Passion Pit • Constant Conversations
Althea & Donna • Uptown Top Ranking 
Other Lives • Folk Songs (thanks Leah Love)
Bat for Lashes • I’m on Fire
Kimbra • Plain Gold Ring (live)
-
Home > dance music
Tag Archives: dance music
The Current Rotation
Tuesday, August 7th, 2012
the current rotation
Friday, May 11th, 2012
Not even 100% sure I like this Actress album R.I.P. yet, but I’m giving it a go as an electronic exploration.
I’m thoroughly enjoying Santigold’s long-awaited Master of My Make Believe. SEE HER LIVE!
Spiritualized dropped a fresh album in April called Sweet Heart Sweet Light; snatch it up if you like what Spaceman’s selling.
Check out Reign of Terror from Sleigh Bells, their powerful follow up to Treats. Last time they left me hungry for more; this time around I’m sated. 
Emeli Sandé somehow manages to exceed the substantial hype surrounding her U.S. breakthrough with the sublime Our Version of Events.
You, me, your Aunt Alice, and everybody else I know is listening to Blunderbuss, Jack White’s consistently strong solo effort. 
How about a cover album from the Counting Crows? Try the country-influenced Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation).
Listen to the evolution (or regression depending on your perspective) of The Mars Volta on Noctourniquet.
Had to give MDNA a spin just to see if it was as embarrassingly bad as everyone said it was. Sadly, it is. 
Even though at moments it is lyrically immature, Marina and the Diamonds’ new record Electra Heart is still big fun and has more teeth than the fluff put out by her saccharin pop contemporaries.
Not everyone will get the brilliant Julia Holter, but consider challenging your ear with Ekstasis. 
Both nostalgic and fresh sounding, The Cranberries are back with a new album titled Roses. Dolores retains her distinct and memorable vocal flavor.
A Moment with Madge
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Did you happen to catch the fleeting clip of Madonna’s new video Give Me All Your Luvin embedded into American Idol’s commercial break last night? If not, the video is widely available online now. It is rumored she’ll debut the track at the Super Bowl. Thoughts? The song was a bit of a throwback to her earlier work with a touch of Hollaback-girl era Stefani (a comparison Madge will loathe).
Nicki left her attitude behind and brought her enthusiasm and tatas instead. 
M.I.A. on the other hand looked a little ashamed to be there in a cheerleading uniform. Some of us haven’t forgotten Toni Basil, okay.
Good wall walk sequence though. 
Coachella Crash Course Part Deux
Saturday, January 21st, 2012
CAT POWER
personal favorite: You Are Free
GIRL TALK
old standby: Feed the Animals
more recent: All Day
SANTIGOLD
fresh for 2012: Master of My Make Believe
THE RAPTURE
2003 classic: Echoes
2011 standout: In the Grace of Your Love
WILD FLAG
debut: Wild Flag
See You at Coachella Biatches!
Saturday, January 14th, 2012
Which of you persistent whores scored Coachella tickets? If you succeeded, congratulations. Both weekends sold out in 3 hours, with most of weekend one tickets snatched up during last year’s presale. If you didn’t, no worries. Demeter Clarc’s coverage will make you feel like you experienced the giant human stank that is Coachella first hand.
With over 130 different musical acts scheduled to perform, only the most musically well-versed have familiarity with the entire roster. For the rest of us who need a remedial, over the next few months we’ll explore the best of what the Coachella line-up has to offer. Here’s the start of a cheat sheet to help you cram for your Coachella final in April. Consider listening to the whole album out of respect for the effort as a complete work and (hopefully) a complete thought.
Artist: SBTRKT
Album: SBTRKT
Songs: Wildfire, Trials of the Past
Artist: Feist
Recent Album: Metals
Songs: Caught A Long Wind, How Come You Never Go There
Artist: Beats Antique
Recent Albums: Blind Threshold, Elektrafone
Songs: Spiderbite, Vardo
Artist: EMA
Album: Past Life Martyred Saints
Songs: Breakfast, California
Artist: tUnE-yArDs
Album: w h o k i l l
Songs: Es-so, Powa
Last Night with Lykke Li
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
Hey music muffins. Last night was all about Lykke Li and the Swedish Star didn’t disappoint. She made us wait, but when she arrived on a sparse stage with white lights and super long black curtains, she served up the best of her 2 album catalog.
