Raging Contagion
Music so good it will make you sick!
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Groove Armada – History (Feat. Will Young)
September 21, 2012
Similar to: Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, Röyksopp
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here,
How do you like the player being right at the top?? Caught you off guard with this one eh? I bet you thought the video was going to be a serious Brit-Punk Dance-off, right? I love that the electronic DJ duo Groove Armada, who has been around since 1997, has enough humor to make this their semi-official music video. It speaks volumes of their character and makes me like their music even more. Doesn’t this make you want to have a street dance battle too!
For their album “Black Light”, Groove Armada supplied their already incredible beats and collaborated with several other artists to create an epic dance collection (my favorite being “Paper Romance” but that will be featured another time). The live drum bits in here and the distorted gritty synth make this song highly addictive even though it’s actually rather simply structured.
Well, I hope you enjoy it and dance to your hearts content!
Groove Armada “Black Light” Album – Amazon MP3
Everybody Else – In Memoriam
September 14, 2012
Sounds similar to: Rooney, Phantom Planet, Tinted Windows
Howdy there, Dr. Whuzzerface here!
Friday Friday Friday, ah, the blessed day when we reminisce on the prior days and then realize we’d much rather forget they ever happened.
Let’s get down to business though, Everybody Else was practically a birthday present to me. One year for my bday celebrations, several friends and I went to a Rooney concert which happened to fall on my day of birth and lo and behold, this incredibly gorgeous man walks up to the mic, starts crooning, and I fell in love. Carrick Moore Gerrity, the singer/songwriter/blue-eyed-bundle-of-wonderfulness has a knack for writing a style of pop rock that doesn’t sound like it’s been done before. Their songs are highly danceable and just down right fun.
“In Memoriam” is a look back at a puppy love summer crush where drinking orange soda, riding bikes, and ripped blue jeans were regular activities. Flashbacks abound and he finds himself saying “I remember you, so remember me like we were back then, in my memory.” Don’t we wish that people we crushed on remembered only the good times we had all those years later? I do!
I’m sure you’ll find this song on repeat all weekend but should you want more, they have two amazing albums out that should be worshiped by all (especially since they have a song called “Meat Market”, which reminds me of YSA wards).
Have a great weekend and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
Ke$ha – Supernatural (The Hair Kid Bootleg Remix)
September 12, 2012
cheerlubber here! Yowza, I disappeared for a few weeks there…coincidentally, school also started back up again a few weeks ago. All I can say is I’m glad I only have one more year of paying tuition. Y’know, school’s really only just getting started back up again but I’m already feeling drained. Oh dear. I’ll keep this short then. Better something than nothing, right?
Now, don’t let the title of this post frighten you. You won’t have to worry about any drunk sing-talking here. But there is a rap. Known as The Hair Kid (which is fitting when you look at the picture), this young fellow is a fledgling DJ/remixer on YouTube, and although I can’t exactly tell, I certainly hope his name is getting around more. He’s pretty under-the-radar from what I can tell but I think he’s great and he’s only getting better. C-bisquit (our other sister–hope you’re keeping track) discovered him a while back when he was doing mostly remixes of Korean or Japanese songs, but he’s since been expanding.
His character amuses me; here’s this kid with long, grungy hair that looks like he’d rather be into death metal and the like, and yet he does funky remixes of pop songs and inserts raps into his remixes that he writes and performs himself. This remix was created from a bootleg sample of a Ke$ha song, posted by (I’m assuming) the producer. I haven’t checked yet to see if the full version of the actual song is out yet because I honestly have no interest in Ke$ha, but I can definitely get down and groovy with this remix. Give it a listen and check out The Hair Kid’s other great remixes as well!
(PS, the picture makes me laugh every time. Even better, the top comment on YouTube says, “which one is ke$ha”)
Röyksopp – Happy Up Here
September 7, 2012
— 2 Comments
Sounds similar to: Daft Punk, M83, Digitalism
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here,
I may not have gone out of town for Labor Day weekend, but you can believe that as soon as 4PM hits, I’m gonna be booking it up North(east-ish) for the weekend! That’s right, I’m heading for the hills, vales, and mountains for a little R&R. As I started prepping my driving playlist, this song came on and we got reacquainted (it had been a whole 2 months since I played it last). The title itself is the perfect description of my mood once I hit the timberline.
