Newt-ricious music, Part 3

Bloodlip - Matduke
http://youtu.be/5iZjSQ3B4NM

In my mind, a good electo song is characterized by melodic progression, great bass, vocals that flow through your head on a daily basis, and a lasting effect.  Bloodlip by Matduke delivers all of these in a convenient and memorable package.  This song has a driving bass that will keep you on the edge, and a melodic progression that fits perfectly with the content and driving message of the song.  The vocals are dark, but I think that is why they stick with you, the message is so profound that its hard to not think about it for a while after hearing it for the first time.  Overall, the song is the perfect package, and I have no doubt you will be humming it and playing over and over from here on out!

Download

AMANDA--"LET'S HAVE A KIKI" by SCISSOR SISTERS

Hello all! How do I even begin to describe today's song? I only re-discovered "Let's Have a Kiki" this past week and if it's anything to go by the Scissor Sisters are an innovative band that marches to the beat of their own drum. Their songs often deal with themes in the LGBT community and here is one example of that.  In the "instructional"  video,  band members explains what a kiki is, a term associated with gay nightlife/ culture, and suggest one scenario in which it might take place, all while performing a saucy dance routine. The song was covered on Glee and has even spawned several parodies online. I'm completely obsessed. For one, the concept is so interesting and opens a door into a world I'm not very familiar with. The video, well it  pretty much speaks for itself. The execution is just so fun and original. Of course, you'll have to be the judge of that. If you do decide to take a listen, be warned that it contains some mature language and probably is NSFW. Thanks for reading!

Download

Newt-ricious Music, Part 2

Requiem for a Dream Trap Mix - Hardplay

http://youtu.be/W2orvr7gxFk
Songs that originate in movies can have such a drastic effect on our psyche as they can convey such feeling and emotion into a short piece of music.  The soundtrack for Requiem for a Dream is no different, the main theme to it still sends shivers down my spine and reminds me of the monumental effect the movie had on me as a person.  I stumbled on a trap remix of this a while ago, and it captures all of the energy and emotion of the original and throws a trap spin on it.  Getting this song engrained in your memory is pretty easy and without effort.  I hope it moves you like it moved me!

Download

Newt-ricious Music, Part 1

Lullabies- Yuna (adventure club remix)
youtu.be/EsGiBwK4Ycc

Hey guys, Chris here. DJ Abso-Newt-ly has written three awesome guest entries this week to cover for me while I take a break. He has amazing taste, and this week is going to be great. Let us know what you think!

Every once in a while an electro song comes about that is a game changer.  Then someone remixes it and turns it into one of the top songs, period.  Adventure Club's Remix of Lullabies by Yuna is that song.  Not only does it provide a variation of soothing melodies and big bass, but also throws in some incredible vocals by Yuna.  If you haven't heard many of her songs, go look them up now.  This song has literally been stuck in my head since the first time I heard it, and I'm sure the effect will be very similar with all of you.  Enjoy!

Download

AMANDA-- No entry today!

Sorry, guys. Check back next week for new posts. Have a great weekend!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 452 -- "Zelda Medley" [Zelda Week]

Zelda Week, Part 3 || Song: "Zelda Medley" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling || http://youtu.be/b3KUyPKbR7Q ||

Comments: Raise your hand if you saw this one coming (and put them back down because I can't see you): To finish off this theme week: The one, the only, the absolutely fantastic Lindsey Stirling! For this piece, the fabulous Ms. Stirling drops jaws with a selection of several well-known tunes from the Legend of Zelda series, performed in her trademark dancing-while-playing style. This video is an audiovisual treat. I'm not even going to try and describe this: Just go watch. It's that good.

Next week, I'll be taking the week off and DJ Abso-Newt-ly will be writing three entries to fill my usual days. They're going to be amazing, so check back next week for some fresh tracks and awesome earworms!

