rita ora

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)

 

Top 100 Songs of 2012 (75-51)

75. a) Lower Dens – Brains

The best, most earwormy song on Nootropics.

 

75. b) Young Galaxy – Youth Is Wasted On The Young

Can’t wait for their next LP. Appetite whetted just enough with “Youth is Wasted On The Young”.

74. Citizens! – True Romance (Gigamesh remix)

So catchy. Much more compelling than the original IMO. Hercules and Love Affair vs. La Roux vs. Erasure.

 

73. a) The Big Pink – Stay Gold

The only song (and a very good one at that) worth mentioning from Future This. Had huge hopes for their 2nd LP. On to the next one boys.

 

73. b) Rita Ora – How We Do (Party)

One of the better pop tunes of 2012.

 

72. Azari & III – Manic/Reckless (With Your Love)

“Manic” and “Reckless (With Your Love)” are both fantastic dance/house tracks from the Toronto collective.

 

71. Shad – A Milli Vanilli/It Ain’t Over

Taken aback by the phenomenal sample work in both tracks. Lenny would be proud of “It Ain’t Over”.

 

70. Best Coast – No One Like You

Sweet, sweet neo-soul/pop. I can’t believe how good they perform this song live.

 

69. a) Usher – Climax

Great production by Diplo and vocal by Usher. His best in a while.

69. b) Placebo – The Extra

The best song on their B3 EP, it’s a sonic departure for Placebo, one I hope they follow up on with their 2013 LP.

 

68. The Vaccines – Teenage Icon

Whether it’s immediate or a slow dig, this song will attack you. I really enjoy their take on jangly alternative/pop.

 

67. Robbie Williams – Into The Silence

Robbie does U2 and The Killers. He’s never done a song like this before, and I’m so glad he finally has. Robbie’s vocal and the production are both exemplary.

 

66. Wild Nothing – Paradise/Nocturne

The 80’s in stereo. Flighty, dreamy records, both of them.

 

65. a) The Antlers – Drift Drive

Still haven’t lost their grand emoting abilities. What a hook.

 

65. b) Atlas Genius – Trojans

Wickedly catchy. Wonderful tune.

 

64. High Contrast – The Road Goes On Forever/All There Is (f. Liane Carroll)

Bursting at their seams. Or more likely, they never had seams to begin with.

63. Ellie Goulding – Atlantis/Figure 8/Only You

Ms. Goulding issued one of the best pop albums of the year — maybe one of the best albums of the year in general.

 

62. a) Matchbox 20 – She’s So Mean

Great comeback tune. Always were extremely talented songwriters. No surprise they’ve found another.

 

62. b) Marina & The Diamonds – The Archetypes/Primadonna/Fear and Loathing/Teen Idle

“Primadonna”, “Fear and Loathing”, and “Teen Idle” are by far the strongest triumvirate of songs on Marina’s Electra Heart album, but it’s actually a non-album track, the minute long teaser, “The Archetypes”, that moved me the most. I really wish she’d made this an album track as it’s constructed here, but longer.

 

61. Muse – Panic Station/Big Freeze/Follow Me

After “Madness”, which resides in another realm altogether, these three tracks are the best representatives of the new Muse, the most ambitious Muse to date.

60. Ramona Falls – Proof/Sqworm/Spore

Lovely set of songs.

 

59. a) Tacabro – Tacata

How could I not. Guilty pleasures don’t get more guilty than this. This is unquestionably 10-15 years, no chance of parole.

 

59. b) Susanne Sundfor – White Foxes

What a majestic song. It sounds exactly like a serenade to white foxes.

 

58. Two Door Cinema Club – Sleep Alone/The World Is Watching

Super strong lead single, and a wonderful departure from their norm on “The World Is Watching”.

57. Ed Sheeran – Drunk/Small Bump/Lego House

Three fantastic songs from one of the albums of the year. And three great videos to boot. Ed Sheeran’s way with melody is sublime.

 

56. a) Hey Ocean! – Big Blue Wave/Make A New Dance Up

I wish this kind of pop found a bigger audience.

 

56. b) Joe Goddard – Gabriel (f. Valentina)

Striking. Superb use of looping/sampling.

55. a) Rihanna – Diamonds

She might have taken an extended dip in the deep end, but she still can still release a hit. A powerful, grandiose tune.

55. b) No Doubt – Settle Down

It’d been 11 years since their last LP. To come back to a vastly different musical landscape from the one they left all those years ago with something this strong is a testament to their cohesion and talent. You can tell they’re having tonnes of fun being back together.

 

54. The Killers – From Here On Out/The Way It Was/Deadlines and Commitments/Heart of a Girl

I think the line from Deadlines and Commitments, “there is a place, here in this house, that you can stay,” is apropos of Battle Born, and in general, The Killers as a band. They’re slightly awkward in the way they express things, but they’re welcoming, of everyone. These four tracks are all highlights from a strong, extremely consistent, huge pop/rock album.

 

53. mewithoutYou – February, 1878

Really like this song. It’s full of dynamic shifts, energy, aggression, forbearance, and hooks.

 

52. a) Greg Laswell f. Ingrid Michaelson – Landline

Tender and becoming. The male/female harmony works wonders here.

52. b) Netsky – Come Alive

Great party track with a supreme build-up from Belgium’s son. To the (Net)sky and beyond.

 

51. a) We Have Band – Tired of Running

First-rate melody, production, and vocal.

 

51. b) St. Lucia – All Eyes On You

Marvellous song. Rife with hooks and shimmering production.