my favourite (German speaking) music commentary blogs just gave me a heads up on a new Katy Perry cover. Okay, hold your breath about Katy Perry – yes, I’ve heard better music. I know her from her “old days” where she tried to pull an Alanis Morrissette rather than a Christina Aguilera, but I like her much better that way. She just didn’t convince me of her indie roots, but she does produce pop at it’s finest. So alright, it’s still pop music, but what the hell.

Anyway, Katy Perry has me hooked on her songs. They’re so easy to sing a long, you can’t blame me!  Like in the case of Mr. West, I prefer her remixes and covers over her original songs (with exception of “I Kissed A Girl”, which is pretty much a good reason to go back into my 13-year old state of mind where it was fun to be bisexual;  and in any case, it’s just a fun song). So here’s a collection of my favourites:

Katy Perry – Hot’nCold (Yelle Remix)

Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)

Katy Perry – Use Your Love (The Outfield Cover)

Katy Perry – Waking Up In Vegas (Calvin Harris Remix)

Katy Perry – Black and Gold (Sam Sparro Cover)

Speaking of Sam Sparro: That dude is just awesome. He makes the finest synthpop music you’ve ever heard, I promise. Whenever I hear that song – Black & Gold – I shiver from excitement. Also, because I think he’s gay and I have an uncertain attraction to gay guys. Err.

Well, one for the record:

(That video is blocked on YouTube for copyright restrictions. You say limit, I say piracy!) On another note: A heads up for Drop Box, one of the coolest services in the history of the web. Synchronizing was never easier. If you’re considering a Drop Box account, please use my referral link, it will get me more storage, which ultimately gives you more music (and unless I am mistaken, all very legal).

Kanye West Collabo Collection

There’s this thing about Kanye West. I love and hate him at the same time, which is probably a phenomena many people have experienced. Is it his arrogance? Hardly. He’s a jackass, sure, but he’s entitled to this kind of attitude because he compensates with his musical abilities- at least that’s what I thought. Frankly, it really isn’t. He’s not the best rapper in the world, his flow is not the greatest, his lyrics aren’t the most innovative and creative I’ve ever heard and please let’s not discuss the beats- they’re decent, but I’ve heard better.

Kanye West

Yet, unlike many other artists, Kanye West manages to do everything short of awesome. He might not be the best- but he is consistent in being good, whether it’s live shows or good videos or even the auto-tune crap he’s come up with. He doesn’t score even one No. 1 spot in any of the categories mentioned above- but he scores no. 2 everywhere, which ultimately makes him better than anyone else in the hip-hop/pop/whateveryoucallitthesedays business.

When it comes to my personal preference, I don’t like his albums as much as I like the collaborations he does with other various artists. It’s weird, really; I feel like Kanye has worked with everyone who’s being hyped on the internet. I’m still waiting for the Kanye West/MGMT feature. He’s had them all: Lykke Li, Kid Sister, Kid Cudi, Talib Kweli, Clipse, even a Thom Yorke sample among all the good stuff he produced.

In any case, I’ve picked out some of the greatest features in my eyes (and ears). You can download them from my dropbox, and here are the tracks:

Kanye West – Diamonds Are Forever ft. Jay Z
Yes, I admit, this one’s really, really old. But it still makes me goosebumpy.

NERD – Everyone Nose ft. Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Pusha T
I hated the original version of the track, this one’s rap deluxe.

Kanye West, Kid Cudi & Common – Poke Her Face (Pokerface Remix)
Yeah, this one had to be made. Now the Lady Gaga track “Pokerface” comes to it’s real meaning.

Kid Sister – Pro Nails ft. Kanye West
I don’t like Kid Sister all that much, but West made this track become one of my favourite’s of the last year (rap-wise).

Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Pharrel – Us Placers
Awesome sample of Thom Yorkes “Eraser”. I love it for it’s simplicity and the insightful subject of rapidly vanishing fame.

Lykke Li

Hmm, Lykke Li is difficult for me. There are certainly songs of her that I like, but ultimately, it’s another Swedish pop artist. Granted, she’s going for higher quality than most of her collagues, and yet… doesn’t it sound like Feist, paired with some Jenny Wilson, paired with some other pseudo-Indie stuff that I can’t bother to come up with?

I like Lykke Li. It’s background music. It’s comfortable, it’s easy listening and it’s nice for a change not to be confronted with all that hedonism going on in the world. I still like most of her songs better in a remix, though. I found one that has especially attached itself to my brains- that song, Little Bit, which is quite frankly not mentionsworthy whatsoever (maybe I just don’t get it.. well blah), got a nice upping by Drake, whoever that is. Enjoy!

Lykke Li – Little Bit (ft. Drake) (savefile)