Download

AMANDA-- METAL VERSION OF "SUIT AND TIE" by JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

Good morning readers! While Chris continues his Zelda theme week, I'm going to be doing my own thing as usual. Earlier today while purusing on the internetz, I came across this metal version of Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" via Buzzfeed. When I saw the headline, I assumed some metal group had covered the hit song. But it's even better. In the video below, Timberlake performs it live alongside a brass band, back-up singers, and, you guessed it, some guys on the electric guitar. This works suprisingly well and makes me wonder who came up with the idea. The original is great as is but you have to admit here it has an additional layer of brilliance. JT dancing to the solo at the end? Totally awesome! Having conquered pop and, most recently,  R&B, I'd personally love to see more of this experimentation/collaboration from him in the future. Take a listen and feel free to let us know what you think!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 451 -- "Lost Woods" [Zelda Week]

Zelda Week, Part 2 || Song: "Lost Woods" || Artist: teamteamwork || http://snd.sc/12m3kaX ||


Comments: Good morning, everyone! Who's ready for an awesome track that's a free download? I hope you are, because that's exactly what today's entry has. Teamteamwork, real name Tim Jacques, is an artist who releases a great deal of videogame-related or -inspired music on Soundcloud, and this is most definitely inspired. Actually, all of the tracks teamteamwork produces are, which is why I had serious difficulty in deciding which of his many Legend of Zelda-based tracks to feature. Unlike Zedd's take on the LoZ theme, teamteamwork doesn't attempt to transform it into a danceable house beat. Instead, this artist takes a well-known jingle from the game and turns it into a nice, drum-heavy beat that I can really be productive to. It's really great work music, as is everything on this EP, entitled "Selected Videogame-Based Instrumentals." Did I mention that the entire EP is free? Because you should know that the entire EP is a free download (download the tracks individually). Teamteamwork uses this Lost Woods track in track 1 of his (also free for download) mashup EP "The Ocarina of Rhyme" which is definitely worth a look too. In short, teamteamwork takes music from the Legend of Zelda series and does amazing things with it. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 450 -- "Zelda Theme (Original Mix)" [Zelda Week] and rumors!

Zelda Week, Part 1 || Song: "Zelda Theme (Original Mix)" || Artist: Zedd || http://youtu.be/FcNTiNVpZwo ||

Comments: Hello, everyone, and happy Monday! I was not expecting to do this theme week, but I was scrolling through Zedd's SoundCloud when I saw this track and realized "Hey, I know enough really awesome versions of the Zelda theme that I could totally do a theme week on this!" And with that thought, here we are! Zedd, recently making waves with his massive hit "Clarity" featuring Foxes, did an amazing version of the LoZ theme two years back... and made it danceable. That's impressive. I am absolutely in love with this take on that iconic piece of video game history -- give it a listen, and see what you think!

Also, speaking of Zedd: Apparently he produced a significant chunk of Lady Gaga's new album ARTPOP while I wasn't paying attention. And how's this for a rumor: Ryan Seacrest mentioned on his "AT40" radio show yesterday that "as many as five or six" tracks on that album are songs that Zedd produced or helped produce. Five or six Zedd tracks on a Lady Gaga album? Sign me up! Mr. Seacrest didn't give a source, but this article from Rolling Stone seems to support it. We'll see what happens. In the mean time, give this song a listen!

Download

AMANDA-- "ROYALS" by LORDE

Happy Friday all! I dare you to get today's song out of your skull. I sure can't. If you listen to mainstream radio now and then, you may have heard of Lorde. The Kiwi artist basically came out of nowhere and is  taking the charts by storm with her hit single "Royals." You don't hear many tracks like this. The approach is simple but very effective. In terms of the vocals and beat, Lorde goes big and these ultimately drive the song and the point home I think. What point might that be? Well, I recently read an article describing the song as an overt criticism of the materialism found in contemporary music, specifically hip hop (as compared to Macklemore's tongue in cheek hit "Thrift Shop"). I don't disagree with this assessment of "Royals" which is certaintly more serious in tone and content. Lorde appears to be rejecting the life of excess so many pop stars today embrace and celebrate. It's all superficial bullsh*t in her eyes. I may be reading too much into it, but this commentary is very interesting coming from someone who has made into the business at such a young age. I expect to see many great things from Lorde in the future. Anyway, don't be surprised if you find yourself snapping your fingers and singing "Everybody’s like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece" for no apparent reason. Yeah, it's that good. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 449 -- "Global Concepts"

