mixtape maestro (2.0)

We thought the only thing Michael McDonald bothered to do these days was record endless covers of old soul and Motown classics, but the unmistakable voice behind cherished faves “What A Fool Believes” and “I Keep Forgettin’” (and, er, this), and the man who vocally inspires at least one Top 20 contestant on American Idol each year, has definitely triggered our cheers with this one: a new B-side take on Grizzly Bear‘s new Veckatimest single “While You Wait For The Others” in which he TAKES THE LEAD.

What’s most surprising here is how natural it all feels, conjuring up jumbled feelings of awe and glee when taking in the sound of McDonald’s rounded, blue-eyed soul yarl atop “Others”‘ psychedelic lurch, betwixt the chorus’ swooning male harmonies or bouncing around with that whole “want…want…want” breakdown highlight.

Our heads hadn’t yet stopped spinning after catching Jay-Z and Beyonce swaying along to GB at one of the band’s concerts, but then to get this…and learn that it’s really, really good!?! Oh how we adore your mysterious ways, Universe!!

We’ll be good (this time!!) and just give you a stream of the track below (head here for official ordering options), but as a consolation prize, snatch up two alternate versions of “What A Fool Believes”: Jim Burgess’ classic 12″ disco remix and Aretha Franklin’s saucy 1980 cover version.

Grizzly Bear featuring Michael McDonald “While You Wait For The Others”:

DL: “What A Fool Believes (12″ Jim Burgess Remix)” (alt)

DL: “What A Fool Believes (Aretha Franklin)” (alt)

Just like the rest of the Internet world, we’re finding it just as difficult to not keep spinning Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks” over and over, but is there anyone else out there surprised that there aren’t an excessive array of remixes of the tune making it’s way through the blogosphere right now?

We understand how most DJ/ producers might be intimidated by the flawless original, that genius Fred Falke re-tool and that endlessly intriguing dead prez mash-up, but that hasn’t stopped them from tinkering with everything else under the sun. You would think that with “Two Weeks” generating drooling praise for nearly a year now, there would be plenty of laptop-constructed remixes and/ or sample-crazed web-rapper joints for us to enjoy (or…well, hate).

While we sit back and eagerly anticipate that next “Two Weeks” ‘Net bomb to drop, catch the band’s new streaming live performance over at Spinner’s Interface studio, then take a listen to a well-handled acoustic rendition of “Two Weeks” by the mysterious Ruby Weapon that we’ve become quite enamoured with in recent weeks (alongside his dreamy handling of The Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby”).

Very little is known about this cat, aside from his equal love for Animal Collective, heavy reverb and YouTube slide show crafting, but his voice is amazing.

DL: “Two Weeks (Grizzly Bear Cover)” (alt)

DL: “Don’t Worry Baby (Beach Boys Cover)” (alt)

Even though the Internet is where most people are satisfying their music video-watching cravings these days, is there anyone out there who kinda miss the days when these things were given the splashy TV world premiere hurrahs.

Remember when the entire family would gather around the living room tube so they could catch the first exciting glimpse of Michael Jackson or Madonna’s latest clip, than that would be the hot topic within high school hallways and around workplace watercoolers the following morning? All that’s been kinda lost in this World Wide Web-centric era we currently reside in.

While we continue on with our old fogey rant privately, peep a slew of highly anticipated vids that have recently made their premieres:

Kanye West “Paranoid”

We’re digging how Mr. West is giving us an accompanying clip for damn near every track on 808′s, Jacksons/ Madge/ Beyonce-style; this latest, for the Miami Vice-flavored jam “Paranoid”, doesn’t really feature much of the rapper/(wish he could be a)singer, but it does star Rihanna in her first high profile, post-public embarrassment gig. Wonder if the rumors are true about a remix being in the works featuring some of her vocals?

Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Heads Will Roll”

Karen O continues her reign as the coolest woman in the universe with this It’s Blitz! second single, a masterpiece in dance-rock (the first sixty seconds are just too marvelous for words!!!) that has kept many remixers busy in recent weeks. If only we could find out how to book the music video’s MJ-aping and audience-slashing Buffy The Vampire Slayer monster-of-the-week for the next office Christmas party…

The-Dream featuring Kanye West “Walking On The Moon”

We praised this one a few months back, but now that it’s being dropped as an official single, complete with a Hype Williams-directed, Star Wars-meets-Star Trek-meets-“Scream” visual aid, we’re praying that it becomes The-Dream’s first US Hot 100 #1, simply so we can brag about being one of it’s earliest supporters.

Grizzly Bear “Two Weeks”

“Two Weeks” is still a pretty gorgeous number that we’ll give a spin everytime we’re in need of a lil’ jovial pick-me-up, but the video’s early-MTV-bordering images of exploding heads will surely be the source of our worst nightmares for the next few months. Can you imagine how terrifying it would be being chased through dark alleyways by these cats?

Beyonce “Ego”

The best thing about “Ego”, aside from it’s snicker-inducing, double-entendre-laced hook (though she’ll probably never admit she’s really singing about…erm, packages), is that it’s the most R&B sounding single released from I Am…Sasha Fierce so far. We especially love how it endlessly teases to explode into this big band burlesque throwdown on the verses, before slinking off to a more mild-mannered AC chorus.

The worst thing about “Ego”: despite having some essential elements in place (B&W film, three girl set-up) it’s vid never quite amounts to the “Single Ladies” Part Deux eye-screw we were so expecting it to be. BOOOOOOOO!!!!