Oh hell yeah and a radly-emphatic "hey girl hey" to you all! Earlier this "last month of 2009",I touched base with super cool online shoe outlet, BC Footwear as part of their Hey Girl Hey series, which features pretty cool gals doing even cooler things.
BC is an LA-based shoe company for the girl with an adventuroius attitude and a thirst for discovery. Basically, it's the Beaston motto!
Want to get to know a little more about who I am, where I haunt, and what I love to do? Click here, then direct yourself over to the Hey Girl Hey section where a bunch o' beastly info will be revealed!*
mp3: Tiga - Shoes (Mr Oizo Remix)
mp3: Bamboo Shoots - Hey Girl
* And in case you were unaware, yes, my REAL first name is used. Imagine that!
What better way to jump into a fresh new year, than by recounting some of the best mixes, from one sole soul. Yep, Doctor Rosen Rosen is back with his compilation of his very own cream of the 2009 crop.
With a name so nice, you say it twice, Doctor Rosen Rosen has us smiling...all the way into the new year. You can grab his compilation here, for free. The offering includes two previously unreleased mixes from his extremely talented hands. It's safe to say...we're swooning.
Say thank you, kids!
Tracklist:
01 Drake - Forever (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx)
02 Weezer - I Want You To (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx)
03 Lily Allen - Never Gonna Happen (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx)
04 Phoenix - Lisztomania (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx)
05 Eminem - We Made You (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx)
06 Alaska In Winter - Berlin (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx)
07 Lily Allen - Fuck You (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx)
08 Mission District - Heartbreaker (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx) previously unreleased
09 Britney Spears - Womanizer (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx)
10 Sliimy - Womanizer (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx) previously unreleased
mp3: Lily Allen - Never Gonna Happen (Doctor Rosen Rosen Remix)
Let's kick this, my 2000th post (!!!), off with a hearty hello and how do you do! I'm psyched to have been around to reach this millenial milestone, but more importnantly, to have you join me on this jamtastic journey. Many appreciative gestures all around!
Delphic, the "hey guess what, we're going to be huge in 2010 whether you choose to deny it or not" kids who continue to rock our bodies, recently threw together a playlist when they joined up with Mike Joyce for his Alternative Therapy show.
The lads did some chatting, Joyce did his own playlist, but we're featuring the Delphic ditties, cause it's been a constant source of repeated tuneage since falling into our laps earlier this morning. It's a free download here and the track list is as follows.
Delphic - Doubt (Riton Remix)
Delphic - Red Lights
Bjork - Dull Flame of Desire (Modeselektor Remix for Girls)
Chemical Brothers - The Golden Path (Ewan Pearson Remix)
Delphic - This Momentary (Radioproof Remix)
DIOYY - We Are Rockstars
Delphic - Counterpoint (The Chain Remix)
Delphic - Counterpoint (Woolford Remix)
Delphic's debut, Acolyte, is out January 11, 2010. Buy it, cause TRUST, it's that rad.
mp3: Delphic - Doubt (835 Remix)
Very quickly*, I give you one of the only acceptable remixes I've heard of Britney Spears' triangularly tweaked tune, 3, courtesy of the Beaston-fave, T-Minus 321.
It's bouncy, it's radder than the original, and these boys never fail to disappoint with their infectiously repeatable remixes.
Hand claps all around.
mp3: Britney Spears - 3 (T-Minus 321 Remix)
* Running around like a crazy person today. New Year's Eve and birthday party clothes shopping Oh, you ARE coming to my celebration, right? Details here.
La Chansons is the Atlanta-based husband and wife dance pop duo of Greg and Carson Keller. More importantly, they are the set of superbly styled singers/songwriters that make this beast smile a little easier.
La Chansons first caught my ear at the very beginning of this year when they contributed to Buffetlibre DJ's extensively excellent mixtape, Rewind Part 2. The Keller's covered Marcy Playgound's devious tale of sultrily-sucked sugar, Sex and Candy.
Now, LC are gearing up for the release of their album, King And Queen Of The Dance Floor, due out in January 2010. To celebrate the impending offering, La Chansons have delivered the track, Sparklin, for each of us to play, love and bask in all its synth-pop lusciousness.
Go get it!
mp3: La Chansons - Sex And Candy (Marcy Playground Cover)
mp3: La Chansons - Sparklin
Is Missy Elliott's Block Party ever really going to come out? If the leak of her new jawn with Lil Wayne, All 4 U, is any indication, then yes it is. The latest reports state it could be out as early as January 2010. Unlikely since there's no offical cover art, promotional push, or confirmed track list, but at least there's hope!
I recall way back in June of 2008, I made known that Missy's 7th studio album would be released on August 26 of that year. What bollocks! Regardless, if all the time she's been taking to "get it right" is worth it, I won't complain.
So yep, there's that Wayne collab which is floating around...go grab it if you feel the urge. Me? I'm more impressed with the final version* of Put It On Ya, which I grossly overlooked in the depths of my inbox from mid-October. Silly beast...
mp3: Missy Elliott (featuring Teyana Taylor) - Put It On Ya
* I previously featured a snippet of this in demo format. The final track is much better.
Paging Fake Blood...paging Fake Blood? And...found! Sort of. Let's dive into a vat of platelets, shall we?
Got a rad note from the Scottish DJ/Producer, Studio Brussels, earlier this afternoon in regards to a 1 minute version of a Fake Blood track that appeared on a couple of sites earlier this year and largely went unnoticed due to its extremely short length. Well, dudeman loved the tune so much that he did an extended edit and begn dropping it in his sets.
