Erykah Badu - Honey (Ron Trent remixes)

Although "Honey" was the lead single off of her 2008 album Nu Amerykah Part One (4th World War), the Ron Trent mixes were only released last month. Ron transformed the R&B song into a laidback, festive Disco/House gem. Erykah's warm vocals sound great with a club-oriented production such as this one under them. Ron's production is simply brilliant.

Purchase the remixes here (Amazon) and here (Juno)

Listen to the radio edit of Ron's mix:
Erykah Badu - Honey (Ron Trent's Radio Mix) by [mike-spinline]

Grade: A+

Tony Moran featuring Michelle Weeks - La Musica

This is the second of two new releases from Tony Moran rounding out 2010. "La Musica" is a new version of an instrumental track called "La Muzika" that he first featured on his The Event compilation a couple of years ago. It is an updated version of the track featuring Michelle Weeks and Trey Lorenz on vocals. The vocals are hypnotic and powerful. The main mix is a gorgeous big room stormer, as is the alternate mix with Dave Saronson. There are additional mixes by Edson Pride and Alexander & Mark VDH. Edson Pride's mixes have thicker, stackier riffs. Alexander & Mark VDH's mix is a tad milder. However, all versions pack quite a punch.

Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A

Tony Moran and the Party Starters - Jump MF (Motha Fucka)

This is the first of two new releases from Tony Moran rounding out 2010. "Jump MF (Motha Fucka)" is an energetic tribal track with minimal vocals. The main version is pretty straightforward with semi-filtered vocals. The Alex Cohen mix is even harder and synthier. The vocals are a bit clearer and louder. Overall, both versions are very hot.

Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A

Usher - More

Originally "More" was a bonus track on his Raymond v. Raymond album. It has been remixed by RedOne (who also produced it) for the single release. The original version is more in line with Usher's usual uptempos, calling to mind songs like "Yeah!". However, the new RedOne remix is much more club-oriented. It considerably improves upon the original. Usher's recent singles have been much more Electronic, riding the recent wave of such singles flooding the airwaves. In this particular instance, such a production works extremely well.

Listen to the RedOne remix here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Sam Sparro - Pink Cloud

This is a song reportedly to be a preview of his sophomore record due next year, tentatively titled Return To Paradise. The mostly instrumental song is in the style of early 90's House music. It immediately calls to mind the work of legends including Steve "Silk" Hurley, Shep Pettibone, Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, and Masters At Work. It is definitely an interesting track overall, but Sam's usually soulful vocals are sorely missed. Only a handful of vocals and spoken parts are peppered throughout the track.

Watch the music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Enrique Iglesias feat Ludacris - Tonight

This is the latest single from his album Euphoria (the French edition). Produced by DJ Frank E, this song is Electro/Pop-oriented. This song comes in two versions, one is the clean one, entitled "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)", and the other is the explicit one, entitled "Tonight (I'm Fuckin' You)". Compared to his earlier material, this one is much racier, but it is meant to be in a fun sort of way. One would think that it is explicit because of rapper Ludacris' verse, but that's not the case. Overall, the song is pretty danceable and fun. There is a remix of this by Dresden & Johnston. It is in a similar style as the original. Think of it as an alternate take on the original.

Purchase the clean and explicit versions (Amazon)

Grade: B+

Offer Nissim - Love Child

Yes, this is a remake of the classic by Diana Ross & The Supremes. Offer features a trio of vocalists on this including Maya Simantov, Meital De Razon, and Maya Buskila. The concept of doing a remake of this was nice in principle, but in practice is just so-so. Only a small portion of the lyrics are used (just the first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus). The vocals are decent, but all three singers are usually quite great, and consistently deliver, just not here. The production is not that different from his usual. Only the strings from the original are recreated here. The studio version lacks the passion and vocal power that was present during this live performance (YouTube) back in October.

Grade: B

Mariah Carey - Auld Lang Syne (The New Year's Anthem)

Culled from her second Holiday album Merry Christmas II You, her take on "Auld Lang Syne" is the second single. Released just in time for the upcoming New Year's celebrations, Mariah's version of the song is very festive, and oh-so-anthemic. Beginning traditionally, the song builds gradually to a festive, upbeat tempo. Vocally, Mariah is excellent. There are remixes for this by Ralphi Rosario and Johnny Vicious. On his tribal/house-oriented Festive mixes, Ralphi keeps the slow intro from the original. These are really nice. His Alternative mixes are a little harder. Johnny's mixes are more electro/house/circuit-ish (think of Peter Rauhofer's recent work). He also keeps the intro. These have a little more drama to them. Overall, both sets are really good. Ralphi's Festive mixes are the best though.

