I’m not a one girls guy, and they know it.
When it comes to love I don’t lie,
and the girls respect me for it.
Ain’t gonna say my nose can’t be over
but right now there’s just too many fine ladies out there to choose one from…”

The Persuaders – Trying Girls Out

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When this album was released in 1967 it was largely ignored. Fools. Since then it has been recognized as one of the most influential and critically lauded rock albums in history. It was recorded in 1966 during Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia event tour, which I wont even try to describe. Don’t know if it was the drugs, the nihilism, the times or what but the feeling you get from this music truly something else.

Hey white boy, what you doin’ uptown?
Hey white boy, you chasin’ our women around?
Oh pardon me sir, it’s the furthest from my mind
I’m just lookin’ for a dear, dear friend of mine
I’m waiting for my man”

The Velvet Underground – I’m Waiting For The Man

Am I the only one that finds this song a little strage? I mean it’s pretty clear the song is about the sad story of a teenager so deeply involved with drugs that he has no friends, is willing to try anything and ends up overdosing.  The instrumentation and vocal performance however, have that hopeful shoegaze/dream pop feel so instead of a sad song about drugs I feel like I’m listening the The Rembrandts’ I’ll Be There For You, aka the Friends theme song, weird.

Despite the contrasting feel and production sound, A Teenager In Love is one of my favorite tracks from their self-titled debut LP. Does this track remind you of anything? Bowie - Modern Love maybe? Maybe a little bit. Either way, great song.

Never gonna fall for – Modern love…”

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – A Teenager In Love

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David Bowie – Modern Love

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This Smooth Jazz 101 inspired track is nothinig short of amazing. The chord progression is as cheesy as it gets but somehow still manages to have the feeling of something you would want to hear at a cool after hours joint. This track is completely out of place in their album, which makes it that much better. I have no idea how they pulled this one off. Laid back, enjoy.

The Black Ghost – It’s Your Touch

Stephan, Don Diablo’s manager sent me this in the AM… I’m just going to post his email, I can’t disagree.

“Don Diablo delivers this week’s hottest record with his remix for One eskimO’s “Givin’ Up”, which is taken from their forthcoming album “All Balloons”. Don Diablo takes the original song to another level with added strings, synths, his trademark percussion, a killer bassline and a break that sends this mix straight into another dimension. We dare to say that this is simply a future classic that crosses boundaries and melts down igloos like there’s no tomorrow. One eskimO’s forthcoming album is produced by Rollo (Faithless) and will be backed up by a series of animations produced by Passion Pictures, the team behind ‘Gorillaz’.”

One eskimO – Givin’ up (Don Diablo Remix)

P.S. Before you jump out the window, yes this is an old post, we’re still getting all our content back in order after getting shut down by the man.

Collectively known as The Twelves, Brazilian electro-house João Miguel and Luciano Oliveira have become one of the most sought out duos in the industry. Their production decisions are right up there with the best, often opting for the simple and groove heavy instead of  the common overproduction and clutter.  Some blogs who shall remain nameless compare them to Daft Punk, “Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?” While they may have said that as a compliment I think it just doens’t make sense, sometimes people compare just to compare. These guys truly have the midas touch, enjoy.

Metric – Help I’m Alive (The Twelves Remix)

P.S. Still recovering from our war with terrorist hosting company/dark lords Gisol Inc., so bare with us if you’ve seen some of these post before.

I started binging on Youth Novels again and with that comes all the amazing remixes the album has inspired. Perhaps the most remixed track from the album is Little Bit, I can think of about 8 off the top. From what I gather this song is about a “friends with benefits” type of relationship that she is scared of taking to the next level…

Lykke Li – Little Bit (AutoErotique Bootleg Remix)

Lykke Li – Little Bit (Reprise de Drake)

Lykke Li – Little Bit (Gigamesh Remix)

And for you i keep my legs apart
And forget about my tainted heart
And i will never ever be the first
To say it
But still I,
Yes you know I..I..I..”

