Chill, Compilation, Dubstep | W8’s Top 12 of 2012

Posted by on January 8, 2013

This image above accurately depicts my hiearchy of diversified beats for ’12. Call me weird, but I like to hear tracks as though they’re alive… as if a monster is trying to express itself through sound. This has the most chilling effect, and all these have that. Honourable mentions go to an abundance of EDM tunes that don’t appear on the list. I am forever indebted to that insane energy; no other genre can comprehend, but for now let’s have some alternative listens.

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Compilation | Dshaq’s Top Ten of 2012

Posted by on January 3, 2013

I keep finding it harder and harder to believe that a new year is upon us. To put it in lay man’s terms, 2012 was a pretty dope year. Just to name a few examples, we saw:

1) Chicago Rap take over
2) The emergence of new rappers into the game such as Joey Bada$$, Chief Keef, and Trinidad Jame$.
3) Anything Kanye touches is automatically amazing

The year proved to broaden my musical taste and allow me to venture into different genres. So without further ado, I present my top ten tracks of 2012. Enjoy. READ ON >>

Chill, Compilation, Cover, Indie, Reggae | Cris Cab – Live…In the Moment (Free Album)

Posted by on August 26, 2012

I’ve been a fan of Cris Cab ever since I first saw his covers over a year ago. It’s crazy to see how far he’s come. He’s one of the most talented singers right now, in a genre that is largely over saturated, Cris finds a way to stand out and be unique. Today, he gives us a free album full of high quality live versions of his set from a show down in Miami. Wyclef Jean makes an appearance(and drops an insane freestyle) on “No Woman No Cry,” although I’m not sure who sounds more Jamaican…Cris does a damn good Bob Marley. Throughout this entire compilation, you can feel the passion and hear how Cris effortlessly works the crowd. A true artist can record AND perform. Cris Cab is a true artist.


(Grab the download link in the SoundCloud description)

DO SOMETHING

Compilation | Fresh of July: America’s Playlist

Posted by on July 4, 2012

AMERICA, this is our day.  Let us rejoice with this compilation of songs suited for the celebration of the best damn country on earth!

P.S. Soundcloud must not be American because it’s only letting me upload half of the playlist, so do yourself a favor and download the FULL MIX (21 patriotic songs total) below.  Stay safe and rock that Red, that White, and that Blue!

DOWNLOAD: Fresh of July (4th of July Essentials Playlist) 

Compilation, House, Review | Axtone Presents Thomas Gold

Posted by on May 31, 2012

Axtone not to be outdone by other labels put Thomas Gold to the task of putting together their 2012 compilation filled with Thomas Gold’s impressive discography, most of the releases this year on Axtone and a few other hand picked tracks from Thomas Gold. The 33 song album illustrates the sound and skill of Thomas Gold. Thomas Gold showcases one of his strong suits as a bootleg specialist in this compilation with the plethora of new and unreleased bootlegs in this superbly mixed compilation.

The first disc aptly starts with a new Thomas Gold track “The Beginning” with powerful synth chords, a soft piano melody and a driving bass line. The album then moves through tracks such as the still relevant Hard Rock Sofa – Quasar, Thomas Gold’s 2012 Rework of “Teenage Crime”, a solid rework but Axwell & Henrik B have still yet to be dethroned and a bootleg of “Sing2Me” with Red Carpet – Alright, giving some vocals to his anthem. He picks out Axtone & other major label tracks like “Resurrection”, “Eyes Wide Open“, “Troll“, as well as some of his own remixes and reworks such as “Set Fire to The Rain” (one of the most downloaded tracks in FNT history), and his 2011 rework of “Marsch Marsch” to fill in much of the rest of the first album. The first disc finishes off as it started with another new Thomas Gold original “Fanfare” with its complex bass lines and rhythmic patterns with matching synth chords, bookending this great start to the compilation.

