Around and Around

Tweezy here with some summery jams for your all of your Memorial Day weekend shindigs. Every summer needs a soundtrack and these jams are perfect. First up is an easygoing little ditty from Australia's Hot Spa. The track is called "Kiola Beach" and if you didn't want to go soak up rays before listening to it, you definitely will afterwards.

"Kiola Beach" - Hot Spa

Up next is an absolutely EPIC new track from Arcade Fire. "Month of May" has some serious punk attitude that meshes perfectly with Arcade Fire's songwriting and musicianship. Crank this one up LOUD.

"Month of May" - The Arcade Fire

Best Coast's songs always seem to capture the essence of a summer evening. This new track "Our Deal" is no different. Washed in reverb and jangly surf guitars, this track is a perfect soundtrack to your early summer evenings watching the surf roll in.

"Our Deal" -Best Coast

Next up is a track that I rediscovered just this week. It had been sitting in my iTunes library just begging to be listening to, and I'm glad I did because this one is a straight ahead rocker. Unfortunately the band that made the track broke up a few months ago, but Teen Sheikhs still storms your eardrums like the bastard child of the Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols and Ramones with the cool lo-fi aesthetic that is so perfect for a song called "Germs"

"Germs" - Teen Sheikhs

To finish things up here's an breezy little surf-rock jam from UK's Dignan Porch. I know nothing about this band, but this song is so infectious i haven't been able to stop humming the melody all day. Listen to this one on the beach.

"As You Were" - Dignan Porch

Tweezy Out

Fireflies

So last night I saw the first fireflies of the season in Milton, MA. They were bright and serene, reminding me of those perfect spring/summer nights where nature and music are all you need. Here are some tracks which will provide a great soundtrack for your firefly filled evenings, whether by sea or by lake.

This song has a wonderful mix of drive and after glow. Not made for the boogie, but can still be rocked out to. A great jam to kick start your evening with some grilling and cocktails.

Elite Gymnastics - Real Friends

This seemed to lend its name nicely to the theme, however, it is the spacey, reverb-y sound that makes this track a real winner. Similar idea as the last one.

Air France - June Evenings

As the night moves on and those cocktails* continue to be poured, sit back and let the starlit sky envelope you and your compadres. Play this track when you do that.

Boats and Birds - Gregory and the Hawk (Protohype Remix)

Let this song do what it wants to do. It wants to surprise you and build to levels you wouldn't expect. Great for barefoot dancing.

Ra Ra Riot - Ghost Under Rocks (Andrew Maury Remix)

The synthesized hook here is about as addictive as pistachios, which are a great snack for any outdoor adventure!

Clock Opera - A Piece of String (Radio Edit)

When the allure of the fireflies fades, you need to remember your body needs as much stimulation as your mind. Please stimulate your body and dance to PUNCHES.

PUNCHES - Let Go

BONUS ROUND:

This song is amazing and has an awesome video. Richard Swift has the voice of an angel, but unfortunately looks like a horrible mix of Hitler, Adam Duritz and Zach de la Rocha. He solves this conundrum, by casting females to dress up like him in this video.

This video was suggested to us by Extraneous Noise, a Boston based music management and video production company. This is a live Neon Indian performance from Great Scott in Allston, one of my favorite bar venues in Boston.

Neon Indian - "Should Have Taken Acid With You" - Live at Great Scott from Extraneous Noise on Vimeo.

This final Bonus is a untzy DJ track from the Plump DJs out of London. It was suggested by Melissa MacTavish.

Plump DJs - The Volcano Coalition (Kelis vs. Beatles vs. Plump DJS)

*COCKTAIL BONUS: The Southside Recipe

The Southside is a great drink not dissimilar to the Mojito. Here's how you make one.

2-3 Shots (depending how strong you like) Mt. Gay Rum, Vodka, OR Gin.

