Posted by: Jay

I don’t think it’s gonna make quiiiite as much money as The Avengers, but there’s another movie out that throws together established superheros into some kind of ad-hoc collaboration, hoping that the sum of their parts will turn into something transcendent, something greater than any of them could have achieved on their own. In “Re:Generation”, a documentary brought to us by The Grammys and directed by Amir Bar-Lev*, our five superheros are Skrillix, DJ Premier, Pretty Lights, Mark Ronson, and The Crystal Method and their mission is to reinterpret five traditional genres of music with their on unique style and flair.

* I had no idea “The Grammys” presented anything besides The Grammys. And Bar-Lev also directed “My Kid Could Pint That” & “The Tillman Story”

As a big fan of genre bending in general I was all in when I heard about the project, and with one exception* all the tracks turned out great. As for the movie itself, it ranges from “well worth watching” to a “must see!”, depending on how much you follow these modern day musical superheros. As a super fan of all these guys it was thrilling watching them so far out of their element and really having their sound pushed to the limit.

*Crystal Method, I’m looking at you.

I appreciated all these tracks more after I watched the whole movie so really I hope you’ll make the time to do that, but let’s just take ‘em for a quick spin:

Skrillex vs. Rock (and featuring the living members of the Doors*) - “Breakn’ A Sweat”

Mark Ronson vs Jazz (featuring Erykah Badu, Trombone Shorty, Mos Def, Zigaboo Modeliste, and Members of The Dap Kings) - “A La Modeliste”

DJ Premier vs Classical (Nas and The Berklee Symphony Orchestra) - “Regeneration”

Pretty Light vs Country (featuring LeAnn Rimes and Dr. Ralph Stanley) - “Wayfaring Stranger”

To watch the movie and get all these tracks check the official website:

http://regenerationmusicproject.com/

Trailer and re-mixes from Bonobo and Zedd after the jump:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: Jay

Speaking of comebacks, blog favorite Gramatik is back with a hot new EP on the Pretty Lights label! And while I love “Talkbox Intended” like this cat loves him some boxes the rest of the EP left me thinking: “Et tu, Gramatik? Et tu??”. Yup, our down tempo/hip hop hero has fallen prey to that wicked temptress know as “dubstep”. No one, it seems, is beyond her seductive reach.

So, if you like dubstep you’re gonna LOVE this EP. If you don’t, it might be worth a listen anyway. Some of the tracks are a bit more “glitch-hop” than pure dubstep, and no matter the genre Gramatik always brings top notch production a touch of soul to his work.

Gramatik - “Talkbox Intended”

Gramatik - “First Up”

Gramatik - “Illusion Of Choice”

Gramatik - “23 Flavors”

Buy these tracks of the whole EP!

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I know Cor’s gonna freak out, but what do you think of Gramatik’s new sound? Natural evolution or sad pandering to the hot sound du jour?? If you forgot what Gramatik used to sound like, check out Cor’s full break down over here.

Posted by: Jay

Hello Beatery faithful! I know we’ve been in an epic dry spell around these parts (I haven’t posted since Thanksgiving? Really??), and I apologize. There are real world reasons for that: huge independent web project (I built this!); babies; my recent two month work/holiday to Bolivia & Brazil; etc… but honestly the biggest reason for my personal hiatus was probably my “little hater”.

I’ll let Jay Smooth explain:

Now that I’m back from SA and done with the epic web project it’s time to slay the little hater and get back to posting more tracks, mixes, videos and the general new hotness!

Wait, did someone say new hottness?? It just so happens that I’ve got some new electro-hottness right here! It’s good to be back.

New Hottness

New Indi-Hottness from power house group Foster The People.

Foster The People - “Don’t Stop” - TheFatRat Remix

New Genre Defying Hottness: It’s electro house! No, It’s French house… wait no it’s trance!

PrototypeRaptor - “Drive Hard”

New Hlectro Eouse Hottness from one of 2011’s hottest new artists Mord Fustang.