Purchase the digital single here (Amazon), Masterbeat and iTunes also have it for sale

Grade: A

Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light

This is reportedly the 3rd single off of Night Work. The Pet Shop Boys-sounding track has a multi-layered production calling to mind the UK duo's work during the 80's. The production while having an old school sound also sounds modern with the electro/pop music being made now. With its catchy lyrics, the vocals are also top-notch. Acclaimed actor Ian McKellen makes a guest appearance on the track doing the spoken part (a la Neil Tennant on "West End Girls"). The original version is nearly 6 minutes long, almost ready for club consumption. There are remixes of this by Stuart Price, Boys Noize, Siriusmo, and Sammy Jo & Nita. Stuart's mix is in the same vein as the original. The vocals are a bit clearer, however only some of them are used. It's more like a vocal dub. Aesthetically, it sounds like something Shep Pettibone would have done during the 80's when remixes were based on the original version. The Boys Noize mix is mostly instrumental as well. The Siriusmo mix has that 80's Funk style to it. The Sammy Jo & Nita mix is a bit more laidback, losing much of the 80's sounds. The original is the best of the bunch.

Watch the trippy music video here (YouTube)
NSFW

Grade: A (for the original)/B (for the remixes)

Junior Vasquez feat. John Michael - Xtatic

This is a brand new track from the legendary DJ/remixer/producer. Almost an instrumental with a few hypnotic vocals by John Michael every so often, this track is perfect for a wide variety of sets. The Audio Assembly mix is dark and minimal, taking on an almost industrial feel at times. This is perfect for afterhours. Nick Harvey's mix is perfect for peak hour play with the tribal drums and blinding synths. Also included are acapellas of the main vocal and the static effect, and bonus beats of Nick's mix. The beats are exciting as well. Overall, this is a fun track.

Purchase the digital single here (AudioJelly)

Grade: A

Shayne Ward - Gotta Be Somebody

A former winner of the UK's X-Factor, Shayne Ward is back with a cover of Nickelback's "Gotta Be Somebody". He takes the midtempo Rock song up a few notches, turning into a Dance/Pop song. The electro/pop production, however, is ill-fitting. It just doesn't work. Shayne's stellar vocals are the saving grace. Remixes of this by Almighty and Moto Blanco save this one from being a total disaster. Almighty's Eurodance/Funky House mix is perfect. It is a little on the cheesey side, but the uplifting production works well. Moto Blanco's mix is a bit more sophisticated with its disco throwback sound. Both are exquisite.

Watch the hot music video here (YouTube)

Grade: C+ (for the original)/A (for the remixes)

T.I. feat Christina Aguilera - Castle Walls

There has been considerable buzz surrounding this collaboration. The wait is finally over. T.I. delivers his usual fierce rhymes over Alex Da Kid's slick production. Christina only sings the hook/chorus and the bridge. In her small part, her vocals are effective. She shows tremendous restraint, delivering a very haunting vocal. She will leave you begging for much more. One can only hope an alternate version with more of her vocals was recorded.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Katy Perry - Firework (Remixes)

This is the third proper single from Teenage Dream. The anthemic "Firework" is catchy as it is empowering. The uptempo number has an underproduced electro/house sound to it.

There are plenty of remixes of this one by The Wideboys, Fred Falke, Jump Smokers, and Nick Harvey & Billy Waters. The Wideboys mix is in a similar vein as the original with a slightly funkier sound. Fred Falke's has an 80's synthpop sound to it. The Jump Smokers mix is a tad edgier than the others. Finally, there's the circuit mix by Nick Harvey & Billy Waters which truly turns this song into the anthem it was meant to be. This is the strongest mix of the package. Overall, all versions are good, but the last one is great.

-Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)
-Watch the music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Floor One and Farley and Feldman feat Nadia B - Just Me

This is a brand new vocal track from the Continuous Cool label which has been putting out some great releases lately. "Just Me" is an extremely catchy song. Nadia B's vocals are really beautiful. There are three main sets of remixes of the song. The Classic and Club mixes are funky, piano-driven house oriented, while the Anthem mixes are slightly darker. All three are circuit-oriented as well. Overall, the Classic and Anthem ones are the best of the bunch, however they are all quite good.

