Born This Way (Bimbo Jones vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Lady Gaga

Bimbo Jones, one of my favorite DJ outfits to see in the last year, has once again done a great job with a pop track. They really have a solid understanding of what makes a substantial pop remix.

They took on a track that (though I doubt anyone can really make it any better than it is... which still doesn't say a lot) is so clubby it's difficult to improve, Lady Gaga's Born This Way. So, I took this 6+ minute remix and cut it into a tolerable piece of music that won't bore me to pieces. Hooray! Enjoy:

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fresh: Arctic Monkeys return

Arctic Monkeys completely rock my shit, and have since day one. Favourite Worst Nightmare is still one of the best dance-rock (post-punk dance-rock) albums of the last 10 or so years. Still, they have a lot of proving to do after a ho-hum (-bug) last album. The Sheffield, UK, band has always had the attitude and talent to keep me interested, and (though not enthralled) I am pretty excited to hear the new album Suck It And See (out June 7th in the U.S.)... points for the title. Seriously. And, I still think Alex Turner has the sexiest vocals on the planet. Bless bless bless his heart.

Arctic Monkeys - Brick By Brick by Révo

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fresh: new track from The National

Here's a new track from The National, and an old track from Fanfarlo that you should own. I heard The National's track on Sunday in the closing credits of the new (pretty fantastic, actually) film, Win Win. The film, a bittersweet, funny, raw look at the value of transparent morality, was just what I needed. Hearing The National in the closing credits with this beautiful new tune was wonderfully welcome. The Fanfarlo track is used in the trailer below and is one of the more gorgeous songs from one of the most talented indie rock bands on the planet. Can't wait for their next LP. Here you go:

The National "Think You Can Wait" - 1-CLICK-DL

Fanfarlo "These Walls Are Coming Down" - 1-CLICK-DL

fresh: new track from Death Cab For Cutie

I am pleasantly surprised, yet not blown away, by this new Death Cab For Cutie track. It is definitely what they advertised: a more melodic, slightly more electronic/synthetic DCFC... and that's a-okay by me. The more I hear this song, the more I love and miss how DCFC can make me feel. They return (ALREADY SOLD OUT, DAMMIT) to D.C. June 3rd at 9:30 club.

There's a part of every recovering hipster out there that yearns for a new Postal Service record, so anything that comes close is lovely by design. By the way, like so many Death Cab albums, I LOVE the cover.

DEATH CAB for CUTIE - You Are A Tourist [Album Version]

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remix monday: oh land remix

Oh Land is well on her way to being a phenom in the pop community. She still has to prove to me that she has more depth, but in the meantime the underground press is touting her quite nicely. This remix, by Savage Skulls, is pretty interesting. I dig this song, but I probably would not play this outside of a lounge. Tell me what you think:

Sun of a Gun (Savage Skulls Remix) - Oh Land

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THANK YOU, HOES / Set List / DL Live Set

There are nights where you don't know what to expect... and it turns out alright. And, then there's last night. Cobalt basically erupted at midnight and the entire place went from lukewarm to frenzied in the best possible way. THANK YOU to my guest DJs Wesley and Josh 0f Coffee&Bars, as well as vAnniety Kills, who indeed did KILL it upstairs.

I had so much fun playing, and I can't believe how much fun SHIFT keeps being. It just makes me smile immensely, and I owe it all to you guys out there. Thank you, again. Keep expecting more of your DJs, club nights, and nightlife. You gotta want more of your stimuli... I hope I can be a part of that progression for you. THE NEXT SHIFT IS SAT. APRIL 30! Plenty of time to recover. :)

DISCO HO-DOWN SET LIST (recording below)

Hoes In This House (Richi Jamz vs. DJ MAJR edit) - DJ Funk

Fly By Night (Designer Drugs remix) - Cerebral Vortex

Indestructible (Cosmic Dawn remix) - Robyn

DJ (Madeon remix) - Alphabeat

Fuck Him He's A DJ - Kesha

You Gonna Want Me (Tocadisco remix) - Tiga

Rhythm Is A Dancer (Armand Van Helden remix) - Snap

Under The Sheets (Kids At The Bar remix) - Ellie Goulding

Barbra Vogue (DJ MAJR edit) - Madonna vs. Duck Sauce

Put Your Hands Up For Detroit - Fedde Le Grand

Bad Gal - Savage Skulls

Supermassive Black Hole (Emre B remix) - Muse

Ghosts 'n' Stuff - Deadmau5

Cotton Eye Joe - Cliff Richards

Heads Will Roll (Dan OH remix) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Rocket (Richard X remix) - Goldfrapp

