Another Thing I Do!

Sometimes I write stuff, here's a poem called "Uprooted" that I wrote for the Roots issue of Blueprint Magazine, check it out!

Louder than Bells

Sometimes I'm a little slow to come around to an artist, but my love of remixes will always pull me back in. It wasn't really until recently that recognized that complete and utter brilliance of Florence + The Machine and now I can't get enough. It just so happened that I came around with an amazing remix of their song "Drumming Song" off their debut album Lungs by Jack Beats that my roommate would play while getting ready to go out. That's exactly what it is, the perfect song to get you to down that one last beer, put on your lipstick and go dance the night away. But sometime the perfect remix can make for the perfect letdown, when you find that the original song cannot stand on its own. But the "Drumming Song" original was nowhere near a letdown. It has its own sound that is found throughout the album, making Lungs the album I've had on repeat all weekend. Songs like "Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)" and "Cosmic Love" all exhibit the same amount of intensity and musicality that "Drumming Song" does. Not to mention all of the videos that Florence + The Machine have made to date have been an visual masterpieces that I can't stop watching.


MP3: "Drumming Song" - Florence + The Machine
MP3: "Drumming Song (Jack Beats Remix)" - Florence + The Machine

So with that I share my new favourite remixes this week, the "Drumming Song" remix by Jack Beats that began my love affair with Florence + The Machine, another remix by Jack Beats of "I'm Not Your Toy" by La Roux, and just because I just downloaded every single remix ever made by VIKING, their remix of "Shame on Me" by Amanda Blank and an original mix called "Blood Candy".

MP3: "I'm Not Your Toy (Jack Beats Remix)" - La Roux
MP3: "Shame on Me (VIKING Remix)" - Amanda Blank
MP3: "Blood Candy" - VIKING

I'm the Fury in Your Head

If you're looking for some melancholy reflection, then you've found it in "Spanish Sahara", the latest song from Foals. It is the first I've heard by them, but if this song is any indication of what they are capable of on this new album, Total Life Forever, which is going to release sometime in May, I know they'll be back on here with another, more detailed post. But since it is 1:08am, I have lost my voice and should probably get to sleep, enjoy the music video for "Spanish Sahara" by Foals as your bedtime lullaby.




MP3: "Spanish Sahara" - Foals

In The Sun 'Cause Spring Has Sprung!

As the sun sets on yet another beautiful day, I give you the newest video from She & Him, Zooey Deschanel's band with M. Ward, "In the Sun" from their newest album, Volume Two. It is a cheery, upbeat video that comes at a time when it is most needed, considering I feel like falling over most days from lack of sleep and writing too many essays. It hearkens back to a simpler time, when you and your friends would create elaborate dance routines and follow around your love interest/guitarist around school and finally end up hula hooping in the gym. What? No? That was just me at art school? Oh.

Enjoy!

The Cure for Lingering Valentine's Day Bitterness

While many of you may have spent your Valentine's Day crying into your pint of ice cream, I spent it celebrating the beginning of Chinese New Year with a magnificent Chinese feast with my family. But drunken family feasts aside, it's hard to not feel alone on Valentine's Day, no matter how much I use the commercial origin of the holiday as an excuse to refuse to participate. I mean, let's face it, it doesn't matter who you are, everyone likes to feel loved and according to the rest of the world, Valentine's Day is when you're supposed to feel it the most. But when the only gift you get is a rose from your father, no matter how sweet the gesture is, your sadness quickly turns to bitterness.

I say embrace your bitterness! Dress up in your "freak 'em" dress, as Beyonce would say, and hit the town with your favourite single friends and celebrate your freedom. But before you can kick up your heels and dance the pain away, the healing process must begin with a "I'm so over you" playlist to blast in the car when you drive by your ex's house or that place where you shared your first kiss.

While you can find these songs in any genre, my go-to would be pop because there's just nothing like singing along to these pop anthems that broken-hearted people everywhere know and love. So, if you're not quite ready to hit the town and make your ex regret their mistake, take a listen to my Top 5 "I'm So Over You" Pop Anthems.

5. "Stronger" - Britney Spears

I want to start the list off with Britney because, like for many women, she provided the pop anthems of my awkward middle school years, high school years and now in university. While maybe she should have listened herself to the lyrics she was singing, "Stronger" just reminds you to remember that you are better off without them. Plus, who could forget that chair dance?