Purchase the single here (Juno)

Grade: A

Cher - You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me

This is one of two solo songs sung by her on the soundtrack for the movie Burlesque. This is a dramatic, power ballad written by Diane Warren. Vocally, Cher sounds fantastic. Her voice has held up quite well. The song starts off slow and then builds to a massive climax. It's great. There are remixes for this by Almighty, Dave Aude, and Stonebridge. Unsurprisingly, Almighty's production fits this song the best. They have remixed Cher numerous times to great effect. The piano-driven production is uplifting and allows the vocals to truly shine. Dave Aude's mix is a tad on the minimal sound. It calls to mind the 2008 revisit of "Infinity" by Guru Josh Project in some parts. The vocals sound good on this one too. Stonebridge's mix leaves much to be desired as much of the vocals are not used for whatever reason. It's a shame because the production is quite good. Overall, the Almighty and Dave Aude mixes are the best of the bunch.

Grade: A

Michael Jackson feat Akon - Hold My Hand

This is the first proper single off of his first posthumous release simply titled Michael. "Hold My Hand" is a return to form. This song is a midtempo pop ballad (pretty close to one). The production is smooth and uplifting. Michael's vocals are excellent here. Akon's appearance on the song is nice as well. His vocals blend well with Michael's. Overall, this song has the makings of a new hit for the legend.

Listen to the original version here (Michael Jackson's official website)

Grade: A

Salme feat Noa Tylo - So Delicious

After the success of the fun "C'mon Y'all" comes the sexy new single "So Delicious". It is a sultry electro-pop romp in its main version. Noa Tylo (of "Let's Do It" fame) provides some ad libs and backing vocals. He complements Salme's hypnotic chant. The remixes by Massi & De Leon and Junior Vasquez make this even more dancefloor friendly. Massi & De Leon pump up the sleaze factor with their mix. Junior Vasquez offers up a hard, darker Earth era sound with his mix. Additional mixes by David Knapp & Martin Fry and Tribal Injection are coming soon. This song is hot and should be filling dancefloors everywhere real soon.

Listen to the Massi & De Leon and Junior Vasquez mixes here (MySpace)
View the original music video here (Facebook)

Grade: A

Dionne Mitchell - I Love Music

Yes, this is a cover of the O'Jays classic. It was most notably covered to great effect by Rozalla during the 90's. Dionne, a former contestant on the British singing competition X-Factor takes on this gem in 2010, delivering a passionate, delightful performance. The main version is piano-driven, feeling like a modernized, freshened up version of the original. There are remixes by Chris "The Greek" Panaghi, Joe Gauthreaux, and William Umana. Chris "The Greek" keeps the piano heard in the main version, making it just a little more hi nrg-sounding (in the vein of that genre). Joe also maintains that piano in his mix, offering a mix much more underproduced than his usual, which works well here. William's mix is the only to deviate from that characteristic of the original. The circuity production does sound good, but is a tad simple to work with the vocals. Overall, the original, Chris "The Greek", and Joe's mixes are outstanding.

Purchase the CD single here (Perfect Beat)

Grade: A

DJ Blaine and Barona - Lane McCray - Pump It

Best known for his rapping and occasional singing with successful Eurodance duo La Bouche during the 90's, Lane McCray is back, guesting on a brand new single. "Pump It" is a floorfilling circuit track with Lane's soulful vocals taking center stage. The remix package is quite extensive, with remixes by DJ Blaine and Peter Barona, Solar City, Edson Pride, Rafael M, William Umana, DJ Juanito, and Brian McCombs. DJ Blaine and Peter's mix (which is also the original version) is very hard and dark. Solar City's mix is synthy, but isn't as hard-hitting as his usual. Edson Pride's mix is harder, but stays really one-note at times and doesn't go very far. Rafael M's gets there a little faster with his synth-driven mix. William Umana's mix is synthy as well, but feels a bit underwhelming. DJ Juanito's is really minimal and sparse. Closing out the package is Brian McCombs with a funky electro/house mix with hints of disco. Coupled with Lane's vocals, this one works the best overall.

Purchase the CD single here (Perfect Beat)

Grade: A- (for the track)/B+ (for the remix package)/A (for the Brian McCombs mix)

Erika Jayne - One Hot Pleasure

This is her much-awaited new single. It has received a rather warm response when she performed it during her tour over the summer. This song showcases the naughty side of Erika that we first saw with "Rollercoaster" years ago. Produced by Dave Aude, his electro/house production coupled with her breathy vocals make for a fun track. There are remixes by Ralphi Rosario and Sultan & Ned Shepard, so far. Ralphi's mixes are perfect for peakhour sets with the blinding synths and tribal beats. The dub is much more exciting with the few vocal samples sequenced with the buildups and breakdowns. The Sultan & Ned Shepard mixes are a bit more laidback with the chilled synths and lighter beats. These pack quite a punch too. Overall, all versions on this package are great. This is one hot floorfiller.