Yep, it's a Fake Blood mix of Run This Town, as extended by Studio Brussels. You're definitely going to want to jump on this one.
mp3: Fake Blood - Run This Town (Studio Brussels 3 Min Fix)
BONUS!
Studio Brussels also provided us with 2 of his other works. Listen and love now!
mp3: Soultronix - Slam That Door (Studio Brussels Remix)
mp3: Space Cowboy - Talking In Your Sleep (Studio Brussels Remix)
With 2009 coming to a close, we've dished out our BE[a]ST of the year lists, given you a number of holiday goodies from labels and artists, and prepped as best we can for 2010. But no musical chart-topping year is ever complete without the mighty hand of DJ Earworm.
For the past 2 years, the San Francisco-based DJ has been compiling his annual wrap-up mashups, taking the top chart-busting heat-seekers and mixing them in one tight and tidy package. And so goes the case for 2009, with his United State Of Pop 2009 (Blame It On The Pop). The mashup features the top 25 most popular hit songs of 2009, according to Billboard Magazine.
After the video, you'll find the track list.
The Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis - Just Dance
The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feelig
Taylor Swift - Love Story
Flo Rida - Right Round
Jason Mraz - I’m Yours
Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Kanye West - Heartless
The All-American Rejects - Gives You Hell
Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me
T.I. Featuring Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone
The Fray - You Found Me
Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo - Knock You Down
Jamie Foxx Featuring T-Pain - Blame It
Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
T.I. Featuring Rihanna - Live Your Life
Soulja Boy Tell ‘em Featuring Sammie - Kiss Me Through The Phone
Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne - Down
Miley Cyrus - The Climb
Drake - Best I Ever Had
Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You
Beyonce - Halo
Katy Perry - Hot N Cold
mp3: DJ Earworm - United State Of Pop 2009 (Blame It On The Pop)
Over the past month and a half, I've been so psyched to bring you the good word that is music and food, meshed as one, on IFC's original series, Dinner With The Band. Featuring guests like Sharon Jones, MEN and Kid Sister, the show reveals insight on the cookery of Sam Mason and the musicalities of today's emerging stars.
Tonight is the last episode of DWTB's preview season. The first full season will air on IFC starting in April.
This evening's season finale features the duo of Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans, known more famously as Portland's own, YACHT. When it comes to eating, as staunch vegans (meaning they consume no animal byproduct), these two experiment non-stop in their culinary laboratory. While head chef, Sam Mason cooks up Psychic City (Chicken of the Woods Mushroom) Picado and Summer Bok choy and a Lovage Sour drink, YACHT will perform a handful of their truly enigmatic songs.
Check out this online exclusive performance of Waste Of Time.
Dinner With The Band is on IFC tonight at 11pm. Check your local cable listings for channel details.
mp3: YACHT - Psychic City (Classixx Remix)
mp3: The Blow - Hock It (YACHT Remix)
Every year around this time, San Francisco-based DJ couple, A Plus D, duke it out, fighting over which of the past year's mashups are good enough to make it on to their Best of Bootie album, an annual compilation mix of the year's best mashes.
This serves as both the soundtrack to the international Bootie mashup parties and also as a lazy person's one-stop shopping for the year's best bootlegs, without all the pesky hassle of sorting through all the out-of-key train wrecks that litter the blogosphere. These tracks are fan-affirmed and dance-floor tested and Beaston approved!
These cool kids are giving away the album for free...link to the magic is here. Be sure to peep the track list below, and after that, a choice cut we pulled out to feature, cause, well, it's just that rad.
1. A Plus D - Bootie Intro
2. Mad Mix Mustang - I Got More Than A Feeling (Boston vs. Black Eyed Peas)
3. Titus Jones - Good Girls Burn Miami (Sean Kingston vs. Cobra Starship vs. Lady Gaga vs. Shakira vs. LMFAO)
4. Hathbanger - Party & Bullshit (In The USA) (Notorious B.I.G. vs. Miley Cyrus)
5. DJ Schmolli - Bulletproof Radar (La Roux vs. Britney Spears)
6. DJ Lobsterdust - NirGaga (Nirvana vs. Lady Gaga)
7. A Plus D - Don't You Want My Bad Romance (Lady Gaga vs. Human League)
8. CjR - Call Me Uprising (Blondie vs. Muse)
9. A Plus D - Stardust Kids (David Bowie vs. MGMT)
10. Rhythm Scholar - Any Way You Want It (Syntax Error Remix) (Journey vs. Rhythm Scholar)
11. LeeDM101 - Womanizer On Fire (Kings Of Leon vs. Britney Spears vs. Jason Nevins)
12. Dan Mei & Marc Johnce - My Life On The Crazy Train Sucks (So What?) (Kelly Clarkson vs. Ozzy Osbourne vs. Pink vs. Daft Punk)
13. Titus Jones - A Circus of Heartbreakin' Divas (Pat Benatar vs. Beyoncé vs. 3Oh!3 vs. Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera vs. M.I.A.)
14. The Kleptones - Voodoo Sabotage (Beastie Boys vs. The Prodigy vs. Pendulum)
15. DJ Y Alias JY - Shut Up And Take Me Out (The Ting Tings vs. Franz Ferdinand vs. Aretha Franklin vs. M/A/R/R/S)
16. Party Ben - Single Ladies (In Mayberry) (Beyoncé vs. The Andy Griffith Show)
17. Glee Cast - It's My Life Confessions, Pt. II (A+D Bootie Edit) (Bon Jovi vs. Usher cover)
18. Dunproofin' - Groove Is In The Girls (Deee-Lite vs. The Prodigy)
19. A Plus D - Krazy Day N Nite (Pitbull vs. Lil Jon vs. Kid Cudi vs. Crookers)
20. DJ Tripp - Just Stop Believin' (Lady Gaga vs. Journey)
21. Mighty Mike - Use The Same Old Song (The Four Tops vs. Kings Of Leon)
22. Dan Mei & Marc Johnce - Chasing Cars That Way (Backstreet Boys vs. Snow Patrol)
mp3: Lady Gaga vs Journey - Just Stop Believin' (DJ Tripp Mash)
Dan Black creates the kind of cosmic pop that makes our feet start flyin' and our hearts skip a beat. His spacey disco panache is one we can't, and won't soon quit. We've writ a ton about him in the past, but if you haven't yet jumped on board, then you can thank the lad for gifting us with a freebie this week.
