March has flown by as many of us in the office were traveling down south either to SXSW or Ultra Music Festival last weekend but we’ve seen and heard some awesome music between the two festivals. We hope your spring is treating you well (it’s been HOT here in NYC!) and now it’s your turn to sit back and relax and find out what songs we’re enjoying while working away… Head over to Rdio to listen…
Mark M
Lost in the Trees – Red
Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s – Books About Trains
The Wedding Present – You Jane
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Seryn – So, Within
Jeremy R
Polica “Give You the Ghost”
Lost in the Trees “A Church That Fits Our Needs”
John Talabot “Fin”
Perfume Genius “Put Your Back N 2 It”
Saint Entienne “Tonight”
Veronica S
Gold Fields – Gold Fields EP (on repeat all day!)
Fiona Apple
St Lucia – EP
Of Monsters and Men – EP
The Hunger Games Soundtrack
Dave L
The Rapture – Miss You
Morning Parade- Headlights
Sleeper Agent- Some White Blinds
Electric Guest- This Head I Hold
Dum Dum Girls- Bedroom Eyes
Nick C
Chairlift – Something
Photek & Pinch – Acid Reign
NERVO – you’re Gonna Love Again (Alex Kenji Remix)
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Madonna – FCKNG DRDFL
Matt K
Peter Wolf Crier – Garden of Arms
Hospitality – Hospitality
Nite Jewel – One Second of Love
Craft Spells – Idle Labor
Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind Of Fix
Ashley W
The Amazing – Flashlight
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Kindness – SEOD
College & Electric Youth – A Real Hero
Ramsey Lewis – Julia
Read MoreWe’ve been knee deep in a lot going on since we returned from the break and it took us a little longer to come up with our staff picks for the start of the year… A few old classics in our picks and some new tracks that we’ve been digging. Enjoy the playlist and we’ll be back next month with some new tunes for you to discover!
Lawrence L
Marvin Gaye – Here My Dear
Bruce Springsteen – We Take Care Of Our Own
Skrillex – The Devil’s Den
Graveyard – Hisingen Blues
Mark M
Great Lake Swimmers – Easy Come Easy Go
R.E.M. – We All Go Back To Where We Belong
Veronica Falls – Right Side of My Brain
The Promise Ring – Red & Blue Jeans
Grafitti6 – Colours
Pulp – Mis-Shapes
Nick C
AIR – Seven Stars
Lana Del Rey – Video Games
Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
M83 – Midnight City
Chairlift – Sidewalk Safari
Jeremy R
Porcelain Raft – Shapeless & Gone
Cloud Nothings – Wasted Days
Etta James – Tell Mama
Air – Seven Stars
Veronica S
Nada Surf – Jules and Jim
Rihanna – Drunk On Love
AIR – Seven Stars
The Kooks – How’d You Like That
Pulp – Disco 2000
Katie
Radiohead – Staircase
Tapes n Tapes – Badaboom
Wilco – Whole Love
Nada Surf – Clear Eye Clouded Mind
Delta Spirit – Peopple C’mon
Davis M
Drake – Doing it Wrong (feat Stevie Wonder)
Monarchy – You Don’t Want to Dance With Me (feat Britt Love)
Nadia Ali – Pressure (Alesso Remix)
Rihanna – Where Have You Been
The Astralwerks staff have chosen their personal Top 10 albums, Top 5 songs and # 1 live show of the year after plenty of thought and internal debate. Scroll down below to see all of our picks and listen to our favorite tracks via the Rdio player. Thanks for supporting Astralwerks in 2011 and we can’t wait to get 2012 started with some amazing new music and much more!
Glenn M
Top 10 Albums:
Stornoway – Beachcombers Windowsill
Foster The People – Torches
Florence & The Machine
Real Estate – Days
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Adele – 21
Salsoul Records – The History Of Salsoul
David Guetta – Nothing But The Beat
M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Duck Sauce – Unreleased Debut Album
Kooks – Junk Of The Heart
Top 5 Tracks:
Avicii – Levels
Rihanna – We Found Love
Swedish House Mafia – Save The World
The 2 Bears – Bear Hug
The Good Natured – EP
Top Live Event:
Swedish House Mafia @ Madison Square Garden + LCD Soundsystem @ Madison Square Garden
Mark M
Top 10 Albums:
Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys!