Most chick flicks and love songs are so mawkishly sentimental and unrealistic that I completely shut them out. Lykke Li, however, expresses a very realistic and relatable version of love, one that I can really identify with, good stuff. Here are 2 of my favorites including a pretty good cover by Drake. No, I didn’t forget the Death to the Thone remix, I just think the drum sounds they used are a little to happy hardcore sounding for a Lykke Li song. Anyways, these will do your Tuesday right, enjoy.

In her usual fashion, Steph Lund sent me this amazing song a few weeks ago but I’ve been so busy that I never got around to posting/listening to it. This song truly is something else, bliss is pretty much the only word I can use to describe it. I’m off to Nantucket for the weekend so and I can guarantee this will be the background music at some beach somewhere on island. Collapsing At Your Doorstep is from their 2008 released No Way Down EP, an album I highly recommed for all summer playlist. Fantastic feel good music, enjoy.

Sorta like a dream isn’t it? No, better.”

Air France – Collapsing at Your Doorstep

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P.S. These are automated post, I left the city last night and won’t be back till next week so don’t get mad if I don’t answer emails etc. See you soon.

The pop/punk blend is a feeling I really can never get enough of, at least when it’s done right. Pete & The Pirates are a band from Reading, England, they formed in 2005 and have since released two official EPs. Their sound is a mix of 80s post punk and 90’s American indie rock, fresh. Mr. Understanding is from their 2008 critically acclaimed LP, Little Death. The songs melody is as infectious as they come, the lyrics are simple yet meaningful – my favorite kind. Completely forgot about these guys till the ever faithful iTunes shuffle put them back in the picture. Great song, enjoy.

You and me trying hard to remember… How we ever started out with our sights so high.”

Pete & The Pirates  -  Mr. Understanding

These guys sampled the drums from “Be My Baby,” one of my favorite 60’s songs performed by The Shangri-Las and produced by one of my musical heroes, the pop mastermind Phil Spector. At face value, this song is about the thrill being gone, the end, going from liking someone to indifference. The callous overtone may turn some off but being a romantic realist I find this stage of a relationship just as interesting as actually being in love. Hey, if you can’t find the good in the “bad,” well then your just not that creative ; )

This video is great, it’s spooky, creepy, disturbing yet very fitting. Having grown up BMXing I was a huge fan of the bike gang doing ollie’s and flatland tricks while this girl is pouring her heart out about falling out of love. I had to turn off the video to actually listen to the lyrics but I you probably won’t have that problem. Cold as ice. Enjoy.

We walked arm in arm
But I didn’t feel his her touch
A desire I’d first tried to hide,
That tingling inside was gone
And when he she asked me:
‘do you still love me?’
I had to look away
I didn’t want to tell him her
That my heart grows colder with each day.”

Bat For Lashes – What’s a Girl To Do

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Just got reminded of this song by Sean Mattison, the man everyone should be following on Twitter. I remember hearing the original a while back but never really kept it in rotation, this remix may change that. It was produced by Marc Ronson, notice the trademark brass arrangements and funky break beat. Wale, with the exception of the corny “Slim Fast” reference, does his part to perfection by blending into the songs concept and not over doing it. Very simple & tasteful production. EMPT fav.

Don’t let them get you down. They’ll step on you to get to higher ground.”

Nickel Eye Feat. Wale – Brandy of the Damned (Marc Ronson Remix)

 

The difference a little diversity makes is immediately evident for Friendly Fires. Quite what has held back the milieu of meandering morons that make up the music scenes mid range, mid class, middlemen is probably this intelligent and creative leap; crossing genres and keeping your opus open and fresh.”

- MusicOMH.com

Big on the Friendly Fires, even bigger on Lykke Li. In fact, I think I’ve unofficially declared this Lykke Li week for EMPT. I posted this back in January and thought it be a good one to bring back whiles she’s fresh on everyone’s mind after Carson. I’ve also posted the Lykke Li cover of Knocked Up, a song I actually prefer to the original by Kings of Leon. Enjoy.