Grade: A

Taylor Dayne - Facing A Miracle (New mixes)

First reviewed on September 28, 2010
There are even more mixes for this year's theme for the Gay Games! Additional mixes were done by LA Rush, Joe Marton, and Kinky Roland. LA Rush's mixes are done in a lush disco, funky house style. Joe Marton's mixes are circuit-oriented. These excel in the area that SoundFactory's mixes didn't in that they are anthemic without being overpowering and overproduced. Kinky Roland's mixes are in a similar style, but a little subdued. Overall, these additional mixes are quite good too.

Purchase the mixes at AmazonMP3:
-LA Rush
-Joe Marton
-Kinky Roland

Grade: A

Nelly Furtado - Night Is Young

This is a new song off of her upcoming greatest hits album. The song is a dance/pop track in its original form. The production is somewhat dated sounding. Vocally, Nelly is on point. But it just doesn't work that well in its original version. However, there is a remix for this by Lenny Bertoldo. His Sylvane mix takes some of the edge off and lets the song become much more fun. The mellow production allows Nelly's vocals to shine. Lenny salvaged an otherwise tepid song with his mix.

Listen to the original here (YouTube)

Listen to the mix here:
Nelly Furtado - Night Is Young (Sylvane Club Vocal) by lennyb

Grade: B (for the original), A (for the Sylvane mix)

Robbie Williams - Last Days Of Disco

This is the latest U.S. single from his Reality Killed The Video Star album from last year. The original version is a bassline-driven dance/pop track. The song is more 80's synthpop sounding than disco, but it's fine. Robbie's vocals are restrained and smooth. There are remixes of this by Roger Sanchez, Black Van, Still Going, and Mighty Mouse. Roger's mixes are very energetic. The synths are really nice. The Black Van mix is in a similar direction as the original. The filtering and buildups are quite good. The Still Going mix has that familiar Giorgio Moroder "I Feel Love" type of sound. This one beautifully captures the vibe of the original while combining it with something else. The Mighty Mouse mix has a slight disco style. Overall, all the mixes are good, but the Still Going and Mighty Mouse ones are the best of the bunch.

Purchase the remixes: EP 1, EP 2 (iTunes)

Grade: A

The Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Dirty Bit)

This is the lead single off of their upcoming album The Beginning. This song begins with the hook of "The Time Of My Life" (the Dirty Dancing song) re-sung. But then it drops into familiar territory with the electro-pop production. Vocally, this one is very similar to their last album and isn't all that different--delivery-wise. Fergie's vocals throughout the song sound jarring and a little dissonant. This one will still prove to be quite the floorfiller and will most likely catch on.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: B

Edson Pride feat Cyon Flare - Free Your Body

This is the latest release from Brazilian producer/remixer/DJ Edson Pride. "Free Your Body" is a circuit-oriented record featuring the soulful vocals of Cyon Flare. The main mix isn't slutty or dirty as the remix name would indicate. It's quite positive actually. There are additional mixes by William Umana, Tony Moran & Mike Lorello, Alexander & Mark VDH, Jonnas Roy & Tony Dark, Jose Jimenez, and Ronald Rossenouff. William Umana's mixes are synthier and feature more vocals. Tony & Mike's mix is very anthemic and showcases the vocals really nicely. Alexander & Mark's mix is a tad darker. Jonnas & Tony's mix is in that familiar Offer Nissim tribal dub style. Jose Jimenez's mix has a Latin tribal feel. Ronald's mix is a bit more electro-styled. Not a bad mix in the bunch. Tony & Mike's mix works the best overall.

Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A-

Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends (Audio Assembly Remix)

This was the 4th single of their 2004 album American Idiot. The emotional song was an alternative/rock midtempo in its original version. The song never did have any proper dance mixes or remixes, aside from a few extended versions which were in the same vein as the original. Audio Assembly has stepped up to the plate to update this. The 10 minute mix begins with mild techy-tribal beats and synths with just a few vocal samples. It builds for nearly 3 minutes dropping into a production similar to the original--without the beats. The percussion, plus some haunting church bells come in a little later. Billie Joe Armstrong's vocal performance is already haunting and beautiful, and doesn't lose its impact even with a club-oriented production. This mix is truly spectacular.

