I think we should try "rate the song above you" again

[KvP]

Rawwwwk. But wait! Industrial-y production. Kind of reminds me of Celldweller. Catchy, but it won't get you laid in Williamsburg. 7.5/10.

yeaaaah

[De_El]

Goofy, catchy, endearing and pretty memorable. Not sure I'd actually listen to it again; not my taste, really. Love the drums, though. 8/10

Absolute Body Control - Automatic II

[spoon_of_grimbo]

....seriously?  like, 0/10, in fact i'd go into negative numbers if that was allowed....  the backing, and i'm not exaggerating in the slightest here, sounds like a song i made on a program called "Dance eJay" over a decade ago, and why they felt like getting someone's drunk-ass uncle to yell over the top, i'm not quite sure. 


The Methadones - Sorry to Keep You Waiting

[scarred]

Yeah, this was nothing special, but fun for about 2 minutes. After that it got pretty repetitive. Basically it seems like a faux punk band that my dad might be into to reclaim the spirit of his art-school days. 4/10

Hot Chip - "Take It In"

[pilsner]

Enjoyable electropop but close enough to Blonde Redhead that I'd rather just listen to Blonde Redhead.  The vocals are a lot stronger on the verses than the chorus.

edit: forgot to rank, let's say 6/10?

Vitaminsforyou - One Night Stand (Live)

[a pack of wolves]

Something's a bit off with this. The vocals sound like they're wanting to be coldly sexual, but the music's not backing them up in that. At the same time it isn't brightly cheerful enough to provide an entertaining juxtaposition. Plus, the lyrics are pretty bad really. "Lying under covers doesn't make us lovers" is nowhere near enough of a good line to justify the amount they're leaning on it.

3/10

None More Black - Banned From Teen Arts

[onewheelwizzard]

None More Black - Banned From Teen Arts

This song is cool!  It's fun, and I'd have a great time if I saw it live.  The vocalist is just scratchy-voiced enough that I'd probably not listen to this by choice, but if one of my friends palyed it, or I ended up at a show by this band, I'd totally bop along to it and have a great time.  6/10.

The Beatles - Because (The Zap! remix)

[spoon_of_grimbo]

considering i'm not much of a beatles fan and don't usually care for remixes, that one held my interest right to the end!  not something i'd listen to regularly, but i'd have no complaints if someone else put it on while hanging out.  a solid 7/10.

Rumbleseat - "Cursing Concrete"

[TheFuriousWombat]

This song was ok I guess until that guy started singing. Then it was pretty bad until the other guy started to sing too at which point it got awful. Throaty, shouty vocals that make me picture drunken bro-types belting it out after a night of heavy drinking while they stumble home being obnoxiously loud and throwing things at the stray cat whose just trying to find some mice to eat. Pretty bad lyrics, boring guitar, awful vocals. I give it a 2/10



Shabam

[michaelicious]

Maybe I shouldn't rate this because I am biased. I love Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. So sad, so lovely. The synthy part sounds like it should be in a song by the Walkmen and the vocal delivery is pretty heartbreaking. Owen Ashworth, you are too beautiful for this world.

Evening Hymns - Cedars

[Aurjay]

Well i absolutely hated the video. It's not fair to judge the song on that basis, so i closed my eyes for most of it and concentrated on the lyrics. Glad i did because the lyrics are really good. The song is way too long though, especially since the last 2 min are nothing spectacular. I still enjoyed the lyrics and wouldn't mind listening to a condensed version, so 6/10.
Robert Johnson: Crossroads

[nufan]

It's Robert Johnson, who's had a huge effect effect on me personally, and my affinity for old delta blues. That song was introduced to me first of all by the Blues Brothers, and I remember dancing to their version when I was 10 years old, learning all the dance moves from the film. Brilliant, what more can I say (though my personal favourite robert johnson song is the slower version of Come In My Kitchen). 9/10

This isn't the best version of this song, the studio version is much better, but anyways: Ry Cooder - Tattler

[spoon_of_grimbo]

i really enjoyed that, although i couldn't begin to describe what genre it is, i'm not great with that sorta era - a few of the vocal melodies kinda reminded me of a few old motown songs i remember hearing as a kid, even though the rest of the music is totally different...  the backing singers are a nice touch too.


here's a song that seems to have gone down well with everyone i've shown it to, regardless of their general taste, so here goes...

