DAN CROLL
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| Dan Croll (aka the Hipster Hamlet), shot by music photographer Pooneh Ghana. |
My personal Friday favorites from Dan Croll's growing catalogue are from his In/Out Remix album, so that's where I'm going to start this mixtape.
Recommended:
1. In/Out by Dan Croll, remixed by William Carl Jr.
2. In/Out by Dan Croll, remixed by Baardsen.
3. From Nowhere
From Nowhere is one of the most popular tracks off Dan Croll's debut full-length album, Sweet Disarray. The song is also characteristic of the refreshingly young--sometimes boyish--energy that really gives this album a unique life of its own.
He's just so damn likable.
And it's not just you, if you got a funny feeling when you saw the video for Dan Croll's "In/Out." I, too, scratched my head and thought, Well, this is a ripoff from Azealia Banks' "212" video...
That's probably because Dan Croll is often mistaken for the extra used in that video. Even more ridiculous, this particular extra is on the receiving end of a vulgar tirade from Azealia Banks in the video.)
Recommended:
1. In/Out by Dan Croll, remixed by William Carl Jr.
2. In/Out by Dan Croll, remixed by Baardsen.
3. From Nowhere
From Nowhere is one of the most popular tracks off Dan Croll's debut full-length album, Sweet Disarray. The song is also characteristic of the refreshingly young--sometimes boyish--energy that really gives this album a unique life of its own.
He's just so damn likable.
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| Exhibits A and B |
That's probably because Dan Croll is often mistaken for the extra used in that video. Even more ridiculous, this particular extra is on the receiving end of a vulgar tirade from Azealia Banks in the video.)
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| Top: Dan Croll Bottom: unknown extra & Azealia Banks |
You have to admit, they do look alike. And... are those the same pair of glasses? More from Clash, if you're as amused by this as I am.
REMIX ARTIST COLLECTIVE (RAC)
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| Created in January 2007 by André Allen Anjos with Karl Kling and Andrew Maury, the Remix Artist Collective pioneered clean, crisp beats with a purpose. |
RAC recently released Strangers! Of course, there are some great Friday After Work finds on both Part 1 and Part 2 of the release, but these singles stand out.
4. Let Go, by Kele and MNDR (RAC)
5. Tear You Down, Alex Ebert (RAC)
On Strangers, as in life, RAC's greatest strength is also their greatest challenge. That great strength is the diversity of their talent. As an album, Strangers is heavily weighted towards a few excellent tracks, a handful of really good tracks, and some inevitable mehs.
As with any diverse population, you'll find a bell-curve of ability (to create hits, dammit!). Weighed as a collective group of musicians and producers, RAC is incredible; so much collective talent. But, the best can't make every track on an album and every song created by "the best" won't necessarily be great. Despite best efforts all around, a few songs miss the mark.
But, that's the great thing about a collective! Despite a few misses, it's a process that leads to lessons learned all-around in an environment that fosters growth. If taking chances is encouraged by a group of artists, individuals have a unique opportunity to shine, creatively. The burden of any failures is also collective, a weight distributed among many artists. As long as the collective remains successful, overall, it's a positive experience for everyone involved.
And we, the listeners, benefit more than anyone else.
Having only been around since 2007, RAC has produced hundreds of remixes. That's right... hundreds.
4. Let Go, by Kele and MNDR (RAC)
5. Tear You Down, Alex Ebert (RAC)
On Strangers, as in life, RAC's greatest strength is also their greatest challenge. That great strength is the diversity of their talent. As an album, Strangers is heavily weighted towards a few excellent tracks, a handful of really good tracks, and some inevitable mehs.
As with any diverse population, you'll find a bell-curve of ability (to create hits, dammit!). Weighed as a collective group of musicians and producers, RAC is incredible; so much collective talent. But, the best can't make every track on an album and every song created by "the best" won't necessarily be great. Despite best efforts all around, a few songs miss the mark.
But, that's the great thing about a collective! Despite a few misses, it's a process that leads to lessons learned all-around in an environment that fosters growth. If taking chances is encouraged by a group of artists, individuals have a unique opportunity to shine, creatively. The burden of any failures is also collective, a weight distributed among many artists. As long as the collective remains successful, overall, it's a positive experience for everyone involved.
And we, the listeners, benefit more than anyone else.
Having only been around since 2007, RAC has produced hundreds of remixes. That's right... hundreds.
PHANTOGRAM
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| Phantogram (n.): A 2D image that is distorted using perspectival anamorphosis to appear, when viewing at the correct angle, three-dimensional; usually, standing above or recessed into a flat surface. |
6. Fall in Love by Phantogram
7. Nothing but Trouble by Phantogram
It's Friday night. What else would you be doing in LA, if not falling in love or getting into trouble?
Phantogram released their second album and first major-label debut, Voices, on Republic Records. Other notable relevant Republic alumni include James Blake, Lorde, Florence + The Machine, Rhye, St. Vincent, Little Dragon and on, and on.
Phantogram is in the big leagues now. Want proof? Over at AP, Reed Fischer gave Voices four-and-a-half out of five stars. He went so far as to say that the band's unique sound of "electronic and electric guitar alchemy has simultaneously become more infectious and complex than ever before." Not bad for a sophomore release!
MR LITTLE JEANS
(Monica Birkenes)
(Monica Birkenes)
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| According to an interview with LA Weekly's Art Tavana, Mr Little Jeans/Monica Birkenes is "nothing like the groundskeeper in Wes Anderson's Rushmore, where her musical moniker originates." Thanks for pointing that out, Art. |
8. The Suburbs by Mr Little Jeans
9. The Rescue Song by Mr Little Jeans x RAC
Mr Little Jeans' released her full-length debut album, Pocketknife, in March 2014. It was recorded and produced by Tim Anderson right here in Los Angeles, despite Monica's rural Norwegian roots.
"There've been great surprises and great disappointments, but it does keep it interesting. The album was written over the course of three years at least, and the sound most certainly went in different directions, especially in the beginning."
She signed with a subsidiary of Capitol Music Group to release Pocketknife on Harvest Records, located in Hollywood.
BANKS
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| Jillian Banks goes by the stage name BANKS |
Female singer/songwriter and synth-pop extraordinaire, Banks, is working on her debut album. Her upcoming full-length is set to be released in early September 2014.
10. Goddess by Banks
11. Drowning by Banks
12. Before I Ever Met You by Banks
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