Symphonies appears on Dan's already-out-in-the-UK and soon to be released stateside album, ((un)). It's a slice of throwback splendor with modern-day sensibilities, pairing an unmistakable Notorious B.I.G. base with Black's slick lyrics.
I you have yet to add this delightful romp to your library, it's being offered as iTunes Free Single of the Week. Go grab Symphonies for free here!
Dan Black comes back across the pond for a mini-trek in early 2010. Dates below.
February 18 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
February 19 - Montreal, QC @ Belmont
February 20 - Toronto, ON @ WrongBar
February 23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Cinespace
February 25 - San Francisco, CA @ Popscene / 330 Ritch
mp3: Dan Black - HYPNTZ
Earlier this month, VEVO, the online music video website owned by Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, EMI and Abu Dhabi Media Company, launched. With this new video content site springing forward, an official party was held, and streamed live for viewers around the world.
Live coverage was provided by the site, with commentary and performances by everyone from Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Adam Lambert, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. One highlight from the star-studded evening was the latter's emotional performance of Speechless, a gripping ballad from her latest release, The Fame Monster.
Watch now!
Lady Gaga continues in her 2009 dominance with the release of her Bad Romances EP. The official track listing contains mixes from Chew Fu, Kaskade Remix, Bimbo Jones and Skrillex. Buy it here!
Also, if you haven't purchased a ticket to see the lady in concert yet, full dates and details can be found here. It's a must-see for us in 2010, and if you are in the UK, Alphabeat has recently been announced as her supporting act. Killer!
mp3: Lady Gaga - Paparazzi (Mr Vega Thinks Some Pop Is Good Remix)
One more bit of holiday goodies, then I think we're back on track with regular radness. 
RAC, or known to some as Remix Artist Collective, threw together a handful of their finest fixes, lovingly dubbed RAC VOL 1.5. This precedes their second EP, so these cool cats decided to gift out 4 remixes that make our holiday heinies bounce!
They twist and turn out The Gossip, U2, Hockey and Honeythieves. Each one is better than the next and you can grab them all for free right here!
Or grab one below. The choice is yours.
mp3: The Gossip - Heavy Cross (RAC Mix)
Long story short...I love everything Alan Wilkis touches, so getting emails from him always brightens up a beastly day. He takes the tunes I care not to listen to, and reworks them with a lovely disco finesse that turns said tracks into some of my most listened to jams.
And so goes the case with his latest. Wilkis, along with San Francisco's Pance Party, was tapped by Chester French as part of a special holiday exclusive. The package takes their meh-kay song, C'mon, and delivers a post-Xmas punch to the gut!
Grab Alan's slick lil' stocking stuffer now.
mp3: Chester French - C'mon (Alan Wilkis Remix)
BONUS! Grab the other two included in the gift for free now.
mp3: Chester French - C'mon (Pance Party Remix)
mp3: Chester French - C'mon (Radio Rock Mix)
Finally back to somewhat of a normalcy* schedulings of posts now that I'm back in the city, and what a way to kick things off post-holiday...with a CJ Milli mix! If you recall, this rad gal made one of our BE[a]ST of 2009 lists, and we're dead set on the fact that we're going to keep on digging her stuff in the upcoming year.
I love that she's able to take a track not so high up on the Beast-approved set [read=Drake] and make it a staple of my "New Radness" playlists. Give it a go below!
Samples used:
Nadastrom - Save Us
Cajmere - Horny Horny (Me So Horny Mix)
Tinny - Zingolo (Doorly Remix)
Drake - Best I Ever Had Drake Best I Ever Had (Grandtheft Remix)
mp3: Drake vs Nadastrom - Best I Ever Had (CJ Milli Remix)
* Pics and words might be used sparingly, cause you know, there's that whole "prepping the new site layout" thing we talked about earlier this past week that's keeping me way busy. That said, all content, as always, is still the most rad.
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays. Hope your day is filled with fun, joy and all rad things of a beastly nature.
Gifts below...see if you can figure out which artists contributed to each of these festive mashups. Hint: there's a lot!
mp3: Divide and Kreate - Every Christmas You Fake
mp3: DJ Schmolli - Pumping Up Christmas
mp3: Voicedude - Its The Small Things
mp3: DJ Zebra - The Xmas Kick
It's not just albums, but people, places and things
That make us excited for what the fresh new year brings
As this rad year of "oh-nine" comes to an end
I give you my list of...
On we push forward, with a list of the artists, new albums and general bits of radness that make 2010 hot on the Beaston tip. Shall we?
The Improbable Possibles
mp3: The Knife - Neverland
On more than one occasion, a band member from major acts has noted that, yes, they are recording, and no, a new album is not out of the question at some point in the coming year. ex: Radiohead, The White Stripes, and the one that makes us gush all over...The Knife. Here's to hoping.
Outkast - new album
mp3: Outkast - B.O.B.
This might have fallen closer to the #1 spot on this list had we actually envisioned this coming to fruition. After many delays over the past two years, Big Boi stated, as recently as 2 weeks ago, that yes, there will definitely be a new Outkast album in 2010. Fingers crossed.
