RAC Remixes

One of the blogs I listen to has a lot of remix tracks on it. While I enjoy a good remix, they're not generally something I seek out. With a few exceptions of course (i.e. My Brightest Diamond, whose remix albums I look forward to just as much as her original albums. Cause she's brilliant.).

Anyway, so this blog has lots of remixes. Particularly lots of remixes by RAC. I'd taken notice of them but never sought to find more. Until today, that is. Was listening to the blog in question, and two amazing remixes came on, both of which were by RAC. So I learned that they are a cooperative of 3 guys who make remixes for lots of artists that I like. That's enough to know, I guess.

Anyway, first song I heard was an awesome remix of We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke. I like the original a lot, but I think I like this remix even more. And apparently these guys are popular and on the radio and stuff? Is this true? Anyway, this song is great from the first note. And then the second verse comes in and it gets even better. Fucking awesome.





The second was a remix of one of my favorites, Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. If you haven't heard the original, you must. The song is incredible. And this remix is also amazing. Luckily this one can be found on RAC's album Chapter One, along with remixes of plenty of other awesome bands.




And in case you need more, they have like a bajillion songs on their SoundCloud.

Because I like long songs

So sometimes I love an extremely long song. I especially love when a regular length song is played out to ridiculous lengths at a concert. That's always fun.

I got two new albums this week, both of which are great, and both of which contain songs of around 9 minutes. Both of which songs are fantastic.

The first one is Troubleman, off Mondo, the debut album from Electric Guest. I'm a bit partial to this band since they're from LA, but they also make excellent music. They're produced by Danger Mouse, which is always a good sign, and at times remind me of Graffiti6, which is also a good thing.




Then there is Gary Clark, Jr. This is one guy you should absolutely know about. I first heard him earlier this year with his song Bright Lights. That's probably still my favorite song by him, so even though only a measly 5:25, I will still share it with you.





This guy is pretty freaking awesome. Some have even called him the saviour of the blues. Great vocals, great music, and excellent songs of ridiculous length. Which brings me to another of my favorites from his major label debut album, Blak and Blu. This song is not only almost 10 minutes long, it also has a crazy long name: Third Stone from the Sun/If You Love Me Like You Say. And he doesn't even start singing until like three and a half minutes in. This is one of those tracks that, even though it's already stupid long, I don't want it to end. And I can only imagine how amazing it is live. Apparently it's a double cover, starting off with Jimi Hendrix and moving into Albert Collins.

 

Joe Purdy

Joe Purdy has been one of my favorites for years now. But he's one of those favorites that I haven't kept up with very well. Of course, it's hard with him. I just checked and he's apparently got 13 albums. And as it turns out, I kept up better than I thought with him. There was a time where he realsed like 3 albums a year, but I guess the last I heard was 2009's Last Clock On The Wall, after which he's only released two more. I guess I'll go buy them.

Anyway, my favorite track by him, and one of my favorite songs, is I Love the Rain the Most off the Julie Blue album. Julie Blue is a collection of acoustic tracks that he recorded in a river cabin in like a week with a friend. It's great. I've heard this song performed live with a full band, and it's still great, but there's something about the original acoustic version that is very special.

 

Goldfish

I found another South African song I like! Always exciting. And I think these guys are actually mainstream, though I could definitely be wrong about that.

I heard Goldfish on TV when I was getting ready the other morning. We Come Together must be their current single. The song is actually nothing tremendous, but it's fun and catchy. And it has an awesome video with fan service for pretty much any fan of any cartoon/movie/video game ever.





I don't actually intend to find more of their stuff, because I figure they're mainstream so it will just come to me. So if you like it and look for more and it gets better, please let me know.

Brazilian Girls

Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen have released a song called Good Times, which comes onto the morning music video rotation practically every day lately. This makes me sad. (Also notice I didn't bold those. I would hate for you to come read my blog and think I'm actually posting about them then not listen to the actual post and lose all respect for me. I did it for your own benefit. You're welcome). But Brazilian Girls make me happy. And they also have a song called Good Times. Make your mind up for yourself, but the Brazilian Girls song is clearly 237893598 times better. At least.





Another thing that makes me sad is when bands I love, like Brazilian Girls, break up, which they did in 2009. Luckily in 2012 they have gotten back together and are working on new music, which I can't wait for.

Now don't let the name fool you. There are no Brazilians in the group, and there is only one girl. They formed in New York, but I'm pretty sure they all grew up in ex-pat families and moved around a lot, which explains why she sings in like 5 languages on their debut album, and even more in later ones. I love all their albums, but their first album, Brazilian Girls, is and probably always will be my favorite. And my favorite track by them, which will probably remain my favorite, is Don't Stop, off the album.





Although you can't discount thi nexts track, also off the debut, which seems to be everyone else's favorite. I'm sure you'll figure out why.

 

The Lighthouse and the Whaler

I stumbled across The Lighthouse and the Whaler a few years ago after their first album came out. There was like a week where they were all I listened to cause I was extremely stressed and not sleeping enough and their album was exactly what I needed to calm me down and make everything ok. At the time, they made me think of Fleet Foxes, as Under Mountain, Under Ground illustrates.




That's my favorite track off the first album. At the time I loved the album, but after going back and listening to it recently, it's not as great as I originally thought. I still enjoy it and there are some excellen tracks, but I think it was more the timing that made me listen to it on repeat. Luckily for me they just released a 2nd album, This Is An Adventure, which is really good. It's such a change from their last album, this time a lot more upbeat. It actually reminds me of Freelance Whales now, which is ironic because Freelance Whales's new album doesn't remind me of Freelance Whales. There's even moments that are reminiscent of Phoenix. Pioneers is a great opening track and one of my favorites.





And the first song I heard off the album, Venice, is also a stand out track.

 

Sonnymoon

I like to think of Sonnymoon as Grimes's Korean cousin. Not because they're related or because she's Korean. For some reason that just popped into my head and I like it. So I'm not going to try to find anything to make me think otherwise.

She makes interesting music. Album starts out really upbeat with Wild Rumpus. Kind of reminds me of Tune-Yards for some reason. And it's got a great sound and a great name.





Then the album slows down and takes on more of a soulful sound. Every Summer Night, towards the end of the album, is the complete other end of the spectrum, reminding me of Flying Lotus or Four Tet.




If you like, you can hear the rest of her eponymous album, and other goodies, on her SoundCloud.