Audio.Video.Disco.licious

(more like LEAK-a-licious, am I right? oh so right)

So listening through a few times I'm actually happily surprised. Maybe the early-released singles had lowered my expectations a few hundred kliks but in all the honesty, this album isn't half bad. It's solid. And precious. While any songs standing alone may be pretty weak, as a unit it allows you to appreciate this sophomore album for what it is: a little quest. Venturing off from Hard House roots, exploring and breaking through new sound ground.

<< Don't worry, I'll post links as YouTube catches up to the rest of the internet. Current favorite is Parade, so that'll be first on The List >>

Obviously, you can't go into this album expecting another Cross. Everything they've put out since A Cross the Universe has indicated they were heading in this new direction. Like glamrockers from the future nostalgic for the early 80's, there's just .... something in those epic orchestral synth chords. Their Dior Homme set (aka Planisphere) and remix of Let Love Rule were probably the most noticeable steps in the transition. The release of Civilization and Audio Video Disco were just confirmation.



So in the end, f you're still stuck on zee old Joostees, don't even bother. Go listen to some SebastiAn. That dude ROCKS HARD. He'll fill that hole in your heart right up. I think Total is the most cohesive bundle he's put out to date but I'm probably biased because I'm hands down obsessed! with that shit.

Then again, maybe these new Justice tracks will fill a hole you didn't even know you had. That one hole that requires equal parts Alan Parsons Project and Ratatat, slightly reminiscent of Daft Punk.

What can I say, these musical heart holes are oddly specific.

Strictly Electronic

It recently came to my attention that my significant other isn't familiar with a fuckton of the music I hold dear, namely key players in the world of electronica. This is unacceptable and must be remedied. Solution: PLAYLIST TIME! While I can't claim this is even remotely close to a History Of  or even Comprehensive Introduction to Techno,  I can put together a fun mixtape of songs and artists that were essential in developing my own personal appreciation of genre.

Because it turned out so long, I've divided into two movements. The songs are pretty much grouped by artist and somewhat organized by subgenre (...as defined by me). PART ONE starts off with Ed Banger bros and moves through artists based on what I consider to be incestuous remix relationships. It stays mostly within the confines of  minimalist, experimental house, if that's even a thing. PART TWO explores the more lyrical, danceable, psychadelic and poppy sides of electronica. So basically, everything else. It even has some dips into trance, drumNbass and triphop. God this was fun to make. A most productive trip down memory lane. Enjoy!

Listen on Grooveshark, Spotify or Download from Dropbox

PART 1

PART 2

Illustration by So Me.

HEADS UP: For the life of me, I can't find any of The Chemical Brothers on Grooveshark, so sadface. Also, in the zipfile version, the Lemon Jelly tracks aren't obeying my requested changes in their ID3 tags. They are supposed to be songs 63 and 64-- down with the triphop, out of electrohouse territory.

Lastly, no post about electronica is complete without a flowchart. Eventually I have plans to map out the artists featured in this mix based on their country of origin, remix connections and general subgenre tendencies. But that's a good amount of effort and research I'll reserve for another day. Til then, you get this classic:

(toothpastefordinner.com)

Yell at me for leaving your favorites out, I dare you. Some crucial dudes only had tiny roles because I believe their contribution to be universally acknowledged (yeah, I'm looking at YOU DPunk) and this lesson in techno was getting pretty lengthy as it was. But there are people I may have legitmately forgotten and I'm never opposed to expanding my music library -TEACH ME. This way I can have them all in the same thread. Actually I'll go ahead and start: "UHH...KRAFTWERK???"

And in case you need moaaarrrr, have some RELATED POSTS:

nom nom electronica

Sounds of Soulwax

It's not you, it's the E talking

Music for people who should know better

Music Festivals, Schmusic Schmestivals

I still can't decide whether to spend my recently-earned kidney-money on Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, or ACL. I even made up an excel document to help me quantify pros and cons, but I'm still torn...

So, as a part of my hourly routine of procrastination (wow, I'm optimistic) I decided to put together my ideal lineups for the three festivals. (PS they're all free) 

Austin City Limits

Lollapalooza

Bonnaroo

Unfortunately, I cannot take all of the credit for the awesomeness of these "wrdlz":

First saw it @thiswebsite, 

got my lastfm info all text-ed up @thiswebsite, 

and had wordle do the rest of the work.

However, I can take all of the credit for the awesomeness in my music taste. haHA!

(My lastfm overall top artist's, 6 month rolling, and this week's music chart, respectively) 

Anyhow, there's always 2010, amirite? Get on it, music fest peeps!

update: yes, I expect Jimi to be there. Somehow.

Oh, the STRESS!

So, who's seen the music video "Stress"?

Justice - Stress (official video)
by 75_prod

It's a pretty interesting interpretation of the music. Clockwork orange meets GTA4. Definitely a lot better than I would have come up with. The first time I heard the song all I could picture were killer bees. Lots of killer bees. (Then as I learned to appreciate it over time, the song came to mean something more personal: now it reminds me of that terrifying and urgent tingling in the pit of your stomach you feel the night before a really really hard test that you haven't studied for. Mhmm. Whatta great song.)

It's even more entertaining if you watch it on YouTube because you face great moral dilemmas such as:
What is scarier?
That people like those in the video might actually exist,
or that people like those who comment on the video do exist...

(I mean, really?? "thrashing"?? Who says that?!)

Speaking of sTrEsS, what's the deal with CNN? I haven't seen a shiny happy picture in days. All these people moping around about the DOW closing below 10,000 or the global shockwave the whole ordeal has caused or banks buying banks buying banks buying banks. Come on guys, cheer up a little, it's almost my birthday!

Though on a serious note, I do feel really detached from the crisis. My daily life hasn't changed in the slightest (other than FINALLY having something to talk about with my exec business school frendz besides cheese). Part of me feels like the media is hyping this WAYY up just because they can, but the another part of me realizes that 700fuckingbilliondollars isn't being thrown around just for a politico-media frenzy (...I hope.)
I guess what I'm trying to say is that just like the millions of other political issues being torn to shreds at the moment, I try to care, I know I should, but at the same time I find things that are more pressing in my life to pull my hair out about. Like how I have a test tomorrow that I haven't studied for. *cue justeece*

Besides, I bank with Chase, bitches, I'm going to be QUEEN OF THE WORLD!!

remixxin'

Treasure Island 2008

*melt*

Video: Justice remixes D.A.N.C.E.

This is a super cop-out post.
More eventually.