Juice of Half a Lemon

8 Fresh Mint Leaves

1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

1 egg WHITE (not yolk, I made a typo) (optional)

Club soda

Give the mint leaves a rough chop and put them in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the simple syrup, bitters and lemon juice. Muddle all four ingredients in the bottom of the shaker until you can smell a rich bouquet of mint. Fill shaker with ice and add the hard alcohol. If you like, you can add a raw egg white (this will create a nice, thick foamy "head" on the drink after shaking). Shake all ingredients vigorously and pour into a highball glass with the ice from the shaker and also some new ice. Fill with club soda and garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of mint.

Vita de Lush.

5 am Diners

I made a great discovery this weekend. Some diners serve beers in water glasses at 5 am. Victory.

In that vein, and in the general pursuit of happiness, this post is dedicated to late night roaming in the eternal city of New York.

This first track has a slick 70s feel to it. It is a great tune to have blaring in your head as you power stride down the street. Westbam hails from Germany and his inspiration comes from the band Afrika Bambaataa. The song builds for a minute before it really gets grooving.

Old School (Piano Mix) - Westbam ft. Nina

This next song is by a group called Emeralds. If you need a heavy dose of psychedelic rock then here it is.

Double Helix - Emeralds

This next group is called Wild Nothing and they sound very much like The Cure...

Chinatown - Wild Nothing

My favorite part of rumbling downtown is finding bars that play music I have never heard, but quickly love. There seems to be a growing trend of Spanish singers mixing their basics with 60s rock. The whole idea seems random, but it works well and can provide for some excellent late night dance offs (mostly between Smasher and Lazersaurus).

This first song is a Spanish version of the Rolling Stones "Get off of my cloud"

En Mi Nube - Sonya

This next song is in a similar style, and both are perfect for a very late night.

Cambio - Hurricanes

Good Night and Good Luck

Tuts My Barreh

Our boys Sagan and Hawking sing about Life and the Universe




Outstanding Japanese band Capsule released yet another killer album 'Player' back in march. The whole album is excellent but the stand out track is Stay With Me. I also dug up a great mashup of their song 'Starry Sky' with the Beastie Boys and Daft Punk. If you haven't heard this duo yet I recommend immersing yourself.

Capsule - Stay With Me

Capsule/Beastie Boys/Daft Punk - Starry Sky YEAH!

The Amplifetes play some excellent psychedelic electronic rock.

The Amplifetes - Whizz Kid

If you are looking to c-walk yourself silly on the dancefloor this summer, check out French dj Paul. He has a little bit of a Futurecop vibe to me, but more refined.

Paul - Hooked on You; Take me to the limit; Someday...Together; I feel change

I wasn't that pleased with the Ellie Goulding album but this remix of Guns and Horses is fantastic. PS: I watched a video of her sing an acoustic version of Sweet Disposition by the Temper Trap on youtube. She is talented. For serious.

Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses (tonka radio remix)

Two more songs:

Grum - Can't Shake this Feeling

Kaskade (feat. Dragonette) - Fire in Your New Shoes


If you haven't seen it:

Bring On Summer

(Photo taken by Mr. Smooth)

Memorial Day is just a few weeks away, and although the weather here in Boston has been up and down, my friends and I definitely have that feeling that summer is right around the corner. Here are some rocking tracks that will catapult you into a amazing Summer 2010.

We all love the Yeah Yeah Yeah's but their aggressive sound can sometimes be a downer in the sunshine. Them Jeans gives this jam an acoustic guitar and a thick beat. It will undoubtedly be a favorite in your summer crowd.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Soft Shock (Them Jeans Remix)

Pallers are an interesting act. Down-tempo electro from Sweden sounds like a winner...and it is. Let this song melt you in the ocean breeze.

Pallers - The Kiss

With a name like The Books, you'd assume the band would be a bunch of nerds. You would not be off track to think this. Their music is complex and cerebral but still has a great poppy/catchy vibe. Their music is reminiscent of Vampire Weekend, but with a twist.

The Books - Beautiful People

Summer time is made for dance parties. HEALTH is loud and aggressive. Throw this one on at around 3 am.

HEALTH - USA Boys

Master of the Untziverse posted the original to this a few weeks ago, but PUNCHES gives this some serious bumping. Also a great latenight dance jam.

Au Revoir Simone - Only You Can Make You Happy (PUNCHES Remix)

MONROE

PRESIDENT: 5
STATE: VA
FACT: THIRD PRESIDENT TO DIE ON JULY 4.