In actuality though, this song contains so much awesomeness, not to mention the fact that the video pays copious amounts of homage to the old video game “Invaders”, set in the real world. The main hook of this song is loaded with whimsy and a carefree, happy-go-lucky feel. Heavier electronic elements join on in the bridge but this wistful theme keeps the song rolling along.
Enjoy this happy tune from the Norwegian duo Röyksopp!
Washed Out – New Theory
August 30, 2012
— 2 Comments
Similar sound to: M83, Beach House, Panda Bear
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here,
For most of us, the upcoming weekend is a holiday (yipee), and even though it’s a time of relaxation, I actually find that I’m more busy on “Chill” holidays than others such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. Am I alone in this observation? I think not. But in honor of the non-“Chill” holiday ahead, I’ve decided that we can still listen to a song that embodies everything that a 3-day weekend should be.
Let me introduce you to Chillwave. Chillwave music is simplistic, filled with ambient tones, a simple melody, and is meant to invoke a laid-back feeling. It incorporates bits of new wave and dream pop to fulfill the overall “chill”. Listening to the song below, I know you’ll imagine several things: relaxing at a bon fire on the beach, driving on a road trip, or if you’re a little deranged you’ll imagine a slideshow of photos that you took using Instagram which make you feel incredibly hipster.
Washed Out doesn’t really need an introduction. He’s an American fella who likes to make tunes that are dialed back from regular pop. That’s about it! One thing I love about Chillwave music – it’s complex but not complicated. With that, may you be able to steal a few peaceful moments this weekend and hopefully, this song will help you get there. ENJOY!
The Rapture – Come Back To Me
August 24, 2012
Similar to: The Cure, Franz Ferdinand, LCD Soundsystem
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here!
I have a fascination for accordions. They are such a quirky-looking, unique sounding instrument that adds an element of classical and whimsical to any sound it is a part of. How awesome too that it puts out so much sound and but that is is simply powered by the musician. Added bonus, every accordion player gets to dance while they’re making music. Not a lot of musicians can do that (dancing with a xylophone or a string bass are just a taaaaad difficult).
How do accordions tie into “Come Back To Me”? To begin with, the entire 1st half of the song is a looped accordion song set to an awesome thump-whumping drum beat. Add to that the call-and-response vocal harmonies going on with the lead and the background singer and you’ve got yourself a song unlike any you’ve ever heard before. The Rapture, who must be a gift from heaven itself, never cease to amaze me.
That being said, I admit the singer doesn’t have the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard, but don’t discount the fact that he can indeed put emotion and incredible inflections on the vocals. Also, prepare yourself for a change-up halfway through the song, it take a spin for a different direction that is a real treat.
Happy Friday!!
Annie – I Don’t Like Your Band
August 20, 2012
— 1 Comment
This song is rated: 1 Pill – entry-level for music novices
cheerlubber back again. I really wish we could figure out how to add authors to posts on this layout…I’m tired of trying to come up with different ways of introducing myself. >:c
Today I bring you guys a song that has been a bit of an anthem for us ever since we discovered it. Norwegian singer-songwriter and DJ Annie comes in with guns blazing in this synthpop/electropop number filled with energy and blunt honesty. We love this song because it describes our feelings so well so much of the time. Whether someone has band dreams of their own or if it’s just their taste in music, we often find ourselves shaking our heads in pity at how boring and unimaginative it is. Don’t take this personally though–just as Annie says at the end of the chorus, “It’s not you, it’s the tunes.” If this song offends you, well then just go make some Taylor Swift-inspired song yourself about how you don’t like our music.
Does this make us music snobs? Probably, yeah. Do we care? No. Other people are snobs about different things too–lyrics, for example. Like they have to be deep and thoughtful. Or they have to be in all English. Or there just has to be some, period. While I’m never opposed to good songs with good lyrics, I place far less importance on the lyrics than the music itself, because that’s what it’s all about anyway–the music. Can you listen to a song with great lyrics but terrible music? Barely, if at all. Can you listen to a song with a great tune but flimsy lyrics? Absolutely! At least you can dance to it! Want good words? Just go read some poetry. People complain about needing something to sing along to but how much can you actually hear and understand lyrics–even in English–the first few times around anyway? Why do you need words to shout while listening to a song? If you must at all, just sing along with the music itself.
