essential: "Wake Up" - Arcade Fire

Wake Up is a song that brings so many emotions to the table, that I am not sure which one to embrace.  In such cognitive dissonance - meets - emotional instability, I wind up just imploding into a sense of joy that only the top songs of my life can evoke.  This ranks quite high (favorite songs ever) within such cherished company.  Arcade Fire are at their best here.

You should own it.  You should love it.  And, if all else fails, you should really connect with this song. It is simply... beautiful.

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weekenditty: "Ode to the Bouncer (Fear of Tigers remix)" - Studio Killers

One of the more hilarious songs of the year, so far, has been Ode to the Bouncer by Studio Killers.  I'm beginning to learn that Studio Killers are one of the more hilarious bands in existence.  In their newest single, Eros & Apollo, my favorite line was "all the boys turn gay wherever he goes... wow!"  I. Just. Can't.

In this track, the lead vocalist in the virtual band (like Gorillaz) complains about waiting outside a club to the bouncer.  Best lyrics I've heard in a while, and the first time I have ever heard an act write about a subject matter to which so many of us can relate.  Check out the videos below, as well.  Definitely enjoyable.

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Fear of Tigers, once again, have delivered a solid remix.  This is perhaps my favorite remix of theirs, and definitely worth adding to your dance collection.  Below are some little delicious tidbits for you:

DOWNLOAD MY EROS & APOLLO REMIX HERE

Song of the Summer #3: "Rocket Ship" - Dragonette

I really enjoy the direction Dragonette is going with this new record.  The tracks and teasers I've heard seem like a nice balance between their first and second records, Galore and Fixin' to Thrill.  

This track, release not too long ago, was divulged as what one would assume is a "we're so sorry our album was pushed back to September, here's a free song."  So, check it out, and enjoy your holiday.  

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essential: "YCAGWYW" - The Rolling Stones: the euphonious embodiment of my 20's

Today I turned 30.  The glorious Big 3-0.  We do not, in this society, get to really revel in too many birthdays: 16, 21, 30, 40, 50... and in ten year increments thereafter seem to be the ones of note.  It has been nine years since my last 'big' birthday, and to say that I have some reflecting to do is a massive understatement.  I can happily say that I, from a superficial standpoint, look better than I did when I turned twenty.  I can report that I am a lot wiser than when I entered this decade of life, as well.  And lastly, as a whole, I must divulge that my twenties changed everything head-to-toe, mind-to-matter, and mess-to-slightly more organized mess about me.  Let me do this by showing a few photos with the only friend (Casey Mather) I've had during this entire tenure.

For this day, a big day by any standard, I provide your Essential Tuesday track.  This is a song that has been very close to my heart for a very long time.  It is essential for any music lover's collection, and hails from one of the quintessential albums of in the history of recorded music, Let It Bleed.

So, here we go...

When I turned 20, I was experiencing one of the toughest times of my life.  When you recollect really rough experiences, especially those that span about 18-20 months, I have learned that one must focus on two things: how hard it hurt (so not to repeat it again) and the major lessons learned (in detail).  The rest is simply fodder.

Age: 20

My mid-twenties saw me enter into my most significant relationships: 1 romantic and another platonic.  Like all things of quality, these each had their life cycles: the former 2.5 years, the latter 7.  I regret very little from these experiences; I learned most of who I am in relation to others mostly because of them.  And, in the end, I realize that each cycle ends (like any evolution: through abrupt change or gradual dissipation), life is not always ideal, and if you do not appreciate those that cross and diverge from your path (in lieu of mourning), you missed the point.

Age: 26

After a very difficult 2010 (ages 27-28), in which I quite simply broke down into a state of disarray, I started the final evolution of my 20's: the overhaul.  I started to gain the patience and humility which I desperately needed in the previous decade, in this process.  I moved 2000 miles from home to pursue the improvement of my life, started a new path toward reconciling childhood dreams and future realities, and (unlike previous moves) held onto the aspects of my previous identity that mattered.