Song: "Global Concepts" || Artist: Robert DeLong || http://youtu.be/nnSyu4eZkZ4 ||

Comments: Good morning everyone! Since Amanda covered the new Lady Gaga track yesterday and I wrote about the new Katy Perry song on Tuesday, I'm going to step back from pop for today's entry. Let's talk about Robert DeLong. Until fairly recently I'd never heard of him. I remember hearing a remix of this song once, but never got around to looking it up and never heard the original version or who the artist was. A week or two ago, however, I ran into this track, and it's been creeping its way into my head ever since. It's masterfully produced, bringing an excellent drum-powered rhythm to the song without relying on the house favourites like the kickdrum excessively. Robert DeLong's vocals and the downright funky synthesizers put a great spin on this track, and the chorus is incredibly catchy (but carries a mild language warning): "Did I make money, was I proud? / Did I play my songs to loud? / Did I leave my life to chance? / Or did I make you f***ing dance?" (lyrics) I also love that he picks up a Nintendo Wii controller in the video -- according the Wikipedia entry about him, he uses video game peripherals fairly frequently. I love it. I can't get enough of this track. Check it out!

Download

AMANDA-- "APPLAUSE" by LADY GAGA

Good morning everybody! Hope your day is going well. Mine is in part because Lady Gaga's newest single "Applause" has just hit the airwaves. This, along with latest from Katy Perry, was leaked by fans a few days ago, prompting the artist to release the official song earlier than scheduled. I'd be lying if I said I was immediately taken with it. It's no secret that Gaga envisions herself as an artist and arbiter of culture but here she seems to take her ridiculousness to new found levels. As the song title suggests, she needs only to hear the applause of her fans and gives little thought to what critics have to say about her or her music. I'm not entirely sure I'm buying what she's selling. Also, while I enjoy the chorus, some of the lyrics, in true Gaga fashion, are rather puzzling. Furthermore, "Applause" is not her strongest work to date but it has piqued my interest in her next album ARTPOP, which comes out in November. A lyric video is currently in the works so keep an eye out for that in the next week or so. Happy listening!

Update: you won't have to wait any longer for the lyric video. It's out and features many fabulous drag queens, which I so approve of. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 448 -- "Roar"

Song: "Roar" || Artist: Katy Perry || http://youtu.be/e9SeJIgWRPk ||

Comments: Good morning! Two on-time entries in a row? It's impossibru! No, it's Katy Perry! That's right, being the unabashed fanboy that I am, I am pleased to announce that not only is there a new album coming, but that the first single is out! This, ladies and gentlemen, is the newest track from Katy Perry, and it's an earworm. It's simple production allows Katy Perry's vocals to really drive the track, and the upbeat tempo moves everything along at just the right speed. The lyrics are catchy, and I smell a hit song. I feel confident in saying that this will probably chart in the next two months, and possibly even top the charts. Take a listen, folks -- you're going to be hearing a lot of this song. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 447 -- "Phat A** Drop"

Song: "Phat A** Drop" || Artist: DJs from Mars || http://youtu.be/xM16nr7VJ0Q ||

Comments: Good morning! It's Monday and that's okay, because it's time to wake up with Stuck In My Skull! I heard this song on the radio one afternoon as I was driving home, and I instantly fell in love. I cannot lie, I was laughing fit to burst. This track is simultaneously hilarious, a scathing commentary, and a great beat all at once. These Italian DJs are most famous for their mashups, but with this tutorial track, the cardboard box-wearing duo demonstrates their ability to cut right to the meat of exemplary electronic music production. This song is a well-produced track that's just long enough at around 3:40, with three drops conveniently announced by a cynical narrator that does nothing to detract from their awesomeness. This song carries a language warning, so grab some headphones if you're listening at work or around kids, but make sure you listen -- this song is great.