65daysofstatic - "Dance Parties (Distant)"

(this is a remix of the song "The Distant and Mechanised Glow of Eastern European Dance Parties")

[onewheelwizzard]

Honestly, I didn't much care for this.  The synths were too gratingly buzzy and the tempo was just fast enough to make it sound disjointed and confused.  It felt like whoever made it was trying just slightly too hard.  It wasn't bad, but I'd probably never choose it personally to be played at a party or in my headphones.  The vocal section at the end was cool, though.  5/10.

Now for some heavy bass deliciousness.  Check the mediaf!re thread in a little bit for more of this guy's sublime whompwhompwhomp ...
Fever Ray - When I Grow Up (Bassnectar Remix)

[pilsner]

I didn't expect to like that when I realized they were remixing When I Grow Up, and I did although the lack of integration between the intro and the rest of the song was a little odd.  Then I re-listened to When I Grow Up and wouldn't you know it the huge bass is already there, they just gave it sort of a double intermittent beat.  So I liked it but kind of resent that they really didn't take the remix nearly as far as they might have.  6/10

Basia Bulat - Gold Rush (DUMBO Session)

[Scarychips]

Yes, yes, and yes. Bulat at her prime. I love that song. Her voice is so "warm", the violin/viola lines are great and the drums don't feel out of place. I say 10/10.

Genetic Engineering by OMD

[scarred]

Something about this song rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm not sure what. Maybe it's just too busy, or maybe it's trying too hard to be fun. Either way, it seems like something I should be enjoying but for whatever reason I'm not. 5/10

SomethingALaMode - "G-String"

[pilsner]

I am 90% confident that this is what it would sound like if Justice covered Air or vice versa.  That's probably happened right?  This would be fun to verify.  Anyway, I like both bands which seem to exercise a major role in terms of inspiration, but the stripped down simplified mix approach to electronic music isn't really my bag, I'm more of a mouse on mars/ Infected Mushroom kind of guy.  Still, in the right La Femme d'argent appreciation mood this would sound great, so, uh, 8/10.

HUMANWINE - Epoch

[spoon_of_grimbo]

the vocals remind me of folk-ish music, the drums remind me of Isis (am I mistaken or does brian from the dresden dolls drum for this band?), and the atmosphere of the whole thing is brilliant!  maybe a little bit over-long, but only if i'm being really picky.  yeah, i liked it, i'll go with an 8/10!


here's a song that properly cheers me up every time i hear it - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - "Walking to Do"

[nufan]

OK so I'm in a shit mood so this may not be the best time to listen to it, but I still think it's good... and that's a very good sign. Happy, bouncy (I must admit at this point I didn't listen to the lyrics much so it may be one of those songs that's all "Hey I'm in major key so I sound happy but really I'm talking about death and suicide and nasty things" and I didn't notice), yet imbued with a sort of energy that's impossible to fake. It's also very slightly off kilter, with no real chorus or structure to speak of, and I like that sort of thing! So yeah, it hasn't cheered me up but I imagine if I was in a semi-decent mood it would get out of my seat so I will rate it quite highly, 8/10.
Where Will I Be

[Mobius_Logic]

the harmony in that chorus is pretty killer. i like the production on the drums a lot. i feel that their roominess compliments the tone of her voice well, and the keyboards manage to maintain the drive. however, and this may be unfair to say, it has kind of a weird 90's alt-pop alanis morisette vibe that would keep this from being something i would listen to on a regular basis. Sooo... 7/10.

big dogs/time warp club house (a little taste of the seattle diy scene)
http://www.myspace.com/bigdogsarefun