Yuck – S/T
Monarchy – Around the Sun
Future Islands – On the Water
M83 – Hurry Up we’re Dreaming
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – S/T
R.E.M. – Collapse Into Now
The Decemberists – The King is Dead
Wilco – The Whole Love
James Vincent McMorrow – Early in the Morning
Top 5 Tracks:
Cut Copy – Need You Now
Elbow – Open Arms
Death Cab for Cutie – You Are a Tourist
The Good Natured – Hourglass
Monarchy – You Don’t Want to Dance with Me
Top Live Show:
Stornoway @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Veronica S
Top 10 Albums:
Adele – 21
Florence & The Machine – Ceremonials
Kanye West and Jay Z – Watch The Throne
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Beach Fossils – What A Pleasure (it’s an EP but it has 8 tracks. I vote “album”)
Foster The People – Torches
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Friendly Fires – Pala
Real Estate – Days
Top 5 Tracks:
Rihanna – “We Found Love”
M83 – “Midnight City”
Adele – “Someone Like You”
Kanye West and Jay Z – “N***as in Paris”
Florence and the Machine – “Shake It Out”
Best Live Event:
Pulp at Glastonbury 2011
Lawrence L
Top 10 Albums:
Robag Wruhme -Thora Vukk
V/A ‘Shangaan Electro: New Wave Dance Music From South Africa
Acid House Kings – Music Sounds Better with You
Nero – Welcome Reality
Steve Mason & Dennis Bovell – Ghosts Outside
Metal Mountains – Golden Trees
Duck Sauce – (unreleased album)
Hercules And Love Affair – Blue Songs
Robin Guthrie - Emeralds
Original Soundtrack – The Muppets
Top 5 Tracks:
The Vaccines – Norgaard
Todd Terje – Snooze 4 Love
Joe Goddard feat. Valentina – Gabriel
Acid Washed – General Motors, Detroit, America (Blackstrobe remix)
Mobb Deep – Black Cocaine
Top Live Evet:
Kollektiv Turmstrasse – live at Blkmarket Membership NYC
Ashley W
Top 10 Albums:
Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys!
The Horrors – Skying
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
White Denim – D
Tom Waits – Bad As Me
Cat’s Eyes – Cat’s Eyes
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Washed Out – Within & Without
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
DCM
Top 10 Albums:
Tune-Yards — WHOKILL
Foster The People — Torches
Amos Lee — Mission Bell
Yuck — Yuck
Bon Iver — Bon Iver
M83 — Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Fleet Foxes — Helplessness Blues
Tinie Tempah — Disc-Overy US
Gold Panda — DJ Kicks
Ryan Adams — Ashes+ Fire
Elena L
Top 10 Albums:
Darren Hayes – Secret Codes and Battleships
Lady Gaga – Born This Way
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Hercules & Love Affair – Blue Songs
David Guetta- Nothing But the Beat
Rihanna – Talk That Talk
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi – Rome
Adele – 21
Top 5 Tracks:
Cut Copy- Take Me Over
Swedish House Mafia – Save The World
Darren Hayes – Black Out The Sun
Lady Gaga – You And I
Bruno Mars – It Will Rain
Top Live Event:
Swedish House Mafia Masquerade Motel – Miami 2011
Nick C
Top 10 Albums:
Yelle – Safari Disco Club
Monarchy – Around The Sun
Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow
The Good Natured – Skeleton EP
Foster The People – Torches
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
Little Dragon – Ritual Union
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
The Smashing Pumpkins – Gish (Re-Issue)
The Black Keys – El Camino
Top 5 Trackss:
NERVO – We’re All No One (NERVO Goes To Paris Remix)
Coldplay – Paradise
The Japanese Popstars – Shells Of Silver
Yelle – Que Veux-Tu (Madeon Remix)
M83 – Midnight City
Top Live Event:
The Japanese Popstars – Dance Here Now Festival @ Governor’s Island
Dave L
Top, ahem, 10 Albums:
Cut Copy- Zonoscope
Holy Ghost- Holy Ghost
Foster The People- Torches
The Lonely Forest- Arrows
The Naked And Famous- Passive Me, Aggressive You
The Chain Gang Of 1974- The Chain Gang Of 1974
Sleeper Agent- Celabrasion
Elbow- Build A Rocket, Boys!
