SLAG PATROL

Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake – 4 Minutes (Rebirth Remix)
Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake – 4 Minutes (Junkie XL Remix Edit)

What can I say? The unremixed original has grown on me and these remixes are quite good. The ‘Rebirth Anthem’ mix, by Marcos Castellon, is the most complete of the remixes I’ve heard in that it’s excellent throughout. The Junkie XL mix hits the highest highs–its reworking of the ‘If you want it’ chorus is absolutely ace–but the first two minutes and last two minutes are kind of boring. Very excited to hear this album.

Kylie Minogue – In My Arms (Sebastien Leger Remix)

This is a great, more serious, slightly sinister take on In My Arms. Big improvement on the saccharine original chorus. Sebastien Leger did a fantastic remix of Justin Timberlake’s What Goes Around last year; the quality of this mix doesn’t come as a surprise.

The Veronicas – Untouched (Listen Deep Remix)

As you’ll recall from the original, the chorus was the weakest part of the song and like the Kylie track, this remix is a big improvement (even though it takes the strings away). The beepy synth works well.

David Guetta – Baby When the Light

Pretty chilled as dance tracks go. I’m slightly skeptical of David Guetta, because he’s French, but I do like the video.

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.

David Guetta – The World is Mine (F.M.I.F. Radio Edit)

I heard this and first thought it was excellent for a followup (to Love Don’t Let Me Go), but then discovered Guetta actually made it in 2004 and it’s just now getting wide US release. But it’s great. The ‘the world is mine’ vocal sounds like David Gahan from Depeche Mode, but the only vocal credit I could find was to JD Davis, and the main beat (but not vocal) is from an old Simple Minds song. I hope this becomes massive.

Beyonce & Shakira – Beautiful Liar (Freemasons Radio Vox)

Popjustice brought this one to my attention–pre-remix it would be generous to call Beautiful Liar mediocre, but Freemasons have taken another okay Beyonce song and made it brilliant. It was tough to decide whether to post the short radio edit, longer club edit, or full 11 minute club mix, but I think the punchy radio edit gets the message across best.

Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. – Way I Are

Popjustice also did a great review of the new Timbaland album recently (in which they determined, on a track by track basis, that nothing on the album is as good as Maneater. But what is? They still gave it an 8 out of 10). Way I Are is too short and has a few too many Sexyback-style “Yeah!”s, but it’s still very good.

Madonna – Like A Virgin (live 2006)

This rework of Like A Virgin is both dramatically different from the 1984 original (adding Stuart Price synth chords and beats) and also quite similar–the spirit of the song remains intact. It’s from a concert at Wembly in London last summer.