bananas foster

Best Song – All Time. All Time.

Avani — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:36:26 +0000

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the release of my all-time absolute favorite song – “What Have I Done to Deserve This” by the Pet Shop Boys – which tells the story of a capitalist girl (as sung by Dusty Springfield) and her artsy boyfriend and how they can’t make it work but can’t live without each other…all wrapped up in the catchiest melody ever.

Moment of pop bliss = entire song.

Pet Shop Boys – What Have I Done To Deserve This

Passion Pit Show Tonight

Avani — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:30:10 +0000

I’m off to the Passion Pit show tonight at Bowery..my first concert after a month-long hiatus! Manners is popping up on Best of ’09 lists left and right. I’m a fan, but definitely not there yet..perhaps this concert will change my mind?

Passion Pit – Little Secrets

Passion Pit – Swimming in the Flood

Pony Pony Run Run

Avani — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:16:24 +0000

Even though “Deadbeat Summer” (see previous post) is probably more accurate, I like to think that this song (and everything going on in the too cute for school video) is my real summer jam. Pony Pony Run Run (best or worst name ever?) hail from France and bring us the best pop song I’ve heard in a long time. Their latest album You Need Pony Pony Run Run was released this week, buy it here.

Pony Pony Run Run – Hey You // buy the track

This could be my favorite sayCet mix yet…It makes me happy and sad at the same time, my favorite feeling.

Pony Pony Run Run – Hey You (sayCet remix)

And one more by Mondkopf (pop bliss moment 1:10-1:20).

Pony Pony Run Run – Hey You (Mondkopf remix)

Neon Indian

Avani — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:54:01 +0000

Ahh dream pop..where have you been? The latest installment of my favorite genre comes from the mysterious Neon Indian, the anonymous collaboration of a Brooklyn girl and a guy from Austin, TX (there’s quite a bit of identity speculation out there, but I have no idea). A lot of people aren’t fans of this “elusive” marketing technique that seems to be en vogue lately (see: The Golden Filter), but I say as long as the music’s good I don’t mind. With all the information overload these days, when you can know everything about anything, it’s kind of nice to get to know an artist solely from their musical output. And I suppose I’m more likely to want to see the live show (I guess I’m just easily manipulated like that).

Their new EP Psychic Chasms will be out later this year, and based on these tracks, it’s gonna be awesome.

Neon Indian – Mind, Drips

Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer

Neon Indian – 6669 I Don’t Know If You Know

Bombay Bicycle Club

Avani — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:33:17 +0000

The four Londoners of Bombay Bicycle Club graduated high school just last June, but don’t let that fool you. Already quite prolific for their years (2 EPs, 2 singles, and an LP on the way) the band delivers a mature sound with charmingly timorous vocals and perfect indie-rock melodies. No surprise that Island Records scooped them up late last year. Jim Abbiss (who’s worked with Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian) produced their debut album I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose which drops on July 6, with second single “Dust on the Ground” to be released June 22. First single “Always Like This” is summer yearning put to music and it’s oh-so-catchy, with a fantastic remix by James Rutledge that ups the electro ante.

Bombay Bicycle Club – Always Like This

Bombay Bicycle Club – Always Like This (James Rutledge Remix)

Bombay Bicycle Club – Evening/Morning

Burial + Four Tet 12″

Avani — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:27:01 +0000

Presenting 18 minutes of dense and evocative dubstep and percussion, from the Burial and Four Tet split 12″, a collaborative effort from a couple of the most innovative producers out there. Sublime, mysterious and bubbling with tension..leaves an indelible impression in my mind. Buy it here.

Burial & Four Tet – Moth

Burial & Four Tet – Wolf Cub

Oh I could watch this all day:

Ellie Goulding

Avani — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:11:12 +0000

I’m currently a huge fan of British gal Ellie Goulding, owner of a uniquely pop-perfect voice (and perhaps a lonely heart too, the way she sings that lovely Bon Iver cover). Thus far we have a 4 song catalog that spans a soul-searching acoustic number to an electro-pop anthem, look for a full release later this year. The production is tight with Frankmusik and most recently Starsmith (for first single “Starry Eyed”) at the helm. Exciting stuff and the remixes aren’t even in full effect yet.

Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed

“If vision is the only validation, then most of my life isn’t real”

Ellie Goulding – Black + Gold (Sam Sparro cover)

Ellie Goulding – Wish I Stayed

Ellie Goulding – Guns and Horses (live acoustic)

This just in – the Bon Iver cover for download, courtesy of the Neon Gold Records blog.

Ellie Goulding – The Wolves (Bon Iver cover)

Aeroplane Remixes

Avani — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:33:41 +0000

Long overdue, just a little tribute to Belgian duo Stephen Fasano and Vito De Luca aka Aeroplane, who are among my favorite producers out there right now.

Fantastic disco mix of “Baby I Can’t Stop”, part of Norwegian producer Lindstrom‘s ongoing effort with Solale, their debut collaboration is expected to be released sometime this year. Meanwhile, II, Lindstrom’s second cooperative effort with Prins Thomas is out May 18.

Lindstrom & Solale – Baby I Can’t Stop (Aeroplane remix)

Amazing remix of Grace Jones’s autobiographical 2008 single “Williams’ Blood”. Hypnotic beat and what a narrative..this song never gets old.

Grace Jones – Williams’ Blood (Aeroplane Remix)

Of course I have to post this one…everyone’s favorite remix of 2008. Totally transportive. “One day we’re gonna live in Paris, I promise, I’m on it.”

Friendly Fires – Paris (Aeroplane remix feat Au Revoir Simone)

One of their earlier singles, kaleidoscopic guitars and balearic beats..phenom.

Aeroplane – Above the Clouds

Fan Death cover Goodbye Horses

Avani — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:45:17 +0000

In honor of their Euro tour officially kicking off, Fan Death bring us their well done (and less androgynous) rendition of 80s classic “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus, best known for its perfect inclusion in the ultra creepy Buffalo Bill scene in Silence of the Lambs. Can’t decide which I like better – the song or the cover art?

Fan Death – Goodbye Horses (Q Lazzarus cover)

Q Lazzarus – Goodbye Horses

Listen to more Fan Death on this post.

The Golden Filter + Empire of the Sun

Avani — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:51:05 +0000

Empire of the Sun had been on The Golden Filter‘s ‘coming soon’ remix list for a while, and now it’s finally out! I’m a fan of anything by either artist, so no complaints here. This will be their last mix for a while as they turn their attention to their own songs. I’m eagerly awaiting a full release so they can go on tour again, and I can relive the transcendental musical experience of seeing “Solid Gold” performed live. Check out a couple of their previous mixes here and here.

Empire of the Sun – We are the People (The Golden Filter remix)
(Thank you NME).