Crazy Karate Kats imix

Super cool news... look for my Crazy Karate Kats iMix on iTunes... it includes my recommendations on the hottest trax to kick start 2011. Ok... so some songs are from 2010 or before... but so what! These trax rock! 17 in all, Crazy Karate Kats is 1 hour of pure bliss. Featured tracks include:

Electric Valentine "Beat Drop"

Eiffel 65 "Blue 2009"

Savage Garden "California"

The Venus Stare "Close to You (fear of tigers remix)"

Yes Giantess "Demons"

Daft Punk "Derezzed"

Darius & Finlay "destination"

Shwayze "Get u home (cherry cherry boom boom remix)"

Medina "perfektion"

Shiny Toy Guns "rocketship 2010"

Kiss in Cities "Satellites"

Lights "Second Go"

Hibernate "That High"

Erasure "weight of the world"

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool "You started"

Anoraak "You Taste like cherry"

The Naked and Famous "Young blood"

Wicked nutty, aye? For a quick highlight of a few of the artists featured:

Kiss in Cities is made up of two members of the Manchester, England band (We Are) Performance. Only two Kiss in Cities songs are available in the USA, and I believe Kiss in Cities was just a side project while (We Are) Performance was on a hiatus. "Satellities", which is featured on my imix, is one of my favorites. However, of the four songs that Kiss in Cities have made available from their catalog, the song that remains my most favorite is called "Colours". Its a masterpiece of synthpop perfection. To learn more about Kiss in Cities:

Kiss in Cities Myspace page

The video for Colours (on YouTube)

And finally, here's a link to an awesome song by their other band, (We Are) Performance... song: Let's Start

Another artist I just had to highlight is Medina. I came across a video by her when I was looking for Alphabeat live performances. The video was for a song titled, "Kun for Mig"... which was such an amazingly cool track, that I was instantly hooked. It turns out that Kun in Mig means "You and I", in her native language, and soon enough, an english version was made available. My selection for the imix is Perfektion, which is a brooding, powerful track from her album "Velkommen Til Medina". I love it, and I hope you do too.

Here's an AMAZING live performance of her new track "Lonely"

Electric Valentine is the third artist that I wanted to highlight. I really, really like them. They are the definition of DIY electronica. They write music that wears their influences on their sleeves, they remix other exciting unsigned bands, and create a stir of noise about their music within their ever-growing legion of fans. I selected my favorite song "Beat Drop", which has a raging, bouncing bass and funky-crunchy guitar that fits perfect with Chris and Lauren's vocals.

Electric Valentine on Myspace

Follow them on Twitter

Live performance of their track "A night with you"

Finally, I have to give my props to Shiny Toy Guns. They've been through a couple of strange years. After replacing Carah with Sisely, so many fans cried fowl and then the fans continued to moan when they released "Season of Poison"... a (kind-of) rock concept album that seemed to do away with the Shiny's electro roots, and embrace instead some weird 1970s prog-rock (good grief!). At the time of the release, even I, an ever-faithful fan, wondered if they had lost the plot... but then UNEXPECTEDLY in 2010, they came back with two covers for an automobile advertising campaign, which featured bright synths and awesome energy. Soon after, they released a dance / remix album called "Girls Le Disko" which featured a whole host of awesome remixes from over the past three years. It seems now, that the Shiny Toy Guns have made amends and are poised for a huge 2011 comeback. So in respect to them, you gotta enjoy the 2010 remix of their classic "Rocketship".

Here's the video for Rocketship 2010 (you can get it on iTunes, too!)

And be sure visit their twitter site to keep posted on their lastest studio efforts

Respect in 2011! C2k7 in 2012!

My top 10 recording artists of the year

Ok... so my top 20 songs from 2010 were pretty rad, aye? Well, watch out... here's my top 10 recording artists of the year...

10. Markus Schulz

I've been a fan of Markus Schulz for a long time... ever since he released Without You Near... a classic. But this year's "Do You Dream" album was his best work yet! Last Man Standing blew me away, and was in constant rotation... but "Not the Same" featuring Jennifer Rene was just as good. What I like most about Markus is that he mixes emotional synths with 100% energy... so even when he's crafting a slow track, there's intensity to it. So... here's the deal... if you don't have "Do You Dream"... go right now to iTunes and get it!

9. Yes Giantess

Ok, so I've written about Yes Giantess before... but, the big deal in 2010 was the fact that their debut album "Siren" was finally released on iTunes. So at long last, I was able to buy it... instead of having to stream their songs on their Myspace page. Then add to this good news... that Fear of Tigers remixed The Ruins... making an amazing track, even more amazing. I really recommend looking into this band, if you haven't already... they're fun, poppy, and clever... a lethal combination in the right hands!

8. Lady Gaga

Yes, yes... Lady Gaga... the media sensation, the chart topper... it's all a bit obvious to celebrate the top 10 in 2010 with her, ain't it? Ugh. But here's the deal, "Alejandro" was a massive song. And I couldn't stop listening to it all year long! Those heavy synths that drag Alejandro along are so awesomely wicked, that I just had to turn the volume up to 11 (ha!) every time it came on my iPod. Plus, she was lucky enough to have the amazing Sound of Arrows to remix it... making Alejandro the perfect party song of the year.

7. Jes
The vocalist to Motorcycle (remember? "As the Rush Comes in"... don't ever forget it... brilliant), had a seriously awesome year. With several singles released over the year, I had Jes in nearly constant rotation. "Awaken" was my favorite... but her techno-rock cover of The Cure's "Love Song" was amazing. I also love, love, loved her collaboration with BT... "every other way"... and she then closed the year with "Closer" which was just excellent... check the video on YouTube if you haven't (JES "CLOSER" VIDEO). One of electronica's most precious artists, I just can't wait to see what she has in store for 2010.

6. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool

At long last "The Golden Year" was released in September. But it was all too late... in August tragedy struck the band with the lead singer's suicide. I remember being terribly upset and shaken when I read the news. I loved this band (see my previous posts)... and now the fate of their future remains kept under wraps. But, I can't recommended "The Golden Year" enough. It's unbelievable, powerful, and just great. Outside of the known singles, you gotta check out "Curtain Falls", "Our Lives", and "Next to Nothing"... they've been my soundtrack for the past three months. Charlie Haddon... thank you for your music. God Rest.

5. Nadia Ali

As a long fan of her music, it comes with no surprise that Nadia Ali would make my list. She had a big year... with three remix albums, collaborations with Dresden & Johnston, Chris Reece and Schiller. My favorite was her work with Schiller... "Try"... which was accompanied with a killer video (click here to check it out!!! NADIA ALI "TRY"). Like most great songs, iTunes still has yet to add "Try" to their store... ugh!!! that's so frustrating!!! But, never-the-less, don't miss out on picking up her "Queen of clubs" remix albums... they come with three killer covers (art that is)... and amazing remixes... Here's hoping she tours the USA in 2011!

4. Fear of Tigers

Nearly everything Fear of Tigers touched was gold this year (like last year too!). Hands down the best remix was their electrifying of "Waterfall" by Rosanna. From the instant the electronics kick off on the track, it never stops... so brilliant, so perfect. In 2010, Fear of Tigers generously made their debut "Cossus Snufsigalonica" for free download... and WOW what an album! Follow the link below, and get it now! And... if I can be a bit hopeful for 2011... I'd love to see Fear of Tigers remix Hurts (please, if you're reading this... do it!!!). Visit the following link (Soundcloud) to download their album: FEAR OF TIGERS ON SOUNDCLOUD

3. Hurts

How can Hurts's debut album not be available in the USA???? This album is the best release of the year. The haunting "Wonderful Life" is the only song currently available on iTunes... but it's a remix... by the amazing Arthur Baker... but still... where the David Beckham are the original tracks??? So, here's what I'm going to do for you... below is a set of links to the three videos Hurts released in Europe this year... my favorite... "Stay"... so elegant and gorgeous.

Stay video Wonderful Life video
Better than love video

2. BT
BT released "These Hopeful Machines" this year, which was then supported by several EPs featuring the remixes of the lead singles... "Suddenly," "Emergency" and "Every other word." The main album was awesome, and showed that BT continues to be the undeniable prince of electronica. My favorite, as mentioned earlier, was "Every other word." In 2009 the Armin remix of "every other word" was the first taste of what would become one of the most romantic songs trapped in a blistering blizzard of electronics ever recorded. Perfection.

If you haven't seen the video for the song... check it here: BT "every other way (featuring Jes)"

1. Robots with Rayguns

The best! Remixes for Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Timbaland, and (my favorites) Nightwaves... is just part of the Robots for Rayguns story. The other part, and perhaps the even better part, is their own music... in particular their trax Sugarbaby and The Distance off of their self-released Electro isn't Dead debut are wicked. Like Fear of Tigers, you can get their album for free... so instead of rattling on and on about how great they are... just go check them out! Robots with Rayguns on Soundcloud.

The 20 Biggest Songs of 2010

What a year... so many awesome bands and songs to write about... but let me start with my top 20 songs of the year. So how I did I come up with these?

It's simple... I started with my iTunes library... I looked at all the new songs I picked up in 2010, and sorted them by number of plays... and here's what I came up with (and in case you care!!... the number of plays are noted in orange):

1.) Markus Schultz "Last Man Standing" (152)
2.) Nightwaves "Sweet Carrie" (149)
3.) Temple One "Autumn Leaves" (140)
4.) Sunlounger "Lost (Chill Version)" (126)
5.) Robots with Rayguns "Sugarbaby" (122)
6.) Lady Gaga "Alejandro (sound of arrows remix)" (121)
7.) Gareth Emery "Sanctuary (radio edit)" (119)
8.) Markus Schultz "Not the same" (119)
9.) Darius and Finlay "Rock to the beat" (116)
10.) Akon "Oh Africa (pepsi version)" (113)
11.) Rosanna "waterfall (fear of tigers remix)" (112)
12.) Space Cowboy "devastated (howard jones remix)" (111)
13.) Nelly "just a dream" (108)
14.) Kiss in Cities "satellites" (106)
15.) Hurts "wonderful life (arthur baker remix)" (104)
16.) Yes Giantess "the ruins (fear of tigers remix)" (100)
17.) Robyn "dancing on my own (chew fu remix)" (97)
18.) Shakira "waka waka" (96)
19.) BT "every other way (jim jacobsen remix)" (94)
20.) Slobodan River "surrounded" (93)

Just a few comments on the list... there are several songs here that aren't available in the USA yet... and it just plain rots that it's the case! Hurts (anything by them) and Rosanna's "waterfall" are the perfect examples. Slobodan River is another example, but "surrounded" is old... dating back a few years ago. As you can see in my image post, I included Landon Donovan from the US World Cup team... well that's because the World Cup heavily influenced my top 20... with Akon and Shakira being on my constant playlist from May - July. Remixers Fear of Tigers and Robots with Rayguns deserve some special attention as well... as they remain my favorites from this year. Both made their albums available for free one the web... so go and look for them... neither will disappoint!

Back to the World Cup for a final comment... here's the best TV ad of the tournament... Thank you pepsi and Akon!! Watch it on Youtube by clicking here.