Just listen to Justice’s take on MGMT’s “Electric Feel”, off of the 7″ single, and bask in the wonder that is Justice. Seriously, I wont even bother with a write-up. Listen.

MP3: MGMT - “Electric Feel (Justice Remix)”

Love,
Zack

PS: Sorry about the lack of posting. I just started my summer job and have been working 10 hour days, with no energy or time to listen to jams. I did, however, get my campers to listen to Bob Sinclar and Rune’s “Calabria”, which is pretty awesome.

Gregg Gillis just released Feed the Animals on his website this past Thursday, opting to take the Radiohead route of allowing listeners to pay as much as they want to download the album. I have been listening to Feed the Animals nonstop for the past three days, and while I haven’t fully come to terms with how awesome it is, Gillis’ style and technique is noticeably improved, using flawless hooks and delving even deeper into the massive music catalog available out there on the internets. Go download it and check out my favorite song so far, “Set it Off”.

MP3: Girl Talk - “Set it Off”

Love,
Zack

Now onto some more consistent programming.

Diplo, founder of the Mad Decent crew and DJ with unrivaled dance-inducing remixes, has teamed up with fellow DJ Benzi and Alabama-based hip hop group Paper Route Gangstaz to release Fear and Loathing in Hunts Vegas. Why am I writing this, you ask? Well, simply, it’s because the final track on said album, “Alabama”, samples Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come”. Ok, the verses and beat are nothing special, but everytime I hear Cooke’s croon (sped up or no) I can’t help but smile and enjoy. It’s nice to see some artists today give respect to Cooke, and “Alabama” is just as much of an homage to Sam as it is a new single. Also, how badass is that line “Alabama, say it backwards, Am a Bala”?

MP3: Diplo & Benzi - “Alabama”

In other news: ANOTHER “Viva la Vida” remix. Maybe when I stop enjoying the song (see: never), I’ll cut it out with the excessive remix posts. This one comes courtesy of Budapest-based laptop musician We Are Happy Plants. Am I the only one who giggles when they realize that laptop musician is a legit profession now?

MP3: Coldplay - “Viva la Vida (We Are Happy Plants Remix)”

Love,
Zack

What’s better than my favorite song of the summer? How about a remix of said song, complete with danceable synths and bass. Go ahead, see for yourself.

MP3: “Coldplay - Viva la Vida (Telemitry Remix)”

Love,
Zack

Icelandic weirdos/music geniuses Sigur Rós recently released the first single off of their upcoming album, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, which I wont even begin to pretend to pronounce, but apparently in English it means “With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly”. Anyways, “Gobbledigook” is a whirlwind of happy noise; a delightful homage to their Scandinavian brethren, and a depart from their recent obsession with ambient, airy crescendos. If the whole album is anything like “Gobbledigook”, it could go down as the band’s best effort to date.

MP3: Sigur Rós - “Gobbledigook”

Love,
Zack

Some of you may have noticed a lack of new material here for over a week. This is not, as some may believe, due to my lack of desire to continue writing but rather due to some computer issues that prohibited me from collecting new music, and also due to my summer laziness. I just got my computer fixed and will be back and posting momentarily. Until then, check out Gotye’s “Learnalilgivinanlovin”, which I’ve been listening to constantly, and get excited for a phenomenal remix of said track once I get permission to post it.

MP3: Gotye - “Learnalilgivinanlovin”

Remember when I posted that unbelievable Streetlab remix of The Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” last summer? Well, apparently these guys are still pumping out jams, including some originals (rather than their usual remixes). Check out the boys from Brooklyn as they tackle Hot Chip’s newest, “One Pure Thought”, complete with laser noises, funky synths, and much much more. Also, since the link is dead by now, grab their take on “Gimme Shelter”. You will not be disappointed.

MP3: Hot Chip - “One Pure Thought (Streetlab Remix)”
MP3: The Rolling Stones - “Gimme Shelter (Streetlab Remix)”

Love,
Zack

Anyone who knows me knows that my obsession with anything involving The National has spun out of control, leading me to occasional bouts of locking myself in my room and blasting Boxer and Alligator over and over again. Imagine my excitement, then, when I received a copy of The Virginia EP, which reprises some of the band’s classics, including “Fake Empire” and “Slow Show”. While the album doesn’t really provide any “new” material per se, the new takes are worth listening to, but may be better suited for only the avid National fans.

The even bigger news, however, is that the boys from Cincinatti are setting out on a summer tour with two of the more well-known artists of the past decade: R.E.M. and Modest Mouse. I am not too big on the former anymore, and definitely enjoy the latter, but my interest in their June 11th show at Merriweather Post is almost completely in The National. Grab your tickets, check out these songs from The Virginia EP, and fall in love with The National all over again. In fact, I am so hellbent on having you readers experience “About Today” that I am bringing back the [download or die] tag, just so y’all get the idea.

MP3: The National - “Fake Empire [Live]“
MP3: The National - “About Today [Live]“ [download or die]

Love,
Zack

Up until recently, I had considered myself a casual Coldplay listener; not wrapped up entirely in the craze but at the same time able to enjoy a few songs here and there. Then Coldplay dropped “Viva la Vida” on me, and everything changed. After listening to the four minute and four second masterpiece, I went back and tried to find any other Coldplay songs that used strings in such epic fashion, but nothing could match the emotion of “Viva la Vida”. I did, however, become hooked on Coldplay for a good solid week, which only made their newest effort sweeter and more relevant. You may have heard the clip from the new iTunes commercial, but listening to a sample and not the entire track is a serious injustice, so grab the song below.

MP3: Coldplay - “Viva la Vida”

Also, check out “Fish Tacos”, Immuzikation’s latest mash-up, which pits Coldplay up against Weezer, Cut Copy, the Blow, M.I.A., and the Reading Rainbow theme. Pretty much amazing.

MP3: Immuzikation - “Fish Tacos (ExtraTartarBlend)”

Love,

Zack

That’s right, I’m finally back in the 202. After a grueling week of exams, I’m ready to listen to some music and party at home. Here’s some music for those returning home for the summer.

MP3: Adele - “Hometown Glory”
MP3: Bone Thugs & Harmony - “Home (ft. Phil Collins)”
MP3: Britt Daniel (of Spoon) - “Bring it on Home to Me (Sam Cooke Cover)”
MP3: Mambo Sauce - “Welcome to D.C.”

It’s good to be home.

Love,
Zack