I hope you checked out Sunday and Monday with my colleagues, The Master & The Mister. They highlighted some great new songs that I know you will enjoy. Take some time... read and listen. Chilly & 50 interesting combo indeed. The hype for Scissor Sisters is really starting to gear up. With the Gorillaz rocking plastic beach in the same spring it feels like a flashback of five years ago. Awesome.

However, we don't care about five years ago. We care about right now. And what I have right now is a collection of ten (10) Smasher-style house influenced remixes to get you through the mid week. I originally started with a list of 50 and then narrowed that down. This week it was difficult to pull away just 10. With some great Ellie Goulding remixes out there and new Chemical Brothers released it was a busy week in the blogosphere. There are only a couple of curve balls in here.

Two weeks ago I posted "You Want it, I Want it" from the Ontario based duo 'The Girls Can Hear Us' and knew that I had to follow these guys and listen to more. Their music plays, trust me. I love the simplicity. TGCHU is catchy without being cheap and bangs in a car or on a dance floor.


Silver Medallion - Slave (The Girls Can Hear Us Remix)

This is the third installment of the Remix Artist Collective or the 'RAC' that I've posted here. So, if you liked the 'Penguin Prisons' and 'Temper Trap' remixes then you'll no doubt enjoy this recut of "Too Fake". Here's the link to vol. 1.5 available for free on their website. I would also check out the remix of U2's "Magnificent" and the 'Honeythieves' jam that is highlighed in the movie trailer for the upcoming movie "Holy Rollers".


Hockey - Too Fake (RAC Reix)

U2- Magnificent (RAC Remix)

As we all know, Fred Falke's music really needs no description. Along with the previously posted 'Florrie' tracks, here are two new songs infecting everything they touch. The first is Grammy winner Robyn's "Dancing On My Own", which has been played all over the place. Falke gives this song that little extra umpff. Next, here's the remix of Sia's "Clap Your Hands". Die hard fans should check out the "Halfway Gone" remix of 'Lifehouse' but I'll spare you for now. For those of you who know nothing about Fred Falke, here's a little info.


Robyn - Dancing On My Own (Fred Falke Edit)

Sia - Clap Your Hands (Fred Falke Remix)

Lately, I've found myself at Aerial Noise almost every other day. Here's a great Basement Jaxx tune that I've been blasting in the truck. The video is typical basement jaxx oddness too.


Basement Jaxx - Feelings Gone (feat. Sam Sparro) ( Youtube )

I know some of you really enjoyed the original of "Mouthful of Diamonds" that I posted early in April. I think this duo from Saratoga springs produces some really great melodic and spacey music. Alan Wilkis jazzes this baby up making it feel much lighter and more upbeat. While this isn't necessarily my favorite song on the post, I thought you'd enjoy this gem found at earmilk.com .


Phantogram - Mouthful of Diamonds (Alan Wilkis Remix)

Because blogging isn't enough. Interestingly, I've had a couple of requests from some more adventurous readers and listeners for some of the harder stuff in my library. So, without getting too hardcore or dubstep, I've posted this jam from BBC Radio 1's DJ Kutski Saturday Night Free Range Dub mix. Beware of the booms. For those of you looking for some new club jams, try doing some homework on the ARIA site. I got turned on to this in Sydney.

I've also included a preview clip of the Kris Menace remix to Benassi's Space Ship that Tong played in his 24 hour party people mix on Friday night. I can't wait to get my hands on this.


Scott Attrill - Adapter (You Tube)

Benny Benassi - Space Ship (Kris Menace Remix) (You Tube)

This is a great jam that I know you'll definitely love. This remix is loud main room synth, strong persistent bass, and the poppy chorus to match. I don't know anything about Cullen but I dig the song regardless.


Cullen - Easily Impressed (Calling In Sick Remix)

BONUS:

Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac Cover) - Vampire Weekend

Climbing for dollars

For all you slow-dancers out there I've got a couple smoooth-ass lovers beats:

GaraGara - Melancholy Dirty Stoned (Supremes/Gorillaz/Underworld Mashup)


Bill Withers - Lovely Day (DJ Eleven Remix)

But then you need to crank this song all the way up. Its so sexy living in america!