Introducing
mp3: Flamboyant Bella - Get A Reaction (Breakdown Remix)
Go to the Introducing category on the site, and you'll find many an act we're super geeked to break out big. To name a few: Donkeyboy, Queen Kwong, Baby Monster, May 68 and Flamboyant Bella. We're on your team kiddos!
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (new album)
mp3: Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc
No official release date, although EMI announced that it would be released during the current financial year, which ends in March 2010. Tracks already in the bag include De La Soul and Mos Def, and with 5 years since Demon Days, we're already salivating at the sounds we'll soon hear.
The Elles of England
mp3: Marina And The Diamonds - Mowgli's Road (Russ Chimes Remix)
A number of our "go-to" songs of the past year come from the ladies of London. They've all had a string of slight successes, and while we've been writing about a few of these gals since early 2008, 2010 should be huge for Marina and The Diamonds, Ellie Goulding and I Blame Coco.
Christina Aguilera - new album
mp3: Christina Aguilera - Dirrty (Mauve Mix)
The excitement I get when thinking about what this album will sound like is inexplicably outrageous. The working title is Light & Darkness, but it hasn't been confirmed. What IS solid, however, is the known fact that Ladytron, Sia, Goldfrapp, Santigold, M.I.A., and Tricky all have a hand in the production.
The Local Heroes
mp3: MNDR - Fade To Black
I'm digging on a number of the NYC new kids on the block, if you will. If recalled correctly, together, they make up one of the largest chunks of beastly words. They are: Theophilus London, MNDR, Sleigh Bells and Zambri. Each are recording, some with full debut albums due out in 2010. Color us stoked.
Goldfrapp - Head First (new album)
mp3: Goldfrapp - Eat Yourself (Live)
March 23, 2010 sees the release of the band's 5th studio album. Prior to that, new material, including lead single, Rocket, will hit our ears. Critics panned their previous effort, but our beastly love for the English electro-duo continued to grow. A new album might make our heart burst with joy.
Sia - We Are Born (new album)
mp3: Sia - Buttons (CSS Remix)
The Aussie songbird's 2009 release, Some People Have Real Problems, landed the top spot on my best albums list that year. With funky new material (see: You've Changed and Clap Your Hands), April 2010 may be the best month of the year. The anticipation is at an all-time high, and we're positive that Sia has the cred to back it up.
New Site Layout
mp3: Beastie Boys vs Matt And Kim - Good Ol Fashion Rump Shaker
It's a little egotistical to put this as the number one spot, but I feel I owe it to all the dedicated readers who have put up with the terrible template issues over the course of the past two years. That said, I'll be rolling out the all-new, super-slick, and sexily-streamlined new Sheena Beaston site layout during the first week of January 2010. Get ready to get radder!
And so concludes all of our lists for 2009. We're glad you stuck it through!
Posting will be sporadic, at best, over the course of the next week and half. So to you and all your friends and loved ones, have a very Merry Christmas and a Beastly New Year!
Last weekend, I had the utmost (and freezing) pleasure of catching Rihanna live in Rockefeller Center. Check out my review and pictures here! But tonight, I have the distinct satisfaction in dropping a major bomb on you. Note: bomb=RADNESS.
Chew Fu, he of the title of "serial fixer", jumps on board the Rihanna train with his Granite Fix of Hard. The song alone is an album standout, but when Chew churns out a mix, you can rest assure, we're playing it on repeat.
The horns? Love it. The beat? Nonstop. The fix? We swoon!
Grab Chew Fu's remix now, play it, then rewind and hit play agin.
mp3: Rihanna (featuring Jeezy) - Hard (Chew Fu Granite Fix)
Since inception of the site, one act we've pegged to totally break out and be badass across all genre lovers, is the Sydney hip-hop duo, KillaQueenz. Kween G and Belizean Bombshell caught our, and many fellow bloggers', attention with a few reworks they threw together, but their original material sends us through the roof!
Now, the ladies deliver the first single, Double Up, from their debut album, Sistarhood, which is out now. The joint features UK artist Lady Chann on the hook with production handled by Mad Decent and Diplo-affiliates, South Rakkas Crew, to give this track an international feel.
Today, we've got the teaser clip of the video, which was shot in Sydney, Australia and produced/directed by Versus Media.
Watch now!
KillaQueenz also recently released their Boyfriend Remixes EP. Stellar, slick and swoon-worthy! Buy their debut album, Sistarhood, here.
mp3: KillaQueenz (featuring Lady Chann) - Double Up
mp3: KillaQueenz - Boyfriend (DCUP Remix)
So many Christmas presents are flowing in now...they're piling up much like the massive snow we had this past weekend! Up next, we've got goodies from one of our favorite labels: Domino!
Think of it as a Secret Santa exchange...give these cool kids your email address, and you'll be gifted with a special sampler of free tracks taken from 2009 and forthcoming 2010 releases. It includes tracks from:
Owen Pallett
Eugene McGuinness
Wild Beasts
The Kills
Franz Ferdinand
Joker's Daughter
King Creosote
Spiral Stairs
Go here for the good stuff, and deck the halls, yo!
mp3: The Kills - Getting Down
Leave it to Baron Von Luxxury to tie up all the raddest parts of 2009 and package them in a nearly 50 minute dreamy mix of monstrously mouth-watering munchies.