The Kooks- Junk Of the Heart
Yuck- Yuck
White Lies- Ritual
The Wombats- The Wombats Proudly Present… This Modern Glitch
Top 5 Tracks:
Sloan- Unkind
Elbow- The Night Will Always Win
Cults- Bumper
Architecture In Helsinki- Escapee
Friendly Fires- Hawaiian Air
Foster The People- Pumped Up Kicks
Top Live Event (he doesn’t know how to pick just one)
Cut Copy at Terminal 5
LCD Soundsystem at Terminal 5
The Kooks at HOB Boston/Trocadero Philly
Jeremy R
Top 10 Albums:
Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Destroyer – Kaputt
James Blake – James Blake
Yuck – Yuck
M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
Julianna Barwick – The Magic Place
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
The Weeknd – House of Balloons
Top 5 Tracks:
AraabMuzik – Streetz Tonight
Girls – Vomit
John Maus – Hey Moon
Todd Terje – Snooze 4 Life
Active Child – Playing House
Top Live Event:
LCD Soundsystem final show – MSG
Erin G
Top 10 Albums:
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Cults – Cults
Fucked Up – David Comes To Life
Yuck – Yuck
Holy Ghost – Holy Ghost
Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
The Decemberists – The King is Dead
Real Estate – Days
M83 – Hurry Up , We’re Dreaming
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo
Top 5 Tracks:
Frank Ocean –Novacane
Lana Del Rey – Video Games
Cass McCombs – Robin Egg Blue
M83 – Midnight City
Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
Top Live Event:
LCD Soundsystem @ MSG
Matt K
Top 10 Albums:
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Wye Oak – Civilian
Destroyer – Kaput
Friendly Fires – Pala
Wild Beasts – Smother
Real Estate – Days
Yuck – Yuck
tUnE-yArDs – WHOKILL
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
Cults - Cults
Top 5 Songs:
Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans
Beirut – Santa Fe
Chase the Tear – Portishead
Toro Y Moi – New Beat
Joy Formidable – Whirring
Top Live Event:
LCD Soundsystem – Madison Square Garden 4/2/11 – Final show!
Davis M
Top 10 Albums:
James Blake – James Blake
Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
Florence + the Machine – Ceremonials
Adele – 21
Oh Land –Oh Land
Penguin Prison – Penguin Prison
Foster the People – Torches
Yelle – Safari Disco Club
Wynter Gordon – With The Music I Die
Austra- Feel it Break
Top 5 Songs:
Beth Ditto – Open Heart Surgery
Avicii – Fade Into Darkness
Adele – Set Fire to the Rain
Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend
Sak Noel – Loca People
Top Live Event:
Yelle @ Bottom Lounge, Chicago 5/6/11
Katie D
Top 10 Albums:
The Black Keys – El Camino
Feist – Metals
Dom – Sun Bronzed Greek Gods
Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See
Cults – Cults
The Good Natured – Skeleton EP
Diamond Rings – Special Affections
Yelle – Safari Disco Club
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
The Japanese Popstars – Controlling Your Allegiance
Top 5 Songs:
Two Tears – Senso Unico
Arctic Monkeys – Piledriver Waltz
Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks
Cults – You Know What I Mean
First Aid Kit – When I Grow Up
Top Live Event:
Diamond Rings at First Avenue
Anna E
Top 10 Albums:
Kanye West & Jay Z -Watch The Throne
Drake- Take Care
The Weeknd- House of Balloons
Miguel- All I Want Is You
Wale- Ambition
Beyonce- 4
Frank Ocean- Nostalgia
Tinie Tempah- Disc-Overy
Rome- Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi / Starring Jack White and Norah Jones
The Black Keys – El Camino
Top 5 Songs:
Rihanna – We Found Love
Beyonce- Party
SBTRKT – Wildfire feat Drake & Little Dragon
Jay Z & Kanye West – N****s in Paris
Big Sean- A**
Top Live Show:
WATCH THE THRONE- Jay Z & Kanye West!
