Beck's "Girl" [Remix by Octet]

Holy crap. I'm not sure on my stance on remix albums, I don't recall ever really liking an entire record of remixes. The most memorable in my mind are Bjork's "Telegram" (counter part to her "Post" record) and The Faint's... um, well the remixes for Danse Macabre. Though I enjoyed most the tracks on these records, I didn't enjoy them as a continuous, whole records. So far so good for Becks' "Guerolito." Too soon to say whether or not I can enjoy it as a whole, but so far - no complaints. There are really handsome remixes on this record by artists whom I figured would make great versions of already teriffic songs, but some who I wondered about their follow-through. I've been pleasantly surprised all around.

"Girl" was the track off of "Guero" that I constantly sought out, and of course I was most curious at an alternate version of it... and I have to say it's great. One minute it's stripped down, accompanied by classical piano (wow), another moment later and it's a pounding electro hit. Somehow it all works - constructed and deconstructed. Reading this, you probably expect it to clash, but somehow it works... in the end all of its quilted elements melt together.

Anticipating skeptic turned total fan.

The Knife's "Heartbeats"

Mr. Powell sent me The Knife's "Deep Cuts" album, which I'm confident to say is an appropriate title... because this is a perfect record. I haven't really been in love with a whole record in awhile... "Heartbeats" is my jam - it's so sweet, plainly speaking, and has incredible beats to back it up. It makes me feel like it's Spring outside, instead of a blanket of fresh, cold, lonesome snow.

Now, you probably have heard the Jose Gonzales version on that Sony commercial everyone is having a boner for.
(Myself included, the advert is simply beautiful. Good job Sony!)
It's the one with the bouncy balls set loose in San Franisco opposite Coit Tower.
This is a shot from the ad's filming.

Incredible how, stripped down and powered by dual vocals and a filtered acoustic guitar, a song can lose all its optimism and vigor. It brings about a different emotion, like if The Knife version is the first signs of Spring, the Jose Gonzales track is like the dead of Winter. Both beautiful in their own separate ways, inspiring different kinds of sentiments.

You can see the balls galore/boner inducing commercial here: http://www.bravia-advert.com/
You can hear Jose's full cover version here: http://myspace.com/josegonzalezmusic
You can hear the original version by The Knife here: www.theknife.net

it's funny because it's true.

Mercury must be out of retrograde!
Buddyhead just put up new gossip.