Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Album Review: Svelt St.'s 'Hello, Dear'




Svelt St, a dynamic combination of vocalist Feelmore and emcee Bang! Cheeto (who happen to be married), hit me up with their debut album, ‘Hello, Dear’. It is really hard to characterize this album, since it pulls in so many different influences. To me, their album is an experiment in what they can do with music, and how many different genres they can cover (spanning from hard trip-hop to soft vocal and piano driven songs).

The album opens with Lights On, a driven synth-based track, which still features both Feelmore’s and Cheeto’s vocals, crafting one of the best songs on the album. However, the next song drops it down a few levels to the vocal driven ‘Black Wall’. Black Wall is where I fell in love with Feelmore’s voice. Absolute love. Her dark sultry vocals drive Black Wall, and really define the album for me. They are heavily featured throughout, and do great things for the ears.

‘St. George’ is the next track to really grab me, a raunchy sex-romp hidden in a quite downtempo song. The lyrics and the beat send very different messages, but that’s cool, because it makes the song really interesting. ‘Po’ Boy’, the first single off the album, is a rap song with vocals as the base of the beat. Think A Millie, just instead of someone yelling and Wayne rapping about being rich, think soft vocals and singing and rapping about a lonely kid. Definitely a high point of the album.

From here on, the album turns towards rock, moving away from the synth and drumkit driven first half of the album. They do just as well with the rock as they did with the trip-hop, but what really showcases their talent are the upbeat songs, such as ‘Promises’ (which is ended far too early). However, its still an awesome journey into some funk-guitar based sultry vocals.

Overall, as the album progresses it digresses into so many different genres its hard to keep track of. The songs are great when taken alone, but the album lacks overall cohesion. That is not to say I don't like it, (its been on repeat for the last week or so), but that it definitely has some room for improvement. However, judging from the talent inherent in the songs, I expect big things from these guys sometime in the near future.

Their album was just released, so hurry and grab a copy from their myspace!

Svelt St. – Lights On (YSI) (zShare)
Svelt St. – St. George (YSI) (zShare)
Svelt St. – Po’ Boy (YSI) (zShare)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas


Hope everyone had a great christmas (if your into that sorta thing)/great holiday season in general. In the spirit of giving, I have a sweet hour long mix from Auralsatisfaction favs The Kids are RADIOACTIVE. It also doubles as a prep for new years partying! Check it

Tracklist:

1. Intro // 2 Many DJs vs. Busy P - To Protect and Entertain (Crookers Remix)
2. Soulwax - Another Excuse (DFA Remix)
3. Daft Punk - Around The World (Villains More Cowbell Edit)
4. Calvin Harris - Merrymaking At My Place (Deadmau5 Remix)
5. Steve Angelo vs. Robin S. vs. Laidback Luke - Show Me Love
6. Benny Benassi - Bring the Noise (Public Enemy vs. Ferry Corsten Remix)
7. Danger - 11h30
8. Shinichi Osawa - Electro 411 (Lies in Disguise Remix)
9. DatA - Rapture (The Kids Are RADIOACTIVE Remix)
10. KIGH - Give Me What I Want (Howard P. Sausage Remix)
11. The Black Ghosts - Any Way You Choose To Give It (Boy-8-Bit Remix)
12. MGMT - Kids (Soulwax Remix)
13. The Black Kids - I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You (The Twelves Remix)
14. Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Rehearsal vs. MSTRKRFT vs. Blake Miller)
15. Chromeo - Bonafied Lovin’ (Yuksek Remix)
16. Soho Dolls - Trash the Rental (Crystal Castles Remix)
17. Bloc Party - Mercury (Herve Is In Disarray Remix)
18. Hearts Revolution - Switch Blade (Toxic Avenger Remix)
19. The Kids Are RADIOACTIVE - Whiskey & Coke (Extended Mix)
20. Nightwaves - Even Money (Fabian Remix)
21. New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream (Van She Tech Remix)
22. Timbaland - Miscommunication (Bloody Beetroots Remix)

The Kids are RADIOACTIVE - Paris to LA Mix (zShare)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

MILKMAN



Milkman is a Cali based mashup DJ (a la Gregg Gillis) who put out an album Jan 2k8 that is incredible. As an avowed Girl Talk sucks guy, i was pretty skeptical when introduced to Milkman. However, his sick sampling got to me, and i have since listened to his (FREE) album on repeat for about 2 weeks. Sorta absurd. I highly recommend that you grab it.

Milkman - Lactose and THC (Album)

Milkman - Can't Stop (YSI) (zShare)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Straight Outa India


My pops just came back from India with some sweet Bhangra music in tow. This stuff is incredible, I really really wanna work it into a set sometime. Check out this track from Daler Mehndi and Pritam, 'Bhootni Ke (Remix)', appearing in the Bollywood Hit Singh is Kingg. Very very high energy.


Bhootni Ke (Remix) - Daler Mehndi

ps, if anyone finds a link for it besides itunes/amazon feel free to send it to me and ill up it right away

Friday, December 19, 2008

Ray Wellz



Ray Wellz hit me up with some sweet new tracks droppin this weekend on itunes. as you might guess from the album art, Wellz is a rapper, who raps about some pretty regular fare (ie clubbing and hustling etc). I really really really dig his track, 'Switch Ya Hustle Up', which has a sweet hook and the beat complements it in a great way. Check it out

Ray Wellz - Switch Ya Hustle Up (YSI) (zShare)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Don Diablo


Sorry ive been lax in the blogging, just got on break and have been travelling/doing as much bonding with my tv as possible. Anyways, this just hit up my inbox, and is really really fire. Don Diablo's 'The Truth is no good to Me' has got some sweet samples from classic tracks, but also hits hard with dancy drums and synths. Check it out.

Don Diablo - The Truth Is No Good To Me (YSI) (zShare)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool


I stumbled across Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, a dancy-rock outfit from the UK. They've been compared to huge hits of the moment Passion Pit, and though theyre really quite different i see where the idea comes from. They are definetly worth checking out.

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Dance The Way I Feel (YSI) (zShare)

Friday, December 12, 2008

AC Remixes Chromeo


Yea, i know theres been a lot of Chromeo floating around Aural Satisfaction recently, (and AC for that matter...) but AC threw down on probably my favorite Chromeo track: Momma's Boy. Classic

He doesnt really screw with the beats, but just throws down in between choruses, and its pretty fire. Check it

Chromeo - Momma's Boy (AC Remix) (YSI)

Chromeo - Momma's Boy (AC Remix) (zShare)

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Death to the Throne!


No, im not proposing some sort of revolution. Im introducing Pheonix based Death to the Throne, who shot me a realllly sweet remix of Chromeo's Fancy Footwork. It keeps a lot of my favorite elements of the song, but drives it harder by putting the repeater on some notes, and just generally making it feel like it should only be listened to in a dark room with tons of dancing bodies.

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (Death to the Throne Remix) (YSI) (zShare)

Friday, December 5, 2008

AC - Light up the Night


Light up the Night is AC's newest effort, and its pretty damn sweet. Its a grungy tribute to weed, with some dark beats and AC's amazing rapping. Worth checking out.

AC - Light up the Night (YSI)
AC - Light up the Night (zShare)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

New Matt & Kim


I am in love with Matt & Kim. Absolutely infatuated. So, as you can imagine, i was super excited when i stumbled across a new track 'Daylight', which doesnt disappoint.

Check it

Matt & Kim - Daylight (YSI)

Matt & Kim - Daylight (zShare)