Let's face it, remixes of the indie rock have gotten huge within the last couple years. I've come across enough of them to justify having a "best of" list just for remixes. You've got indie headed into electronic music, and you've got BBC Essential Mix quality DJs mixing indie rock into their sets. It's high time.
Top 10 Remixes:
10. Lily Allen - Smile (Mark Ronson Revisit)
Mark Ronson's "revisit" of Lily Allen's "Smile" turns a breezy summer song into a wintery, 60's girl pop song. A fine example of a remix that doesn't have to turn it into a dance track. That being said...
09. Gorillaz - Dare (DFA Remix)
The fact that numerous people were running to this 12 minute remix proved to James Murphy (of LCD Soundsystem and DFA fame) that long, organic, dance tracks could provide the proper motivation for a workout. Armed with this knowledge (and a paycheck from Nike), he created 45:33.
08. Grizzly Bear - La Duchess Anne (Safety Scissors Remix)
The original version of this song is a slow, acoustic dirge. The remix treatment retains the feel by converting it to a moody, claustrophobic, downtempo electronica song (which would be later stylistically popularized this year by Hot Chip).
07. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars (The Hey Team Remix)
The Hey Team Remix finds Snow Patrol's latest arena-lighter-anthem exploring more atmospheric, Postal Service-esque areas. All is normal until about halfway through the song - then video game bleeps randomly come in and out. What is that all about? I don't know, but it's cool!
06. The Bird And The Bee - Fucking Boyfriend (Peaches Remix)
Peaches does an amazing remix with this song. While the original song had a creepy electro-samba feel to it, the Peaches Remix really explores the more menacing side of the song. Add in a crisp beat, the occasional power chord, some flittery 808s, and you got a goth rave masterpiece in the making.
05. Snowden - Black eyes (Le Castle Vania Remix)
Le Castle Vania has quickly come up in the ranks of remixers guaranteed to strike gold every time. Here they run Jordan Jefferes' voice through the Daft Punk vocoder, then electro-fy the whole song, while maintaining the downtrodden dance-punk vibe that's going on. Maybe I need to listen to less depressing music!
04. The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health (Ratatat Remix)
Already a contender for song of the year on many other lists, "We Share Our Mother's Health" gets the "white crunk" treatment by Ratatat. If you like Ratatat, or The Knife, you will love this. Everybody wins.
03. Hot Chip - Over and Over (Diplo Remix)
Again, "Over and Over" is a strong enough song in its own right. How does one improve something that's already good? Not sure, but Diplo does it - he injects the song with some rapid fire hustle-flow to keep up the energy!
02. Ratatat - Wildcat (E*vax Remix)
So I already used Kayne's term to describe Ratatat earlier in this article - white crunk. Anyway, I would say "Wildcat" is already pretty "crunky". But also I'm going to tell you this remix is even crunkier!
01. Metric - Monster Hospital (Mstrkrft Remix)
Who knew that Jesse from Death From Above 1979 had aspirations of being an electro-dance DJ? His (now fulltime) gig as one half of MSTRKRFT involves cranking out remixes for popular acts. And they have not misfired on a single one yet! Emily - sure, I'll hold your hands down...
Honorable Mention:
Beck - Ghettochip Malfunction (Hell Yes) (8-bit)
Beck asks an unsigned nerd-rap group that uses nintendo synthesizers to remix his song. Band thinks he is kidding and tells him to fuck off. This is what happens after the confusion clears.
Thom Yorke - The Clock (Surgeon Remix)
Late addition for this year, but it's quality. Yes, Thom, you might actually get played in a club with this one. Quick, someone do a remix of "Dick In A Box" so I can put it up here...
Wolfmother - Woman (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Like I said earlier, MSTRKRFT (pronounced masterkraft - yes, they've been hanging out with Motorola too much) could do no wrong this year. I don't expect anyone to be able to get me to dance to young-ozzy-fronting-led-zeppelin, but these guys do it. Gotta love that arpeggiator!
Hot Chip - Just Like We (Breakdown) (DFA Remix)
The DFA's just got an ear for these sprawling club mixes.
Labels: 8-BIT, BECK, DFA, DIPLO, E*VAX, HOT CHIP, LE CASTLE VANIA, MARK RONSON, METRIC, MSTRKRFT, PEACHES, RATATAT, REMIX, SAFETY SCISSORS, SURGEON, THE HEY TEAM, THOM YORKE, WOLFMOTHER, YEAR IN REVIEW
Wow, I am so glad I found your site! Love it!
Totally agree about the Diplo Remix of the Hot Chip tune - wicked! :)
Stay tuned! :-)
Thanks for this, an awesome list of remixes. That DFA mix of Dare just blew me away. :-)
Just trying to spread the word! A lot of good remixes didn't make the list...not much room when you've committed to a top 10!
hey just came across your page and saw you gave my remix number 5 on last years best remixes! thanks man this year i'm going for number 1!!! haha
Dylan (le castle vania)
www.myspace.com/castlevaniadisco
Awesome, man! Looking forward to your new remixes this year!
I absolutely adore Le Castle Vania's remix of Black Eyes.When compared to original it is the most stunning tranformation of the year.It should have been number 1.
I also love Kleerup feat.Robyn-With Every Heartbeat (Meat Boys remix).The song itself is one of the best songs of the year and the remix has only tiny changes but boy do they hit the right spot.I wholeheartedly recommend it.
I'll give the original another listen. I think the change between Metric's version of "Monster Hospital" and the remix is also a complete 180 - check it out! I'll check out the Kleerup song momentarily.
Wow - the hot chip remix is on fire