Download

AMANDA-- "MAYBE I'M AMAZED" by JEM

Happy Friday! Usually I try to share something fun or upbeat to get y'all pumped up for the weekend but today I decided to change things up. The O.C., which aired on Fox from 2003-2007, recently celebrated it's tenth anniversary. In light of that, I've seen numerous articles describing the show's cultural impact in terms of its characters, storytelling, and, of course, music. Part of what made it such a phenonmenon at the time was the hip soundtrack, which was intended to be its own character essentially. The O.C. offered a unique selection of both indie and alternative music from bands such as Modest Modest, The Killers, and Imogen Heap, many of whom made guest appearances on the show. Today's pick, Jem's cover of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed," is one example of how the careful pairing of music and television can have a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of viewers, myself included. The Welsh artist performs her rendition live in an episode at the end of season two where a wedding is taking place. It should be a happy occasion but as it were the  two main lovers about to separate and so the use of a love song here really plays up sadness. I  thinkthe change of the pronouns from the original (now told from the perspective of a woman) and banjo works really well with the vocals here. Even without any knowledge of the O.C., it makes for a beautiful cover. All these years later and I still remember this song in the context of the show and how it made me feel.  Happy tenth anniversary to one of the shows of my youth! Thanks for all the wonderful memories and music!  Enjoy and have a great weekend! 

Download

Stuck In My Skull 446 -- "March"

Song: "March" || Artist: MitchiriNeko || http://youtu.be/lAIGb1lfpBw ||

Comments: Good morning and happy almost-weekend, everyone! Today, I am bringing you a song with a title in a language I don't speak with a translation I can't pronounce, and I'm not sure if I even have the artist listed correctly. Anyone who is skilled with Japanese, please feel free to correct me. That being said, this song and video is a simply amazing combination. The song is a very catchy instrumental march that sounds incredibly happy, and the video is one of the most adorable things I have seen in a very long time. Many sites are describing this as "Cat March -- the happiest video ever." Honestly, I can't disagree. If this video doesn't bring a smile to your face, your smile might be broken. Enjoy!

Download

AMANDA-- "YOU'VE GOT TIME" by REGINA SPEKTOR

Hey readers! Hope you're having a good week so far! Today's song comes from the highly popular original Netflix series "Orange Is The New Black." In the short time it's been out, the show has attracted serious buzz and already been picked up for a second season. Through the eyes of a waspy female protagonist, viewers get a peek at the complex lives and relationships of women in a New York federal state prison. The lovely Regina Spektor wrote the theme song from scratch, having received snippets of clips and information about the show from creator Jenji Kohan. Spekor isn't someone I typically associate with rock, but here she nails it. It's a credit to her talent and versatility that she sounds more than Karen O on this track than say Fiona Apple. Like the show, it is something no one expected but that is undeniably awesome. The song starts off fast and hard then goes softer and slower, only to repeat this several times. Everything from the pacing to the lyrics captures the complex tone and storytelling of the series. Moreover, it's a very fitting theme and almost as addictive as the show itself. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 445 -- "Feel the Beat"

Song: "Feel the Beat" || Artist: Darude || http://youtu.be/mN84To5ndw0 ||

Comments: Good morning everyone! I've had this song stuck in my head a few times lately, thanks to a radio station that uses a tiny sample of it in their station ID. I had honestly thought I had written an entry on this song a long time ago, or I would have used it much sooner. But better late than never, so here it is! By the same DJ that made that beautifully campy track "Sandstorm" comes Darude's second single from the same album, "Feel the Beat." I love this track -- it's just as campy as it's video, and both scream "Hello, 2000!" I can't tell who provides the vocals on this track, and for once Wikipedia has failed me. If you know who the vocalist is, drop me a line! That aside, this track is campy awesomeness, and still excellent over a decade after its initial release. As far as I can tell, Darude's career seems to have stagnated some time ago, so this classic appears to be the highpoint of Darude's career, and what a highpoint it is. This song is so cheesy, and so catchy. Give it a listen if you haven't heard it before, and even if you have. Enjoy!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 444 -- "LRAD"

Song: "LRAD" || Artist: Knife Party || http://youtu.be/4qC9KwujVtQ ||

Comments: Good morning and happy Monday, everyone! Happy Monday? It is for me, and it will be for you too when you listen to this track. It is incredible. Knife Party is a group generally known for their dubstep hits, but they're flexing their musical muscles with this single from their latest EP, bringing much more of a house vibe and leaving the wub-wub almost completely behind. I love it. I can't get enough of this track. The drops are deceptive and catchy, the beats are beautiful, and the melody is masterfully crafted. Ladies and gentlemen, this is EDM. Enjoy!

