Thursday, April 11, 2013

Song of the Day (Point/Counterpoint) 04.12.13

Salvation.

Another friday in the books. Anyone out there have big, fun weekend plans? Hopefully you do! Mine will be filled with ultimate frisbee and man, I cannot wait. Love chasing those plastic discs.

But of course, before we actually hit the weekend you have to deal with my musical choice(s). What do we have this week? Well, I'll be kicking it old school again.

I've always been into music. Not just because I was listening to it since I was born. No no, because since I was in fourth grade I've been playing music. Specifically the saxophone. Alto to be exact. Growing up I think every kid had a dream of being a performer, being in a band - thousands of fans screaming at you. I know I sure did - but I also knew I couldn't sing. Then I realized I played sax. What the hell kind of band, other than Billy Joel, could I get into? Luckily thats when I discovered The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and more specifically the genre of ska. I was floored. Punk/Rock music infused with brass and jazz instruments? Sign me up. As my ska library grew and my knowledge expanded, I fell upon a group from New Jersey and immediately fell in love - Streetlight Manifesto. Everything about them is wonderful. The tone of the instruments. Their "fun" attitude. Songs built with lyrics that never seem to repeat (sometimes confusing even for the singer who has lost his place in concerts many times). Now, I know ska isn't for everybody, but at least for me, whenever I'm down, I can put on a ska song and immediately get picked up. There is just something about the energy behind it that really clicks with me. The following song is one of my all time favorite ska songs. This is Streetlight Manifesto's "Point/Counterpoint."

Hell - at one point I was even a member of a ska band and yes...we did actually play some shows. Ahh those were the days.




Whats this!? A second song?! Ok - so it's not really a song, but more of a 'sample.' And I'm forewarning - this is going to be 1000% different than the song posted above. One of the greatest musical duos, Daft Punk, is dropping their new album in May and everyone has been freaking out about it. Word on the street and throughout the industry is that it literally is a game changer. There is a possibility that music won't be the same once it is released. I know - that sounds a bit weird, but these guys truly are revolutionaries within the medium and if anyone can change the scene, it's them. Anyway - they've teased two different songs thus far. Just two 15 second loops. And they might be the best 15 seconds of music I've heard in a long time. Big words I know. But they really are. Someone out there, who goes by the name Astre, took these two samples and looped them together - extending them and adding a few other effects. So yes, what is below is a bit repetitive, but I barely notice it. Cause it is that damn good.

There is just something so retro about the sound of these songs. Almost disco-ish. People say trends are cyclical. Maybe the dance era is upon us once again.

I dare you not to groove or dance in place when you listen to this. You can't. It's that infectious. I'd list the song name, but since this is a mashup of two samples, I don't have one to give you.




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