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DJMonsterMo May 09 Mix

DJMonsterMo May 09 Mix

1. Clipse feat. Kanye West - Kinda Like A Big Deal
2. Rye Rye feat. M.I.A. - Bang
3. The Streets - Trust Me
4. Basement Jaxx - Raindrops
5. Freemasons feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)
6. Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden - Bonkers (Club Mix)
7. C4 - Hula Dancer
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
9. Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Pop Nonsense
10. Peaches - Lose You
11. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse feat. Julian Casablancas - Little Girl
12. Masha Qrella - I'm a Stranger Here Myself
13. Rainbow Arabia - Omar K
14. I Was a King - It's All You
15. Wye Oak - Take It In
16. Hanne Hukkleberg - In Here / Out There
17. Bodies of Water - Dear Boy
18. Jessica Lea Mayfield - Kiss Me Again
19. Dirty Mittens - The Small Things
20. Mirah - Generosity
21. Sufjan Stevens - Sofia's Song

Ok, I realize it's been ages since I've posted. Thank you, those of you who sent concerned e-mails. Contrary to popular belief, I have not been kidnapped by Somali pirates or succumbed to swine flu.

As you can probably tell by the recent design mini-overhaul, I am moving to Boston soon. I will always love Chicago and I hold a special place in my heart for the city. I also won't rule out coming back...someday.

April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but not necessarily warm weather when you're talking about Chicago. Hopefully, we can put 40 degrees Fahrenheit behind us for good for a few months. This long overdue transition is the theme for my latest mix.

It starts with the Clipse featuring KanYe and produced by DJ Khalil, a hot clip off their forthcoming album, Till the Casket Drops. There is also a recent remix with Bun B that is floating around, for those who are interested. Next up, Rye Rye hails from my old hood, Baltimore, collaborating on the track "Bang" with M.I.A. Speaking of M.I.A., I can't wait to hear the lyrical wrath that is sure to be lurking in future songs in response to the recent violence in Sri Lanka.

Mike Skinner of The Streets released the funky groove "Trust Me" along with eight other tracks on Twitter. Next up, much anticipated new stuff from Basement Jaxx. They never fail to amaze me as they expand the boundaries of house music. The dancefloor has lacked an anthem this good since...well, since Basement Jaxx last released something.

Oh wait, the Freemasons have made some good dance tunes too. Collaborating with Sophie Ellis-Bextor on "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer) = instant hit, even if it's kinda generic. The video is worth a look. Continuing on the house tip, "Bonkers" features Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden, which of course is going to shatter a few eardrums.

C4's "Hula Dancer" is a catchy track that came out of nowhere. It was thrown together for a Scrabble commercial entitled "Hula". It's part of a series of other vids that includes "Yoga" and "Sumo". And if you can find the original artists and songs for each of those videos, I'll be your best friend.

Next, get your leather on with the Yeah Yeah Yeah's 'Zero'. Karen, Le Tigre wants their synthesizers back. J/k, I love the way the band can incorporate new sounds and ideas yet still retain their YYY-ness. But I'm probably not the most objective evaluator; Karen O can fart in a mic and I'd probably still listen to it. "Pop Nonsense" by Dogs Die in Hot Cars is probably the catchiest song I've heard this year. Enjoy it now before it's licensed for the next useless cell phone commercial.

"Lose You" by Peaches is a subdued electro slow-jam. Wait, are you talking about that Peaches? I know it's hard to believe, but don't worry. There's still plenty of raunch to go around on her new LP, the not so subtlely titled 'I Feel Cream'. Hint, don't put "Mommy Complex" on your mom's Mother's Day mix.

"Little Girl" features Julian Casablancas of the Strokes. It is from 'Dark Night of the Soul', an somewhat mysterious project involving Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse, and David Lynch. The title apparently refers to a treatise by Roman Catholic Saint John of the Cross which describes the loneliness and desolation of a person's spiritual life.

Masha Qrella's forthcoming LP 'Speak Low: Loewe and Weill in Exile' is worth a listen; check out "I'm A Stranger Here Myself". The next tune is "Omar K" by Rainbow Arabia, a California duo (Danny & Tiffany Preston) that you would swear from listening to are not from these here parts. The song defies categorization and will hopefully grow on you as it has on me. It's like Paavoharju meets Gang Gang Dance, but more tribal and eclectic. Moving on, "It's All You" builds from a gentle instrumental intro to a cacophanous neopsychedelic swell. It's a standout tune from I Was A King, who hail from Norway.

Next, Wye Oak is the honorary state tree of Maryland, and also a fairly good Baltimore band as well. Yo La Tengo fans, give "Take It In" a close listen. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: These Scandinavians know how to make catchy music. I especially love it when Hanne Hukkelberg (great Scandinavian name, btw) harmonizes in "In Here/Out There".

"Dear Boy" is a cover of a Paul and Linda McCartney tune from their 1971 album 'Ram' by Bodies of Water. I think I actually like the cover version better. "Kiss Me Again" is a melancholy tune by precocious talent Jessica Lea Mayfield off her debut LP last year, 'With Blasphemy So Heartfelt'.

Despite the name, Chelsea Morrisey of Dirty Mittens is like Morrissey's polar opposite. Her cute, winsome voice on "The Small Things" will bring you some irresistible twee cheer. Mirah's new LP '(A)spera' is her best since 'Advisory Committee' and "Generosity" is only one of many solid tunes. The mix closes out with Sufjan Stevens and the ode to Sofia Coppola he apparently wrote in college.

Labels: electronic, hip-hop, indie rock, mp3

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