Listen to the mix here:
Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends (Audio Assembly Sanctuary Mix) by djbillywaters

Grade: A+

Ke$ha - We R Who We R

This is the lead single off of her forthcoming EP entitled Cannibal. This comes hot on the heels of her debut album Animal. This doesn't stray too far from her previous album and its accompanying singles. Vocally, she sounds fine. This one is really catchy and has a slight cute factor. The production is electro/pop-oriented.

Listen to the original here (YouTube)

Grade: B

Giulietta - Vertigo

This is a single off of her debut album. "Vertigo" is a not-so-subtle kiss off to a lying, cheating lover. It's an uptempo electro dance/pop track. Giulietta's vocals are pretty good. Lyrically, it's clever and fun. The main version is dancefloor ready, however, there are additional remixes by Dave Aude, Jeremy Word*, Rob Orton*, and Skynet*. Dave's mixes are basically edgier, clubbier versions of the original. These are very well done.

Watch the video here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

*this mix was not available for review at press time

Josie Cotton - Johnny Are You Queer

This is an update of the 1981 song. The original had that new wave sound which was popular at the time. The tongue-in-cheek song created quite a debate when it was first released. Now it is back again with some new remixes courtesy of Barry Harris, Trypsin, and Donni Hotwheel. Josie also recorded new vocals for these mixes. Barry's mixes are aptly named (the Big Room Drama mixes) with the hard drums and synths and light piano keys. There are many parts which call to mind the classic Thunderpuss sound. Trypsin keeps things hard as well. The synths have a fun retro feel. Donni Hotwheel also keeps some of the aesthetic of the original with his mixes. He captures the playful vibe of the original with a modern twist. Rounding out the package is the Elephant mix which is basically a 2010 version of the original. Overall, all versions are solid, however, Barry and Donni's mixes are the standouts.

Grade: A

Sebastian Krieg and C'hantal - Seduction

The oft sampled House classic "The Realm" by C'hantal is back again in the form of "Seduction." The familiar hypnotic female vocal sounds just as poignant as it did all those years ago. The electro-house production is appropriately hypnotic, meshing very well with the vocals. The Weekend Heroes and Bastique mixes are in a similar vein as the main versions, however, these toughen up the track slightly.

Purchase the release here (TraxSource)

Grade: A-

Olivia Newton-John remixed by Tracy Young

It was announced a couple of months back that a special Austrian re-release of her Grace And Gratitude album would be happening, and it would include two brand new remixes of her #1 hit classics "Physical" and "Magic". Tracy Young did the remixes. Olivia also went into the studio and recorded brand new vocals for the mixes.

"Physical" is transformed from a steamy disco romp into a full blown club-banger. There's only a slight resemblance to the original during certain portions. Olivia's new vocals sound fine on this.

"Magic" is thankfully not as frenetic and busy. It is much faster than the midtempo original. The vocals sound good here as well, but of course, the original vocals reign supreme.

These new versions are good for what they are (major props to Tracy and Joe for stepping up to the tall order of working on these classics), but the originals are such masterpieces the way they were and it's very difficult to match that level of perfection.

Grade: A-

Pink - Raise Your Glass

"Raise Your Glass" is 1 of 2 new songs set to appear on her upcoming Greatest Hits...So Far!! collection. This is a dance/rock styled uptempo. P!nk is in a celebratory, fun mood on this one. Her great vocals and signature attitude make this song shine. This could have easily appeared on her last album had it been recorded at that time. While it is not all that different from her usual, it's good.

Purchase here (iTunes)

Grade: A-

Mariah Carey - Oh Santa!

This is the lead single off of her upcoming new Holiday album Merry Christmas II You. This is meant to be a sequel to her previous Holiday album Merry Christmas, released in 1994. "Oh Santa!" is a joyful uptempo. This is a brand new song. It's a bit whimsical, but it's very festive and cute. Mariah's vocals are in fine form here. While this song may not become a classic anytime soon, it is a lot of fun.

Grade: B+

Taylor Dayne - Facing A Miracle (Remixes)

This was the official song that this years Gay Games VIII this past Summer. It brings dance diva Taylor Dayne back to the scene after a short break. "Facing A Miracle" is a midtempo synth-pop track in its original version. Although some of the lyrics may seem a bit cliche initially, Taylor's vocal delivery makes them more powerful.