Fixin' To Thrill (Automatic Panic remix) - Dragonette

Where's Your Head At (Klaas remix) - Basement Jaxx

House Of Jealous Lovers - The Rapture

Love Part II (Pepptalk remix) - Bright Light Bright Light

Hello - Martin Solveig

Rolling In The Deep (Keljet remix) - Adele

Dancing On My Own (Buzz Junkies vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Robyn

Remedy (Buffetlibre vs. Sidechains remix) - Little Boots

Gone Too Far - Dragonette

Take Me Out (Daft Punk remix) - Franz Ferdinand

Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet

Miss You Much/Escapade - Janet Jackson

Shut Up And Let Me Go - The Ting Tings

Teeth - Lady Gaga

Closer - Nine Inch Nails

Got Your Money - Ol' Dirty Bastard

Crazy In Love - Beyonce

Standing In The Way Of Control - The Gossip

Aphrodite - Kylie Minogue

Let's Dance - David Bowie

I Believe In A Thing Called Love - The Darkness

Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis

Toy Soldier - Britney Spears

S&M - Rihanna

Born This Way - Lady Gaga

In My Arms - Kylie Minogue

Smile Like You Mean It (Madeon remix) - The Killers

I Wanna Go - Britney Spears

Someone Like You (Gering vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Adele

Dog Days Are Over (Sanna & Pitron vs. DJ MAJR remix) - Florence + The Machine

Material Girl - Madonna

I Get Around - Dragonette

Toxic - Britney Spears

Celebrity Skin - Hole

Hang With Me - Robyn

By My Baby - The Ronettes

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photos: a few reasons not to miss tonight

All photos from the last two SHIFT parties.

All photos by the amazing Gordon Wells.

guest DJ spotlight : DJ vAnniety Kills

SHIFT has the privilege of hosting one of the best DJs in the city tomorrow, DJ vAnniety Kills. Annie Nguyen, one of the sweetest people I've met in the business, is a truly talented lady behind the decks. She can spin using almost any program, on any platform, and does so with a great sense of crowd management. Last time she was with us, she was downstairs and blew me away with her song selection. To say she's eclectic is an understatement. She dropped everything from Blur to hip-hop, and did so flawlessly.

This month she takes it to the upstairs main floor from 10-12:00/30, and is sure to get the crowd warmed up and set ablaze before I go on around 12:15. She is a true professional and I, (y'all know I'm neurotic about this), will not have to worry one second about her relationship with the crowd. She will be amazing and make you crazy bitches dance your face off. Get there early enough to see one of the best DJ has to offer. So. good. She promises to play a "harder, darker, sexier set" than usual. I'm excited. Be sure to check out her regular gigs at Mie N Yu, Cobalt, and a plethora of other local joints HERE.

DJ vAnniety Kills

SHIFT Presents: DISCO HO-DOWN

UPSTAIRS 10:00 - 12:00/30

$7, 21+, $3 PBR

NEW Lykke Li rmx edit/ music video!

So, I secretly love Lykke Li. Her latest LP, Wounded Rhymes is perhaps my favorite album of 2011, so far. I Follow Rivers is a stellar track with a ridiculous amount of depth, despite a simple premise. But, I have learned this to be a theme with her. I hope you dig this as much as I do. Check out the video below (original track) and my own edit of her, that I love! I really took this one apart and sped it up to club pace, without destroying it. Hooray!

I Follow Rivers (The Magician vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Lykke Li

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new Robyn rmx edit

I love Robyn. I won't hound on that more than I already have... and god knows, I am going to hit it pretty hard in a couple weeks with the Robyn Riot approaching. But, I will say that I love and play this remix constantly. It, like many I adore, was in need of some tinkering. So, I tinkered. Needless to say, you will definitely hear this tomorrow at SHIFT Presents: DISCO HO-DOWN. Enjoy!

