SLAG PATROL

Sigh. Apologies for the lack of updates. April was not a great month for Slag Patrol: Deported Edition, but there were a couple hot tracks out.

Fall Out Boy – This Ain’t A Scene, It’s an Arms Race (Jason Nevins Rock Dance Remix)

Still loving Infinity on High. This Jason Nevins treatment is so good even the emo kids will dance to it. It’s sped up a bit and has a bouncy backbeat. Can’t decide whether I prefer the well-paced longer version (above) or the straight-to-the-point short edit. Both are great.

ATB feat. Heather Nova – Renegade (Airplay Mix)

Full disclosure: I’ve thought fondly of Heather Nova ever since her song Heart and Shoulder was used to ridiculous melodramatic effect on a teen drama in the late 90s (it was probably Felicity, but might have been Dawson’s Creek. Cringe.) In any case, ATB hasn’t really been good since then either, so Renegade is a step in the right direction. But this ‘Airplay Mix’ is too soft–it’s like the ‘approved by mom’ mix. It’s not bad but it lacks passion. The other remixes I’ve heard have good bits but the payoff isn’t worth it for the boring repetitive parts. Hopefully we’ll see some other remixes.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Me and My Imagination (Tony Lamezma Remix)

Meant to post Catch You but never got around to it; this is the latest single. Tony Lamezma is a Slag Patrol favorite, and this mix doesn’t disappoint. It swooshes, builds and crashes as you’d expect. I like the “Never give…” beat bounce.

The Sounds – Tony the Beat (Rex the Dog Radio Version)

Saw The Sounds open for Panic! at the Disco last fall–they’re hot. And Rex the Dog did one of my favorite mash-ups ever in Kelly Clarkson vs. Depeche Mode – Since You Been Gahan. The synth is strong with this one, but it really works.

David Guetta – The World Is Mine (Paul Oakenfold’s Downtempo Mix)

Remember The World Is Mine from last month? Paul Oakenfold’s mix is indeed downtempo, and is a nice alternative take on the song.

Universal Poplab – Fire

Love these guys. Haven’t heard their latest album yet (it was out last fall), but this is the latest single. Very good electropop, with nice synth and a catchy chorus.

Hilary Duff – Danger

Not to flog the Duff any more than she needs to be flogged, but Danger is another slick track off her slick new album. The ‘I’m smarter than this, I know better than this’ bit is brilliant.

Erasure – I Could Fall In Love With You (Jeremy Wheatly Radio Mix)

Erasure was the first band I really, really liked–what that says about me, I don’t know. It must have been 1993–my friend’s British nanny Lisa dubbed many an Erasure album onto cassette tape for me. Erasure’s output has been a bit uneven since their early 90s heyday, but they’ll always hold a special place in my heart. Jermy Wheatly only gently massages the original in this remix. The back beat is slightly played up, to good effect.

Good Charlotte feat. M Shadows and Synyster Gates – The River

This new single from Good Charlotte has a bit of a 90s/grunge/Green Day vibe to it, in a good way. I love the ‘on my own’ chorus add-on at the end.

Shiny Toy Guns – You Are The One

The River’s ‘yearning rock’ vibe but adds synth and female callback vocal. Not too shabby.