There are some alternate versions and remixes for this by SoundFactory, Audio Assembly, and DJ MichaelAngelo & Gabriel Gates. The Pop Up Symphonic mix is a bit dramatic while the Electro African Groove mix adds some ethnic flavor.

SoundFactory's mixes are dark and anthemic. The club mix meanders a bit, and is rather busy at times, while the radio edit is more concise, keeping all the good parts. The key change feels a bit forced in the club mix. The dub bears only some resemblance to the vocal mix.

Audio Assembly's mixes have a milder, subtle production, allowing for the vocals to truly shine. The drums are really great. Additional DJ/production tools including an acapella are available too.

Finally, there's the DJ MichaelAngelo & Gabriel Gates mix. It's a Eurodance-styled mix with hints of trance, calling to mind Valentin's work. Overall, the whole package is really solid.

-Purchase the original and alt mixes here (Amazon)
-Purchase the SoundFactory mixes here (Juno)
-Purchase the Audio Assembly mixes here (Juno)
-Purchase the DJ MichaelAngelo & Gabriel Gates mix here (Juno)

Grade: A/A- (it's somewhere in between and A and A-, like a 97.5%)

Vibelicious and Dean Boudreau - Love Sick

This is the latest collaboration between producer/remixer Vibelicious (a.k.a. Jared Jones) and singer Dean Boudreau. "Love Sick" is a modern electro take on 80's synth-pop. It has that same aesthetic that many of New Order and Erasure's classics had both in terms of production and mood. Dean's vocals bear a striking resemblance to Darren Hayes. He sounds great here. This is a great track. Additional remixes will be coming soon.

Purchase the original version here (iTunes)

Grade: A-

DJ Paulo - Deep In Your Diva

Known for his energetic tribal brand of house music, DJ Paulo is back with a new track entitled "Deep In Your Diva." For the most part, it is an instrumental with some fun vocal samples intercut in between the various synths and rhythms. Although it lacks a formal vocal hook, this one is still plenty catchy. This track is based on DJ Paulo's own private remix of Beyonce's "Diva" from last year. It's basically the same instrumental without Beyonce's vocals. Overall, this works much better as a separate track. .

Purchase the main version here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A-

Ryan W - Untouchable

This is the followup to his last single "Oceans." "Untouchable" has that right amount of attitude in both the lyrics and Ryan's delivery. The main mixes by Nick Harvey are his usual big room, tribal fierceness. His Plastic House mix is quite good. There are additional mixes by Razor N' Guido and Streamweaver. Razor N' Guido's mixes are much darker than Nick's versions. Their Duhb version is particularly notable with it's classic references. Streamweaver's mixes are slightly trancey with the soaring synthwork. Every version on this package is great.

Purchase the digital single here (Beatport) or here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand

Duck Sauce is a collaboration made up of Armand Van Helden and A-Trak. Their current single "Barbra Streisand" got significant attention earlier this year at the Winter Music Conference. The quirky, semi-instrumental samples heavily from Boney M.'s "Gotta Go Home." There are a few added vocals. This song has little to do with the legendary Barbra Streisand aside from the name. It's an interesting track overall, however, the original Boney M. track is certainly worth checking out as that is a bit more exciting than this. If any good can come from this, it's a great way to introduce Boney M. to a whole new generation.

-Listen to the Boney M. original here (YouTube)
-Listen to the Duck Sauce track here (YouTube)

Grade: B

Ralphi Rosario and Abel Aguilera vs Tamara Wallace - C'mon Get Funky

This is their second major collaboration after the track "Lookin' 4 Men" a couple of years back. "C'mon Get Funky" is a straight up, fun song that is perfect for the clubs. Tamara's vocals playful while being soulful. The lyrics a tad cliche, but they're nice. The "where'd you learn to funk like that?" line which is used as an alt hook throughout the song is taken straight out of the underground disco classic "Come On And Do It" by Poussez. The main version by Ralphi Rosario has a disco-tinged circuit sound with strings and plenty of horns. There are additional mixes by Ralphi with Abel (as Rosabel), Mark Picchiotti, and Maurice Joshua. The Rosabel mix is the hard, tribal stormer that one would expect from the duo. Both the club and dub are fun. Mark and Maurice both go in a disco/house direction. Mark's has some electro sounds as well. Maurice's piano-driven mix is very classy and soulful. His mix truly embodies the classic disco aesthetic. Overall, all versions are great, but the standouts are the Ralphi and Maurice treatments.

