DJ Earworm - "United States Of Pop 2009" Video

I'm not really a fan of any of the songs used, but this is pretty rad. Someone needs to do this for indie music in 2009. Check out DJ Earworm's website to download the track and see the full list of artists.

Hot Catato's Summer Short List

5. Copying dance moves from this kid and using them to make friends.


4. Discovery - I'm not a particularly huge fan of either Ra Ra Riot or Vampire Weekend, but a member of each got together to form Discovery and it's, frankly, wonderful. Especially this "Orange Shirt" song.


3. Supernova - "Mr. Hudson" ft. Kanye West
Don't tease. This song makes me want to party.


2. The Antlers - Hospice
When I'm done with all the partying to Supernova, I like to slow it down with this album.






1. Because really, there is no time like summer time to be on a boat. I really wish I was friends with T. Pain.

Mona's Summer Short List(lessness)

5) Danceable Hip Hop Songs and Summer Jammy Jams
I always inexplicably get more into hip hop in the summer and love the remixes of these already awesome tracks: Kanye West's "Love Lockdown" and Kid Cudi's "Day 'N' Nite." Unbelievably great danceable hotness that makes me car-dance with myself whenever they come on (looks more embarrassing than it sounds). But my summer anthem is Jamie Foxx's (feat. T-Pain) - "Blame It," especially that infectious chorus I know by heart. Not only does this track provide the impure thoughts, but it actually makes me wanna put them into action.. with or without the Goose ("gotcha feelin' loose"), the 'Tron ("gotcha in the zone"), or the Henny ("gotcha feelin' dizzy"). It's all good, just "blame it on the ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-alcohol."


4) Rediscovering Rogue Wave
Ever the huge fan, I've recently fallen back in love with their sonic beauty- namely, Descended Like Vultures and Asleep At Heaven's Gate. Tender, gorgeous, lush, melodic, layered, can't even begin to describe their arrangements. I've been known to fall asleep to "Missed" and actually lounged on my couch all pensive and shit last weekend listening to "Eyes" on loop (I do this quite often to their records, in general). Enjoy this favs. sampler: older (1, 2, 3, 4), newer (1, 2, 3, 4).


3) Going To Shows I Actually Care About vs. Being A Show-whore
I've been too tired for shows for shows-sake and these days only hit up "must-sees" or else I'll get in a fight with myself and brood for days type-shows. Stellar nights that have made my half-year: Phoenix, Harlem Shakes record release party, Duncan Sheik, Blind Pilot, and the GUK reunion show. All uber-worth it and kept me in a good mood for at least two weeks afterwards.


2) [Indie] Rock In Advertisements...?
TV-watching feels like less of a waste with all the goodass music in commercials of late. I don't even hit the mute button anymore just in case I may hear The Dodos hawk Miller Chill, The Moody Blues add to the wondrous nature of this Visa ad, Matt and Kim invite me out 'til "Daylight," Mazzy Star makes me rethink my cellular service (effin love this song!), The Submarines sell their souls to Apple, and/or watch Her Space Holiday soundtrack this confusing one.



1) Meeting Musical Peoples
Surreality mixed with WTF, with a dash of "I must call everyone I know/someone who'd care!?" I've discussed Dan Auerbach with Matt Pinfield as he exited his cab, jumped into another and learned my driver had just dropped off Courtney Love as I sat in her warm seat (do I have an STD now?), got snubbed by Kimya Dawson, asked Michael Stipe the meaning of "Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite," discussed alternate endings to Once with Glan Hansard, stared at Ingrid Michaelson's incredible rack while jokingly trying to hook her up with Rhett Miller (within earshot), asked Hootie himself where the Blowfish were, laughed with Guster about their pot-smoking "star-fucker moment" with Willie Nelson, and unwittingly asked Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel if "the lasagna is vegetarian," only to realize 5 seconds later when he walked away that I'm an idiot who just asked Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel if the lasagna was vegetarian. Yeah, that last one was very Baby "I, uhh, carried a watermelon" from Dirty Dancing.

John Legend feat. Andre 3000 - Green Light [single] (2008)

Stylish, elegant, sexy, modern, hip, fresh, unique... these are all words I'd use to describe the inimitable John Legend. Being a longtime fan of his raspy voice and innumerable musical talents, I'm totally in love with "Green Light," the first single off his upcoming third studio release, Evolver. Teaming up with another unique voice in modern hip hop, Outkast's own Andre 3000, was a smart choice. While adding his hip hop musings, it sounds more like scatting than rap and always ups the creativity factor.

"Green Light" deals with the usual themes of eye candy, dancing, hitting "the club," wanting to get down, and finding a new woman worthy of sharing your last name... but this is John Legend, so he doesn't stop there. The music is like hip hop's equivalent of big-band style beats that are catchy, ultra danceable, different, and definitely better than most danceable hip hop music these days. But hey, I expect nothing less than innovative vision from a performer who selects "Legend" as his surname.