Alisan B
Top 10 Albums: (in no particular order outside of Adele which was by far, best album of 2011, in my personal opinion)
Adele – 21
Jay Z/Kanye West–Watch The Throne
Black Keys–El Camino
Lykke Li–Wounded Rhymes
The Decemberists–The King Is Dead
Bon Iver–Bon Iver
Florence and The Machine–Ceremonials
Drake–Take Care
Lady Gaga–Born This Way
James Blake–James Blake
Top 5 Tracks:
Adele–Someone Like You
David Guetta f. Usher–Without You
Jay & Kanye–Otis
Black Keys–Lonely Boy
Lana Del Ray–Video Games
Top Live Event:
Toss up between LCD Soundsystem’s Final Farewell at MSG and Swedish House Mafia at MSG….both were by far two of the most amazing live experiences I’ve had in a long time
Devin K
Top 10 Albums:
Fleet Foxes–Helplessness Blues
Adele–21
Bon Iver–Bon Iver
Kurt Vile–Smoke Ring for my Halo
Coldplay–Mylo Xyloto
Elbow–Build a Rocket Boys
Beastie Boys–Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
Joy Formidable–The Big Roar
Death Cab for Cutie–Codes and Keys
The Decemberists–The King is Dead
Apparat–The Devil’s Walk
Wilco–The Whole Love
M83–Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Cut Copy–Zonoscope
Washed Out–Within and Without
Top 5 Tracks:
M83–Midnight City
Naked and Famous–Young Blood
Coldplay–Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
Adele–Someone Like You
Foster the People–Pumped Up Kicks
Top Live Event:
Coldplay Live on Letterman
Mauro D
Top 10 Albums:
Adele–21
Sinatra–The Best Of The Best
David Guetta–Nothing But The Beat
Jay Z/ Kayne West–Watch The Throne
Radiohead–The King Of Limbs
Arcade Fire–The Suburbs
Norah Jones …Featuring
Tony Bennett–Duets II
Pitbull–Planet Pit
Lady Antebellum–Own The Night
Top 5 Tracks:
Adele–Rolling In The Deep
David Guetta–Without You
Foster The People– Pumped Up Kicks
Pitbull–Give Me Everything
SHM–Save The World
Top Live Event:
SHM @ MSG
Dave B
Top 10 Albums:
Wolf Gang-Suego Faults
Elbow-Build A Rocket Boys
M83-Hurry Up,We’re Dreaming
Adele-21
The Decemberists-The King Is Dead
St. Vincent-Strange Mercy
Real Estate-Days
Bon Iver-Bon Iver
The Kooks-Junk Of The Heart
The Black Keys-El Camino
Top 5 Tracks:
Morning Parade-Carousel-(Original Form)So what if I’m a year early. Nothing touches this.
Wolf Gang-The King And All Of His Men
M83-Reunion
The National-Think You Can Wait-(Win Win Soundtrack)
The Kooks-The Saboteur
Top Live Event:
All Kooks shows…….
Milton W
Top 10 Albums:
Florrie—Experiments EP
David Guetta—Nothing But the Beat
The Weeknd—Thursday
Kissy Sellout—Wild Romance
The Good Natured—Skeleton EP
Scratch Massive—Nuit de Reve
Monte La Monte—Cloud One EP
Soma Records 20 Years—Soma Classics
Acid Jacks—Apocalypse Meow
Shiny Disco Club Presents Millenium Disco vols 1 & 2
Top 5 Tracks:
Katy Perry—E.T. (Nicademass Remix)
Danny Daze—Ghetto Fab
Thee Mezcalateerz (Felix da Housecat, Steve Angello, Modzart)—Yes
Pallada–Dreamcatcher
Bingo Players—Cry (Just a Little) (Kids at the Bar Bootleg Remix)
Top Live Event:
SHM @ MSG
Lest we forget the origins of contemporary dance music, this handy little online tutorial form Thomson’s Blog in the UK aims to set the record straight in 20 seconds.
We here at Astralwerks would like to give thanks. Thanks to our family, friends, and co-workers, but mostly thanks to the kick-ass tunes that have been filling the air as of late. We have put together a cornucopia of music including our favorite new releases for you to check out (and give thanks to us!). So load up on apple cider and tryptophan, kick back, and enjoy!
Lawrence L.
Real Estate – Days
Technasia – Central
Minks – Live
Twin Shadow – Live At Le Bain
Genesis – That’s All (NELUE Rework: http://soundcloud.com/nelue/thats-all-nelue-re-edit)
Swedish House Mafia – Antidote (unreleased new version)
Mark M
College feat Electric Youth – A Real Hero
The Good Natured – Hourglass
Fanfarlo – Deconstruction
Phantogram – 16 Years
U2 – Achtung Baby re-issue
Glenn
Salsoul Records – The Definitive Salsoul Mixes
Foster The People – Torches
U2 – Achtung Baby
Studio 54 radio on Sirius/XM
Florence and The Machine – Ceremonials
Beach Boys – Smile
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Nick C.
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
The Good Natured – Skeleton EP
Yelle – Com Un Enfant (remixes)
AIR – Painted Love (new track)
Revolver – Parallel Lives
Ashley W.
Flowers And Sea Creatures – At Night
Marc Shearer – Magma On My Mind
Bryan Ferry – The ‘In’ Crowd
Wooden Shijips – Flight
Noel Gallagher – Dream On
Veronica S.
Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials
Coldplay – Paradise
The Smiths – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Passion Pit – Swimming In The Flood
Kanye West, JAY Z, Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj – Monster (my NYC marathon anthem!)
Erin G.
M83- Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Cass McCombs – Humor Risk
Real Estate – Days
The Beets – Let The Poison Out
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Davis M.
Feist- Metals
Sak Noel –Loca People
Florence & the Machine – Ceremonials
Coldplay – Paradise (Fedde Le Grand Remix)
Rumer- On My Way Home
Sean G.
