Faithless - Insomnia 2.0

The original is nearly 20 years old and has been remixed and revisited countless times, however, Avicii has done a new remix of this as part of an upcoming Faithless remix collection. The song was a huge hit all over the world. The Monster Mix version of the song based on the original is the most famous. Avicii's remix of it features vocals that have been pitched down and it does contain the famous riff, however this remix lacks the energy and drama that made the original so memorable. Additional remixes are supposed to be released in the next few weeks so hopefully some of the others will stay closer to the original.

Listen to the remix here (YouTube)

Grade: B

Avicii - Waiting For Love

This is the latest single from the Swedish DJ/producer. He co-produced the song with Martin Garrix and enlisted the help of singer Simon Aldred. The song is in a similar vein as Avicii's earlier work which was far more uplifting and atmospheric. It is far more accessible than some earlier offerings, particularly with the Alternative Rock-esque vocals. This should easily crossover and give Avicii a multi-format hit.

Watch the lyric video here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Madonna - Rebel Heart (Review)

The highly anticipated 13th studio album from the Queen Of Pop is slated to be released next month, and there are rumors it may be moved up to next week to coincide with her Grammy Awards performance on Sunday.

Madonna began work on this album last year. She was very active on Instagram throughout that year documenting her process with many collaborators including Alicia Keys, Avicii, Diplo, Kanye West, Mozella, Nas, Natalia Kills, Nicki Minaj, Ryan Tedder, Toby Gad, and many others.

Nearly a week before Christmas, a number of unfinished demos and work in progress versions of songs from the album leaked online forcing Madonna and her team to release the first 6 songs as 'instant downloads' when fans pre-ordered the album on iTunes. The lead single "Living For Love" was one of the songs to be released then. A full remix package has also been released and a music video is in the works. The album was originally envisioned as a concept project with two discs each containing a particular them with one being "Rebel Heart" with the more socially conscious and emotional songs and then "Unapologetic Bitch" with the more playful and light-hearted songs. That concept was abandoned due to the leaks and it is now one album going back and forth between the themes.

Here is a track by track writeup.

Avicii feat. Robbie Williams - The Days

Swedish producer/DJ Avicii has had many successes during these last few years. He is all set to release his new artist album Stories. The first single is a guitar-driven Dance/Pop song with vocals by British Pop singer Robbie Williams (of Take That fame) performing the vocals. Robbie's vocals are excellent, blending well with Avicii's production. This one has the potential to be another worldwide club and radio hit and could potentially re-introduce Robbie Williams to the U.S. He had several solo hits stateside in the late 90s and early 2000s but he has not released anything targeted towards that market.

Listen to the song here:


Grade: A

Santana and Wyclef feat Avicii and Alexandre Pires - Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)

To herald the arrival of the FIFA World Cup, several festive songs have become the anthems of the games. Other songs composed specifically for the World Cup by Pitbull & Jennifer Lopez with Claudia Leitte, Shakira, Ricky Martin, and Aloe Blacc have also become quite popular. This one by the legendary Carlos Santana with Wyclef Jean on lead vocals, production by Avicii and additional vocals by Alexandre Pires ends up being a rousing, tribal anthem that is sure to get people up on their feet and into the mood. It's a positive and universal song. There are a number of club mixes of the song, however, Cutmore's is the best as he stays close to the original making it a little dancier.

-Watch the lyric video here (YouTube)
-Purchase the song here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Chicane feat Duane Harden - One More Time

Taking a page from Avicii's recent hit single "Wake Me Up" which also incorporates a Country style banjo and Electronic music, "One More Time" is in a similar vein. Duane Harden (of "You Don't Know Me" and "What You Need" fame) provides the few soulful vocals. It is mostly instrumental with just a few vocal drops. In addition to the dubby original is the slightly similar Disco Citizens mix which is a bit more accessible and clearer sounding. The Andi Durrant & Steve More mix is extremely noisy and it adds absolutely nothing of note to the song.

-Buy the song here (iTunes)

Listen to the song here:


Grade: A-

Henrik B, Niklas Gustavsson, Peter Johansson - Echoes

The atmospheric track has been doing well on Dance radio stations in the U.S. for the last few weeks. With its unrelenting hook and hands in the air electro/pop production, this one has the potential to cross over to Pop radio with a proper promotional push. Signed to Avicii's record label, this could have similar or greater success as his own "Levels."

