mixtape maestro (2.0)

Tucked away in the closing third of Peter Bjorn and John’s Living Thing lies the underappreciated treasure “Stay This Way”, a lackadaisical reflection on one’s existence (“In my ridicule I thought that I was something special/ In spite of ordinary dreams/ But you end up getting tired of doing psychoanalysis of yourself”) that simultaneously brews a faint flickering of being a touching love ode (“You can only do as much in little time/ If you’re up for sharing I can split up mine/ ‘Cause it makes me happy”).

Geeky Valentine sentiments aside though, the track’s main pull lies in it’s production: a drowsy, snap-accented doo-wop arrangement (think a sluggish “Stand By Me”) that treads along so heavily, even the pregnant pauses between it’s punctuating bass plops feel like they weigh a ton. Despite that unappealing description, it’s a great sublime groove, one you could easily lose your thoughts in…and one that (with a little remix tinkering from producer DJ Jazzy Jeff) surprisingly comes across quite pleasantly when supporting a trio of emcees respectively wishing that they could have stayed ‘Toys R’ Us kids’.

The latest cut to leak from Mick Boogie’s highly-anticipated mixtape re-imagining of Living Thing (due August 27th), this Jeff-helmed revamp cleverly splices together original lines “I don’t wanna grow up” and “‘Cause it makes me happy” to form a brand new hook and inspire some fond childhood-recalling memories (including references to Nintendo 64, “Knight Rider”, lunchboxes, Hot Wheels, “TGIF”, sneak viewings of BET’s “Comic View”, freeze tag and, yes, “Do You Like Me?” notes) from featured rappers Big Pooh, Phil Nash and Chaundon.

DL: “Stay This Way” (alt)

DL: “Stay This Way (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix)” (alt)

Peter, Bjorn & John‘s early ’09 single “Nothing To Worry About” may have lacked an irresistable whistle hook for us to endlessly dig, but what it did house (the ferocious stomp-clap drum beat, that catchy-as-hell kiddie hook) was sufficient enough to guarantee it “instant favorite” status. The only problem? That nagging feeling that the production would have worked much better supporting a rapper’s sharp sixteens, rather than the band’s non-threatening indie chirps.

That fantasy becomes reality thanks to this awesome Kickdrums remix, the first taste of a forthcoming Mick Boogie-helmed remix(tape) of PB&J’s entire Living Thing album. Totally omitting PB&J’s presence, this 2.0 version instead plants the original’s best elements alongside the rhyming team of Wale, Young Chris and Rhymefest.

Not really the hip hop dream squad we would’ve first picked, but they service the joint just fine, especially Rhymefest, whose track-stealing ending verse (“‘At parties I part seas/ These partly emcees/ Could hardly tempt me/ You entry/ Level, beginner…”) only reminds us how sad it is that he remains such an underappreciated talent after all these years.

Look for Boogie’s Re-Living Thing on a blog near you on August 1st.

DL: “Nothing To Worry About (Kickdrums Remix)” (alt)

Every music blogger will feel the Maestro’s pain when it comes to the overly-packed in-box.

Filled to the brim with PR’s showcasing that “hot new indie artist” whose bandwagon you just HAVE to jump on early, “exclusive” remixes that have obviously been CC’d to damn near everyone else on the Hype Machine/ Elbo.ws circuit, the endless announcements of new mixtapes and video releases and numerous follow-up artist representatives stressing you out over whether you finally got a chance to listen to their respective act’s material, it’s almost impossible to get through all of it and live a normal person’s life too (Not to mention the fact that a majority of the music just really isn’t all that good).

So in an effort to lighten up the load a bit, check out this jumbo-sized post full of some noteworthy cuts that’s come the Maestro’s way in recent weeks:

• The Constellations “Felicia (Death Metal Disco Scene Vocal Remix)”

Now this is how you do a remix!! The Constellations‘ original (from their Cee-Lo and Asher Roth-featured debut, Southern Gothic) was already a killer track thanks to it’s enjoyable mix of a Southern soul and rock strut with a little hoochie White girl rap sass. But the plastic-funk textures applied on this remix from UK dance remixer/producer Death Metal Disco Scene (Lily Allen, The Verve, Kylie Minogue) takes “Felicia”‘s greatness to a whole new level. Hotter than a firecracker, indeed!

• Beyonce “Diva (Slot-A Remix)”

The hook line “A diva is a female version of a hustler” still sounds dumb, but Detroit producer Slot-A makes that point moot with all the snazzy ’80′s decoration he pastes on the Beyonce banger.

• Drake featuring Peter, Bjorn and John “Let’s Call It Off”

In which Degrassi: The Next Generation actor-slash-singer/ rapper Drake cleverly embeds himself within Peter, Bjorn and John’s sublime 2006 break-up ode, resulting in eleventy-hundred bloggers suffering a collective stroke from excitement. (from Drake’s new mixtape, So Far Gone)

• Jake Troth “Shush”

“This the type of shhh that make the haters stop talking,” drone-raps indie multi-talent Jake Troth through “Shush”‘s devious stomp and suspenseful guitar linger. And since Maestro doesn’t fall in line with that crowd, we’ll proudly go ahead and state that ears need to be firmly set on this one-to-watch in ’09. (from Troth’s upcoming Daydream Big mixtape)

• Jemex “Breathe” featuring Dean Grey

It’s understandable why an artist would want to put out their sappiest stuff now, this being V-Day and all, but with drippy lyrics like “I can hear my heartbeat so carefully/ When I hear that sound it must know you’re around”, “Breathe” (from Brooklyn producer Jemex) edges into being a little too Velveeta-y. If only we could shake off the tenderness we feel inside every time it’s dreamy Prom Dance production smothers the ears, though…

• Wreckx N Effect “Rump Shaker (Jemex Remix)”

…Ah wait, here’s the answer: “Check baby, check baby 1-2-3-4″!!!! Sigh…Macho-ness retrieved.

• Teedra Moses “Weekend Goodtime”

Following an odd slow intro in which Moses bemoans her lack of a husband and white picket fence, the underrated R&B cutie suddenly shrugs off her woes, puts on the instrumental to Snoop Dogg’s summery “Let’s Get Blown” and hits the streets in search for a one-weekend stand. (from Moses’ new album, Lionhearted: Young Hustla, Vol. III)

• The Ting Tings “Great DJ (DJ Jem Mix)”

In which Chicago’s DJ Jem decides that the Ting Tings jam just doesn’t have enough beat sizzle for the jukin’ sect.

Still whistling along to the merry melody of “Young Folks”? Hey, it didn’t rank as one of the best indie singles of 2006 for nothing. PB&J’s latest single isn’t as effervescently unique as “Young Folks” but it carries an interesting ambiance on it’s own that strongly suggests this threesome will be earning rave reviews for generations.

Almost overwhelmed in Beatles devotion, “Objects of My Affection” follows one man’s reflection of his past on his present in arresting clarity. Caught up in flashbacks brought into focus by quotes and songs that he comes across in the current day, the narrator mulls on how he’s changed for the better (“And the question is/ Was I more alive/ Then than I am now/ I happily have to disagree”), jangly guitars strumming with machine gun speed around his plaintive self-musings. The song’s final lines beautifully give in to the folk trio’s undying love for romanticism, wonderously tying it in to the song’s innate fear of life’s ever challenging twists and turns.

With it’s linear form, wordy lyric and non-use of whistling, “Objects” is much too boring to ever be the fraction of a hit “Young Folks” surprisingly came to be, but it does hold a certain power that convinces you that classic work is being constructed here that will be held to the highest praise in future studies.