Purchase the digital single here (Amazon), and at iTunes and Masterbeat

Grade: A-

Thomas Anders - Stay With Me

Best known as the lead vocalist for German duo Modern Talking, Thomas Anders has a new solo single. His signature bright vocals are present here. He sounds just as fresh as he did during Modern Talking's heyday. The lyrics are simple and romantic. The original is dance/pop-oriented. There are remixes of this by DJ Vini, G.IL.V., and Danny Verde. DJ Vini opts for an 80's synthpop/electro-styled mix. The G.IL.V mix is a bit more big room-oriented, while Danny Verde's is somewhere in the middle. All versions are quite good, but the Danny Verde mix is the standout.

-Listen to the original here (YouTube)
-Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A-

George Michael - I Want Your Sex

"I Want Your Sex" was the lead single off of his Faith album in 1987. A reissue for the album featuring a bonus disc of additional versions and songs, plus a DVD was to be released in late September, however that has been delayed until early next year. Some new remixes of the singles from the Faith album had been commissioned. The Freemasons remixed "I Want Your Sex." They transformed the already great R&B/Dance-Pop track into a massive floorfiller. It begins with an energetic, chugging intro and keeps building until it drops into a lower tempo, nearly identical to the original. Certain elements and sounds from the original are kept. This has the Freemasons signature sound all over it. After nearly 4 minutes at the lower tempo, it builds back up to the original higher tempo. This mix has the same sort of concept as their brilliant Kelly Rowland "Work" remix from a few years ago, which is perfect for this song.

Listen to some of the mix here (YouTube)

Grade: A+

Edun - My Love Is Here For You

Best known for the smash hit "Put 'Em Up" in 2007, Edun is back with a new single. "My Love Is Here For You" is a lush chilled Dance/Pop song. Edun describes this song as a "...dance-pop love song, the kind that relates to everyone who is in love with someone but the other is afraid to love you back". The production, as well as Edun's vocals are top-notch. The remixes by Bassmonkeys toughen the song up just enough for the dancefloor. The soaring synths and electro-bassline (especially noticeable in the extended version) are great. This is another hit in the making.

-Listen to the original version here (YouTube)
-Purchase the digital single here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Inaya Day and BetBoyz - Higher Place

This is a collaboration involving singer Inaya Day plus Randy Bettis and David Boyd. Inaya delivers the goods as only she can with a soulful, yet stirring performance. All versions of this song are circuit-oriented. There are remixes by Randy and David, DeMarko!, Peter Barona & Hull, JMBW & Joel Dickinson, and Almond Brown. The main version by Randy and David is hard and driving. DeMarko!'s is much harder and more big room-oriented. Peter Barona & Hull's mix is very synthy. JMBW & Joel Dickinson's mix is a bit darker. DJ JST's is both darker and harder. The Almond Brown mix is minimally produced with just a little bit of everything. Overall, every version of this song is very good!

Purchase the digital single here (Traxsource)

Grade: A+

Shakira - Loca

This is the new single off of her forthcoming bilingual album Sale El Sol. Both a Spanish and English version have been recorded. "Loca" is an uptempo Latin/Dance-Pop song, based on the song "Loca Con Su Tiguere" by El Cata. Dizzee Rascal makes a guest appearance on the song's English version, adding to the fun of the song. Shakira sizzles on this playful song. The Spanish version of the song works much better overall.



Listen to the English version here (YouTube)
Listen to the Spanish version here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

(credit to Sway at Pulse Music Board for the cover art)

Tony Moran's Latin Rascal Tribute - Arabian Nights

The Latin Rascals were the duo of Albert Cabrera and Tony Moran. They were active during the mid 1980's, doing remixes and original productions. Released in 1987, "Arabian Nights" was an underground Freestyle classic. It has been revisited with some new mixes. The main XXL mix by Tony Moran and Warren Rigg turns the atmospheric dance track into a hard, driving floorfiller. Albert Cabrera offers a simple hipster dance/rock mix. Alex Cohen's mix is tribal as well, however not nearly as hard and Tony and Warren's mixes. Also included are the original Freestyle versions. Overall, this is a good update to the song.

Purchase the digital single here (iTunes)

Grade: A-

DJ Dan - Fascinated

This is a remake of the Freestyle classic made famous by Company B in the mid 80's. Suzanne Palmer and Carol Jiani most notably recorded and released covers of this as well. This remake is really faithful to the original both in terms of production and vocals (that familiar riff is there too!). The main version could basically be thought of as a modernized version of the original. The Late Night mix loses a bit of the original flavor. DJ Bam Bam's mixes keep only a little bit of the original feel. Chew Fu however uses just the right amount. In addition to the original, Chew Fu's is the best of the bunch. Fans of the original must check this out.

