This Guy!

http://soundcloud.com/tyler-jarvis-erickson/

SOMM!

A friend of mine shared this AWESOME Levels remix with me and I thought you all would enjoy it!

Check it out on SOUNDCLOUD!

Peace.

WINNING REVIEW - ZEDS DEAD - ADRENALINE EP

R. Kelly’s rockin’ review of Zed’s Dead Adrenaline EP.

SO first and foremost I’d like to give an overall review of the EP and then delve into particular tracks. In its entirety the EP definitively expresses the unmistakable Zed’s Dead sound, but what I love about these guys is that they dared to not stay safe. They expanded on their familiar techniques and style to create something truly unique. These songs will definitely turn the heads of other electronic artists. Figure has already locked on to these guys, remixing Bassmentality; Zed’s Dead piece with the Killabits (both songs are awesome, go check them out now if you haven’t already).

“In the Beginning” is my second favorite on the EP and it vaguely reminds me of one of their more popular tracks “Rude Boy”. It has a heavier drop for people who prefer that stuff but also has a melodic feel to it which Z.D. have been consistently incorporating into their style which makes their tracks more complex and also more easily accessible to an untrained ear.

The title track “Adrenaline” is comparable to a harder version of “Right on Time” (Skrillex, 12^th Planet, Kill the Noise). It’s as if the song is constantly climbing toward a drop that’s not delivered, but at the same time you feel satisfied as they introduce new things throughout the track. That was somewhat unspecific but if you listened to the song you know what I’m talking about. “Adrenaline” is my least favorite on the EP but by no means does that mean I think it’s bad. Just not my style.

“Hit Me” is my favorite from the EP. Absolutely stellar drum(machine) work. Not your typical heavy drop, but then again Z.D. has never been known for ‘shit-yourself-omg-what-just-happened’ drops. They prefer to almost ease into it which works wonderfully here and is just as successful as a crazy bass drop. The vocal sampling towards the end of this song is awesome too, I want to sing along and dance at the same time. It’s certainly the most progressive on the EP.

“Oh No” is the least progressive track on the album but is also the easiest to listen to I believe. When you think of Zed’s Dead a year from now, you won’t think of this song but as soon as someone plays it you’ll say “oh I know this one!” as opposed to “Oh I love this one!” That’s all I can really say about it.

I don’t write music reviews, this isn’t my thing, so forgive my untechnical lingo or lack of musical theory knowledge. Just what I think.

I can’t wait to see what they do with a full length album.

Bangarang EP - Skrillex Review on Track Drop Tuesdays

I am starting this review off with the title track, “Bangarang” – Skrillex ft. Sirah.  This song features Skrillex’s trademark style, vocal cutting and bouncing bass lines.  Right off the bat that is not a bad thing.  This song is very difficult to listen to and not want to move.  The build is stylish and fast, another great quality of Skrillex.  So many filthy songs take a long time to build up enough energy to really do the drop justice.  Skrillex always manages the feat quickly and efficiently.

The next track I am going to write about I will admit is my favorite off of the EP. “Breakin’ a Sweat” – Skrillex ft. The Doors. It is my favorite, but I resent that it is one of the few songs that I cannot find any copies of that are the a) final version b) High Definition, and c) not blocked by copyright offenses, except for the one uploaded by HyundaiUSA.  Copyright laws are very annoying.  I am glad I found the one though.  This song was produced as collaboration with some of my favorite human beings in the music industry ever.  Undoubtedly a heavy bass line and the build seems to ooze confidence, border-lining on arrogance. Vocal edits such as “that’s good”, “okay, play that beat again”, and “let’s kick ass” are the primary indication of this arrogant style.  Usually I would dispute that kind of attitude, but this song blatantly does “kick ass”.

“Kyoto” – Skrillex ft. Sirah is bumping on my ear drums right now.  This song, right from the first beat is aggressive.  I had to put in headphones to listen to this song the first time because I was afraid to piss off my neighbors with my system.  Skrillex and Sirah are a brutal combination.  This song is not as great as “Breakin’ a Sweat” in my opinion, possibly because I am biased by my love of the Doors, but, like “Breakin’ a Sweat” it is also pretty confident.  “Yo, Skrill’ drop it hard”.  I must say Sirah absolutely lays it down on this track.  “Bitch, I kill… beat your girl up with the drums, as the bass makes that bitch come.”  Also you can’t help but admire Skrillex’s vocal edits. 

“The Devil’s Den” – Skrillex ft Wolfgang Garter.  This song is evidence of Skrillex’s background in the hardcore scene.  The track is gruesome in the best possible way.  The entire progression is dark and evil, but that is to be expected, with a track called “The Devil’s Den”.  My favorite part was right after the first drop, at around 1:47, when the track started a new build, I much prefer this build to the beginning of the song’s build.  It is a longer build than the first, which is why I believe it is in the middle of the song, as opposed to starting the song off with it, favoring a quick filthy build that is just oh-so-Skrillex, before dropping in the longer builds that permeate the rest of the song.  I, personally, find the second and third builds much more satisfying than the first.  The entire track gets lighter and dance oriented after that first build and drop, almost as though the first section were a tip of his hat to his own background.

“Summit” Skrillex ft. Ellie Goulding is up next.  Maybe I have a bit of a soft spot for Ellie Goulding.  I love this song.  I think this is Skrillex moving towards something new and beautiful, that doesn’t have to drop in order to be a club smash or a dance floor favorite.  This song seems to build and relax fluidly and in a gorgeous fashion.  Most of Skrillex’s heavy dropping songs kind of remind me of a person drawing in a lot of air before screaming their lungs out.  “Summit”, on the other hand, seems to be a fluid inhale and exhale, building tension and emotion before relaxing.  Chalk another victory up for both Skrillex and Ellie Goulding with this track.

I won’t lie; I don’t really have much to say about “Right In” or “Right on Time”.  Neither of these songs really did it for me.  Honestly, I think it came down to having listened to 5 other very Skrillexy songs, and these didn’t stand out to me.  What I have to say about this EP boils down to just about how I felt about these last two songs.  It was what we expected.  Skrillex is Shaun White.  Last time at the X-Games Shaun threw the highest score in history on the Super Pipe.  This year he topped himself again and threw the first perfect score in X-Games history.  Skrillex’s monster beginning was totally topped by this new EP, and it is totally what we all expected from him.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Reviews for this week are coming, bear with me!

In the mean time, dig this Levels Remix! Avicii - Next Levels (TheFatRat Remix)

Shout to Andy McKee, one of my all time favorite guitarists, for his AMA on Reddit today.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/p4s50/iama_acoustic_guitarist_named_andy_mckee_ama/

Please check this out, Andy McKee's Ask Me Anything that was posted on Reddit today.

I have been challenged!

So yesterday I issued a challenge to all of you to write a review of the new Zeds Dead EP.
Some of you guys got back to me real fast and I also got a challenge.  I was challenged to write my own review for Skrillex's Bangarang EP.

I will post my review on Tuesday, alongside my Zeds Dead review and my favorite review written by you guys.

Peace!