Violens

By Jenn Sussman aka DJ Belladonna

1. Miike Snow “Cult Logic” – I’ve been exploring dance and DJ music a lot more this year, and there are some interesting treasures to be found. Sweden’s indie-pop newcomers Miike Snow (band, not person) released their eponymous debut album in 2009, and its chock full of bright, shimmery dance pop gems like my personal favorite, “Cult Logic”. I’ve also unearthed several notable remixes done by the band of tracks by fellow indie dance peers Vampire Weekend, Peter, Bjorn & John, and Passion Pit – all worth checking out after this album.

2. Adele “Rolling In The Deep” – I was channel surfing the other day, and I came upon a video on VH1 (a rare occurrence, I know) for a song that had me riveted. Young British soul chanteuse Adele never quite made it onto my radar with her Grammy-winning 2009 debut album 19, but if her new single “Rolling In The Deep” is any indication of what’s in store on her as yet unreleased sophomore album, then I am already a fan. The girl has blues deep in her soul, and I’ll take her over Joss Stone, Duffy and Amy Winehouse any day of the week.

3. The Dandy Warhols “We Used To Be Friends” – Odd pop-rockers The Dandy Warhols have always been a favorite of mine, mixing tongue in cheek lyricism with rock grooves and pop sensibility. Formed in 1993 in Portland, Oregon with a foundation rooted more in Britpop than anything coming out of the Pacific Northwest at that time, most of the Warhols’ albums are pure quirky enjoyment. My personal favorite is 2003’s Welcome To The Monkey House, which also contains my two favorite Warhols’ tracks, “We Used To Be Friends” and “Scientist”.

4. Two Door Cinema Club “Come Back Home” – This indie dance groove from the 2010 debut album Tourist History by Irish newbies Two Door Cinema Club has quickly become a favorite of mine. There are strong post-punk overtones, rhythms and bass grooves that remind me of The Associates, The Au Pairs and so many other treasured bands from the DIY era. Even when I’m checking out the new, I’m always listening for homages to the old.

5. Violens “Acid Reign” – Speaking of homages to the old…I was a happy, happy girl when I took a listen to Amoral, the 2010 debut album by the New York-based Violens. Theirs is an old sound reflected through a new mirror (and that mirror is slightly cracked). Violens’ Myspace page bears the odd genre description of “gothic, pop and tropical”, but after a few listens of the album, you totally get it. Imagine if you will an unholy trinity of Adam Ant, Johnny Marr and New Order, writing songs in 2010, and you get songs like “Acid Reign” and the very Smiths/Antmusic-like “Full Collision”. Who but the Smiths would name songs “Could You Stand To Know?” and “The Dawn Of Your Happiness Is Rising”? Thank goodness, Violens would.

6. Veil Veil Vanish “Change In The Neon Light” – Perhaps one of the more surprising musical discoveries I’ve made in 2010 is that goth is coming back with a vengeance; and not just via the usual suspects, but thanks to newcomers. I spent a good deal of 2010 guest DJing at goth parties in New York City, and it inspired me to look for new darkness amongst the old. I found it on Veil Veil Vanish’s 2010 full-length debut LP, Change In The Neon Light. The goth scene has claimed “Anthem For A Doomed Youth” as its own, but I prefer the moodiness of the title track because of the strange, indefinable way it reminds me of The Cure’s “Charlotte Sometimes”.

7. Nine Inch Nails “Only (El-P Remix)” – Last week’s inclusion of a near-perfect NIN remix had me searching for more this week, and I was not disappointed. Underground, avant-garde rapper El-P has been featured on the playlist before, but not as a remix artist, and I was surprised to come across his treatment of a favorite track of mine from NIN’s With Teeth (2005). Found only on the maxi single of “Every Day Is Exactly The Same”, El-P takes the funky groove of “Only” and deconstructs it into something moody, spacey and dark, uncannily foreshadowing the sound of Reznor from Year Zero (2009). This was my “wow” song of the week.

8. Massive Attack “What Your Soul Sings” – There isn’t much I can say that I haven’t already said about Massive Attack on so many other playlists; their music is practically a part of daily life for me. This beautiful track from 2003’s 100th Window album popped up on my mp3 player this week, and I just had to share. Featuring vocals by Sinead O’Connor, the beautiful message of learning to love yourself in order to love others is resonating with me at this time of year.

9. Placebo “Running Up That Hill” – A challenge from a friend this week regarding cover songs had me thinking about one of my favorite covers of all time, this brilliantly conceived version of Kate Bush’s 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill” by androgynous alterna-rockers Placebo. The original is a favorite, too, but the contrast between the two versions couldn’t be more stark. Placebo’s version, from their 2007 Meds LP, is dark, vaguely dangerous, and extremely sensual; which is probably why it’s been used on the soundtracks of television shows with dark subject matter like The Vampire Diaries and Bones. I heard a great dance mix of the Placebo version a few weeks ago (in LIC’s Dutch Kills bar, of all places), but I have no idea who remixed it. Alas.

10. Depeche Mode “Goodnight Lovers (Hardjet Playground Mix)” – Ever since the release of Exciter in 2001, Depeche Mode has closed almost every single concert with this track. And so, I selected it to close out the last playlist of 2010, which is also my final playlist for The Whiskey Dregs. I hope that readers have enjoyed my musical musings as much as I have enjoyed writing them, and that everyone will continue to seek out beautiful music from yesterday and today.