[CvrUpYrRmx] The Fray on Kanye / Miike Snow vs. Vampire Weekend

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The Fray – Heartless (Kanye cover)

I guess you could say I enjoy The Fray just as much as the next guy. Never fell in love with ’em but Ted and I definitely belted out a few drunken renditions of “Over My Head (Cable Car)” back in day. Well the good times continue with their cover of Kanye’s “Heartless.” At first it seems like an odd choice but listen to how Isaac Slade’s voice beautifully emotes Kanye’s heartbreak while still maintaining the swagger and the groove. And all that without that damned vocoder. I had no idea how much I hated that vocoder until I heard this song sung without it. Well done dude.

MiikeSnowRabbit

Vampire Weekend – The Kids Dont Stand A Chance (Miike Snow remix)

Miike Snow is 3 dudes who:

1) Are not named Miike or Snow. I dont think.

2) Appear to be from Stockholm and/or NYC.

3) Have been remixed by TBE super-crush Crookers.

4) Have an antlered-rabbit logo that I don’t think they realize looks more like a vibrator-head-rabbit.

5) Remixed Vampire Weekend’s album closer into a quite pleasing blend of beats and bleeps and bloops. (The bloops are my fave.)

For You? Only The Very Best!

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I was thinking ’bout you and me and everything we’ve been through

The Very Best – Dinosaur on the Ark

This weekend’s MixTape is not TBE-produced but you will dig it nonetheless. If the name didn’t already give it away, it is not to shabby. Wondering how a dude with a name like Mwamawaya got mixed up (ha!) with a group who goes by the moniker “Radioclit?” Yeah, me too. Their official story tells it best.

Esau Mwamwaya was born in Mzuzu in Malawi, East Africa. He grew up in the capital, Lilongwe, and played drums in various bands, including Masaka Band.  In 1999 he moved to London, and ran a second-hand furniture store near Radioclit’s old studio.  After the Radioclit boys bought a bike from Esau they invited him to one of their house warming parties, made friends, and started making music together. Two years later the project has gotten it’s name, The Very Best.

Good thing Radioclit found him because I hear they are wicked hard to find. I mean,  of course I know where it is they are. Duh.

The track you have been no doubt feelin’ has guest vocals by Ben Brewer, the dude responsible for the newly minted MIA Jr. Yeah I know, what is it with all these shlubs boning the hottest talent of ’08 and then getting love on my blog.?

The Very Best on MySpace and Track list after the jump…

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Cover Up Your Remix! [New Weekly Feature]

Monday’s are hard. That’s not a revelation, just a fact. TBE is here to make that workweek transition a little more pleasureable. Every Moday will be a new installment of Cover Up Your Remix! which will include 1 cover song and 1 remix. Maybe hot off the presses, mabe from the vaults, you will have to wait and see. You will also have to come you with a better name for it.  Seriously, leave them in the comments.

Ruby Isle – Skinny Love (Bon Iver Cover)

Just how exactly does one go about covering one of the most tender and beloved songs of 2008? Ruby Isle wisely sidestep a straight cover – and guaranteed criticism – and take the song in a whole new direction. I can dig it. What do you think? (Read more about Ruby Isle’s cover project here and listen to their single with Tay Zonday of “Chocolate Rain” fame here.) (Thanks to I Guess I’m Floating)

Adele & Mick Boogie – Tired (6th Sense remix)

You have probably heard Adele and her solid pipes before. You have probably not heard of Mick Boogie. I hadn’t either until I got a hold of this mix. Mick Boogie took Adele’s album 19 and along with a team of remixers added a fresh 1988 vibe that gives the tunes a whole new life. Adele’s music was always a bit to downer-mellow for my tastes but this mix fits right into my chill-out moods. Get the track list and download the whole album after the jump. (Thanks to PMA)
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Heads Up 2009! TBE’s Hot Acts to Watch.

2009-Heads Up

Is anyone still writing 2008 on their checks? Does anyone still use checks?

Less talk, more rock. Besides, I have said enough in the track notes so all you “readers” can just continue down there. And yeah yeah, I know we are like 1/6 done with the year but you are already here so just quit complaining and download the damn thing already.

Heads Up! ’09 <—- Click it!

Track notes after the jump!

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Heads Up 2009! TBE's Hot Acts to Watch.

2009-Heads Up

Is anyone still writing 2008 on their checks? Does anyone still use checks?

Less talk, more rock. Besides, I have said enough in the track notes so all you “readers” can just continue down there. And yeah yeah, I know we are like 1/6 done with the year but you are already here so just quit complaining and download the damn thing already.

Heads Up! ’09 <—- Click it!

Track notes after the jump!

Read more

Little Boots is Meddling with my ears

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cause she’s a mixed up girl in a mixed up world

Little Boots – Meddle

So I sat down to post the Watch Out ’09 mix and I was suddenly paralyzed by a fear that my beloved Little Boots would be lost in the shuffle and go under appreciated. That’s why I have decided to hold off on the mix until tomorrow. Until Then…

Bask in the diminutive glory that is Little Boots! If you haven’t heard of this wee synth powerhouse yet then you clearly haven’t been eavesdropping on my iPod (or reading any music blog with a pulse). Besides sweeping awards all over the damn place she has a fantastic YouTube page where she takes viewer requests for songs to cover and then does so with a variety of bleepy-blippy-flashy instruments. I highly reccomend you sink your aural teeth deep into this one. And if Meddle doesn’t put a little swagger in your scroll then let this remix drop on your dome.

Little Boots – Meddle (Designer Drugs 80s Coke Jam Remix)

Get your downloading fingers flexed and an iTunes playlist ready cause tomorrow you are getting a muy caliente mix.

Little Boots on MySpace

Wallpaper. Do It with RAC

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i could be your sweatpants right underneath you

Wallpaper. – Evrytm We Do It (RAC Maury remix)

Wallpaper. (punctuation included) are two dudes making funky-glam-dance-rock out of Oakland CA. Their tracks are rivaled only by their fashion sense.

RAC (Remix Artists Collective) are four globally dispersed DJs who have actually never met. They take turns remixing everyone you have ever loved (and then some). You will be hearing a lot of their jams in the future.

Wallpaper. on MySpace
RAC frontman/founder Andre on Fairtilizer (go get a taste)