Indestructible (Cosmic Dawn vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Robyn

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guest DJ spotlight : Coffee&Bars Boys

The Coffee&Bars.com Boys, lovingly known as The Cirrhosis Twins in my home, are made up of the talented VJ (and brit-pop guru) Wesley D, and Coffee&Bars creator (and music buff) Josh McD. These two boys have interesting stories, and are sure to bring their unique blend of pop, indie dance, and glorious kitsch to the fore on Saturday at SHIFT Presents: DISCO HO-DOWN.

Wesley D has opened for ME multiple times over the years, and is also the Friday night resident VJ at Nellie's Sports Bar, one of the busiest bars in the city. It is no surprise that Wesley has been instrumental in that facility's gradual more-dance-friendly rebranding process. His strengths lie in his ability to understand what makes good pop without diving excessively into the derivative. Expect to hear a lot of fresh electro pop, including Oh Land, Example, Alphabeat, Ellie Goulding, and Frankmusik from this guy.

Josh McD is one of the more musically eclectic people you'll ever meet, which had to play a huge part in his development of Coffee&Bars into one of the more respected music blogs in the city. Unlike this one, he definitely takes the high road when it comes to reviewing... and is, well, less of a bitch. Haha. Josh makes his SHIFT debut on Saturday, and will bring his love of Radiohead, Mariah Carey, Robyn, The Killers, and Ladytron to the speakers. This will definitely balance out Wesley's style, and help create the kind of environment that SHIFT embodies: indie, electro, and pop gettin' together and makin' dancefloor whoopie.

All in all, I cannot be more excited for these two DJs to trade off before I go on at 12:15/30 upstairs. I will be spending my time trying not to dance and talking to people as they enter... which is going to be quite the task. And, after all, I think few know better how to get a ho down better than Wesley and Josh. Get excited, y'all. This is going to be fanfuckingtastic. Make sure you check out the Coffee&Bars site.

DOWNSTAIRS DJs - SATURDAY

SHIFT Presents: DISCO HO-DOWN

10:00pm - 2:45am (live music 10:30-2:30)

$7, 21+, $3PBR

3 tracks - rmx edits of Florence, Little Boots, VHS or Beta

So here are three edits you'll definitely hear me play on Saturday. They are three of my favorites, and I really enjoy how people react to them. VHS Or Beta is often hit-or-miss, but this track (Can't Believe A Single Word, remixed by the reliable LA Riots), is the complete banger package.

Can't Believe A Single Word (LA Riots vs. DJ MAJR edit) - VHS Or Beta

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Little Boots' Remedy (remixed by the potent combo of Sidechains and Buffetlibre) is almost always in my sets. I love it more than my luggage and, after almost 3 years, it still makes me move. Dancing is, indeed, my remedy. (PS: This edit is highly overdue.)

Remedy (Buffetlibre vs. Sidechains vs DJ MAJR edit) - Little Boots

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Lastly, I spent a day working on a remix by Sanna & Pitron of the indie/pop crossover, Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine. This track, thanks to the VMA's, became a commercial sensation one year or so after it was an underground/indie phenomena. I laced it with a nice Tiesto house beat, and then manipulated a couple loops in order to make it dancetastic. Yes, it's that gay.

Dog Days Are Over (Sanna & Pitron vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Florence + The Machine

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Get excited for Saturday's DISCO HO-DOWN! Hip Hip HO-ray!

NEW SHIFTEASERMIX! / DISCO HO-DOWN

So it's been a while since I have produced an original SHIFTeaserMix of all new (or new to my playlist) stuff. Two months, exactly. I am pretty excited about this mix. To distinguish it from all the others, it has some polar sides to it. It dives into dance-rock with The Killers and Teddybears, and also stays uber pop with some Alphabeat and Britney Spears. At times, though, it is easily the most emotional of any mix I've made. Perhaps my rough month produced some therapeutic dance tunes. Enjoy!

