M83 video contest winner

I feel like this is turning into a music blog and that isn't my intention but music is a huge part of my life. M83 is a band I fell in love with this year and they recently held a video competition for a track from their most recent album Saturdays = Youth. The track is called "We Own The Sky" and in my opinion it is a really good piece of music on its own and it sets up the stage perfectly for some good slow motion video. As a result, almost all of the competition entries I watched a few months back consisted of slow motion shots as does this winning entry. This video capitalizes on the track title in a creative way as you'll see towards the end. If you are not familiar with M83's music you should check it out. Most of it is pretty mellow even compared to this track being that it is part of the shoegaze genre. I have a lot of M83 albums and they are perfect to relax to so get your hands on them.


M83 - We Own the Sky from Mute Records on Vimeo.

Tweet Tweet

What is the value of Twitter? Better yet, what's the point? I used to ask questions like this but now I am hooked on social networking's new kid on the block (not so new but arguably so in terms of popularity). When I first started hearing about Twitter I didn't fully comprehend the need for such a basic site allowing users to only update their statuses. I have been an avid user of Facebook since the days when it was rightfully only open to real college students and I originally saw more of a purpose in a site like Facebook rather than Twitter. I was attracted to Facebook's various features and depth but now I am finding myself making a 180 degree turn and favoring Twitter for its cleanliness (no annoying applications, ads, updates, reminders, suggestions, etc.), simplicity (a status bar and a short user bio get the job done superbly), and ability to be constructive (depending on who/what you're following, Twitter can be a great source of information whereas Facebook is geared more towards non-essential time-wasters).


My Twitter account is still young but I am now following organizations and companies such as the Advertising Federation of Minnesota, Advertising Age, Reuters, Campus Media and others geared towards my field of study. I also have friends and favorite artists on my list so I can keep in touch and see where the next must-see concerts are. Now rather than logging into Facebook and seeing my news feed dominated by everyone's "Top 5 __________ " and other pointless announcements, I can log into Twitter and see the latest news updates from Reuters or whats going on in the advertising industry according to AdAge. It's highly useful and beneficial and allows for quick access to essential information. If you are not a part of the Twitter sensation yet, you should really give it a shot because it might turn out to be better than you expected which was the case for me.

KanYe West - Amazing

Ba ba ba ba ba ba

Summer is almost here and it makes me want to listen to some giddy electro tunes with otherwise cheesy lyrical aspects that end up sounding half way decent. A prime example is Owl Vision's remix of "Ba ba ba" by Miss Li. At first listen I was annoyed as all get out by the lack of a heavy kick and the vocal loop but this song didn't take long to grow on me. Maybe it depends on your mood when you listen to something like this but it isn't half bad and I could see it working well into various sets or the new mix tape I have planned for the near future (Once I get some more free time).

Download here:
Miss Li - Ba Ba Ba (Owl Vision Remix)

Another recent Owl Vision remix worth a listen is "You", originally released by Steedlord. Similarly to "Ba Ba Ba", it still lacks the kick that gets me fired up but it's pretty heavy and the vocal edits flow really well with the sound he's made here. Check out his MySpace for more.

Justice remix U2

This news is a few weeks old but I feel like I should fulfill my die hard Justice fan status by blogging about it anyway. U2 released a new album in early march and the single "Get On Your Boots" has been officially remixed by Justice at the request of Bono and company. I have never been a follower of U2 but I love this remix. It honestly took me a bit of getting used to and I still don't care much for the U2 lyrics throughout but this is definitely an interesting track. It switches to multiple angles angles more then once and does the job of making a U2 song danceable for once. There's no word on the official release yet but thanks to the blogosphere you can snag the mp3. Take your pick from these music blogs offering the track courtesy of Elbo.ws

This remix alleviated some of my F.E.D.S. and Justice withdrawals. Merci

Digital Detox recap

Digital Detox Week ends tomorrow and as you can tell it was quite hard for me to accomplish. I did manage to cut down on the amount of time I waste on Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, etc. etc. but to quit all together was impossible for me. I didn't notice anyone else taking part in this either so it looks to me that most people have accepted the takeover of digital interactions and no longer mind the lack of face to face contact as the dominant form of socializing. It is kind of sad that so many aspects of our lives are being replaced by the digital age/advancements in technology. I won't deny that I'm a big fan of technology and such and I clearly love everything that I was supposed to give up during Digital Detox Week but it's still kind of pathetic how these things can control us so much.