Age: 30 minus 2 weeks

This decade saw me connect with the people who would help mold me; friendships for which I'm incredibly grateful.  It saw me fall apart and dive into dark personal places which I cannot justify with descriptors.  It saw me live in seven major cities: Lexington (KY), Orlando, Baltimore, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Tucson, and Chicago... in which I have made a habit of attracting some of the most amazing beings as friends.  All places have challenged me to sharpen the blade that is my perspective; all have forced me to overcome what is temporarily insurmountable to build what is eternally reinforced.

I am no success story.  No one is.  I am a mess.  A wonderful, awesome mess.

The past decade was, quite simply, a series of lessons learned:


Embrace people for who they are, not for who you want them to be.


Be bold, daring, deliberate, and always willing to scare yourself into where you should be.


Realize that 51% of your life is within your control; that 1% is what matters most, and the remaining 50% goes a little like this:


You can't always get what you want.  But, if you try sometime, you just might find you get what you need. 



[If you know anything about me, you know that the one television character with whom I have always connected most was Californication's Hank Moody.]

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MARINA: "How to Be a Heartbreaker"

Marina and the Diamonds returns with (FINALLY RELEASING) "How to Be a Heartbreaker,"  which is going to be on the American version of Elektra Heart, which is about to be released.  For those of you fanatics who have had her European version since late March, and are a little annoyed that she's changing shit up for the U.S. version... deal.  Or, rather, enjoy: 

PS: If you had this before and try to pull some hipster passive aggressive shit on me, I'll cut you.

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shiny toy guns RETURN! [new album 10/23]

Few bands imprinted themselves on my everyday life in 2006 more than Shiny Toy Guns.  It was a year they shared with Franz Ferdinand, The Sounds, and The Faint (who were already dominating my 2000's), but they were the only novel band I'd come to love at the time.  They have returned with this new single (dropped TUESDAY!), titled Waiting Alone.  

All I can think of when I hear this return to big speakers is CONCRETE.  They have what it takes... still.  L.A. Riots are apparently working on a remix of this, and they are expected to have a new album drop very soon; their first with Carah Faye since the superb We Are Pilots (2006).  The new (and 18 month delayed) album, smartly titled  III is due October 23rd.

Knowing they have immense talent, I've been waiting for a long time for a record company to pick up on their talent (and run like hell to the bank) and penchant for quality synth-pop that is not only reminiscent of 80's new wave, but falls directly into the genre without any distinction between new and nü (which is stupid, by the way).  

With original lead singer (and the weight of the band) Faye returned, the band is ripe to be spread like sonorous herpes throughout Musicopia.  

Here's another (also expected on III) not-so-new (but newest other than the above) Shiny Toy Guns track (and a superb remix), The Sun, easily one of my favorites of 2011:

That's the thing about "new wave"... it's always new.  Like raw dance rock (think: Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, The Hives), it's one of the VERY few genres that can reproduce itself and still sound authentic because of the quality of its roots.  Melodies are melodies, harmonies too, and all reproductions of synthetic sound are rooted in the same simple keyboard and adoration of orchestral whimsy; even with modern evolutions of such.

Though you can only BUY the new track HERE, you can download the remix of The Sun below:

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fresh: "National Anthem" - Lana Del Rey (video & dl)

So, just in time for the holiday, Ms. Lana Del Rey has dropped her à propos "National Anthem" video and single.  I love her aesthetics, per usual, and her willingness to push buttons in a subtle fashion.  She is not stupid, even if part of her career is contrived.  She understands how to appear and execute subtly, and that's maybe her best quality (besides being a classic beauty).  Well, done, bitch.  You nailed it on this one...

This song, in general, is a beautiful tune worth owning.  So, do it:

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If you didn't love her before, love her boldness now.