Disc two starts us off with a special intro edit of his 2011 summer anthem “Alive” with Aussie superstar “Dirty South”. It then moves on to an update of one of his first big singles “AGORa” with the vocals from Axwell’s “I Found You”. The second disc is where we really get into the new Thomas Gold remixes and reworks, so be ready to be bombarded by new sounds from Thomas Gold. He then gives us his rework of Sander van Doorn’s anthem “Koko” adding the flavor of the day adding a strong clap to the bass line with changes to the mix and the rhythm, while keeping that instantaneously recognizable melody. We then move through his remix of “Judas”, an unsung remix of 2011 and another unreleased bootleg of his with John Dahlback – Blink and Hard Rock Sofa – Blow Up (Thomas Gold & Axwell Remix). The next original track appears next in the form of “Circles”, a subtle, uplifting piano driven progressive house track. We then get into favorites of the last few months with tracks like “Million Voices“, “In My Mind“, and his important remix of “The Wave” with a new rework of Digitalism – Zdarlight included as well. He finished off the compilation with a few of his older, more low tempo, techy tracks that bring you down after the all energy spent listening to the massive 33 track Axtone compilation.

Per usual Axtone and Thomas Gold exceed expectations. Axtone has been releasing some of the best tracks of the year and Thomas Gold has been improving with each release. This partnership on the compilation is perfect and it shows in the mixing and the tracklist. Tracklist is after the jump and also check out the little competition below where you guess the mashup put together by Thomas Gold for the chance to win a lot of prizes. It is quite easy though if you are really challenged the answer is after the jump.

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Compilation, Progressive House | Miike Snow – The Wave (Thomas Gold Remix)

Posted by on May 14, 2012

The Miike Snow remixes keep on coming from big name artists and each one somehow manages to be better than the previous remix. The genius German, Thomas Gold, gives us his take on Miike Snow – The Wave with a varying snare line, Miike Snow’s signature vocals that make them so easy to remix and an addicting, uplifting melody. With the Dirty South remix of Devil’s Work already getting plenty of work in sets all over the world, expect this remix to get much of the same treatment as a summer go to for many Djs during festival season.

Thomas Gold will be mixing the 2 CD, 32 track Axtone compilation to be released May 28th. It will be largely comprised of Thomas Gold tracks because he is mixing the compilation with some exclusive bootlegs of his, including a vocal mix of his number one single “Sing2Me”. It will include new edits and remixes as well as three new original tracks from Thomas Gold, giving us even more work from his extensive studio output. Tracklist after the jump

Miike Snow – The Wave (Thomas Gold Remix) – Beatport Link

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Compilation, Progressive House | Tiesto – Club Life – Volume Two Miami

Posted by on April 27, 2012

Tiesto has released his massive Club Life compilation as an ode to one of the EDM capitals of the US, Miami. His first Club Life was dedicated to Las Vegas, where he helped transform the music scene dominated by a Hip Hop to one of the EDM capitals of the world possibly second only to Ibiza. The overall album shows the current direction of Tiesto’s music himself and the direction of EDM with all progressive and electro house tracks making the cut on this incredible compilation. Unlike previous compilations that we have been seeing recently that are simply a whole bunch of other people’s songs, Tiesto either made or is part of 8 of 15 of the tracks. While only 6 of the tracks are brand new, in this day and age where the constant need for new songs is there and not all the songs are Tiesto’s, that is quite a good number.

The album starts off with Tiesto’s piano driven progressive track “Chasing Summers” that really has not gotten enough credit for its production work especially with the foreboding beginning, creating a massive sense of anticipation. The album continues with his “Space Junk”esque collaboration with Wolfgang Gartner “We Own The Night” and then moves through his big mainstream remixes of Gotye – “Somebody I Used To Know” and Coldplay “Paradise” that have gotten some serious tour play. The next two tracks is where the album is truly at its best with Sultan + Ned Shepard feat. Quilla – Walls and The Naked & Famous – Young Blood (Tiësto & Hardwell Remix). “Walls” is one of those vocal progressive house anthems you will hear this summer without really knowing who made it, but make sure to get to know this track, the vocals from Quilla and especially the euphoric melody make this a must have. Hardwell & Tiesto teaming on a track worked exceptionally well on “Zero 76” and it has worked at the same level on “Young Blood” with a sublime melody and great use of the indie vocals from The Naked & Famous. Read more and preview more tracks after jump. I recommend the unmixed version to get the whole track and it comes with the continuous mix that you would be buying anyway with the mixed CD.

Tiesto – Club Life – Volume Two Miami – Beatport Link
Tiesto – Club Life – Volume Two Miami – iTunes Link


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