"Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art."
http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/2/6/1/4/31444162-31444167-slarge.jpgMuse, “Knights of Cydonia” [The Integrals Remix]
The integrals bring out the disco at the center of Muse’s soaring art rock, turning “Knights” into a bleak and gritty electro stomper.
Radiohead, “Videotape” [Xaphoon's Dubstep Remix]
The loveliest song on In Rainbows gets even lovelier, thanks to a tripping backbeat and weird washes of synth.
Pixies, “Where Is My Mind?” [Bassnectar Remix]
Bassnectar reconfigures the Pixies’ dizzying original, bringing Black’s sneer even further to the fore and brightening the backdrop with pulsing rhythms.
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance” [Skrillex Remix]
Fast and furious, Gaga gets ramped up to 110mph and rushes furiously forward in this brash and bold remix.
Miike Snow, “Animal” [Mark Ronson Remix]
Snow in Jamaica — Ronson rethinks Snow’s original, taking it to the islands and getting clubbier and dubbier
The Band:Junius The Buzz: Breathtaking Boston metal band pulls off a perfect hybrid of Neurosis and the Smiths, striking a stunning balance of brutality and beauty. Their latest album, The Martyrdrom of a Catastrophist, is a concept record about catastrophe theorist Immanuel Velikovsky, exploring his insistence on a chaotic universe. Its songs are spellbinding and heartbreaking, gripping from the first note to the last. A hard rock dream come true. Listen If: You dress in combat boots and all black and look like you could uproot an oak tree with your bare hands, but your secret favorite record is Disintegration. Key Track: The heartbreaking “Letters from Saint Angelica,” where pleas to “Wake up! Wake up!” are delivered against guitars that crash like tidal waves.
The Band:Dam-Funk The Buzz: The new sound of old electro: California producer makes glitchy, slippery beats that recall the golden age of hip-hop. Call it Commodore 64-core: minimal blip groove with designed for serious swiveling. It’s square and sexy. Listen If: You could beat Pole Position blindfolded, and used that skill to impress the ladies (or gentlemen!). Key Track: The laid-back “I Know Love is Here Tonight,” with its martini-glass clink and hand-clap percussion. You can almost see the guys in pink pastel polos grooving on the light-up dance floor.
The Band:Laura Veirs The Buzz: Magnificent Portland songwriter delves into the mystic, crafting spare, entrancing pop songs as informed by folk music as they are indie rock. Her upcoming July Flame takes its title from a type of peach, and its content is just as sweet and irresistible. Listen If: You rep hard for solo Tanya Donnelly, or prefer Cat Power’s early, odd work to her late-period polish. Key Track: “July Flame,” where Veirs hypnotic, mysterious voice wends its way around stiff guitar, purring an endless string of curious riddles until the whole song crests in a crescendo of swirling violins and ghostly choirs.
Neil Diamond, “The Chanukah Song Song” [Adam Sandler Cover]
We’re still reeling from the fact that we just typed the words “Adam Sandler Cover,” but here you go. And you know what else? Dude kind of rocks it out (it’s produced by current Guns n’ Roses guitarist DJ Ashba!). The video is bizarrely literal but, uh, this is Neil Diamond covering Adam Sandler. Happy Holidays.
Passion Pit, “Moths Wings” [Eric Solomon Remix]
Solomon takes the ball and runs with it. This remix starts out fairly straightforward and then goes bright-lights glam-disco after the first verse, fat synths streaking up the center and the vocals sliced, diced and julienned. It’s Passion Pit by way of Daft Punk.
Mark Kozelek, “White Christmas” [Cover]
Former Red House Painters frontman croons and stumbles his way through this holiday classic. That he ends up laughing about halfway through only adds to the charm.
Toro y Moi, “Human Nature” [Michael Jackson Cover]
We know, we know — you’ve probably had your fill of Michael Jackson covers by now. But this bright and brilliant reworking by Toro y Moi was too irresistible to ignore.
Suede, “Heronie” [Live]
And what better way to close out the week than with a bit of vintage Britpop. Suede, wherefore art thou? And whenfore can you get back together and come to the States?
The Band:Ringers The Buzz: Certifiable proof punk is far from dead, this Boston band that sprung from the ashes of the band Sirens (they have a thing for one-word plurals apparently) give hope to anyone who loves ragged, hook-laden music delivered with a throat that sounds like it’s been floor-sanded for six years. Listen If: You still have your beat-up leather jacket from when you were 15, even if it doesn’t fit quite the way it used to. Key Track: The impossible-to-deny “Conswayla,” with a chorus that should be monopolizing rock radio right this minute.
The Band:Olof Arnalds The Buzz: Lovely, transcendent Icelandic singer-songwriter writes the kind of music that populates the dreams of angels — fluttering folk songs as fragile as tiny china swans. Listen If: You like your music as enveloping and comforting as a quilt on a winter night Key Track: The irresistible “Vid og Vid,” which drifts down like feathers from a burst pillow, the kind of song that raises goosflesh on eardrums.
The Band:Gigi The Buzz: NGigi takes the Wall of Sound approach to indie pop, gathering up underground mainstays like Rose Melberg and Karl Blau and handing them irresistible throwback-pop to shimmy and shoop their way through. Listen If: You have a button on your jacket that says “Joe Meek Shall Inherit the Earth.” Key Track: The grand and booming, “No, My Heart Will Go On,” the perfect floor-filler for your next sock hop.
Photo: Legato/FilmMagic Fugazi, Stage Banter [Stage Banter]
So, let’s be clear about something: Single Minded loves Fugazi. Loves. And hearing this stage banter — charming, confrontational, aggressive, passionate — just reminds us of all the reasons why.
Clare & the Reasons, “That’s All” [Genesis Cover]
This rules: Brooklyn chamber-pop crew Clare & the Reasons give “That’s All” the “Tusk” treatment, tricking it out with tubas and making it sound slinky and sinister.
The Bravery, “White Winter Hymnal” [Fleet Foxes Cover]
Ever wonder what it might be like if Fleet Foxes channeled A Flock of Seagulls instead of Crosby, Stills & Nash? Wonder no more!
Flying Lotus, Weezy [Lil Wayne Remixes]
At long last — deft beatmaster Lotus gives Wayne’s otherworldy rhymes the spaced-out rhythms they deserve.
Muse, “Feeling Good” [Nina Simone Cover]
We were skeptical about this at first — how would Muse’s tendency for the anthemic suit this Simone charmer? But, give the boys credit — they pull it off in fine style.
Photo by George Dubose 
Photo: Legato/FilmMagic 