Dom - Living in America

So I'm Jojo - Air

Stumbled across this track this weekend. I didn't like any of their other stuff but this song makes me feel so happy.

Rainbow Arabia - Holiday in Congo

Great Kinks-like blast-off song.

The Very Best - Julia (Javelin Remix)

Justice soul cover:

Hawa - D.A.N.C.E. (Justice cover)

These should all be good for breaking a sweat after 2am

Black Kids - Hurricane Jane (The Twelves remix)

Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light (New album dropping in June...sick)

The Sounds - Beatbox (Hey Champ! remix)

Soul II Soul - Back to Life (Monsieur Adi remix)

Happy Mothers Day Compadres!

This post is dedicated mothers like Betty Draper. The following songs are a nice set of hip hop mash ups and piano mixes.

My post today highlights two great artists. One being 50 Cent, and the other being Chilly Gonzales. Both certainly have different styles, but when blended with other artists the results are spectacular.

Chilly Gonzales is Canadian? Yes, it's true, but he lives in London now and when he teams up with others his sound is so fresh and so clean. It helps of course to mix in a little 50 Cent.

Many Men (Chilly Gonzales Remix) - 50 cent

This next song is a pure instrumental jam that Chilly Gonzales based off the Boys Noize song Waves. A bit different for the Untz, but I thought it would be good to hear this guy pound on the keys.

Waves (Chilly Gonzales Piano Remake) - Erol Alkan and Boys Noize

Kid Cudi crushed it with The Pursuit of happiness, and his lyrics and smooth rapping style also lend to nice mash ups

Kid Cudi vs. The Postal Service - Man of the Moon

To finish off, I thought I would give you a bit more 50 Cent. This first song is a mash up with Annie Lennox and it works surprisingly well.

In Da Club - A Thousand Beautiful Things (Banzai Buda and Bliss stefen Mix)

I could play this last song on loop for days. It is 50 Cent's P.I.M.P done with a steel drum band. It has an almost Mark Ronson feel to it and is perfect for upcoming summer parties. Note on the link - I could only upload this file as a .zip for some reason, but the mp3 is in there and it should work. If not I will try it again next week.

PIMP (Prince of Ballad O.G remix) - 50 cent and the Bacao Rythym and Steel Band

Happy Mothers Day!

MADISON

After a brief stint at 960 this weekend you'll find that this week's $masher post is all club.

Typical Deadmau5. This bitch booms.

Spring time in New York City

We are well into spring and the weather has been killer in Manahattan. This past weekend was perfect for heading to central park packed with Scotch and a Bocce Ball set. So grab your solo cups, get outside and play some of these fresh tunes as you run around New York like Tom Hanks in Big.

This first song by K-OS is one of those rare tunes that I can play on loop over and over again to my neighbor's dismay. It is a hip hop cover of the theme to the OC, which makes it undeniably pop. Give it a listen.

K-OS - I wish I knew Natalie Portman

Our blog posts a lot of work by Breakbot, but I think they are the best remix artists on the scene today. This is a Breakbot Remix of the Delicious Vinyl All Stars. It is an instrumental piece with a steady beat and a solid early 90s R & B style. It is more on the low key side, but great none the less.

Delicious Vinyl All Stars - What's Up Fatlip (Breakbot RMX Instrumental)

Back to the US of A with some Au Revoir Simone. This song is called "Only you can make you Happy". The song builds upon itself masterfully and the vocals (albeit there are not very many lyrics) add a lot to it.

Au Revoir Simone - Only You Can Make You Happy

This next song is a MSTRKRFT collaboration with Justin Bieber. It is definitely worth a listen and is the preferred song for cruising around on a cigarette boat.

Heartbreaker Baby (CJ Milli Mix) - MSTRKRFT and Justin Bieber.

Vitalic is a french group whose music is pure indietronic. This video is absolutely hysterical. It features dogs jumping in slow motion in front of some sort of neon light show.