Mord Fustang - “We Are Now Connected” - Buy it on Beatport!

New Mid Tempo Hottness from my personal musical heart throb, Dillon Francis.

Dillon Francis - “IDGAFOS 2.0″

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House Keeping Items

1. If you haven’t noticed we’ve been hacked. No, it wasn’t our idea to have unsightly block of adds down there on the bottom of the page. I’ll get that cleared up soon.

2. I have a bunch of podcasts lined up! Be sure to subscribe right here to get them delivered straight to your itunes.

3. I’m excited to announce we’ve got a new blogger joining our Beatery crew! More details to come.

4. As always, we love hearing from you! If you’re diggin the music please take a minute to let us know about it (a comment, a facebook like, stars… there are so many ways!). It helps all of us keep our Little Haters at bay.

Posted by: Jay

Along with counting all of my other blessings this year (including the gifts of good health, a loving family and a poverty free life) I wanted to once again take the time to be grateful for all the wonderful, diverse sounds of electronic dance music we’ve been treated to in 2011.

I’m thankful that Electron Dance Music has been liberated from 125-140 beats per minute.

Here are two of my favorite “mid-tempo” tracks this year. Of course one of them features Dillon Frnacis, my new EDM crush. I <3 him so much!

Wale & Dillon Francis - “G.O.O.D.G.I.R.L.S.” - The White Panda Mash-up

Frost Raven & K Theory - “18th Century Gangster”
Buy It!

I’m thankful for funky basslines

Kinky Movement & Camouflage - “Park It”
Buy It!

The Muthafunkaz - “Gotta Hold On Me (That Skatt Thing)” - Gramophonedzie Nuskool Remix
Buy It!

Maybe be best pure electo house track off 2011 by old friend Quivver:

Quivver - “Funktribe”
Buy It!

I’m thankful EDM super stars are blurring the lines between genres

With the resurgence of guys like Fedde Le Grand, peak of their prime guys like Afrojack, Deadmau5 and Steve Aoki, and the continued excellence of old-school guys like Tiesto we are in EDM talent boom the likes of which we’ve never experienced. And my favorite part? They are collectively pushing EDM beyond previously established genre boundaries.

House, trance, electro, progressive? No longer relevant on their own. I mean I GUESS you could call these tracks “big room progressive house” but that wouldn’t be doing them justice. Progressive Electro Trance? Probably a more accurate description, but the label isn’t what’s important.

What IS important is that the greatest talent in the game is willing to evolve their sound to such a degree that they are forging typical genera limitations. This takes all of EDM to a better place, and for this I am grateful.

Fedde Le Grand - “So Much Love”
Buy It!

Afrojack, Steve Aoki & Miss Palmer - “No Beef” - Austin Gregory Edit

Tiesto & Steve Aoki - “Tornado”
Buy It!

Deadmau5 - “Strobe” - Special Features Remix

I’m thankful simple beauty

My favorite progressive house track of 2011. And it’s not even close.

Maceo Plex - “Falling”
Buy It!

We’re thankful for YOU!

On behalf of all The Beatery writers, DJs and editors I’d like to give all of you thanks for reading, comenting and most of all: listening! We love this music so much it’s our pleasure sharing it with you.

Have a wonderful thanksgiving, there’s so much to be grateful for!!

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Posted by: Jay

Happy 11/11/11! Today instead of bringing you a Beatery Podcast I’m actually being featured on someone ELSE’S internet radio show. Good friend and fellow Weekend Warmup resident Natheus has been banging out the “Electrus Podcast” for a while now to a rather large audience, so I jumped at the chance share an episode with him.

The format is 30 minutes him, 30 minutes me, which just happened to perfectly fit the second part of my KZSU set form Halloween day: the spooky house! I called my part “Dark Rooms”, for reasons that will be obvious when you listen. Eventually I’ll post the mix here, but until then go on over and check it out! Natheus has banging 30 minute house set to kick it off to boot:

The Electrus Podcast 15: Jay Austin Gregory (Hellabeats)