You know what dude, we're pretty excited for 2010, but yes, 2009 WAS an OK year
1. Geneva Jacuzzi - Debbie Get the Fuck Out of My House
2. Bogdan Irkuk a.k.a. Bulgari - Everything is Changing
3. Peter Sellers & Spike Milligan - She Loves You
4. Vitalic - Poison Lips
5. Royksopp - The Girl and the Robot
6. Datarock - The Pretender (Holy Ghost! remix)
7. Keenhouse - Ari-es
8. Yoko Ono - Walking on Thin Ice
9. Don Johnson - Heartbeat
10. The Who - Baba o’ Reilly (SebastiAn Remix)
11. Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars
12. Metric - Help I’m Alive (The Twelves Remix)
13. Burning Hotels - Stuck in the Middle (Baron von Luxxury Controls Everything Remix)
14. Vega - No Reasons
14. Chaz Jankel - Without You
15. Del Marquis - Runaround - (Baron von Luxxury Silver Lake of Disco Dreams Remix)
16. Neil Young - Sample and Hold
17. Venise - Playboy
18. Harold Faltermeyer - Leg Work
19. D/A/D - Miami Thunder
20. Washed out - Feel it All Around
21. Gary Low - I Want You
22. Pictureplane - Goth Star
23. ELO - Here is the News
24. Shakira - She Wolf (Calvin Harris Remix)
25. Fergie - Glamorous (Treasure Fingers Remix)
26. Sugar and Gold - Slice Me Nice
27. Falsetto - San Francisco Nights (Loose Shus Remix)
28. The Turtles - So Happy Together (Baron von Luxxury Loves You Remix)
29. Christov - HBO in Space
mp3: Baron Von Luxxury - 2009 Was An OK Year (Mix)
BONUS!
BvL came through with two major mixes this year. Both very different from one another, but both equally rad to the max. They're all yours below.
mp3: Del Marquis - Runaround (Baron Von Luxxury Silver Lake Of Disco Dreams Remix)
mp3: The Turtles - So Happy Together (Baron Von Luxxury Remix)
The Stage 4 Podcasts, curated and recorded weekly by staff at San Francisco's IRIS Distribution, showcase their favorite new and independent music in two series, one alternative and the other electronic. The end of 2009 brings big beats to the weekly electronic podcast with the electro-crunk of a Beaston favorite in Thunderheist.
Hosted by Sunny Dee and Chad Raddington, each episode features two songs by one artist as well as exclusive interviews, contests, listener mail, celebrity guest hosts and trivia. New episodes are available every Tuesday at iTunes...for free!
Other artists recently featured on the Stage 4 Electronica Podcast include Amtrak, Antipop Consortium, King Cannibal, Blende, Anton Essential, The Emergency, Mogi Grumbles, Arcane Trickster, Conya Compilation, Pal Joey, Polymorphic, Le Castle Vania and Hakan Libdo.
In this week's episode, Nothing 2 Step 2 and Space Cowboy are the highlighted tracks from Thunderheist, as well as a ton of cool facts and trivia you might not have known about. Go grab the podcast here!
mp3: Thunderheist - Sweet 16
Back in May, yes May, we were gifted a rad track from Emma, she of the vocalist lead from up-and-comers, Kite in the Air. Couch Potato still remains highly playable and mucho lovable. That said, we're super stoked to see it's resurgence today.
Fat and Ugly is an up and coming producer from Germany. He put his gnarly hands all over his compatriot by chopping and scrambling her lovely voice to turn the whole song into a new electronic excursion.
Do not adjust your speakers...it's meant to sound super glitchy like that. And we love how messily-magical it is!
mp3: Emma - Couch Potato (Fat And Ugly Remix)
Qu'avez-vous dit? Yep, I might as well be speaking French with that post title. Well, here's the deal. Going back through my archives, I've realized there's a handful of artists/dj's/producers who I post tracks from, but never really talk about. Today, we're highlighting three of them.
If you haven't figured out who exactly I'm talking about, it's So Shifty, Gentlemen Thieves, and She Is Danger. Let's roll.
So Shifty come from Hamburg, Germany. They are unsigned and frankly (Frankfurt-ly? ha!), that's a shame. They produced one of my most favorite remixes of the year when they took Major Lazer's Keep It Goin' Louder and made it a tropically calypso ska ditty that simply made us swoon.
Grab 2 more remixes from the dudes and get to dancing!
mp3: The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (So Shifty Remix)
mp3: R. Kelly and Keri Hilson - Number One (So Shifty Remix)
Up next is New York City's own, Gentlemen Thieves. Another of the Beaston fave mixes of 2009 came courtesy of these 3 kids. Their take on Kiss In Cities' UR My Girl is easy and smooth, with piano and hand claps to die for. Their fix of a Monsieur Adi track, as well as an original jawn, can be all yours, by clicking the below links.
mp3: Monsieur Adi - We Are The Romans (Gentlemen Thieves Remix)
mp3: Gentlemen Thieves - Contrapasso
Last up, is London's dynamic dame duo, She Is Danger. Maya Jane and Lena first made waves with their remix of Ellie Goulding's Under The Sheets, yet the pair aren't restricted to mixing. Their orignal tracks are solid slices of electronic dub. Get a mix and a cover now, then start to smile.
mp3: Ellie Goulding - Under The Sheets (She Is Danger Remix)
mp3: She Is Danger - Who's That Girl (Eurythmics Cover)
Part three in the Little Boots' laser harp series is upon us! If you missed the first two in this episodic sequence, catch them here and here. Moving on...
Design problems are encountered, but Boots gets advice from some US laser harp builders. Check out how she incorporates her costuming into the playing of the light-strument as well.
Little Boots comes back to New York on March 2 at Highline Ballroom. Tickets for the all ages show are on sale here.