Friendly Fires – I’m Good, I’m Gone (Lykke Li Cover)

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Lykke Li – Knocked Up (Kings of Leon Cover)

Damn Aussies know what their doing when it comes to the electro/synth-pop thing. Been meaning to blog about these guys for some time but never got around to it. I saw them open up for Justice back in ‘07 when the whole indie rock to dance transformation was starting to take flight and they certainly put on a show. Here are my two fav songs, Shadows & the Daft Punk inspired Road to Recovery, both from their full length LP Dystopia. Enjoy.

Midnight Juggernauts – Shadows

Midnight Juggernauts – Road to Recovery

In typical Kelley Polar form, this song is extremely weird, creepy and confusing but as interesting and addictive as they come. Given title “Chrysanthemum” (mushroom cloud analogy) and lyrics (”Two atoms kiss and what a funny valentine”) I think this song is about a nuclear attack on humanity, tragic. The chorus is nothing short of fu@$%d up goodness.

Make a chrysanthemum of every human head
Make a chrysanthemum and kill them in their beds
Make a chrysanthemum till everybody’s dead”

I’ll be posting more from Kelley, his latest album I Need You to Hold on While the Sky Is Falling has been in heavy rotation. Very space age, very good.

Kelley Polar – Chrysanthemum

Just got an email from the good folks over at NBC informing us that Lykke Li will be performing on Last Call With Carson Daly tonight.  I’m not quite the noctambule I am during party season but I’m certainly staying up to watch this. In the mean time it looks like I’ve found an excuse to post another Lykke Li song. Here’s Breaking it Up, one of the many fabulous songs from Youth Novels. Great breakup song, I like her perspective.

Now call you baby I will and I do.

Persuade you in though I know that were through.

I let you think that I’m your but I’m not.

Keep You here though I’m ready to drop the last line…

If your going abroad I can’t help you.

If your crossing the street I might be there.”

Lykke Li – Breaking It Up

Ayo a few new stations put me in rotation.

They’ve embraced the martian, congratulations.”

Kid Cudi & Consquence – Buggin Out 2009

Anyone know what car that is? I’ve been looking for an excuse to post this picture and Mirando is more than a reasonable one. The production on this track is technical mastery. 8 Bit bounce anyone? Enjoy.

Ratatat – Mirando

The lyrics for this song are amazing, you’d be hard-pressed to find that kind of honesty in music, much less people. I’ve been partying and going to concerts so much lately I think it’s time for me to start relating to this song for a while. We’ll see how long it last, enjoy.

When everybody’s drinking (I don’t want to)
When everybody’s smoking (I don’t need more)
When everybody’s fooling (I don’t want to)
Everybody but me, yeah”

Lykke Li – Everybody But Me

The Black Lips, The Walkmen, Eat Skull, The Kills, Electric Tickle Machine, The White Stripes,  I’m starting to wonder if my lo-fi obsession will ever fade. Harlem, a band a discovered about a year ago is one of my favorites in the genre. Hailing from Austin, Texas they’ve garnered many comparisons to the aforementioned but as usual just because it’s lo-fi doesn’t mean its the same. South of France is among the noteworthy tracks from their Free Drugs LP, I’ll be posting a few more. I can’t really make out most of the lyrics but its something about partying with tanned topless girls on the beach, taking drugs and drunken cabs with strangers – things all very dear to me. I’m headed to a small island 30 miles south of Cape Cod next week and this is how we set the mood, enjoy.

Harlem – South of France

So I’ve been a little bored of the new stuff lately and as I was just about to head back into the comfort of the past for today’s post I got an email from Steph Lund (Le Miel du Mois) telling me to check out the latest from The Twelves. As usual, they nail the remix/cover and while not as hype as most their works, it completely holds up in quality.  If you haven’t heard of The Twelves by now I highly recommened going to town on google and checking them out. They are an extremely gifted production duo from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with a nack for making some of the best remixes you’ll hear. I skipped the A-Ha remix they did because it was getting blogged about too much but I’ll use this new song as an excuse to post it because it’s pretty damn good. Enjoy.

Daft Punk – Nightvision (The Twelves Cover)

Daft Punk – Nightvision (The Twelves Cover)

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A-Ha – Take On Me (The Twelves Remix)

A-Ha – Take On Me (The Twelves Remix)

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