4. "Irreplaceable" - Beyonce

"Irreplaceable" by Beyonce is for every person who needs to be reminded that you are hot shit, basically. And if you aren't ready for that just yet, hope that you can find a bunch of female friends to rock out with, because everyone knows the "to the left, to the left" part of the song.



3. "Leave (Get Out)" - JoJo

"Leave (Get Out)" by JoJo does require some stretch of the imagination, considering the song is sang by a 13-year old girl and the video takes place in what seems like middle school. But that doesn't mean that this girl can't sing it! JoJo sings what we all sometimes wish we had the guts to say, to get out and leave because you have had enough. And all of these complicated emotions are well-articulated by her "Boys Stink" t-shirt.



2. "Me, Myself and I" - Beyonce

Beyonce makes it on my list twice because, let's face it, the girl sings about heartbreak well. "Me, Myself and I" has a simple message of depending on yourself after making the mistake of depending on someone else who, in the end, just broke your heart. And nobody gives you attitude quite like Beyonce.



1. "Since You Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson

And finally, probably one of the most well-known break-up anthems today, "Since You Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. The song epitomizes what I'm sure everyone has felt before, the desire the mess around with and break most of the things in your ex's apartment, but on top of that, you know she is way better off without him. Not to mention everyone always jumps and sings along to the chorus whenever "Since You Been Gone" is played!



Here's to hoping my Top 5 "I'm So Over You" Pop Anthems have now cured you of your lingering Valentine's Day bitterness. Next, look forward to another countdown of my favourite dance hits as the soundtrack for when you finally put the spoon down of your favourite ice cream, put on some heels and hit the town.

Another Peaches?

As a purveyor of all things electropop, Dragonette has been on my radar since their release of their second album Galore in 2007. That being said, I don't know where the hell I was in September 2009 when they released their follow-up album, Fixin' To Thrill, because it was only a week ago when I heard it for the first time. I am sad to admit that it unfortunately doesn't live up to expectations I had after exhausting the repeat function on iTunes listening to Galore, although there are a few gems that have found their way onto my electropop playlist. Songs like "Fixin' To Thrill" and "Pick Up The Phone", which are both singles, have all of the elements I have come to expect from Dragonette, catchy beats, simple but endearing or sexual lyrics (depending on the type of song) and incredibly strong vocals from lead singer and overall badass, Martina Sorbara. I must admit, they've got me there, I am a sucker for a hot chick with great vocals.

But after watching the videos for "Fixin' To Thrill" and "Pick Up The Phone", I find myself weirdly reminded of other videos that I've posted before, particularly music videos by Peaches. Especially with "Fixin' To Thrill", I see a lot of similarities between that and Peaches' video for "Talk to Me", which I think is because of the outfits made of hair present in both videos. Maybe that's just me working through being weirded out by outfits made of hair. But then again, many things to be made of hair these days, chairs and outfits alike.



MP3: "Fixin' To Thrill" - Dragonette
MP3: "Pick Up The Phone" - Dragonette

Brody, Watch Out!

Not since Brody Dalle of The Distillers has there been a woman this hot in punk music. Care Failure, the leader singer and guitar player of Die Mannequin has given punk back its sex appeal with their latest release FINO + BLEED. I must admit, I am late to recognize them as a punk powerhouse since they have been around since 2006, with three albums already under their belt before FINO + BLEED and having opened for Guns N' Roses, Danko Jones and even Marilyn Manson. I've recently found myself returning to my punk rock roots, since there is nothing quite like hot angry chicks like Brody and Care to help you feel empowered. Die Mannequin is a trio from my hometown of Toronto, Ontario, where they've gone through countless new members and names to finally find a perfect fit for their fourth studio album. A couple of singles have already been released from the album that came out early in September 2009, like "Miss Americvnt" and "Bad Medicine", but the song that initially caught my attention was their most recent single, "Dead Honey". So if you're looking for some music to help you find your strength again or just looking for something to help you trek through the snow this winter, Die Mannequin's most recent release FINO + BLEED is a must for your music collection.



MP3: "Dead Honey" - Die Mannequin