Last week, her Remedy Remixes EP was released. Cop 'em here.
mp3: Little Boots - Earthquake (Celebrity Murder Party Remix)
Holy dark and disco delight! Ever since (finally!) catching Jessica 6 live earlier this fall, when they opened for Amanda Blank and Peaches, I've been on a ravenous rampage to gooble up as much music as I can from the spookily-mesmerizing trio.
Upon first listen of Jessica 6's lead single, Fun Girl, first hit us back in mid-summer, we knew this troupe was one to keep on our beastly radar. With the release of the Fun Girl EP in September, they cemented my constant curiousity and intrigue surrounding them.
Yesterday, Jessica 6 debuted the video for the song, and it's just as sexy, sultry and swoon-worthy as the song itself. Give it a go now!
Catch your breath, then grab some freebies below!
Buy all the Jessica 6 Fun Girl remixes over at Beatport. Suggested listening: the Whatever, Whatever Remix. Amazing!
mp3: Jessica 6 - Fun Girl (Byzar Remix)
mp3: Jessica 6 - Fun Girl
Our favorite baile funk-rock kids, The Fire and Reason, deliver an early Christmas present...in the form of a new video for their dancefloor scorcher, Do It Again.
2009 has been super rad for the New York City duo of Bella and Steve. From winning LOGO's NewNowNext Award for the Brink of Fame artist, to having their song placed as the theme for an MTV reality show, it's clear that way back in early 2008, when we pegged them to break out this year, critics and fans were listening!
Below, you'll find the video for Do It Again, which is all rock, tons of roll...and bit of leather and lust thrown on top. The mix used is Brad Walsh's fix of the track.
Grab Walsh's mix for free below!
mp3: The Fire and Reason - Do It Again (Brad Walsh Remix)
Yes, that is the actual full title of the release. From here on out, we'll simply refer to it as The Flaming Lips' Dark Side for spacial purposing...we like neat and tidy things.
So how do the fearless freaks from Oklahoma City intend to tackle one fo the most famous concept albums in music history? By summoning majestic rock power with typical mind-scrambling weirdness and assistance from Henry Rollins and Peaches.
Below is the track list, and after that, the link to buy the album.
1. Speak To Me / Breathe (featuring Henry Rollins and Peaches)
2. On The Run (featuring Henry Rollins)
3. Time / “Breathe Reprise”
4. The Great Gig In The Sky (featuring Peaches and Henry Rollins)
5. Money (featuring Henry Rollins)
6. Us And Them (featuring Henry Rollins)
7. Any Colour You Like
8. Brain Damage (featuring Henry Rollins)
9. Eclipse (featuring Henry Rollins)
The album is available as an iTunes exclusive only through December 28, so hurry up and get it here!
mp3: Peaches vs The Flaming Lips vs Gary Glitter - I Didn’t Know The Lips Wanna Be Her (DJ Paul V Mash)
Plain and simple, I have to get caught up. So here we go.
Enjoy...I am.
#newjacksplashfromanupcomingmixtapemakesussayheeeeey
mp3: Jack Splash - King Of The Beats
#gnarliestmixofamotownclassictojumpintoourearsallyear
mp3: Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Mikey Mic Remix)
#dubbylittledittythatscompletelyunexpectedandamazinglyrad
mp3: Spoon - The Ghost Of You Lingers (Gavin Holland Bootleg)
#funkyfreshansohsofly
mp3: K'naan (featuring Chubb Rock) - ABC's (5 Alive Remix)
#morediscodeliciousnessfromthemantheycallrubix
mp3: C-code - Burning Up In Here (Rubix Remix)
Last week, I unveiled the top 25 most beastly albums of the year, and coming in at #12 was Vitalic's Flashmob. Now, we're treated to an in-depth look at the making of the smoky imagery used as the cover art. 
If you thought the album cover was just some puffs of smoke and an exercise in Photoshop, you'd e wrong.
This video illustrates how the Flashmob album cover was made. It is an oniric and contemplative journey of a man recreating the 19th century experience of Etienne-Jules Marey on fluid dynamics. Smoke lines represent the notion of stability, the triangle goes for the disturbance and incidentally for the V of Vitalic. The concept of a flashmob is illustrated here as a result of an intruder perturbating a stable environment.
Watch the video now.
Directed by //DIY & Brillantine with DP by ART10. Video is in memoriam of Etienne-Jules Marey (1830 - 1904)
mp3: Vitalic - One Above One
This reminds me of childhood, video games, rad creatures and generally speaking...pretty solid mixing. Skeet Skeet has been dominating a number of our favorite year-end mixes, and today, we're all sorts of giddy with a big ol' grin thanks to a glitchy and techy fix of one of our most cherished "back-in-the-day" programs.
Who didn't love Fraggle Rock? If you told me you didn't, I'd call you a filthy, stinkin' liar and walk away. HOWEVER, I might throw on Skeet's remix, lovingly titled as an "8-Bit Adventure" before departing, in an effort to change your mind.
Gosh, I'm digging this so much. It's just over 2 minutes of fun. Sing it with me... "Down at Fraggle Rock!" **clap clap**
Skeet Skeet's got a number of gigs in the beginnings of the coming year. Jump here for dates and details.
mp3: Fraggle Rock Theme - (Skeet Skeet's 8-Bit Adventure)
The past 3 months of this beastly year have undoubtedly been overtaken by Sleigh Bells and their fistful of demos. From engaging live performances to gaining support from top music critics and bloggers alike, this Brooklyn duo is set to make 2010 their own!
Another BK-badass, is our buddy, Jane Bang. Known for her signaturely-suggestive lyrics and eccentrically arranged mix of hip-hop and electro, she's hit us up with a number of repeatable tracks and mixes over the course of the past two years.