This campaign opened my eyes big time and even though it was hard to give everything up entirely, I was able to cut down on my habits drastically and I survived. I hope more people joined in on this because I think keeping these digital dependencies in check is a smart approach to getting back in the habit of real forms of interaction that don't revolve around Facebook "Bumper Stickers" or "Top 5 Applications" and updating your status or Twitter with random quotes or highly unnecessary statements that you otherwise wouldn't waste your breath announcing. Here's to next years Detox Week.

You're one in a million...

I know I am totally deviating from Digital Detox Week but I could not wait any longer to share this. DatA is back with more audio gold on his new EP "One In A Million" which will be available on April 28th. After killing it with "Rapture" in 2008 he's not only offering this upcoming release but will supposedly be dropping a FULL LENGTH album in May called Skywriter. Here is the album tracklist so far:


1. Verdict
2. One In A Million
3. Aerius Light
4. So Much In Love
5. Electric Fever
6. Nightmare
7. Rapture
8. Renaissance Theme
9. Skywriter
10. Morphosis
11. Piste 11

I'm sure Skywriter will deliver plenty of epic tracks but in the meantime check out this club version of "One In A Million," it's pretty hot. If I ever found a girl who was one in a million I would probably use a song like this for the soundtrack of the moment as well.


Ok back to detox :)

One week detox

I won't be blogging this week from the 20th to the 26th because I am trying this one week digital detox program. I find myself spending way too much time on the Internet especially with Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and even this blog. I have already said goodbye to Facebook and MySpace for the week via my status updates. I also changed my default pictures to one of the posters for Digital Detox Week seen above so more people can get the idea.

I already know this will be very difficult for me and I doubt I will be able to go without the Internet entirely but saying no to the above social networking sites will be a big step. We waste a lot of time on unnecessary digital "necessities" so the only thing I will use the Internet for this week will be email and homework since those remain pretty essential. Other than that it's so long to other websites along with TV and cell phone use. Wish me luck, I hope you do the same.

MSTRKRFT - Fist of God

MSTRKRFT recently released their second album Fist of God back in mid March. It received average reception from critics but successfully showcases the duo’s newfound sound and compositional style. This album takes on a much different feel than their first album, The Looks, which was released back in 2006. Nearly every track on Fist of God features guest appearances by artists such as E-40, Ghostface Killah, N.O.R.E., and Freeway among others. The first single, “Bounce,” featuring N.O.R.E. was released several months prior to the album and was well received and heavily remixed offering a healthy dose of distortion laced with plenty of party lyrics. Other notable tracks include “Heartbreaker” featuring John Legend, and “Click Click,” a heavy, fast paced electro banger filled with the quick rhymes of E-40. The whole album flows seamlessly with each song blending into the next. If you like to hear gritty, synth-heavy party music or are just looking for something different, this is a good grab for ya and is available at Amazon.com or iTunes for about $10.

Coachella 2 Days Away. Belvedere IX

I really don't know why I am devoting another post to the Coachella festival since I have no means of attending but I really wish I could be there. It's going down this weekend, all weekend. Check out my previous post about the event for the lineup flyer and other info. Alongside the Coachella festival this weekend, Belvedere IX will be teaming up with Music Loves Fashion to host a Coachella party with 40+ DJs in attendance including some of my personal faves, DJ Mehdi, SebastiAn, Kavinsky, LA Riots, and A-Trak among others.

This is looking like it will be one of the premier Coachella parties this year for the big dogs and the event will include VIP helicopter service to and from the festival. No idea of the costs but all proceeds are going to ONE X ONE, an organization that helps children with education, hunger, and health care. Check out these posters and promo vid if you're lucky enough to attend.


Mr. IX from Mr. IX on Vimeo

Brule's Rules. For your health

I know I'm late on this because these segments have been around for awhile now but regardless, they are hilarious! You should recognize John C. Reilly from Talladega Nights and Step Brothers, etc. but you may not be familiar with his spot on Adult Swim in Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job.