COACHELLA 2010: DAY 1

Two weeks ago Young Tweezy aka Tweir and I ventured out to the desert of California for Coachella. I went to Bonnaroo in 2005 and it completely ruined me in the best way possible -(I mean I still have no idea what the fuck my parents were thinking when they let their 17 year old son go to the ultimate wookie-thon, but god bless them for it)- however, I had no idea how much fun was in store for me out in Indio. Tweir and I decided we would camp as it was the cheaper option- huge mistake. The campgrounds are very close to the venue and filled with all sorts of nice people and illicit substances but being woken up at 6:30 a.m. every morning by the blistering heat and a pounding headache really blows, so if you ever go- rent an rv, house, or get a hotel room.

Luckily, I didnt have to spend the whole weekend with JUST tweir (kidding, sort of) and we we're joined by a bevy of fiesty babes from the graduating class of 07'. The first real set we saw at Coachella was untz-favorite Sleigh Bells. Tweir and I put a show together with them at the Mill in the beginning of the month and got to hang out with them for a little bit- they really are awesome people, so awesome that they saw us in the crowd and gave us a shout out. Here is the clip, fast forward to the last 10 seconds to see the shout out. This is their new song, "Tell 'Em," from their debut LP TREATS which is out May 11- it's loud as fuck so be prepared.

Sleigh Bells-Tell 'Em

After Sleigh Bells we moved over to the next tent and met up with regular untz head - michwa aka mitch aka michelle wade and her friends for Yeasayer. I loved their first LP but I don't think Odd Blood is that great, I mean half of it is amazing but the other half leaves me cold. Regardless of my thoughts on their album, Yeasayer totally blew me away live, the crowd singalong that ensued during "Ambling Alp" will forever be etched in my memory. After Yeasayer, we went and checked out She & Him, where I rapturously fawned over Zooey Deschanel and boogied to their great cover of "Roll Over Beethoven." After that we drank a few beers and listened to ska godfathers The Specials while the sun set over the mountains.

Following that we went to Passion Pit who were by far the biggest dissapointment of the festival. I've seen them thrice now and as much as it pains me to say this, they really need to work on their live show. I don't know if it was the size of the venue, the outdoor setting, or the sound mix, but lead singer Michael Angelakos sounded like shit. We bounced out of thier quickly and headed down to Pretty Lights, where we did some of the hardest dancing of the weekend. They're playing Terminal 5 on June 4th and if you are in the New York area you should be there, otherwise you are just fucking stupid.

Pretty Lights "Paper Planes" remix @ Coachella

After that we went and caught part of Grizzly Bear and La Roux's sets, before making it over to the main stage for LCD Soundsystem. I could probably write three paragraphs alone about their set but in the interest of time I will keep it short. I saw them open up for Arcade Fire in 2007 and once again LCD completely blew me away. Just like their sound, they manage to strike the perfect note in between rock show and dance party. New tracks "Drunk Girls," "Pow Pow," and "I Can Change" absolutely slayed, while old jam "Yeah" absolutely killed at the end of the set. "All My Friends" was of course the best song of the set, and ignited a twenty thousand people strong catharsis. I wish I could go back. Their new album is killer, these are the two best songs on the album in my opinion - Dance Yrself Clean and Home- although the Eno-esque "All I Want" comes in a close third.

After that we wandered around catching a few songs at Vampire Weekend, Jay-Z, Public Image LTD., Fever Ray, and Whitest Boy Alive. I have to say Fever Ray live was one of the most strange and beautiful things I have ever seen, I wish I could describe it but I'm still not even sure what happened except that there was a dude who looked like Jafar and a bunch of lamps. Fever Ray is the side project of Karen Dreijer Andersson, the lead singer of The Knife, and the band has the same icy electro sound- but if I were to describe Fever Ray I'd say its like a Genesis album walked into a gothic swedish horror film. Also, Whitest Boy Alive were one of the biggest suprises of the festival- even though we only saw three songs I consider myself a member of the converted.

Fever Ray- Triangle Walks live @ Coachella

Fever Ray- When I Grow Up live @ Coachella

Whitest Boy Alive- High On the Heels live @ Coachella

Day 2 & 3 coming tomorrow...