classic

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Been down one time. Been down two times.

Traditionally I’d chalk a Fleetwood Mac remix up to nothing less than sacrilege but there are always exceptions to the rule. And in the case of Los Angeles duo Cosmic Kids‘ edit of “Never Going Back Again” I think they’ve created something even Lindsey Buckingham could get behind. With the heart of the classic intact, highly organic percussion and understated synth notes mask this group’s role as electronic producers, rendering an upbeat version of the track with a natural feel.

San Francisco people can catch Cosmic Kids on tour with Classixx and RAC this Thursday at Mezzanine.

We probably should have seen this coming

Contrary to conventional wisdom, “timeless” and “classic” are not necessarily synonyms. Classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were brilliant in their time, but the music has to be appreciated in the context from whence it came. In arguably one of the best defenses of pop music as a genre with integrity, the recent collaboration between Elton John and Pnau prove that pop songwriting can transcend classic status into the extremely elusive category of timeless. The Rocket Man blasted off into the future after giving the Australian dance duo his blessing and support to rework a small selection of his more obscure 70s hits on Good Morning To The Night – the standout being “Phoenix,” an electronic revisitation of “Grey Seal.”

You’d almost think the songwriting was meant for this kind of presentation. It fits perfectly, like the best RAC remix you’ve ever heard, and almost makes you wonder if decades ago Elton John knew things were heading this way. And don’t even act like his fashion sense wasn’t a foreshadowing of the yet-to-be realized electro pop scene. In this feature on the Guardian, John sounds like a 20-something blogger plugging his favorite new bands among his friends. Consider that this comes from a man who has been performing since the late 60s and it becomes clear that he isn’t just a classic, because he never really went away.

Elton John vs. Pnau – “Phoenix”

Hard in the monochromatic paint

In a world of singles and limitless options, rare is the album that captivates from start to finish. The kind of sonic infection where repeat plays are involuntary. Such is the case with Eternal Summers‘ sophomore album Correct Behavior, available July 24th and streaming now on Hype Machine. Their throwback sound evokes the kind of feeling you get rediscovering a band you haven’t heard in a long time, except this really is the first time.

I’m just going to stop now and let you listen to this shit. If you fall in love, which you totally will, catch them in San Francisco at Bottom of the Hill on September 12th.

Eternal Summers – You Kill

Beards like that should disqualify you from being sad

Smiths tribute albums are nothing new, and it’s no surprise. You’d be hard pressed to find an “indie” artist out there who wouldn’t list them as an influence. But let’s be honest, most covers of The Smiths are plain garbage. Morrissey has a voice no one could ever mimic, and most attempts to recreate their magic fall flat. And yeah, I’m looking at you too, Zooey Deschanel.

Folk artist William Fitzsimmons throws his hat in the ring on the latest tribute album to hit stores, and hits a home run with his cover of “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.” Notes from the song translate beautifully on the banjo, carried along with Fitzsimmons’ warm voice and punctuated with majestic hums of what could possibly be angels.

While this song is usually quoted as the whiniest of all Smiths tracks, Fitzsimmons manages to give it a more earnest feel. Wistfulness without the ‘woe is me.’

William Fitzsimmons – “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want”

 

Because rappers don't need depth perception

Yes!!! Let me say it one more time…. YESSSSSS! Slick mother fuckin’ Rick is out with a brand new track for Jonah Hill’s “The Sitter.” Produced by DJ Premier, “Need Some Bad” once again proves that Slick Rick is absolutely timeless. He lays on his signature flow with as much steeze and style as he ever before.

There’s not much else to say other than Slick Rick is still the man and you need to hear this immediately. He’ll be playing Brooklyn Bowl on Friday, January 6th, so cop those tickets now.

Need Some Bad (Prod. by DJ Premier)

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