I’ve been loving Miami Horror for a couple of years, really excited to see this album finally come out.

Miami Horror – Sometimes (Shazam Remix)

Download audio file (02-Sometimes-Shazam-remix.mp3)

Every once in a while I remember what it felt like to be an 8 year-old meeting someone in college. Those guys were so old! They were so awesome – they seemed grown up, mature, like they had their shit down. But now I’m that guy – I’m 20 – and I don’t feel like I have my shit handled at all. Actually, I feel less like I’ve got a handle on things than I did when I was 8. Maybe I’m totally wrong here, but I get the feeling that as you get older that feeling doesn’t necessarily go away. There are always new experiences that threaten to break apart your axis mundi and disrupt the center of your world.

Or maybe at some point we just settle into the people we think we’re supposed to be, anchoring ourselves to some weird static concept of settling. I sure hope not. But that’s not the point.

I think it started in middle school – as 8th graders we started looking at the 6th graders and said “Man, they get shorter and shorter every year.” And at some point, when I was in high school, I found myself wondering when 8th graders started getting shorter. “Were we that small? That young? That can’t be possible.”

I don’t want to get all Thorton Wilder and start saying “Carpe Diem,” all the time, but sometimes you just gotta ask yourself – when did the hell did I get older?

And with that, here’s a smattering of my favorite music that makes me feel like I’m that 8 year-old dreaming of how awesome being grown up will be.

And yes, all of these are terribly cheesy, but that’s what I grew up with. Deal, I’m having a moment.

Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me

Download audio file (Kiss-Me.mp3)

Eagle Eye Cherry – Save Tonight

Download audio file (Save-Tonight.mp3)

Matchbox 20 – Girl Like That

Download audio file (05-Girl-Like-That.mp3)

Blink 182 – What’s My Age Again?

Download audio file (05-Whats-My-Age-Again_.mp3)

Blink 182 – Feeling This

Download audio file (01-Feeling-This.mp3)

The Streets – Could Well Be In

Download audio file (02-Could-well-be-in.mp3)

I spent about two minutes thinking about this list, leave yours in the comments and I’ll post ‘em up.

“There are moderate muslims, but there is no such thing as a moderate Islam.”

Which is a shame, because it’s really what I enjoy playing out these days. I also haven’t really been posting, but I assure you it’s been quite a summer. I’m home in Boston interning with the start-up Performable, and I’m working as their content/social media/writing/etc intern. It’s a great chance to do a lot of different kinds of work, and the marketing I’m learning relates directly to the online outreach that political campaigns and nonprofits do every day. Look at that, a way to tie my internship into what I want to do with my life!

On the DJing front, I’ve been busy adapting to my 1200s and lining up a number of gigs for the fall. I already have 3 shows set for my first week back in Rochester (including a Sockhop at Dubland, stay tuned for those announcements).

Oh yeah, I said something about disco. Here are some recent highlights.

Flight Facilities – Crave You (feat. Giselle) (Cassian Remix) [mp3]

Download audio file (Crave-You-feat.-Giselle-Cassian-remix.mp3)

This track is absolutely incredible. First and foremost, you really don’t get an appreciation for how punchy this snare drum is until you listen to it on a proper system. It’s thunderous. And the rest of this track is synthesized like butter – the whole thing flows so smoothly, there’s nothing to dislike. This is especially impressive considering how much I hate the other remixes. I thought it was the song, but then I heard this remix.

Capsule – I Wish You (Corporate Remix) [mp3]

Download audio file (I-Wish-You-Corporate-Remix.mp3)

This song is interesting – it’s got all the tenants of a disco track (wonderful piano, delightfully filtered vocals), but it’s got the tempo of a Yacht Rock track. It’s the perfect for the late summer afternoon, either for a long drive through the country or a relaxing session at a city pool. Hey producers – would a few more tracks at this tempo kill you?

Breakbot – Baby I’m Yours [mp3]

Download audio file (1-01-Baby-Im-Yours.mp3)

Another track a little slower than normal, though not quite to the extreme Corporate took it. I’ve been following Breakbot for a few years and he’s done some really great stuff, most notably his remix of Pnau’s “Baby” that’s to die for. Now he’s signed to Ed Banger Records, also the home of Justice and Uffie. Fortunately, Breakbot sounds nothing like them. This is funky, smooth, and would feel perfect sitting next to a Debby Gibson or Seidah Garrett track. The Aeroplane remix is ridiculous as well.

That’s all for this week, I’ll post up some more jams next week.

Every once in a while there’s a really great indie rock track that I can’t stop listening to. Usually it’s a garage-rock kinda deal, some vaguely derivative Strokes-sounding thing.

The Cribs, Pigeon Detectives, Havana Guns, Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Wombats, and Weakerthans.

This time around, it’s Two Door Cinema Club, who are responsible for the ever-so-catchy “Something Good Can Work.” Makes me think of London at night, though I don’t have much to support that claim. Either way, I have been playing this on repeat for the past 24 hours.

And it gets better: The Teenagers did a very capable remix, probably the best since they remixed Black Kids’ “Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance” a couple of years ago. Infectious.

And yeah, I’m a year late on this. I’m cool with that.

Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work

Download audio file (Something-Good-Can-Work.mp3)

Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (Teenagers Remix)

Download audio file (Something-Good-Can-Work-The-Twelves-Remix.mp3)

So much fun. Started with some UK garage (a remix of TLC’s “No More,” anyone?), some of those classic-sounding house jams (Gyptian with the Major Lazer treatment), a little Chromeo, and then some heavy, heavy bass. The only regret of the night was losing the chance to play Tempa T’s “Next Hype” as a finale. No recording, unfortunately, my laptop was running so hot that I don’t think it could have survived recording at the same time.

You can check out the party pictures courtesy of Mike Hanlon here. Thank you everyone for coming out, updates about the next show soon.

Zola – Ghetto Scandalous
Download audio file (19-Ghetto-Scandalous.mp3)
One of kwaito’s early superstars, this is one of my favorites from him.

Mandoza & Mdu – 50/50
Download audio file (50_50.mp3)
Because somehow a track based around a Destiny’s Child melody just seems great.

DJ Cleo – Hands Up
Download audio file (08-Hands-Up-Club-Edit.mp3)
This one is big in the townships these days, though it’s been out for like a year. To the left, to the right, everybody say.

I can easily imagine living in Cape Town for years on end, it’s one of those cities with a lifestyle that just sucks you in without even noticing. I’ve met some incredible people, DJ’d internationally, and had some amazing experiences. I’ll write about all of them, I hope. But for now, I just have to find a way to say goodbye to the mother city.