O HAY WEEKEND!

I am pretty stoked that as of from today, pretty much everyday is the weekend for me. Oh yes.

So to celebrate, I thought I'd share two of my favourite duos/songs with you kids. 

Crystal Castles are the kitten's mittens. They're from Canada, and you might recognize their addictive 8-bit electro stuff from the Skins soundtrack. "Alice Practice" was the backdrop for what I can remember as one of the most poignant scenes from the second season. Gotta love that chaotic, choppy, shouty insanity. Plus, Alice Glass is crazy awesome. Admit it.

Crystal Castles - Courtship Dating (via nycfriction)

I cannot express my love for The Ting Tings adequately enough. Their debut We Started Nothing is amazing, and definitely an album I've been listening to non-stop for the past few months. Their music is a perfect pick-me-up without being nauseatingly sickeningly happy, and Katie White is another rear-end kicking front woman. Calvin Harris did a remix for one of their best (but certainly not only) songs. It turned out pretty well. 

The Ting Tings - Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix) via mediafire

Have a ridiculous weekend! Try to not end up like the following if you can help it:

...on second thought, make sure you end up like that.

Next Best Alternative(s) #3

I feel like I've been neglecting this blog as of late, but university's in full swing and this unfortunately leaves little time across the week for me to sit still and take a breather. The past two weeks have been physically and mentally exhausting, and one of the few things that have been keeping me going is good music (specifically non-crappy covers of great songs, among other things).

Here are two really great K.T Tunstall covers of two very good songs. I'm not really a fan, but I appreciate anyone who can put their own spin on a song without completely butchering the goodness of the original. Especially anyone who can do justice to the White Stripes. So give these a chance:

My Doorbell (originally by the White Stripes)

I Want You Back (originally by the Jackson Five)

(A double-treat because it's the weekend and hopefully these will get it off to a good start)

Weekend Mixed Bag

These songs have been making the unbearably hot days, my lack of employment, and anxiousness about what things will be like a month from now barely noticable. So yeah, they're kind of awesome.

Vampire Weekend - Walcott (via YSI)

The kings of kwassa kwassa really know how to make you dance. Whilst these private school kids have a college education from the prestigious Columbia University tucked under their arm, they also have an amusingly diverse set of musical influences ranging from African pop music to classical music to punk to reggae. They make it worth, though, and somehow come up with a gem of a song like this. One to watch for 2008.

Klaxons - It's Not Over Yet (Gentleman's Driver Remix) featuring SoKo
I don't really know very much about SoKo except that she is a twenty-something singer-songwriter/actress with an adorably strong heavy French accent, and a great sense of style. Whilst through her earlier demos, hints of Moldy Peaches' frontwoman Kimya Dawson can be picked up, this paticular track is an exclusive remix for British new-rave poster boys, the Klaxons. SoKo's vocals offer a sense of vulnerability that comes from her sweet, little-girl voice, and the thumping bass make it a perfect track for the weekend. Enjoy!

Semisonic - Singing In My Sleep
I discovered this one a few days ago, and it is perfect for those who miss the ancient craft of quality mixtape-making. Listen to the lyrics closely, and make this the opening track on a mix for someone special.