Song of the Summer #2: "Tomorrow (Kat Krazy remix)" - Niki & the Dove

This is the best remix I have heard in a long time, and hence is my SONG OF THE SUMMER #2 (#1 was 'Somewhere' by Scissor Sisters) It makes me want to jump around like a flailing idiot.    Not only that, but this song is the rare combination of emotional and danceable, and that makes little homosexual butterflies (redundant) flap around in my heart.  

Niki and the Dove, you are the perfect balance of Lykke Li and Goldfrapp.  Kat Krazy, you fucking rock.

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Original version (video): 

MAJReview: SpringPop '12

The bar has been raised so the bar can be razed.

 The inspiration for this mix, as always manifested itself out of the music.  I was moved by the power of pop in the past few months; especially the beautiful pop music that could be transferred to the dance floor (e.g. Florence, Studio Killers, Niki & the Dove).  The last year has been a tough one for pop music- especially with the standard set so high in the latter half of 2010 with Robyn and Kylie, and the ho-hum Lady Gaga sophomore attempt (we expected the world, didn't we?) in 2011.  The powerful returns of Marina & the Diamonds, Florence + the Machine, Scissor Sisters, and Nicki Minaj have helped 2012 Spring rise above.


Favorite tracks: Tomorrow (Kat Krazy remix) - Niki & the Dove, Eros & Apollo (MAJR remix) - Studio Killers, I Love It - Icona Pop, and Cocaine (No Big Deal remix) - Eric Clapton... at least for now.

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[Intro: Good Bob] 

We Own the Night - Tiesto & Wolfgang Gartner ft. Luciana 

DNA - Rye Rye ft. Porcelain Black 

Summertime Sadness (Mezsi v. MAJR edit) - Lana Del Rey 

Tomorrow (Kat Krazy remix) - Niki & the Dove 

Whip It - Nicki Minaj 

Cocaine (No Big Deal remix) - Eric Clapton 

Spectrum (Calvin Harris remix) - Florence + the Machine 

Eros & Apollo (MAJR remix) - Studio Killers 

Only the Horses - Scissor Sisters 

Fuck with You - Bob Sinclair ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor 

Baby's on Fire - Die Antwoord 

Timebomb - Kylie Minogue 

Booty Swing (Tits & Clits remix) - Parov Stelar 

Perfect World (TABS remix) - The Gossip 

Let It Go - Dragonette 

Lights (Cosmic Dawn remix) - Ellie Goulding 

Dance Again (Fuck Pitbull MAJR edit) - Jennifer Lopez 

Call My Name - Cheryl Cole 

Paddling Out (Wolfgang Gartner remix) - Miike Snow 

We Run the Night - Havana Brown 

Automatic - Nicki Minaj 

Bow Wow Wow - Bodyrox ft. Luciana 

Somebody to Love (Boogie Pimps v. MAJR edit) - Jefferson Airplane 

Party (MegaMan & Panic City remix) - Beyoncé 

Call Me (Sasha Ru remix) - Blondie 

Girl Gone Wild (Justin Cognito remix) - Madonna 

Mr. Postman (DJ Technics remix) - The Marvelettes 

Primadonna (MAJR remix) - Marina & the Diamonds 

I Love It - Icona Pop 

[Interlude: Aren't We All] 

Somewhere - Scissor Sisters

ALSO CHECK OUT:

WinterPop '12: 

MAJReview: WinterPop '12 - DJ MAJR by MAJRmusic

FallPop '11: 

MAJReview: FallPop '11 - DJ MAJR by MAJRmusic

Song of the Summer: "Somewhere" - Scissor Sisters

This is the song of June for me.  Scissor Sisters have really put their shit together for this album (FINALLY).  Hands-down.  If you don't have it... get it.  I couldn't find an audio of this, so you'll just have to trust me.

So excited to see them for the 4th time next weekend!

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Extraordinary lives 

Keep crashing and tumbling by 

Somewhere there’s a sky for only me 

Diamonds in disguise 

Hiding like forgotten days