Mar2011 SHIFTeaserMix: DISCO HO-DOWN, by DJ MAJR

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Intro

Fly By Night (Designer Drugs remix) - Cerebral Vortex

Barbra Vogue (DJ MAJR edit) - Madonna vs. Duck Sauce

DJ (Madeon remix) - Alphabeat

Bad Gal - Savage Skulls ft. Robyn

You Gonna Want Me (Tocadisco vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Tiga

Rhythm Is A Dancer (Armand van Helden remix) - Snap

I Follow Rivers (The Magician remix) - Lykke Li

Fuck Him He's A DJ - Kesha

Higher (Wideboys remix) - Taio Cruz ft. Kylie Minogue

Smile Like You Mean It (Madeon remix) - The Killers

I Wanna Go - Britney Spears

Someone Like You (Jonathan Gering vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Adele

Dog Days Are Over (Sanna & Pitron remix) - Florence + The Machine

Cardiac Arrest - Teddybears ft. Robyn

Not In Love - Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith

Outro

FRESH: 2 new MAJR edits (incl. alphabeat)

Here are a couple great edits I did in the last few days. These songs were great in and of themselves, but just had to be tweaked not to bore the hell out of a dancefloor. I sped up and cut up the breakdown of Alphabeat, and basically cut out all the repetitive fluff to create more momentum on the Cerebral Vortex track. Check 'em out and tell me what you think.

DJ (Madeon vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Alphabeat

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Fly By Night (Designer Drugs vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Cerebral Vortex

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Tue night's awesome set list

I usually don't celebrate my Tuesday night sets, but this one was so good and so much fun, I just had to indulge. This is what TREATMENT TUESDAY sounds like... your own little indie pop heaven. (Not to mention, I definitely stole the crowd from upstairs)

It's Not My Problem (Thin White Duke remix) - Sneaky Sound System

Your Heart Feels (Designer Drugs remix) - Thieves Like Us

Save My Soul - The Whip

Not In Love - Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith

In For The Kill (The Twelves remix) - La Roux

Please Don't Leave Me - Pink

Gimme Sympathy - Metric

Giggling Again For No Reason - Alanis Morissette

Dancehall Queen - Robyn

Weekend - Ladytron

Quicksand - La Roux

Inbetween Days - The Cure

When I Grow Up - Garbage

Portions For Foxex - Rilo Kiley

Feel Good Time - Pink

Up All Night - French Horn Rebellion

Animal - Kesha

Dorchester Hotel - The Sounds

Chinese (Doctor Rosen Rosen remix) - Lily Allen

How I Roll - Britney Spears

Dog Days Are Over (Sanna Pitron remix) - Florence + The Machine

Knock You Out - Tiesto ft. Emily Haines

Big Fat Bass - Britney Spears ft. Will.I.Am.

Warrior (LA Riots remix) - J.O.B. ft. Anjulie

Bonafide Lovin' (LA Riots remix) - Chromeo

Stars Come Out - Calvin Harris

Easy Love - MSTRKRFT

Hang With Me (MAJR mashmix) - Robyn

Tenderoni (Kris Menace remix) - Kele

Barbra Vogue (DJ MAJR edit) - Madonna vs. Duck Sauce

DJ (Madeon remix) - Alphabeat

Rolling In The Deep (Keljet vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Adele

I Follow Rivers (The Magician remix) - Lykke Li

Shampain (Fred Falke vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Marina & The Diamonds

Smile Like You Mean It (Madeon remix) - The Killers

Get Myself Together - Robyn

You've Got The Love (Star Guitar remix) - Florence + The Machine

Heavy Cross (Fred Falke remix) - The Gossip

Cupid Boy - Kylie Minogue

I Love It - Sneaky Sound System

4th of July (DJ MAJR edit) - Kelis

The One - Kylie Minogue

Gold Digger - Dolly Rockers

Fascination - La Roux

I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto

Zero (RAC remix) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Clap Your Hands (Fred Falke remix) - Sia

Together Again - Janet Jackson

Boots & Boys - Kesha

Oh No! - Marina & The Diamonds

Under The Sheets (Kids At The Bar remix) - Ellie Goulding

Hello - Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette

Who's That Chick - David Guetta ft. Rihanna

I Wanna Go - Britney Spears

Someone Like You (Gering vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Adele

Cardiac Arrest - Teddybears

Boys & Girls - Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette

Push It - Salt N Pepa

S&M - Rihanna

Filthy/Gorgeous - Scissor Sisters

Maneater - Nelly Furtado

Bad Gal - Savage Skulls

On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez

Rhythm Is A Dancer - Snap

Sick Muse - Metric

Stuck On Repeat - Little Boots

Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Suck Great Heights - The Postal Service

Easy - Dragonette

essentials: madeon remix of alphabeat

Here is a great remix by Madeon of Alphabeat. It really speaks for itself: so good. Check it out:

DJ (Madeon remix) - Alphabeat by MAJRdjmusic

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remix monday: adele unleashed (2 new remixes)

This remix is pretty amazing. It's nothing but dance. No filler, no nothin'. Just straight-up club dance with so much wonderful fluff that it could insulate an attic. Adele is truly a wonderful talent, and I sometimes forget that she's only 22. I love it and can't help but want to cry and dance simultaneously while it's in my headphones. You know you're intrigued.