This track is cuter than a tired pick-up line! Legend brings the sexy, 3000 brings the quirk, and the lyrics are silly, creative, and hysterical. Where Legend remains sweet ("Do I have girlfriend... technically, no... will you be my girlfriend?, then I'll make it so...") and asks for the permission to get closer the entire song, Andre 3000 contrasts this by being cocky and brash ("I just want you woman, hey... if I were you then it would be me that I go home with"), damn persistent ("That's just what I'm telling you, should be in bed with you, like I've been in jail for two") and, well, funny ("Let's hop a cab, and split it... just kiddin! We both going to where you livin', ha!"). And the playing-hard-to-get female is always entertaining ("She said, what kind of girl do you think that I are? The kind that you meet in a bar? You think you can get whatever you want 'cause you some kinda star?"). Ahh, witty banter.

The sweet R&B crooner, the over-the-top and ridiculous rapper, and the unimpressed video vixen set to a fun and danceable beat is a formula that never gets old. Plus, the music video... it's like one of those awesome Bailey's commercials with extended shots of some glamorous party that you wish you were at. Nothing but good times.

Girl Talk - Feed The Animals (2008)

Pittsburgh's Girl Talk (real name: Gregg Gillis) is a former biomedical engineer who quit his day job to pursue his real art and craft: DJ-ing. Specializing in the creation of incredibly catchy “mash-ups,” he incorporates the best highlights from popular top 40, 80’s, hip hop and alternative rock songs we all know and love, to make brand new tracks for us to continue loving. Diddy might claim to have invented the remix, but Girl Talk took said remix, shook it up, and served it on the rocks with a twist of lime.

To understand his mission, he has said: "The whole basis of the music is that people have these emotional attachments to these songs… being able to manipulate that is a really easy way to connect with people." Ahh, the genius in conceptual simplicity that makes you wish you’d come up with it first! Feed The Animals boasts 14 stylized and ultra danceable tracks that are dizzying as they are intoxicating. Quite simply put, this shit is musical schizophrenia of the functional kind. Mixing upwards of 300 [unauthorized?] samples from artists ranging from (hip hop) Jay Z and Ludacris, to (electronica) Aphex Twin and Kraftwerk, to (mainstream pop) Rihanna and Britney Spears, to (classic rock) Pete Townsend and Steve Miller Band, Girl Talk has moxie. In fact, according to The New York Times Magazine, Girl Talk is a “lawsuit waiting to happen” and this is just as enjoyable to watch as tabloid fodder of good old-fashioned trainwrecks is to read (see: Amy Winehouse).

He’s even gaining a reputation for off-the-wall stage antics, all of which include the spontaneous removal of most, if not all, of his clothing during his set. Apparently, nudity never gets old. But half the fun is trying to identify the artists that are being used in each track [sometimes 18+]. Plus, his mixing choices are unique as hell. Who else would think to mix The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” with Busta Rhymes’ interjection of thoughts on making “booty clap?” File all this mad genius under Girl Talk, whose style will soon render traditional DJ’s obsolete. Seriously, just put this record on and the party will come to you. And if he doesn't make you dance, get your ass to a doctor immediately to check for vital signs.

Oh, and I couldn't resist:

Santogold - Santogold (2008)

This alternative/garage rock/hip hop diva has been on heavy rotation at the nightclub I work at for the past few days with hits like “Shove It,” “Creator,” and “L.E.S. Artistes.” I can’t remember the last time I heard anyone have three club hits at once, especially with their debut album, and songs that I have yet to get sick of. My old man always says he refuses to drink “light” beer or have sex in canoes, because they are both just too close too water, which is how I usually feel about the trendy, generic dance music that gets played at San Jose’s “hot” downtown night scene. So, when I picked this record up, it was for the few songs I had heard and had liked, expecting the rest of the album to be shit. However, I immediately recognized the song I liked, “Lights Out,” which is featured on those new Budweiser Lime* commercials. This album is both poppy and catchy, as well as creative and/or original in a very pioneering sort of way. I have on no account listened to an artist transition between hip hop dance jams that are as dirty and rugged as a Kragen’s parking lot, to as slow, soulful alternative rock so seamlessly and effortlessly. You could play this at your next house party, or while you are cooking mini English muffin pizzas (which were REALLY good by the way). Some personal favorite tracks of mine, beside the before mentioned, are: “Say Aha,” “You’ll Find a Way,” and “Starstruck.” I would compare her to others, but honestly I can’t, and even if I could, it wouldn’t do her sound justice. So do yourself a favor and make some mini pizzas and pick up the self titled album Santogold.

*Gross. Anyone who buys that shit should be kicked in the nuts while they are in line.