Best of 2011 : Colton's Choices

Here are the LOOSE L!P's writers' favorite tracks and tidbits of 2011.
No explanation necessary; just trust us.

Next up we have Colton's (of Crème de la CREM fame) list. He's worried its a little mainstream, what he doesn't know is that he and I share a considerable number of picks….so what does that say about me?
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*All links route to YouTube/Soundcloud unless specified as [mp3].
Feel free to download those bad boys.

TOP 11 SONGS
- Sleepless ft. Antony for Cleopatera - Flume
- Polish Girl - Neon Indian [mp3]

- I Know the Truth - Pretty Lights
- On'n'On - Justice
- Tetra - SebastiAn
- It's Real - Real Estate
- Wildfire - SBTRKT [mp3]

- Steve McQueen - M83
- Beards Again - MSTRKRFT
- Phat Head - Skream
- The Night Out - Martin Solveig

TOP 11 REMIXES
- Mother Protect (Goldroom Remix) - Niki & The Dove
- I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix) - Lykke Li
- Swimmhaus Johannesburg (Star Slinger Remix) - Fixers [mp3]

- Notorious Thugs (Big Gigantic Remix) - Big Gigantic
- Raise Your Weapon (Madeon Remix) - Deadmau5
- Pretty Lights vs. Summertime - Pretty Lights
- Houdini (RAC Remix) - Foster The People
- I Won't Let Go (Bag Raiders Remix) - Monarchy
- Melancholy Hill (Feed me Remix) - Gorillaz
- Miami (Pharo Black Magic Remix) - Walter Sobcek [mp3]

- Sun (Pyramid Remix) - Caribou

FAVORITE ALBUM
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
A true masterpiece

BEST 2011 COMEBACK
The St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series.  Came down to the last pitch twice...

BEST 2011 BREAKOUT
Madeon.
This kid is about to explode.  Becoming pretty well known this year, 2012 will put him over the edge.  His festival circuit is soon to begin and there's so much in store for the French prodigy. 

BEST 2011 CONCERT
Pretty Lights Lollapalooza Aftershow. Benny the Bull made an appearance, made my summer

2011's BEST KEPT SECRET
The true implications of the NDAA, allowing the US government to detain "terrorist suspects" for indefinite amounts of time for national security. It ignores our Constitutional Rights spelled out in the Bill of Rights, allowing indefinite detention without trial.  The US is becoming a police state.  Why Obama signed the Act and why the public hasn't spoken out against it is beyond me.

If SOPA passes later this year, music blogs such as this will probably struggle to exist, as the Federal Government will have the power to shut down websites viewed as a source of pirated material.  WTF America?

Swimmhaus Johannesburg (Star Slinger Remix)

isn't she precious?

Some facts:
- Swimmhaus Johannesburg is a song by Fixers. (Buy the original here.)
- Fixers are an Oxford-based psychedelic rock band.
- I initially wrote off Fixers based on singer Jack Goldstein's voice.
- It is one those nasal and high-pitched BIlly Corgan/whichever Gallagher sang-esque voices.
- Many people dig that kind of voice. I find it rather grating.
- I do, however, really dig Star Slinger.
- Star Slinger is essentially the MasterChef of remixes.
- Star Slinger remixed Swimmhaus Johannesburg.
- The remix has lots of swirling synths, plucky pseudo-strings, and deeeeep, warm bass.
- It is my new favorite thing.

So much for first impressions.

Swimmhaus Johannesburg (Star Slinger Remix) - Fixers

Comedown Sunday: Ready For The World (Star Slinger Refix)

Photo by David Doubliet

As I’m sure you know, I think Star Slinger is fantastic. His unique blend of hip-hop, r&b, and house production styles is something unique and amazing indeed. He’s one of the top producers in the game right now and, after a year or so on the scene, has yet to put out a weak track. His latest success is a ‘refix’ of How To Dress Well’s Ready For The World. RFTW is a song that I had thought about using on Comedown Sunday for ages, but refrained due to its ghostly nature. The original is nothing sort of haunting—and I’m not sure if that’s the best hangover remedy. My problems were solved last night when Starslinger uploaded this track. Here he takes the ghostly, hazy production quality of the original and brightens it, while simultaneously upping the tempo via his now-signature breakbeats. The result is less eerie; in fact it’s practically dreamy, like a warm blanket of starlight was draped over the piece. As with most work Star Slinger does, he’s giving this track out for free (thank you sir). Grab it below, and be sure to head over to his Soundcloud to update yourself on his catalogue.

