"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
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?
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.
Lady Gaga vs. David Bowie, “Let’s Just Dance” [Mashup]
DJ Terry Urban treats mashups like Cage treats composition, dropping just a micro-fragment of Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” behind Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” — to startling effect. This also marks the first occasion for either artist where subtlety has served as an asset.
Kids in the Hall vs. Grizzly Bear, “Leisure Man” [New Track/Mashup]
Well, Grizzly Bear’s entré into hip-hop is officially complete; first Jay-Z shows up at a Brooklyn show, now Kidz in the Hall are rapping over “Two Weeks.” Be honest: did anyone see this coming? And if you did, is there any way we can solicit your insight on, say, the next 15 World Series?
Raekwon, “About Me” & “Cataline” [Live]
This is the thanks Rae gets, for putting out a record anticipated for a decade that actually lives up to the hype? He gets more-or-less ignored, relegated to live performances on an extreme sports network?
Rihanna, Full London Concert [Live Video]
The future is here, folks. You don’t even have to leave your desk now to enjoy a full Rihanna concert. And who do we have to thank for this wonderful Friday gift? You guessed it: the Russians, who appear to be hosting this video on a Russian version of YouTube called — wait for it! — RuTube.
Passion Pit, “Little Secrets” [Jack Beats Remix]
Jack Beats takes a scalpel to Passion Pit’s trump card, turning it into the kind of ADD-dance number that inspires full-body dance-floor freak-outs.
Snoop Dogg feat. Alicia Keys, “Snoop State of Mind” [Jay-Z Cover/Rework]
If someone had suggested, 15 or so years ago, the possibility of Snoop singing a song extolling the virtues of the East Coast, that individual would have been either ridiculed or pummeled. It would be like suggesting the possibility of ODB recording an anti-drug PSA.
JJ, “Baby” [Lorentz & M. Sakarias Cover]
What happens when an ethereal Swedish pop band gets a hold of an unctuous Swedish rap song? They cut out the rapping entirely, salvage the hook and turn the whole thing into something soothing and sublime. Can JJ pull this trick with other obnoxious rappers? If so, we’ve got a case of Asher Roth albums and enough postage to cover the air mail.
Phoenix, “Rome” [Neighbors & Devendra Banhart Remix]
We’ll confess, the phrase “Devendra Banhart Remix” didn’t make us especially optimistic. But this reworking of Phoenix’s “Rome” is gentle enough to suggest Banhart may have a few more tricks in his beard. Along with that tire iron, ham sandwich and small family of field mice.
Numero Group’s Eccentric Soul Revue, “Devestator” [Live]
First off, if you’re not familiar with the Numero Group, you need to change that situation immediately. A consistently inspiring label dedicated mostly to reissuing lost R&B classics, it recently launched the Eccentric Soul Revue — thrilling spectacles showcasing shoulda-been superstars. The tour wraps up tonight in New York, and this sizzling live track gives a good glimpse of the punch it will pack.
Photo: Legato/FilmMagic 
Photo: Shearer/WireImage 
Photo: Boyd/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty
