Most Overplayed Songs on the Radio, Spring 2011

Here we go... Spring 2011 has arrived and here are the most overplayed songs on the radio, at least here on corporate dominated Southern California radio. Missing from this list??? Yes, oddly no Lady Gaga and Britney Spears... hrm... maybe I'm just missing them when I turn on the radio. So find out who beat them this Season.

Anyways, on to the Most Overplayed Songs on the Radio, Spring 2011 Edition:

10) Rihanna - S & M Literally, the week after I release this list, the radio decides to play this song over and over and over.
9) Enrique Iglesias - Tonight (I'm Lovin You)(feat. Ludacris) I can't even listen to this song anymore, I immediately change the station.
8) Chris Brown - Yeah 3x I can't even listen to this song either, anymore... oh yeah, the melody is also stolen from a Calvin Harris song.
7) Usher - More (RedOne Jimmy Joker Remix) I actually kinda like this song and didn't really know it was Usher.
6) Cee Lo Green - Forget You I like this song, and it's been out for a while... But I think it's finally being burnt out.
5) Florence and the Machine - Dog Days Are Over I'm happy that they are finally getting some recognition, but "Radio... they do have other great songs."
4) Jennifer Lopez - On the Floor (feat. Pitbull) Another song that I didn't know was an artist in particular... In this case, Jennifer Lopez.
3) Pitbull - Hey Baby (Drop It On The Floor)(feat. T-Pain) Pitbull and T-Pain appear in every other song on the radio... it was a matter of time before they'd team up.
2) Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man Every since they were announced on the Coachella Line-up, Kroq and other stations started to crank up the Mumford and Sons... and when you're a cross between Kings of Leon and The Arcade Fire, you'll get some airplay in this town.
1) Wiz Khalifa - Black and Yellow This dude has blown up in the past year... and they now play this song almost every time I turn on the radio. It's funny that it's overplayed in any other city than Pittsburgh. I wonder how much it's played in that city?

10 Most Overplayed Songs of Summer 2011
10 Most Overplayed Songs of Winter 2011
10 Most Overplayed Songs of 2010

Cool Music Video: Gaka - Tsuchinoko

Gaka is a 16 piece instrumental Japanese band. Here is their cool music video for the song Tsuchinoko, which has all in-camera special effects, reminding me a bit of Michel Gondry's style. Check it out! It's weird, but cool.

Listen to Rejected Goose Remix for Tron Legacy

Here's a pretty good remix that got rejected by Disney for the Tron: R3conf1gur3d album due out April 5th. Apparently, this was posted by former Daft Punk tour manager, Busy P who is having a fit against Disney. Saying:

"This should have been the kind of great re-interpretation of Daft Punk’s music featured on this compilation."

and...

"100 percent sure Daft Punk were not involved in this side project."

Then...

"A masterpiece like Tron:Legacy soundtrack deserved the best and I am sad to discover the A&R at Disney is apparently buying most of his electronic music in airports stores."

Anyways, Check it out... Because this will not be on the Tron: R3conf1gur3d remix album, that Daft Punk supposedly didn't have anything to do with.

Album Review: The Strokes - Angles

The Strokes - Angles

Style: Rock, Indie Rock
Pros: Sounds like The Strokes when they first came on to the scene.
Cons: Short album.
Overview: If you are a Strokes fan from the beginning you will like Angles... as it feels like their older sound. My only comment about this album is that it is only 10 songs long and runs just over 34 minutes. I don't know I guess that is a standard album length... but I am not sure it would be worth full price.. especially for a CD (if people still by them)... (hint, you can listen to it on their website)... Overall I did enjoy the album.
Top Songs: Machu Picchu; Under Cover of Darkness; Games
3.5 out of 5 vinyls


The Strokes Website

Purchase: Angles

Listen to Boys Noize's Awesome Remix of Tron Legacy Song

Yes, Listen to Boys Noize's bad ass remix of the Song End of the Line from Daft Punk's Score to the Tron Legacy remix album, Tron Legacy R3conf1gur3d... Pretty awesome!!! It's also pretty cool, top secret Easter egg on Disney's Tron site, but totally legit. Just go to

TronSountrack

and click on the graphic to get to the main page... and type in:

endofline

anywhere after the page loads. I think I might like this remix album over the original...

Tron Legacy R3Conf1gur3d drops April 5th.

Music Video: London Elektricity - Elektricity Will Keep Me Warm

Here's a pretty cool 3D 8bit influenced music video from Drum and Bass band, London Elektricity featuring Elsa Esmeralda, for the song Elektricity Will Keep Me Warm.

Tim Burton Art @ LACMA

Tim Burton Art at LACMA

When: May 29 2011 - October 31 2011
Where: Resnick Pavilion, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire BLVD, Los Angeles 90036 Map it
Hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 12 - 8pm;
• Closed Wednesday
• Friday: 12 - 9 pm
• Saturday, Sunday: 11 - 8pm

Price: Adults: $15, Students: $10, Seniors: $10,
Free every 2nd Tuesdays. or after 5 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

LACMA Tim Burton

Tim Burton art finally showcased in Los Angeles... yah!