I’ll stop my rant about lyric snobs for now–let’s just get back to the music. If you’re ever being forced to listen to a song you don’t like, this is a great tune to start singing in your head instead. Take a listen below!
Little Boots – Remedy
August 17, 2012
Similar Artists: Madonna, Kylie Minogue
cheerlubber here. Uhh…did I do that right…? -shrug- As you can already tell, I won’t be putting much thought into this “Similar Artists” thing ’cause I’m lazy (if I ever do it at all, heh heh). And why should it matter–you guys should just listen to everything we post anyway. :P
I feel like I’ve been picking some songs on a whim lately. There’s just so many good things that it’s hard to pick one for a certain day–that and I’m still being tame with my music choices, ah hah. When should I introduce you guys to more electro and more international songs…? Hm, gotta ease you into it…Well today we have British electropop songstress Little Boots. She’s been in the music biz for a while but only achieved mainstream success with the release of her Hands album in 2008. Even though I got the music from Whuzzerface somehow she tells me she’s not very familiar with Little Boots. Hah. Tells you how much music we have if we still don’t know how some of it sounds.
Little Boots has got a great 80s and 90s vibe in some of her other songs on the album (I was originally thinking of highlighting Hearts Collide) but then I realized it’s Friday! Let’s get something dance-y up in here! So I present you with Remedy. It starts off sounding dark and moody but when it hits the chorus things pick up and it’s hard to not dance. I love the main line of the chorus and the song, “Dancing is my remedy,” because it’s true! Having a bad day? Lay down some good beats and dance it off! All too often I turn to music to drown out worries in life, and no better day to let it all out than on Friday. Looked it up and turns out there’s a music video for it; a little boring for the song, imo, but that’s all that matters anyway, isn’t it–the music! Take a listen to Remedy and turn on your Friday dance mode!
Little Boots – Hands on Amazon
Cass McCombs – County Line
August 14, 2012
Similar sounding artists: The Shins, Andrew Bird, Simon & Garfunkel
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here,
We’re gonna dial it back a bit for a good Tuesday song that may or may not make you a bit nostalgic, lugubrious, or a combination of both. Most of our songs have a peppy beat but this really has the feel of a Tuesday (the day after Monday that is not quite Wednesday).
Cass McCombs is somewhat of a mystery to most. While he thinks he has the personality of a wet blanket, there seems to be a factory of wheels working in that songwriters head that used to churn out many a depressing ballad. With his now more mature sound, his lyrics are a bit more hopeful for the most part. I’m not sure which the case is for “County Line” though. It has a fair share of ups and downs. His sweet tones and the dulcet vibraphones seem to glaze over the sad bits and whilst it seems he is pining for his home of yesteryear, there is a tinge of happiness at just the mere thought of memories there.
Enjoy “County Line” and hope your Tuesday is more fulfilling that most!
Junior Boys – You’ll Improve Me
August 10, 2012
If you like artists such as: New Order, Cut Copy, Hot Chip
This song is rated: 2 Pills – intermediate musicologist level
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here,
Gonna try something a little different here. Don’t know if you noticed that not only did I include the pill indicator (how normal to different a songs sound is), I also tossed in a “If you like artists such as….”, because several of my patients (readers) have indicated that is a feature they’d also like to see. We’ll give it a try for a bit and see if it helps you kiddos relate to the songs a little more.
On to Junior Boys!! This Canadian duo (yeah, it makes me shiver at the thought too) actually have quite the aptitude for creating catchy dance beats which inversely contrasts with out soft the vocals are. Each song they churn out is complex with it’s layers of synth yet because of the youthful timbre of the singers voice they maintain a calculated restrained feel.
This delicious little ditty of “You’ll Improve Me” shows a bit of that restraint as it is sung to a girl that has “never been lonely” yet the only way to win her heart is to play and act like he doesn’t care. (Oh, if only I had a dime for every pretty girl I’ve been friends with who is just like this girl, I would have bought the Seychelles islands a decade ago). Somehow though, he seems to think that he is going to benefit from this venture not only by winning her heart, but turning into a heartless player just like her. It is a bittersweet cycle, but a cool song! I know you’ll love it and it’s perfecto for the weekend.
Enjoy (and please share the contagion with your friends)!
Raging Contagion 