Now, Bang has tackled a fix of one of the most exciting demos from Sleigh Bells. Crown on the Ground is a magical mess of guitars and thumping beats, with almost indistinguishable lyrical content. But it works oh so well! So that's why we're so pumped that Jane stuck true to the original mix, and instead, simply opted to throw in some added vocals and an ending verse which gives the song just a dose more cred.
The remix is yours for free below!
mp3: Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground (Jane Bang Remix)
Last month, we chatted with Chitown chica, Kid Sister, about the release of her debut album, hidden talents, and the upcoming episode ofg IFC's original series, Dinner With The Band, that she along with buddies and brother, Flosstradamus, taped back in August.
On tonight's episode of the food and music program mash, chef Sam Mason will be serving up Can I Kick It Curry w/ Control Cous Cous; and Rooi Moer. The musicians' contigent bring the heat with tracks 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Big Bills and Control. Catch an appetizer-sized sneak peek performance below.
IFC's Dinner With The Band airs on the independent channel Tuesdays at 11pm. Kid Sister's debut album, Ultraviolet, is out now. Buy here.
mp3: Kid Sister (featuring David Banner) - Family Reunion
Did you (east coasters) all survive the massive snowstorm this weekend? We had a blast tromping through the drifts but it's back to work. Someone else who is hard at the grind, is Australian pop gal, Sia. With a new album due out in 2010, new tunes and information keeps piling up...much like the snow...and we're loving it all!
A song that's been rocking our bodies for over a year is the Lauren Flax penned and produced, You've Changed. Featuring Sia on guest vocals, this house jam has easily been one of our most played additions. Seeing as how the songstress loved the song just as much, she reworked it for use on her upcoming album, We Are Born, due out in April of the fast-approaching year.
Now, there is a video to coincide with the Australian single. Let's watch!
Video games, school portraits and awkwardness ensue, and with each passing second, we fall a little more in love with the song and the artist. You can sing about changing, but Sia, please stay just as awesomely quirky as you always are!
mp3: Lauren Flax (featuring Sia) - You've Changed (Blogula Remix)
Ok, first up, I have an admission. The Dirty Disco have been throwing me all sorts of rad tunes for the past 6 months or so. For whatever reason, I always got to their emails/submissions just a minute too late before their tracks were everywhere, and I hate oversaturating an already sopping wet playing field. Today, we wait not.
The Dirty Disco are the self described "lust child of Ziggy Stardust and Britney Spears". Hailing from Guilford, London, the enigmatic and energetic troupe enlists dramatic drums and electropop frequencies to create their blend of acid trippery tracks.
Most recently, frotnman Adam dropped by with the band's cover of Florence + The Machine's irresistably lovable single, Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up).
Pairing their signature glampop vocals with an enthusiastically dark arrangement, the band covers the song in dirt and disco, and the result is definitely Beaston approved. Grab it for free now!
mp3: The Dirty Disco - Rabbit Heart (Florence And The Machine Cover)
Coming at us with a massive mix of mega proportions, the rad dudes of Buffetlibre DJs are fixed to whet your appetite for a remixed recap of the "noughtiest" decade. Let's dive on in.
Some of their favorite artists (count: 70) chose the best dancefloor tracks of the past 10 years, and the boys handpicked nearly half to compil, mix and mash into an hour and fifteen minutes of sweaty sweetness.
Here are the tracks used in Verbena Selected 4.
01 – Sintonia Buffetlibre
02 – Intro
03 – Vitalic – Fanfares (Selected by LADYTRON)
04 – LFO – Freak (Selected by ETIENNE DE CRECY)
05 – The Chemical Brothers – Saturate (selected by ORBITAL)
06 – Radiohead – Idiotheque. (selected by TERENCE FIXMER)
07 – Vitalic – La Rock 01 (selected by EDITORS)
08 – Underground Resistance – Transition (selected by BEN SIMS)
09 – Buy Now – For Sale (selected by MSTRKRFT)
10 – Missy Elliot – Get Ur Freak (selected by MATTHEW HERBERT)
11 – Chemical Brothers – Salmon Dance (Crookers remix) (selected by YELLE)
12 – Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (selected by MARTIN SOLVEIG)
13 – Juan Maclean – Happy House (selected by RADIO 4)
14 – The Rapture – House Of Jealous Lovers (selected by DIGITALISM)
15 – Audion – Mouth To Mouth (selected by SLAM)
16 – Simian – We Are Your Friends (Justice remix) (selected by GROOVE GARMADA)
17 – Pilooski – Beggin (Franki Valli edit) (selected by THE RAPTURE)
18 – Orbital – Belfast (selected by FERRY CORSTEN)
19 – Metro Area – Miura (selected by LCD SOUNDSYSTEM)
20 – Lindstrom – I feel Space (selected by SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO)
21 – Closer Musik – Maria (selected by JAMES HOLDEN)
22 - Stephan Bodzin – Marathon Man (selected by GUS GUS)
23 – Quench – Dreams (Sebastien Leger remix) (selected by THE TEENAGERS)
24 – Switch – A Bit Patchy (selected by FATBOY SLIM)
25 – Felix da Housecat – Silver Screen Shower Scene (selected by EROL ALKAN)
26 – Dustin Zahn – Stranger (Len Faki Podium Remix) (selected by VITALIC)
27 – Justice – Waters of Nazareth (Erol Alkan remix) (selected by THE BRAVERY)
28 – James Holden – A Break In The Clouds (selected by UNDERWORLD)
29 – Roger Sanchez – Another Chance (selected by ROGER SANCHEZ)
30 – Bob Sinclair – World Hold On (selected by BOB SINCLAIR)
31 – Kelley Polar – Satellites (selected by JUNIOR BOYS)
32 – Glass Candy – Rolling Down The Hills (selected by THE AVALANCHES)
Of course you can download the mix in it's entirety here. And if you'd like to view the full list of the artists' favorite tunes, jump here.
mp3: Patrick Wolf - Who Will (Buffetlibre DJs Remix)
More to be loved and lots to be lauded
Although there's not one category allotted
For everything rad in this world of mine
We'll simply give you the...