Adidas Commercial Featuring New Justice Song 'Civilization'

Justice is back with a banger...

It has been a while since the famed Electro French Duo, Justice, has put out anything new... Well, here you go Justice fans, something to wet your appetite. The song is called Civilization and it's out on April 4th, with a supposed album soon on the way. Spot'em in the Ad.

Music Video: BT - Suddenly

Here's a music video for all of you BT fans. It's for the song Suddenly featured on his album These Hopeful Machines... Yes that's American Idol runner up Blake Lewis on drums.

Tron 3 Video?

Attached to the upcoming Tron Legacy Blu-ray is a documentary (well in the Tron world), of the people of Encom and the disappearance of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) and the rise of Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund). So if you aren't nerdy enough to watch all ten minutes of this fake (but real in the Tron universe) documentary, it takes place after the original Tron to right after Tron Legacy, possibly revealing the initial story for Tron 3... entitled The Next Day.

As for Tron 3 actually happening? I know Disney is mulling over it... but Tron: Legacy was a bit of a disappointment critically and at the box office (but not totally).

Cool Michel Gondry Music Video for Living Sisters

So, in case some of you were worried that Michel Gondry doesn't make music videos any more... well, he does... and this time for the song How Are You Doing? by Living Sisters. It is a pretty cool music video in Michel Gondry's fashion. Check it out.

DJ Mix Review: Hospitality Drum & Bass 2011

Hospitality Drum & Bass 2011

Style: Drum and Bass Funk.
Pros: Fun... Hospital Records Style
Cons: Not much.
Overview: Okay, so I've been listening to a lot of Drum and Bass lately... Anyways, this is kind of an unfair mix to rate because it's basically Hospital Records top hits of the past year. And most of the songs are pretty awesome... It's got work from Danny Byrd, London Elektricity, Sigma, Netsky just to name a few... so yeah. Some songs I don't care for, but that may be due to a difference of taste. It's currently $8.99 on Amazon (it's actually cheaper somewhere else) and you get 28 (yes 28) songs and a continuous mix. The mix is pretty quick rendition of each song, so you get through all 28 songs in about an hour... good for working out, anyhow.
Top Songs: Too many to list.
4 out of 5 vinyls


Hospital Records website.

Purchase: Hospitality Drum & Bass 2011

Why Will I Am and The Black Eyed Peas Suck

And need to go away...

I'm sorry if you're a fan of The Black Eyed Peas, but even most of you would agree that lately, the famed pop group is becoming more awash in unoriginality... and it is getting thrown down our throats by their label.

Now I am not saying that they've always sucked, just that lately, it's becoming more apparent.
To me, it's not a selling out thing, because a lot of artists make a ton of money and still produce good music. I think anyone in their right mind would opt to make a lot of money over the starving artist lifestyle.

Anyhow, my main concern is that Will I Am and The Black Eyed Peas have become awash in trying to stay on top of the pop charts by half-assing production... I mean the lyrics and vocals in their recent hits are almost non-tolerable, compared to what they use to put out, maybe a decade ago. Even that song I can't stand anymore because radio threw it down our throats way too much, Where Is the Love, had pretty decent lyrics if I remember, but that came out a while ago. Maybe it should be Where is the Originality these days.

I also say that because The Black Eyed Peas' major problem is that they have seemed to run out of original and creative music production as they now blatantly steal music from other smaller artists and make it their own: Umm... let's see there was the obvious sample steal of Adam Freeland's Mancry, for their song Party All The Time... Then, there also was a barely obvious drum rip claim from Deadmau5's camp on The Time... and even more recently, Will I Am's alter ego Zuper Blahq, put out a song called Dance (which has been interestingly vanishing from most sources) that blatantly stole the song Yeah from Boys Noize.

So yeah, that's a pretty big reason. I don't mind the inclusion of Techno and Electronic music into their style because they've helped introduce a bigger audience for the electronic scene; David Guetta working with them on a few songs... I Gotta Feeling is a decent song (again except for the lyrical verses). You can make great music from whatever style you choose. Dance music is just what is getting a lot of play in the pop world today.

However, just because you've played at the Super Bowl (which I didn't see, but heard was awful) doesn't mean you can get or do whatever the hell you want and be a pawn to the record label making crap.

Will I Am and The Black Eyed Peas, to their credibility do (did?) have some talent, however recently, it has been awash in garbage, be it the label or not. So maybe, they need to go away for awhile, then regroup and come up with something creative and more of who they are instead of just trying to jump on the what's-hot-at-the-moment, rip it off, and put their own crappy vocals over it. Seriously.

BEP Ripping off Adam Freeland's Mancry?
BEP's The Time Sampling Deadmau5?
Will I Am (aka Zuper Blahq) Ripping off Boys Noize's song Yeah?