Ready For The World (Star Slinger Refix) - How To Dress Well

Moment 4 Life (Star Slinger Remix)

Picture Credit Mishel Vermishel

I’m having a hip-hop love affair as of late. It started with Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Fridays, when I was first introduced to Miss Nicki Minaj. Though her guest spot on Monster was undeniably genius, when I started reading about her I prematurely decided I hated her. She and her alter egos were just too damn weird. But as time passed and I further explored her work, I realized the error of my ways. Her weirdness is what sets her apart from the rest of the female rap/hip-hop world. Well, that and the fact that she can spit like nobody’s business. Now, I can’t get enough of her. As you might have heard, this past weekend Kanye West’s Monster video leaked. I refuse to post the link or video here until the fully mastered version is made available, because it is so amazing it deserves to only get attention in all of it final polished glory. As I was trolling the internet after having watched the video, girl crushing on Minaj and wishing something half as awesome as Monster existed, I clicked on my SoundCloud and what did I see?! The heavens had opened and STAR SLINGER HAD JUST UPLOADED A NICKI MINAJ REMIX. In typical Star Slinger fashion (who is a genius in his own right), it utlizes choppy and repetitive vocals seamlessly tied together by original synth work, glittering chimes, and subtle bass. I went so far as to say this on the track comments…and I mean it. Star Slinger does it again, ladies and gentlemen (and again, and again, and again). In a month he’s embarking on his first US tour, be sure to check out the dates here, as you absolutely cannot miss him. Seriously. This guy is a legend in the making.

Moment 4 Life (Star Slinger Remix)--Nicki Minaj

Mornin'

I promised myself I would never post a song right after having downloading it from one of my favorite music blogs. I think it’s kind of a cheap move, like taking credit for something you didn’t discover. But I just can’t help myself with this one, because I really want to share it with everyone I know. And I guess in the grand scheme, we don’t all follow the same music blogs; and some of you don’t follow music blogs at all unless I tell you to come on here and download something (Hi Emily). So here’s to hoping most of you don’t catch my faux pas. Thank you to Et Musique Pour Tous for introducing me to this artist, and here you go.

The following song, Mornin’ is by Star Slinger. He’s a relatively new producer out of the UK, and I’m loving his stuff. His music is ‘Hip-Hop’ in the same way that RJD2’s work can be called Hip-Hop. In other words, don’t expect rapping about big booty hos here. Instead, Star Slinger utilizes a vast catalogue of samples, both vocal and instrumental, ranging from every genre of music from reggae to 80’s rock. He ties it all together with shuffling rhythms involving lots of bongos, lazer sounds, and the occasional synth motif. While original instrumentation is normally the standard in terms of ‘musical integrity,’ people who can sample the shit out of a song are just as impressive in my book. It takes a great ear and a lot of creativity to successfully assemble an entirely new song out of a handful of pre-made parts. The way Star Slinger combines all these different elements is no easy feat, and the end result is chilled-out hip hop with a whole lot of mojo.

Mornin’ is a joyous, filtered, shuffling celebration of love in the early morning. Pre-Afternoon Delight if you will. The vocal sample is from The Staple Singers’ Let’s Do it Again, which unabashedly proclaims,

“Let’s do it in the morning, sweet love in the summertime…No worries ‘bout nothing, just getting good love.”
Indeed.

Right-Click to Download:
Mornin’—Star Slinger


***If you like what you hear, you can download Star Slinger's entire new mixtape for free here.

Bonus: An earlier release (not on the mixtape)
Close to Me--Star Slinger and Teams