Top 50 Remixes of 2014 (50-26)

I wrote the following last year, but the words don’t belong to 2013. What follows is an evergreen sentiment that applies to all remixes. Here it is:

Transformation can do many things to an object. It can make something louder, quieter, bigger, smaller, heavier, lighter, darker, brighter, and so much more. The process of transformation is of some measure science, art, and parts unknown, and thus, cannot be coerced into formula.

Remixes seek to transform, in some manner, the source material into something new, fresh, and vibrant. The best remixes do this, and also pave a bridge of familiarity to the original. Developing something new while maintaining some semblance of the old is an enormously difficult task, and that’s why it rarely happens.

If a remixer is smart, the simple act of picking the right song to treat will come with a certain amount of cache, and will garner a certain level of intrigue (read: there will be a built-in audience). But that doesn’t mean the remix will end up being good. So many are not. There are some though, that are good, and some, even better than that. Not only do they transform, they transcend: the source material, emotions, and every so often, time itself. To be lost in a piece of art where an entire dimension ceases to exist is one of the joys of the artistic process, and indeed, one of the joys of this life.

To remix is to change. The best of the best though, remember to keep something of the original intact, whether it’s on the surface or buried deep beneath it. The great Roman poet Ovid, in his sprawling poem, “The Metamorphoses”, gives us an idea that serves as supreme directive for approaching remixes, “Omnia mutantur, nihil interit (everything changes, nothing perishes).”

50. alt-J – Left Hand Free (Lido remix)

 

49. Rita Ora – I Will Never Let You Down (Steve Smart & Westfunk Club Mix)

 

48. Jaymes Young – Moondust (Sound Remedy Remix)

 

47. Echosmith  – Cool Kids (Sample Gee Club Mix)

 

46. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps (Tommie Sunshine, CID, Modern Machines remix)

 

45. alt-J – Taro (Panda remix)

 

44. Massari – Brand New Day (Hudson Leite & Thaellysson Pablo remix)

 

43. Katy B – Crying For No Reason (Infinity Ink remix)

 

42. Lana Del Rey – Young and Beautiful (Sound Remedy remix)

 

41. Coldplay – Magic (Sebastien remix)

 

40. La Roux – Bullterproof (Gamper and Dadoni remix)

 

39. Broods – Bridges (ASTR remix)

 

38. The Weeknd – Often (Kygo remix)

 

37. Tom Odell – Another Love (Zwette Remix)

 

36. Rudimental f. Emeli Sande – Free (Zwette remix)

 

35. Royksopp and Robyn – Monument Dance (Marcus Marr remix)

 

34. alt-J – Hunger of The Pine (Golden Pony remix)

 

33. Lucius – Turn It Around (FlicFlac remix)

 

32. Neon Trees – Sleeping With A Friend (The Chainsmokers remix)

 

31. Sigma f. Paloma Faith – Changing (Sigma’s VIP remix f. Stylo G)

 

30. Kyla La Grange – Cut Your Teeth (Kygo remix)

 

29. Royksopp and Robyn – Do It Again (Moullinex remix)

 

28. Anna Graceman – Words (Glastrophobie remix)

 

27. Kyla La Grange – Cut Your Teeth (FlicFlac remix)

 

26. Ryn Weaver – Octahate (Cashmere Cat remix)

 

Ranking The Killers’ Christmas Songs

In addition to being one of the best and biggest rock bands on the planet and the best cover band around, The Killers also have oodles of holiday spirit. Since 2006, they’ve released one Christmas song every year in support of the Red Campaign which purports to help combat AIDS in Africa. (Whether it’s an efficient campaign is another story altogether. Google Red Campaign or Red Campaign Criticism to read different takes on the subject.)

Some of The Killers’ Christmas songs have been awesome. So good, in fact, that if they weren’t Christmas songs (a divisive category of music if ever there was one), they’d be hits based strictly on the strength of the melodies alone.

I assume The Killers will continue to release a Christmas song each year for the foreseeable future, but since they’ve already accrued a good number of such tunes to date, I’ve decided to fire up a list of my favourites.

9. Joel The Lump Of Coal f. Jimmy Kimmel (2014)

Cool chorus, not sure about the rest of the tune. Cute sentiment also.

 

8. Joseph, Better You Than Me f. Elton John & Neil Tennant (2008)

Despite having legends Neil Tennant and Elton John on the track, there’s something about the track that I can’t really get into.

 

7. Boots  (2010)

I like Dave Keuning’s guitar work here.

 

6. I Feel It In My Bones f. Ryan Pardey (2012)

The most ominous of The Killers’ Christmas tunes, and probably the most “rock ‘n roll” of the bunch too. If you like a little touch of morbid in your festive cheer, this song’s for you.

 

5. Don’t Shoot Me Santa (2007)

Great chorus. Also a tad macabre, but that’s what makes it work.

 

4. Christmas In LA f. Dawes (2013)

This song has a fantastic melody. I love the vocals from Dawes and Flowers.

 

3. A Great Big Sled (2006)

The Killers first ever Christmas release. The song, particularly the synths and guitars, that sounds most like their indomitable debut, Hot Fuss.

 

2. Happy Birthday Guadalupe! f. Mariachi El Bronx & Wild Light (2009)

Tonnes of fun with a super high earworm factor. This is one of the warmest Christmas cuts I’ve ever heard. It’s rotated with the song below as my favourite Christmas tune from the Vegas lads. It doesn’t sound like a Christmas song so much as it sounds like a really good Killers song. This is a good thing.

 

1. The Cowboy’s Christmas Ball (2011)

I love everything about this song, and I smile ear-to-ear whenever I hear it. I think it’s the catchiest Christmas song The Killers have yet done. The song is one giant hook, and the harmonies near the end of the tune are amazing (every Brandon Flowers vocal on this track is on point). Again, there are very few elements here that make it sound like a Christmas song. More than that, it’s just a fantastic Killers song.

I don’t think any other band can match what The Killers have done over the last decade, from albums to covers to Christmas tunes. All these things that they’ve done have been awesome, and I can’t wait to see and hear what they come up with next.

Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, and any other denominational holiday celebration to one of the best bands of the last decade!