Would you or someone you know be interested in writing for Stuck In My Skull? Drop us a line!

Download

AMANDA--"CARRIED AWAY" by PASSION PIT (TIESTO REMIX)

Hola! To help you get the weekend started off just right, here's a fabulous Tiesto remix of the Passion Pit single "Carried Away." I knew of the band for a long time but their music never caught my attention until I heard this song. What's so brilliant about the remix is how Tiesto accentuates the best parts of the original- specifically frontman Michael Angelakos' amazing vocals/lyrics-while also making it his own. He tones down the seriousness and turns up the beat to create dance magic. To be clear,  I enjoy both versions, albeit for for different reasons. If you're looking for something light and fun, give this remix a listen. There are separate videos for the songs and I won't pretend to know what is happening in this one. I will say that whatever those kids are having, I'd like some. Happy listening!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 443 -- "Dear Daily Mail" (NSFW)

Song: "Dear Daily Mail" || Artist: Amanda Palmer || http://youtu.be/IY8qkJSQJ8M (just the song [NSFW, video below]), http://youtu.be/OiAffX0x04k (everything [also NSFW]) ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone, and happy Friday! You've made it, the weekend is nearly here! To celebrate (and because I feel bad for missing Tuesday's entry), have a lovely ditty by the one and only Amanda Palmer. Warning -- neither of these links are safe for work. Some background to this story -- not long ago, Amanda Palmer had a wardrobe malfunction in the midst of an otherwise normal concert at Glastonbury. Rather than mention anything about her singing or anything that happened in the rest of the concert, the Daily Mail wrote a rather dumb article where all they talked about was her wardrobe issue. Perhaps the Daily Mail wasn't aware that some celebrities shoot back when somebody takes pot shots at them, and oh, did she ever. This song was written in response to the Daily Mail's being stupid, and by her own words, will only ever be performed once, so there will be no higher quality video, unfortunately. Despite the fact that the entire piece was a satirical response to an act of stupidity, I could not get it out of my head yesterday. If that happens to you, I suggest you go look up more of Amanda Palmer. Her website (mild profanity) is lovely, and explains how her store works with her philosophy on digital music which is neatly summed up as 'pay what you want.' After you take a moment to reflect on how awesome of a philosophy this is, go try some of her music! If you're lazy, here's a link to a youtube search for her, and a link to her store where you can pay any amount of money including none at all for her music. (But you should most definitely pay something if you can and like her music -- let's all encourage this sort of philosophy, because we need more open-minded artists like her in the world.) If nudity and/or profanity bothers you, don't click any of these links or videos. If it doesn't, go nuts! Go and enjoy the incredibly catchy, incredibly flippant, incredibly heartfelt response to some people being stupid, and enjoy the weekend!

Download

Stuck In My Skull 442 -- "Gun"

Song: "Gun" || Artist: CHVRCHES || http://youtu.be/ktoaj1IpTbw ||

Comments: Hello, everyone! Sorry about missing Tuesday's post. To make up for it, I'll attempt to do one tomorrow. I promise, I'm doing my level best to get back on a regular schedule for posting. Moving right along, let's talk about this song. I heard it for the first time last week on BBC Radio1's "Dance Music Marathon," then I heard it again the other day when DJ Abso-Newt-Ly posted a mashup of this and an Ellie Goulding song on his blog. I figure it's time to get on the bandwagon, and talk about CHVRCHES. Pronounced "Churches," this is a group that I've never heard of before, although I don't know why. If this song is typical of their music, they're excellent. This Scottish group puts the pop back in electropop without sounding overwhelmingly electro, and does a magnificent job of creating a track that will appeal to a wide range of tastes. Their album is set to release in September, and I'll probably buy it based on the strength of this track alone. CHVRCHES has found a great balance between organic-sounding vocals and a well-mastered and multi-layered synth line. Aspiring artists, take note -- if you want to emulate a style, you can't go wrong with CHVRCHES.

Download