This show is similar to the wackiness of the other Adult Swim programs and maybe even a little more awkward. John C. Reilly plays the part of Dr. Steve Brule, a channel 5 news correspondent who offers tips and life advice. This character kills me. Here are some of my favorite clips, for your health.

Drink to the Earth!

Whether you believe in global warming or not, the environment is always worth taking care of. One of the many current issues out there right now is the consumption of bottled water and other beverages in plastic containers. Bottled water is extremely popular among consumers regardless of the fact that its no healthier than tap water, it produces nearly 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year, and is part of the overall corporatization of water. Boxed Water is taking a new approach to bottling water by boxing it up in recyclable, sustainable cartons that are better for the environment. Currently that are only available in Michigan but are expected to be sold everywhere soon. If you want to take further action now, check out this site.

Surprise guest at Forma.T party

This event sold out without a name on the bill and the surprise guest was Xavier from Justice. I would have lost it. More Forma.T party info here.

Missingtoof needs dentures

Here is another blog post about a blog for ya. Last time I talked about The Hood Internet. Today I am going on a rant about Missingtoof, my long lost favorite music blog. I think it was back in 2007 when I found out about Missingtoof. It was one of the first music blogs that kept me coming back at the time along with the likes of The Fast Life, One More Disco and others. Back then I was new to the music blog world so I would spend hours scanning the archives of these sites snagging epic music. Once I got my fill I would check back for daily updates. That's when things slowed down.

I'm not sure what happened but Missingtoof went from frequently adding new tracks to updating posts once a week at best. There was one span of time not long ago where the site went un-updated for months. They recently got back in the game but if you notice the homepage today, they are looking for a new server since they got booted for terms of service violations... that post is almost three weeks old. Step it up Toof! I would like to see the blog make a swift comeback so I can get to my mp3 grind rather than settling for sub-par blog tunes.

Another reason I want to go to Coachella

Busy P is bringing some of the ED BANGER RECORDS crew along with friends into the DOME for 4+ hours of awesome. This is an addition to the other performances that these guys are already taking part in so that means more set times of some of my favorite DJs. If only I had disposable income and some vacation time.

I don't know what the Dome is other than an obviously cool looking structure for housing a DJ set but I guess it's been around in the past. I was reading some Coachella forums about the Ed Banger Dome night and it seems to be getting a lot of love a long with a bit of hate. I'm not sure how you could hate anything Ed Banger related but I suppose I hold a bias. One post on the forum stated "anything but the ed banger crew, I would almost rather have trance than them." I'm assuming this was written by some acid junky. I still wish I could go.

The Hood Internet

If you're up on your game when it comes to music blogs or the "blogosphere" in general then The Hood Internet shouldn't be a new one for ya. If you have no idea what I'm talking about let me give you a brief rundown. The Hood Internet is a music blog that has been around for a few years now and specializes in original mashups. Many of the tracks created by THI are often the result of mixing two or more songs together that you wouldn't normally expect to be mixed. Their work is similar to Girl Talk so if you like mashups and remixes then take a peak.

As of today's update, some of the notable posts on The Hood Internet include the likes of Phil Collens vs. Yelle, Flo Rida vs. MSTRKRFT, and Beastie Boys vs. Matt & Kim. Some of their work is an instant banger and other tracks call for an aquired taste but this is blog-house talent that you should at least check out once in awhile.

Coachella

It looks like one hell of a line up for the Coachella Valley Music Festival this year which is only 11 days away. I really wish I had the money and the time to take a trip to Cali for this three day epic event. I first learned of Coachella in 2006 after hearing that Daft Punk performed in the Sahara Tent that year. Since then Coachella has brought in many of my favorites including Justice and the Ed Banger crew alongside Boys Noize and many other electronic heavy hitters.

This looks like a packed weekend with some really descent acts. The set times and stage line ups still have not been determined but I'm sure the Sahara tent will again be home for most of the electronic DJs. It would be nice to see a few of them on the main stage though. Check out http://www.coachella.com/ for more.