Christina Aguilera – Genie 2.0

And here it is, the full version of this from the VMAs. I really like it, but having listened to the short version again and again and again, this version feels a bit too long–actually, 1:21 too long to be exact. Still, I love the strings.

Sash! feat. Stunt – Raindrops (Encore Une Fois) (Fonzerelli Club Remix)

I often find long mixes of songs boring and repetitive. But I absolutely adore Fonzerelli’s short remix of Raindrops, and his long version is perfectly executed–the anticipation builds and builds until the multi-tracked chorus explodes in a well-worth-it release.

Katy Perry – Hot N Cold (Bimbo Jones Remix Radio Edit)

As light and fun as the Jason Nevins mix while often sounding like the beginning of The Cure’s Just Like Heaven.

Christina Aguilera – Keeps Getting Better (Tom Neville Club Remix)

The original of this: nice but nothing to write home about. Tom Neville’s take: driving, pulsing, actually better.

Forever the Sickest Kids – Whoa Oh! (Me vs Everyone)

Nice emo rock song with a fantastically catchy chorus.

OK, so it’s not exactly original; it’s Rihanna’s SOS + Rachel Stevens’s Some Girls + Britney’s Radar mashed together. Still, it’s excellent. The chorus sounds metallic, a touch industrial but still poppy. Good work Britney’s producers.

Christina Aguilera – Genie in a Bottle (2008 rework)

More palate cleanser than full song, this version of Genie in a Bottle is from her performance at the 2008 Video Music Awards. It’s very very sleek, and unfortunately only a minute and a half long–the new song it segued into on the show wasn’t nearly as good.

BWO – Lay Your Love On Me

BWO (formerly Bodies Without Organs) were a Slag Patrol favorite, until they put out about 10 truly awful ballads in a row and put on the worst show I’ve ever seen at the Astoria. Lay Your Love On Me is a very welcome return to form. It’s slick. It’s fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. I like.

Robyn – Handle Me (Ortzroka Death To Disco Dub)

The best mix of Handle Me I’ve heard yet. Everything saccharine in the original has been replaced with an angry, throbbing synth.

Rihanna – Disturbia (Craig C & Nique’s Master Radio Mix)

This remix loses the original’s irresistible melodic Bum-Bum-Be-Ums, but it adds a fantastic ‘destroy everything you touch’ edge.

Coldplay – Vida La Vida (Grant’s Uplifting Club Mix)

I was so over Coldplay, and then they came out with Vida La Vida, one of my favorite songs of the summer. This mix doesn’t change much but adds a good beat.

The Killers – Human

Stuart Price has done good work here. It’s the Killers at their synthy, yearning best. Very excited for this album to drop.

Katy Perry – Hot N Cold

I really shouldn’t like this song so much. I don’t understand why. It just make me so. happy. The Max Martin magic is working.