Someone Like You (The Thin Red Men remix) - Adele

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Secondly, we have this one that needed a little editing, so I did my best...

The product is what I would call dance-lounge music.

It may even be good for the early part of club nights. Enjoy!

Someone Like You (Jonathan Gering vs. DJ MAJR edit) - Adele

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SIREN IS BACK! - set list

The Britney Bash brought SIREN back with a giant splash on Friday. We packed the place out. People danced. The floor shook. The neighbors complained. The DJ smiled. It was the best time I have ever had at the Green Lantern, and I could not have done it without the amazing VJ JAX, (DJ) Tight Fang, Jason Barnes ($lim Pu$$y), and the entire crew at the GL. Superb evening. In 4 weeks, we take it to the next level... get excited.

Here's the set list

Gimme More (LAZRtag remix) - Britney Spears

Circus (Villains remix) - Britney Spears

Time Machine - Robyn

I Wanna Go - Britney Spears

In My Arms - Kylie Minogue

Barbra Vogue (DJ MAJR edit) - Madonna vs. Duck Sauce

Dance In The Dark - Lady Gaga

Heads Will Roll (DAH OH remix) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Only Girl (Mixin Marc remix) - Rihanna

Toy Soldier - Britney Spears

Me Against The Music (Rishi Rich remix) - Britney Spears

Fembot - Robyn

Waiting For Bulletproof Love - Kylie vs. La Roux vs. Gwen

Oh No! - Marina & The Diamonds

Remedy (Buffetlibre vs. Sidechains remix) - Little Boots

S&M - Rihanna

Born This Way - Lady Gaga

All The Lovers (WAWA & MMB remix) - Kylie Minogue

Stronger (Jack D. Elliot remix) - Britney Spears

I'm A Slave 4 U (Dave Aude remix) - Britney Spears

Indestructible (Cosmic Dawn remix) - Robyn

Dancing On My Own (Buzz Junkies remix) - Robyn

Rolling In The Deep (Keljet remix) - Adele

Who's That Chick - David Guetta ft. Rihanna

Hold It Against Me (Schim remix) - Britney Spears

Till The World Ends - Britney Spears

Rocket (Richard X remix) - Goldfrapp

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (OCD Automatic remix) - Whitney Houston

Acapella (DJ MAJR remix) - Kelis

…Baby One More Time (Lenny Bertoldo remix) - Britney Spears

Just Dance/Poker Face - Lady Gaga

Love Kills - Robyn

Oops!... I Did It Again (Riprock 'n' Alex G. remix) - Britney Spears

Toxic - Britney Spears

Maneater - Nelly Furtado

Fuck The Pain Away - Peaches

Dog Days Are Over (Max Sanna & Steve Pitron remix) - Florence + The Machine

3 (Dallas K remix) - Britney Spears

Get Outta My Way (SDP remix) - Kylie Minogue

Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn

MAJR edits (madonna, rihanna, YYYs) for 2nite!

Here are a few songs I love to play that you'll definitely hear tonight. I love Karen O and Co. (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and am a fan (sometimes) of Rihanna.... but I love these songs themselves more than the acts that make them. Lastly, we have one of the best mash-ups I have heard in a while that just needed a little tweaking (twiddle my thumbs moments in it)... oh you're going to love this one. Enjoy the dancetasticness! And get excited for tonight's SIREN!

Only Girl (Mixin Marc remix DJ MAJR edit) - Rihanna

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Heads Will Roll (DAN OH remix DJ MAJR edit) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

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Barbra Vogue (DJ MAJR edit) - Madonna vs. Duck Sauce

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Ellie covers The Knife

...and I love it. Though, I admit I love the original even more, this cover is just what I needed the last few days. Her vulnerable vocals are always welcome.

Heartbeats (The Knife cover) - Ellie Goulding

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If you want to hear one of my favorite songs of the last few years, here's the original:

Heartbeats - The Knife

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