Frontier Ruckus – Way Upstate & the Crippled Summer, Pt. 2
We Are Augustines – Rise Ye Sunken Ships
We Were Promised Jetpacks – In The Pit Of The Stomach
Her Space Holiday – Her Space Holiday
Gauntlet Hair – Gauntlet Hair
Matt Z.
Black Keys – Lonely Boy
Coldplay – Hurts Like Heaven
The Barr Brothers – Ooh, Belle
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
M83 – Raconte-Moi une Histoire
Katherine S.
Youth Lagoon – Cannons
U.S. Royalty – Monte Carlo
Speak – Firecracker
M83 – Steve McQueen
The Drums – Days
2 Bears which features Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard have been at it for a few years while making their own music and coming up with some remixes for other artists. Clash Music called them “a unique blend of tough, soulful music, that has a twinkle in its eye and a wiggle in its rear end.“ Now they’ve tackled Death Cab for Cutie’s track “You Are A Tourist”, check it out below and we hope you like it.
We have a few die-hard U2 fans around here in the office so it was cool to come upon this Yahoo! story about Peter Rowen who was the “boy” featured on two early classic U2 album covers, “Boy” and “War”. He’s now a photographer and lives in Dublin and still stays in touch with Bono and the Edge. Out next month is the re-issue of 1991′s album “Achtung Baby”, filled with tons of bonus tracks and video content.
As the cool air returns and the leaves begin to fall, we here at Astralwerks have gathered some of our favorite new tracks (and some throwbacks) to keep us warm in the ensuing winter season. As always, we hope you enjoy our latest playlist of tunes we’re digging around the office.
Lawrence L.
Nero – Welcome Reality
Robag Wruhme – Thora Vukk
Bert Jansch – Needle Of Death
Joe Goddard feat. Valentina – Gabriel
Mayday Parade – Kids In Love
Lana Del Rey – Video Games
Kollektiv Turmstrasse – live show NYC
Acid Washed – General Motors, Detroit, America (Blackstrobe remix)
David C.
Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks (Chrome Canyon Remix)
The Good Natured – Skeleton
Slow Club – Two Cousins
808 State – Timebomb (808 Tape Mix)
Mark Ronson – Record Collection 2012 (Logo Remix)
Nick C.
The Good Natured – Skeleton EP
The Virgin Prunes – If I Die, I Die
The Japanese Popstars – Take Forever (RS@Home Remix)
NERVO – We’re All No One (Hook N Sling Remix)
Crazy P – Heartbreaker
Mark M.
Lanterns on the Lake – If I’ve Been Unkind
Wilco – Born Alone
Nick Drake – Northern Sky
Red House Painters – All Mixed Up
Sam Cooke – Having a Party
Dave L.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Red Right Hand
AiM – Demonique
1990s – Jingle Bells
A Split Second – Mambo Witch
The Rakes – Terror!
Bobby “Boris” Pickett – Monster Mash
Veronica S.
Florence & the Machine – Shake It Out
M83 – Midnight City
Foster the People – I Would Do Anything for You
The National – England
The Naked and the Famous – Youngblood
Ashley W.
Jonathan Wilson – Desert Raven
Leon Russell – Out in The Woods
Bobbie Gentry – Mississippi Delta
Bryan Ferry – Take Me To The River
John Cage – 4’33”
Erin G.
Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Pet Lions – Houses EP
Real Estate – Days
Mates of State – Mountaintops
Lana Del Rey – Video Games (Mover Shaker Remix)
Davis M.
Imogen Heap – Hide n Seek (Roksonix Dubstep Remix)
Adrian Lux – Teenage Crime (Axwell & Henrik B Remode)
Kylie Minogue – Better Than Today (Bills & Hurr Remix)
Cults – Go Outside (Brainbheats Remix)
The Good Natured – Wolves
Matt Z.
Wilco – Art of Almost
Wild Flag – Romance
The Kooks – Mr. Nice Guy
Girls – Alex
Loney, Dear – My Heart
Sean G.
Sleeping in the Aviary – You Don’t Have To Drive
The Wind – Hathor
Generationals – Twenty-Ten-Twenty
The War On Drugs – Baby Missiles
Oberhofer – Away Frm U
From our friends over at Mute comes the new set of remixes for M83′s new single “Midnight City”. We’ve been digging this dreamy mix by Man Without Country. The new album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is due out October 18th. Listen to a few more new remixes over at ilovem83.com.
Here’s a new one for you to check out from Stockholm’s I Break Horses, a debut album filled with ethereal and gorgeous vocals. Watch the video below for the track “Hearts” remixed by Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers. Their album is out now via Bella Union.
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