Archive for May, 2012

May 31, 2012

Entry 214– Tour of Techno Week, Part 4: "Evacuate the Dancefloor"

by Christopher

Tour of Techno Week, Part 4
Song: “Evacuate the Dancefloor”
Artist: Cascada

http://youtu.be/A68j28KQaik
Comments: Well, after all the hooplah about scheduling entries and writing them ahead of time, here I am, having forgotten to do both. Anyway, welcome to Eurodance! This genre, I’m really not even going to define. Instead, I’m just going to point at Cascada and say “That is Eurodance.” Eurodance is upbeat and positive, generally has a female singer with a male rapper, is catchy, and runs from about 120 to 140 beats per minute. (I  checked, and this song drops in about 128 bpm.) Essentially, Eurodance is Casacada. Take a listen, and if you like the song, go looking for more! Try Wikipedia for similar artists or examples listed in the Eurodance article.

May 30, 2012

Entry 213– Tour of Techno Week, Part 3: Some Dubstep

by Christopher

Tour of Techno Week, Part 3
Song: “Pumped Up Kicks Dubstep Remix”
Artist: Foster the People, remixed by Butch Clancy

Song: “Numb (H320 Remix)”
Artist: Linkin Park, remixed by H320
Comments: I’d have to check on this, but I do believe this is the first time that Stuck In My Skull has ever put two songs in one entry. Welcome to the dubstep entry. The wikipedia entry on dubstep is a decent starting point, but I really don’t like their definition. If pressed, I’d call dubstep a “heavily electronic sound with complex and/or irregular rhythms, heavy use of dirty, synthesized base, and distinct use of electronically generated effects.” I wanted to introduce dubstep to readers who haven’t heard it, and attempt to bring some of the naysayers around to a more moderate position, so I went looking for really excellent ‘soft’ dubstep. I’ll admit, the harder end of dubstep (dirtier beats, less regular rhythms…) is an acquired taste, and really isn’t for everyone. The first song in today’s entry is worth watching the video to, even if you truly hate dubstep, just to watch this guy dance. The song itself is pretty decent, but I’ll admit, I wanted a video that had more than just the music working to hold the attention. I like the second song better as a song, but as the video is entirely one image, it’s rather dull. Regardless, the song is excellent, and the vocalist puts a nice spin on the song. Anyway, all I ask is that you set aside any preconceived notions and give these songs a try. If you like ’em, great! If not, oh well, there’s always tomorrow’s entry. Enjoy!
May 29, 2012

Entry 212– Tour of Techno Week, Part 2: "Some Chords"

by Christopher

Tour of Techno Week, Part 2
Song: “Some Chords”
Artist: Deadmau5

http://youtu.be/MEQMkzjcLEA
Comments: Welcome to House music! For those of you who love definitions, Wikipedia explains House like this: “Early house music was generally dance-based music characterized by repetitive 4/4 beats and rhythms centered around drum machines, off-beat hi-hat cymbals and synthesized basslines. … House music today, while keeping several of these core elements, notably the prominent kick drum on every beat, varies a lot in style and influence…” Anyway, the song. This song is taken from Deadmau5’s (pronounced “dead mouse”) album “4×4 = 12.” Deadmau5 is one of the biggest names in House music, and is an acknowledge master of these beats and basses. Check it out, and if you like this song, I encourage you to go looking for more

Edit: So, I used Blogger’s scheduling feature, and wrote this post last night. As it’s now up, I am pleased to announce it works! I’ll probably use this again. This bodes well for the regularity of future posts.

May 28, 2012

Entry 211– Tour of Techno Week, Part 1– "Bring Me To Life (Drum&Bass Remix)"

by Christopher

Tour of Techno Week, Part 1
Song: “Bring Me To Life (Drum&Bass Remix)”
Artist: Evanescence, mixed by Black Sky

http://youtu.be/jj1wYkk6LhU
Comments: Welcome to Tour of Techno Week! This week, I’ll be giving a whirlwind tour of the entire genre of electronic music– a huge genre that has something in it for everyone. In all fairness, this week is more accurately “A tour of Electronic Music,” but I really liked the alliteration, so accuracy has been sacrificed for entertainment value. Anyway, the song. This song is the first example of a drum and bass song that I ever heard, and it sent me looking for more. According to Wikipedia, this genre is “characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 160–180bpm)… with heavy bass and sub-bass lines.” Honestly, I think that description is far too dry. It really doesn’t convey any of the energy or catchiness of the genre. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the song, and if you do, welcome to Drum and Bass! Don’t forget to like us on facebook!


Edit: Fixed some wonky formatting. Now it’s easily readable!

May 25, 2012

Entry 210– "Drive By"

by Christopher

Song: “Drive By”
Artist: Train

http://youtu.be/oxqnFJ3lp5k
Comments: To be honest, this actually isn’t stuck in my head. “Where Have You Been” is, probably because it was just playing. However, because I won’t reuse songs, I’ll toss you the previous song that was stuck in my head. It took me a bit to warm up to this song, because originally I thought it was fairly bland and generic. The more I hear it, however, the more I enjoy it. It’s a good song, and if you haven’t heard it yet, you should take a listen! Enjoy the song, and enjoy the weekend!

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May 25, 2012

Entry 209– "How Soon Is Now"

by Christopher

Song: “How Soon Is Now”
Artist: David Guetta, Sebastian Ingrosso, Dirty South feat. Julie McKnight

http://youtu.be/GRfVeHRCdxM
Comments: So far, this song is taking the ‘most artists in the credits’ award. I originally encountered this song on the Swedish House Mafia album “Until One,” and promptly fell in love with it. Hopefully the quality and unique sound of this song makes up for the lateness of this post. Enjoy!