What she wore? Proving once again bodycon is dead, she appeared in a very interesting get-up indeed. Mizz Li werked some kind of black pants (possibly a bodysuit?) with some flowy, scarvy type action. There might have been a robe involved. See below. Very Stockholm. This totally modern choice kept the focus on the music. The hair? Ombre bitches.
The music was fantastic. We had some serious bass moments, a dance break, some Kanye, and even a little Righteous Brothers. She kept the energy up through the relatively short set and took off like a whirling dervish prior to breaking for the encore. 
Lykke Li proved again her vocal nuance is no studio magic. This girl can sing and she does so in an original, creative, and self-restrained way. Her cover of Unchained Melody was enchanting perfection, and that song usually kind of annoys me.
Beyoncé’s 4 Problems
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
Beyoncé’s new record 4 came out this week and it isn’t very impressive or interesting. The mainstream media blows rose petals up B’s ass all day long, but is she really all that? The highly overrated Beyoncé has got issues, and here’s just 4.
Some might argue that despite the success of Dangerously in Love and B’Day, Beyoncé has yet to release a seminal work. In this download-the-single world, some may not see the importance of a well-constructed, complete album, but releasing an album with 2 hit singles and 10-12 tracks of filler illustrates the difference between a greedy paper chaser (Forbes top-earner 2009) and artistic integrity. When Beyoncé is on, she’s really, really, sublime, see – Ring the Alarm, Me, Myself & I, but her filler is so offensive it makes you question her overall standards.
Beyoncé’s fucking boring. Next to Gaga’s theatrics and Rihanna’s edgier sexuality, Beyoncé’s show looks like a cotillion. Respectful, well-behaved, and lady-like, Beyoncé’s biggest rebellion is wearing a heavily-enforced diaper on stage and setting her wind-machine to high. Hanging out with Gwyneth fucking Paltrow isn’t doing much for her swagger either. These days, stepping out with Beyoncé is more akin to visiting with your proper aunt than raging with a rockstar.
Beyoncé’s stuck in a rut. The lyrically uninspired 4 sounds like it could have come out three years ago. Tired and unoriginal, Beyoncé vacillates between deferential obedience and put-him-in-his place neck-rolls, all very well-tread ground for the artist. What’s new here? Nada.
It takes more than a mythical range and amazing vocal control to make a hit record – just ask Christina Aguilera. Beyoncé works in all the grunts, runs, and big-note belting she can, but we’ve seen all these tricks before, and they do nothing to bring the snoozy 4 to life.
With all of Beyoncé’s access and resources, there really isn’t an excuse for this mediocre offering. You won’t hear the truth elsewhere because Tina Knowles scares the shit out of everyone.
JAMIE WOON: mirrorwriting
Thursday, May 5th, 2011
Lead single Night Air caught my attention a few months ago and had me looking forward to the release of Mirrorwriting, Jamie Woon’s new album. This has been on heavy rotation, but I needed to soak in it before offering you my thoughts. 
Without rushing to any conclusions, I adore Mirrorwriting. Woon’s memorable and enchanting voice layered over head-nod worthy beats sounds as sweet as frosted cake tastes. The danger with this genre is that it can easily curdle into fromage, but Woon keeps it in the pocket and maintains a credible swagger throughout the collection of a dozen songs.
Pursue the entire album; it’s a complete thought and worthy of your attention. Some personal favorites include Shoulda, Lady Luck, Street, and Night Air. 
RIHANNA: LOUD
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010
Truthfully, Rihanna’s new record really kinda sucks. She musta caught the Christina Aguilera Bionic virus. Symptoms include: repetitious, unoriginal, over-sexed lyrics, forgettable beats, and rushing out an uninventive, stylistically scattershot record. Drinking, S&M references, and cunnilingus, this tired parade of pseudo-sex-shock is all well-tread territory.
She’s at her best on this record (which in this case is minimally competent) when she puts on her shiny dancehall pants and works her patois, but don’t be thinking there is an Umbrella or even Pon de Replay buried in this mediocre mess. You’ve surely heard the Eminem track Love the Way You Lie (Blair and Chuck wore that shit out a few weeks ago). I have no use for Eminem, and I’m telling you their duet is one of the highlights of Loud.
Dumbest song on the record: California King Bed.
Songs that won’t make your ears resent you: Man Down and Raining Men, featuring the highly anticipated Nicki Minaj.