Listen to clips and purchase the release here (Amazon) and here (Juno)

Grade: A

Kylie Minogue - Get Outta My Way

This is the second single off of Aphrodite. Already a favorite by fans, this one is a cute modern disco/house song co-produced by Stuart Price. The original is simply perfect. There are remixes of this by Stuart Price, 7th Heaven, Bimbo Jones, Paul Harris, Sidney Sampson, Daddy's Groove, Mat Zo and Kris Menace. Stuart's mix is basically an extended version of the original. The 7th Heaven mix is in a similar direction as the original and plays up the disco elements. The Bimbo Jones mix is a tad darker. Paul Harris' mix is sort of the 'in-between' of the original and Bimbo mixes. Sidney Samson's mix is a bit more big room-ish. The Daddy's Groove mix has less vocals, however the instrumental production is really nice. It's hard but keeps the disco vibe of the original. Mat Zo's mix is a bit of everything but also keeps the uplifting vibe intact. Kris Menace's mix feels like a watered down, mild version of the original. Overall, the 7th Heaven and Daddy's Groove mixes are the best of the bunch.

Grade: A

Ultraviolet Sound - Suck My Kiss

This is the latest single from the electro/dance/pop act. Featuring the vocals of Sarah Hudson, "Suck My Kiss" is a cute, fun song with a twist. The song is so catchy with both its chorus and that "la la la" hook. The original is dance/pop at its finest. There are remixes of this by Johnny Vicious, Future Lovers, and Audio Assembly. Johnny Vicious offers a circuity mix which maintains some of that retro charm of the original. *Audio Assembly's mix is circuit-oriented as well. The uplifting strings and spacey synths are really good. Overall, all mixes are great.

*The Future Lovers mix was not available at press time.

Listen to the original here (the player is at the top of the screen)
Grade: A

Cascada - Night Nurse

This is reportedly the new single off of their fourth album. Lyrically, "Night Nurse" uses nearly every nursing-related cliche. Production-wise, this song sounds like a mishmash of Lady Gaga's first few singles, particularly "Just Dance" and "Poker Face", as did much of their last album. The addition of a male rapper doing shoutouts throughout the song doesn't help much. Natalie Horler's vocals sound good though. Overall, the song is just okay and leaves much to be desired.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: B

Brandon Flowers - Crossfire

This is the lead single off of The Killers' lead singer's debut solo album Flamingo due later this year. "Crossfire" is a midtempo pop/rock song. A tad milder than his work with The Killers, however, this is quite good. Lyrically, it doesn't stray too far from that aesthetic. This is a great start to his solo era.

There are dance mixes of this by David Morales. David keeps the melody of the original as a backdrop for the entire vocal mix. The mix has both hard and soft parts which both work effectively. The mix could fit into a variety of sets as it's 'just right' for most of them. The dub plays up the harder, darker elements and is nice and tribal.

The original is quite good and the remixes make this song great.

Watch the music video of the original here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Scissor Sisters - Any Which Way

This is the second single off of Night Work. This funky, sexy disco throwback is much more catchy than the previous single "Fire With Fire." Featuring Jake's falsetto, this one is lots of fun. The lyrics have the right amount of sass and attitude. There are remixes for this by 7th Heaven and Keljet (so far). 7th Heaven's mix has a slight 80's new wave sound which fits so well. Keljet also takes a retro approach, giving the song a funkier feel. Both are quite good.

Watch the music video here (YouTube)
Listen to the 7th Heaven mix here (YouTube)
Listen to the Keljet mix here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Donna Summer - To Paris With Love

"To Paris With Love" is her latest single. Co-written by Donna and longtime collaborator Bruce Roberts (most notably on the duet "Whenever There Is Love" and "I Got Your Love"), Donna sings about her love of the French city. The song is very light and delicate in its original version. Donna's vocals are much more subdued than her usual. This sounds like something one may hear at a posh cafe. There are some club mixes of this by Wawa, Craig C, and Mendy (so far). Wawa's mix is electro/dance-pop oriented. This gives the song some much needed energy. Craig C's mixes are in a similar direction but a little harder. Mendy's is electro/house-ish as well. The Wawa one is the best of the bunch so far. Additional mixes were announced so those may be released at a later time.

Listen to the original here (YouTube)
Purchase the remix EP including the original here (iTunes)

Grade: B+ (for the original)/A- (for the Wawa mix)