1. Rapture Riders (Blondie/Doors mash-up)
2. Cee-Lo Green - Childz Play
3. Kanye West - Through The Wire
4. N.E.R.D. - She Wants To Move
5. Pointer Sisters - Automatic
6. J.C. Chasez - Come To Me
7. Killing Time (Abba/Echo & The Bunnymen mash-up)
8. Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
9. The The - Love is Stronger Than Death
10. Maroon 5 - Harder To Breathe
11. Bay City Rollers - You Made Me Believe in Magic
12. J.C. Chasez - Lose Myself
13. Isaac Hayes - The Look of Love
14. Cee-Lo Green - Sometimes
15. Probot (w/ King Diamond) - Sweet Dreams
Some definite retro throwbacks this time around. Also
have two tracks from the same artists, which is unusual for me. I like
the albums by Cee-Lo and J.C. Chasez (and I am embarrassed to print
this, but it's damn good) but in a month I may not, so this collection
is the time to capitalize on them. Sometimes my collections are a round-up
of the newest songs, other times a sampling of what's been in my car
stereo since the last collection. This one is more the latter.
I wish I could provide audio clips or even better downloads
of these songs for you. I can at least direct you to the one of the
mash-ups.
1. Doors/Blondie mash-up
"Rapture" meets "Riders on The Storm". For some
reason, Jim Morrison's vocals make for good remixes. I've heard plenty
and this one is one of my faves. His vocal is sped up a bit to fit with
Blondie and I have no doubt this would make a great dance track.Go Home
Productions are the producers behind this and the Abba mash-up.
Click
here: Then go to downloads and look for "Rapture Riders.
2. Cee-Lo Green - Childz Play
I love the melody used throughout this rap. It's cartoonish, to
tie into the title no doubt, which is spelled hip-hop style with "childz"
for no real reason. But its a real good fast rap that will stick in
your head for awhile.
3. Kanye West - Through The Wire
My favorite part of this song may just be the sampled vocal track.
A kick back, laid-back rap tune by the producer behind many late 90s/early
00s Jay Z hits. Lots of buzz on this cd, I think it debuted high just
behind Norah Jones, but nothing that rocks my world.
4. N.E.R.D. - She Wants To Move
Thank god NERD is back! "In Search Of" was my favorite cd
of 2001 and Pharrell has turned himself into the falsetto go-to voice
and hitmaker. Practically every video on MTV has him in it. I wonder
if the other guys, Chad and that other dude (see what I mean) are jealous?
I will write much more about NERD when the new album "Fly or Die"
comes out March 26th. For now, the single: it had to grow on me. I wasn't
sure but now I like the driving beat and love the guitars. Since they
are playing their own instruments this time around, I knew the sound
is going to have to be different. I can't wait for the the whole album.
5. Pointer Sisters - Automatic
I remember the song from 1984 but never knew who it was. I didn't really
think that this was the Pointer Sisters, but that is how it was labeled.
If so they sound like dudes. Anyway this was a huge hit and at the time
was very modern sounding. I want like to take the vocals and chorus
and make it into a remix. The groove and synth solo is cool too. I picture
those guys in the 80s with a synthesizer hung from their shoulders like
a guitar, swaying their hips to the melody.
6. J.C. Chasez - Come To Me
I already admitted to liking this whole album, he's called it his tribute
to Prince and I have two songs from it on this collection. I am straying
from the much more obvious hits like "All Day I Dream About Sex"
and putting more obscure tracks down. This song owes its driving synth
line to "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurhythmics. Mash-up time perhaps?
And the lyrics are all Prince, "I lie awake and masturbate, and
pretend to hear the sounds you make." If this wasn't J.C. from
N' Sync everyone would like this song, but he has a lot to overcome.
Much more than Justin did, and I'm not sure why? But for me it was harder
to admit to liking this than it was to like "Justified." Maybe
because of Pharrell?
7. Killing Time (Abba/Buzzcocks mash-up)
Another great mash-up by GoHomeProductions (link)
using Abba and the vocals of "The Killing Moon"
from the classic 80s new wavers Echo & The Bunnymen.
8. Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
A cover of Oasis's hit from 1996, but sung in a completely different
key with all new pacing. It's almost unrecognizable from the original.
And slower. The sad thing is I didn't like it until I saw it on an episode
of "Smallville" in February. If I could sing and play guitar
like this, I would get lots of chicks.
9. The The - Love is Stronger Than Death
From 1993, by the "new wave" band The The led by singer Matt
Johnson. I remember this song being on MTV's "Real World"
that year when Pedro had AIDS and how it was all sad. But unlike the
Ryan Adams song, I liked this one before I saw it on TV. It fits in
well with this section of the collection; the slow, dreamier love songs.
10. Maroon 5 - Harder to Breathe
Now that "This Love" is a huge hit I went and bought this
song from iTunes. Again with a TV reference, but when they were on "Saturday
Night Live" this was the second song they played and I knew I had
heard it before. Incredibly catchy. Are these guys British I still wonder?
11. Bay City Rollers - You Made Me Believe in Magic
Okay I just found my next karaoke song. The Bay City Rollers were sorta
big in the 70s disco era. I had one of the records when I was little
and I remember they had a Saturday morning TV live-action show. Perfect
fit after the Maroon 5 song.
12. J.C. Chasez - Lose Myself
Second J.C. song, this one would have made a great hit for Seal had
he recorded it. But I like it, even though it is extremely gay. Girls
will love this song and in a month I'll hate it.
13. Isaac Hayes - The Look of Love
From the original version of "Shaft" and featured as the driving
sample in Ashanti's last hit "Rain On Me," this is Sir Isaac's
take on the Burt Bacharach classic. For the kids in the audience, Isaac
Hayes is Chef from "South Park" and along with Barry White
and Al Green responsible for more babies being conceived than any other
artists. This is music to make love to your old lady with for sure.
14. Cee-Lo Green - Sometimes
Second Cee-Lo song, and this is completely opposite from the first one.
This is a speaking rap over a constant and almost non-existent beat.
Almost like spoken word and Cee-Lo has things to say. A great song.
15. Probot (with King Diamond) - Sweet Dreams
Okay you know by now that I like to throw heavy metal onto these collections.
I still like metal. This is Probot, which is Dave Grohl's speed metal
all-star album. He has guest spots by Motorhead, Venom, Sepultura and
on this one Danish metal freak King Diamond. The King wears scary make-up
and a black cape, and was big into horror concept albums. I used to
like him, mostly for the laughs.