So many super-duper tracks, concerts, people and places effected this beast in the past 12 months. The below list details all those "radlets" that don't particularly fall into one of the previous album or song rundowns from earlier this week. So we call these randoms. And they are awesome.
Tiesto and His Ladies
mp3: Tiesto (featuring Emily Haines) - Knock You Out (Boko Remix)
With the release of Tiesto's album, Kaleidoscope, we were given a new listening experience, courtesy of the Dutch DJ/producer. Female vocalists...and great ones, at that. The release, as a whole, was ok, but standout tracks featuring Tegan and Sara, Nelly Furtado and Emily Haines quickly jumped to the top of my "most played" list.
Mixtapes
mp3: Jack Splash (featuring Missy Elliott and Jazmine Sullivan) - I Could Have Loved You (BURNS Remix)
Beginning with Theophilus London's This Charming Mixtape back in January, through monthly additions from The Hood Internet, Bufffetlibre DJs and Lupe Fiasco, some of our favorite songs came courtesy of these freebies. One in particular got us all funked up...Jack Splash's Heir to the Throne: Volume 1 contains the grooviest of goodness, and while his teaser track with Missy Elliott and Jazmine Sullivan failed to make the final cut, I Could Have Loved You was among our most repeated plays.
Redlight Remixes
mp3: Beyonce - Control (Redlight Remix)
With a funkily-repeated bass and synth line, Redlight grabbed my attention within the first 3 seconds of his mix of Beyonce's Control. The hits just kept coming, as he tackled Ladyhawke, Junior Senior, Kid Sister and Kings of Convenience. Most recently, his fix of Lady Gaga's Paparazzi has sent me into a proverbial state of dancing freneticism. This kid is legit.
Disco Dreamwave Dudes
mp3: Visitor - Los Feeling (Fear Of Tigers Remix)
This umbrellic list spot contains all those boys who make the girls go weak in the knees with their tunes drenched and dripping in a wash of the yummiest disco influences. You may recognize them...they're the kids we probably wrote most about. Diamond Cut, Flashmen, Visitor, The Sound of Arrows and Fear Of Tigers. Excuse me while I go collect myself.
Virginia
mp3: Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone (Viking and CJ Milli Shooting Stars Tribute)
Yes, like the state. From Chesapeake to Richmond, three of our most loved finds and favorites of the year come from the 10th territory of our grand land: KiD A, CJ Milli and Viking. From eclectic electropop, mashes and mixes to dance floor destroyers, these kids kept the beastly booty bouncing all year long. "Sic semper tyrannis" indeed.
The Fame Monster
mp3: Lady Gaga - Teeth (King5kat Remix)
No list seems to be complete without the inclusion of Lady Gaga, and I'll readily admit my admiration for the gal's pop-producing panache. With the release of The Fame Monster last month, Gaga turned disbelievers into diehard fans and further proved that the Lady is no tramp. Now, vamp and camp, on the other hand, is always present, and we love it. Sidenote: the track, Monster, was my most played song this year. You don't even want to guess how many times I spun it. Outrageous.
Twitter
mp3: Andy Milonakis - Let Me Twitter Dat (Rusko Remix)
Yes, the social networking tool deserves it's own list spot. Never before have I felt more of a connection with fans and friends, all via 140 character messages. While we've been twittering since early last year, 2009 saw a boom of beastly use...for both personal and professional purpose. We've held contests, talked shop with PR kids and artists directly...and we've chatted with nearly all of you. 23,426 tweets and counting!
Theophilus London
mp3: The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (Theophilus London Remix)
The Brooklyn boy kicked the year off with a bang. As mentioned above, This Charming Mixtape was, and still is, a constant source of enjoyment. Listen to Grey X Sage if you haven't already...it's brilliant. London proved to be the "jack of all trades" over the course of these 12 months. From his solo work, to producing with Mark Ronson and Sam Sparro, you couldn't turn a corner without running into the gifted gent. Theophilus is a dynamic live performer, and you don't want to miss his quirky dance moves. Ultimately, the most gnarly dude of the year.
Juliette Lewis Interview
mp3: Juliette Lewis - Sticky Honey (Endo DandB Remix)
What do you say when presented with the opportunity to interview one of your idols? First you cry, then quickly compose yourself, for there's work to be done! In September, Juliette Lewis played a show at New York City's Fillmore, but not before I had the utmost pleasure of chatting with the dynamic actress turned rock star. This goes down as the second be[a]st experience of the year...and definitely a highlight of my entire life. Big smiles.
Everything's Coming Up Peaches
mp3: Peaches - I Feel Cream (Blogula Remix)
You may have read a little, no A LOT, about Peaches here over the past calendar year. First, we had the most fun [read: sweatiest and amazing] night at Tribeca Grand when she DJ'd in April. May saw the release of I Feel Cream, her 5th studio album. Three NYC tour dates, and we were there for all of them. November 14, 2009 was the highlight of the year though. Getting to interview the electroclash icon, and one of our most favorite artists ever, was one of those experiences we still can't believe happened, but sure are happy did. In a word? BEASTLY.
Later today, time permitting, I'll drop my BE[a]ST Breakouts for 2010 list. As always, keep it rad!