A nice bootleg tribal mix retaining the essential elements of the original by Deep Influence was made available recently. It takes the song to the next level.

-Listen to the original here (YouTube)
-Purchase the original versions here (Beatport)

Listen to the Deep Influence mix and download here:


Grade: A

Avicii vs Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One

Although released last year, this song has begun to gain traction in the U.S. and around the world, recently topping the UK charts. Though the song's lyrics aren't exactly groundbreaking, but coupled with the hypnotic production, it all works well. There is a really great remix of this by the Bent Collective (Danny Verde, Guy Scheiman, and Steven Redant) coming soon that significantly improves upon the original. It is much harder and gives the song some much needed drama.

-Watch the music video here (YouTube)
Listen to the preview of Bent Collective's mix here:


Grade: A- (for the original)
            A for the Bent Collective mix

2013 Grammy Nominations

The nominations for the 2013 Grammys are out now! The full list can be viewed here (Grammys official website).

These are the Dance/Electronic genre and Remixer nominations.

9. Best Dance Recording

Levels
Avicii
Tim Bergling & Ash Pournouri, producers; Tim Bergling, mixer
[Levels/Atom Empire/Interscope]

Let's Go
Calvin Harris Featuring Ne-Yo
Calvin Harris, producer; Calvin Harris, mixer
[Ultra Music]

Bangarang
Skrillex Featuring Sirah
Skrillex, producer; Skrillex, mixer
Track from: Bangarang
[OWSLA/Big Beat/Atlantic]

Don't You Worry Child
Swedish House Mafia Featuring John Martin
Steve Angello, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, producers; Steve Angello, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, mixers
[Astralwerks]

I Can't Live Without You
Al Walser
Al Walser, producer; Al Walser, mixer
[Cut The Bull Entertainment]

10. Best Dance/Electronica Album

Wonderland
Steve Aoki
[Ultra Music/ Dim Mak]

Don't Think
The Chemical Brothers
[Astralwerks]

> Album Title Goes Here <
Deadmau5
[Mau5trap Recordings/Ultra Music]

Fire & Ice
Kaskade
[Ultra Music]

Bangarang
Skrillex
[OWSLA/Big Beat/Atlantic]

68. Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

In My Mind (Axwell Remix)
Axel Hedfors, remixer (Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl Featuring Georgi Kay)
[Neon Records/Axtone/Big Beat Records]

Lie Down In Darkness (Photek Remix)
Photek, remixer (Moby)
Track from: Destroyed Remixed
[Little Idiot]

Midnight City (Eric Prydz Private Remix)
Eric Prydz, remixer (M83)
[Mute]

Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix)
Skrillex, remixer (Nero)
[Interscope]

The Veldt (Tommy Trash Remix)
Thomas Olsen, remixer (Deadmau5 Featuring Chris James)
[Ultra Music]

Swedish House Mafia feat John Martin - Don't You Worry Child

This is their latest single. It is vocal-oriented track in a similar vein as last year's "Save The World." Lyrically it is very positive and hopeful. The vocals by John Martin are beautiful. They call to mind some of Bryan Adams' earlier work. The instrumental production is ethereal and uplifting. The main riff calls to mind the ones used in Coldplay's "Every Tear Is A Waterfall" and Avicii's "Levels." This one would find success in both clubland on mainstream radio.

Listen to the main version here:


Grade: A

Avicii - Levels

Although this song was released in late October, the Etta James-sampling track has been getting a lot of attention internationally during the last couple of months. It has been the basis for Flo Rida's current single "Good Feeling." Almost entirely instrumental, the uplifting piano-driven main version has a vocal drop featuring some vocals from the beginning of the legendary Etta James song "Something's Got A Hold On Me" right in the middle. The combination of the hypnotic instrumental and that unexpected vocal drop is just magical. Full instrumental versions are also available for those who want to enjoy the song just like that. Overall, this is an excellent song.

-Watch the music video here (YouTube)
-Purchase the Edit version of song with vocals here and the full EP with extended versions, instrumental and remixes here (iTunes)

Grade: A+