Album Review: Nu:Tone - Words and Pictures

Nu:Tone - Words and Pictures

Style: Liquid Drum and Bass
Pros: Nice fun listen.
Cons: not much.
Overview: This is a very consistent album, in that, most of the songs are solid and complement each other. So... no random, odd tracks showing up in this album. Words and Pictures can be listened to pump yourself up for a night out or if you just want to chill around the house... I guess that's what Liquid Drum and Bass does to you. Anyways, if you are a Hospital records fan, then this album is for you.
Top Songs: Shine In; Win the Fight; Set Me Free
4 out of 5 vinyls


Nu:Tone Website check it out, it's pretty cool how he set up the Youtube videos with his background webpage art.

Purchase: Words And Pictures

Daft Punk's Tron: Legacy Reconfigured Tracklist?

It's actually called Tron:R3configur3d as Disney puts on their website. It arrives in stores on April 5th, the same date the movie is released on Blu-ray and DVD.

Ever since it's announcement, there have been some mulling around as to who were going to be included in the remix. I know for one, that Sander Kleinenberg did a remix... and supposedly the Glitch Mob, so this list may be mostly true.

Here is the rumored tracklisting for Daft Punk's upcoming Tron: R3configur3d:

01. The Glitch Mob – Derezzed
02. M83 vs. Big Black Delta – Fall
03. The Crystal Method – The Grid/Game Has Changed
04. Teddybears – Adagio for Tron
05. Ki:Theory – The Son of Flynn
06. Paul Oakenfold – C.L.U.
07. Moby – The Son of Flynn
08. Boys Noize – End of Line (Boys Noize Remix)
09. Kaskade – Rinzler
10. Com Truise – Enron Part II
11. Photek – End of Line
12. The Japanese Popstars – Arena
13. Avicii – Derezzed
14. Pretty Lights – Solar Sailor
15 Sander Kleinenberg – Tron Legacy (End Titles)

Listen to Boys Noize's Remix of End of Line for Tron Legacy
Listen to Rejected Goose Remix for Tron Legacy... and Busy P lashes out against Disney.
Album Review: Tron: Legacy Reconfigured

Too Much Dance Music on the Radio?

Over the past few years, Dance music (Electronic Dance music) has purveyed more and more through the airwaves of mainstream success, with the likes of The Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, and even Usher changing up his sound. A few years ago these songs would have been considered remixes instead of the actual song. However, the current appetite is for Electronic Dance music... So this begs the question: Is their too much Dance music on the radio?

I ask, because what explodes quickly in entertainment, usually reaches it's plateau and begins to implode. Remember the Disco era? I don't, because I wasn't around. However, Disco became really popular in the 70's and as suddenly and as big as it hit, the 80's came around and "bye bye" went Disco. Though, as a side note, Disco has somewhat made a resurgence in, and influenced some of today's biggest dance genres.

Enough about Disco...

Electronic dance (Techno, House) music, has been, for the most part, liked by a certain niche in society. It was always bigger and cooler in Europe, but until recently has become a big player in the US music scene. So why am I complaining that it has finally hit mainstream?

I am actually not.

I see it as a good thing that Dance music has hit mainstream success... Current pop artists also see it that way and fortunately (or unfortunately) want to inhibit that sound into their style. I don't have a problem with Lady Gaga and Britney Spears because they have a specific audience, and the music they make, fits with what they are trying to do.

The problem is that every other Pop or even Hip Hop act, see Electronic Dance music as cool and trendy. They want to jump on it before discovering what Dance music is all about. Thus, leading to half-assed productions with just a House beat dropped behind some horrid vocals... diminishing how far each song can be pushed, creatively... even though they have some of the biggest producers on board.

But that's Pop music, for Pop music's sake.

They find the next cool thing, manufacture it, spit it out, and make it for the masses as quickly as possible before the public forgets what artist is hot and what artist isn't.

So in a long winded way, there will always be good Dance tunes... good underground Dance tunes(even though some underground talent are becoming discovered by the mainstream). We will never get tired of it as long the artists keep pushing themselves and not get distracted by mainstream success. Pop is Pop, and will always be Pop, no matter if Dance music is at the forefront of their success. There will still be great Electronic music. This, despite the fact, that some Pop artists will just steal dance songs from smaller artists and call it their own (ahem... BEP).

So to answer my question of there being too much Dance music on the radio... Well, there is a lot of Dance music on the radio, much of it the same garbage. However, there's always room for more... an open slot for better artists to hit the scene and make Dance and Electronic music stick around for even longer. And instead of imploding, maybe it will keep on exploding.

Song of the Month: March 2011

Nu:Tone - Shine In (Feat. Natalie Williams)

Yes, there have been quite a few Drum and Bass tracks making my song of the month, lately. I just happen to like this one too, as it is fun and groovy.

Nu:Tone's new album, Words and Pictures is out now on Hospital Records...

Nu:Tone Website.