Blog: Pound for Pound

It's been a shitty year in a lot of ways, never a great way to start a party post. But, when I look back on all of the great parties we've covered and learned about this year, I feel good. And when I see my favorites come together, it truly makes me happy. Tonight's Prime Time of Your Life/Life During Wartime Holiday Soiree at the Darkroom (2210 W. Chicago Ave) really is the perfect example as my Chicago favorites, Bald Eagle, Mother Hubbard, Popstatic and Mister Wolf have brought in special guests from Philly [...]

-pull out method -robot rock -turnaround -d.c. -chicago -mpls -cinespace [...]

Shannon, "Let The Music Play (original 12" mix)" ( YSI Link ) Shannon, "Let The Music Play (instrumental)" ( YSI link ) Shannon, "Let The Music Play (1989 European Remixed version)" ( YSI link ) Every so often I will realize that I haven't posted a favorite and feel the need to immediately rectify that. Shannon's "Let The Music Play" is a perfect example, a stone-cold classic dance track that everyone has heard and needs in their lives. From that unforgettable synth melody to the [...]

I actually don't have anywhere to go right now, but I'm going to keep this one short for once. Seriously. Let's start near my apartment and work our way out. I'm really psyched for this new party called Hug It Out and let me explain why. It's at Hugs ( -Heading into the city, let's start with the guys who are booking DJs at Hugs who also happen to throw a great Thursday night party every week at Home Sweet Home (131 Chrystie St) . Sweatshop Labor's Common Folk teams up with Streets Mart [...]

Shantel, "Disko Partizani" ( YSI link ) Shantel, "Sota" ( YSI link ) We started taking a look at the Balkan beats scene last week, let's continue with the biggest release in 2007, Shantel's Disko Partizani . Shantel has been the man most responsible for bringing Balkan music into the clubs, bringing his dub and house influences to bear on the exuberant gypsy tunes. We've covered his Bukovina Club project already, a great introduction to the entire scene that blends the old and the new [...]

Okay, I just got back from Philly a few minutes ago and am about to head out to dinner with JH-B, but I couldn't help myself. I mean, is there a more perfect confluence than me returning to Williamsburg tonight, the same night that Philly's Steven Bloodbath comes here to throw a party in the same hood with the word hoagies in the party name? The answer is no, there is no more perfect union than that. So yeah, Bloodbath is teaming up with DJ Krames of Cobra Kai and the hardest working man in NYC [...]

Coyote, "Too Hard (original mix)" ( YSI link ) Coyote, "Too Hard (Aeroplane remix)" ( YSI link ) So yeah, it's been a rough day, week, month, year. I can't get beyond the past and I feel another end coming soon. As my bol Bobby Dylan said, "I haven't known peace and quiet for so long I don't remember what it's like." When it all starts to hit me right now, I turn to Coyote's "Too Hard." When I hear it, especially the Aeroplane remix , I'm transported away [...]

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Bloc Party, "Where Is Home? (Burial remix)" ( YSI link ) Jamie Woon, "Wayfaring Stranger (Burial remix)" ( YSI link ) Blackdown, "Crackle Blues (Burial remix)" ( YSI link ) I'm not quite ready to put Burial behind us, so I wanted to take a look at the man's remixes from the past year. There seems something almost wrong about having the mysterious Burial lend his talent to someone else's music, his own music seems like an obsession that requires every second and every ounce [...]

Traxmen & DJ Lil' Tal, "Trax 4 Da Women" ( YSI link ) Traxmen & DJ Lil' Tal, "Don't Bite It" ( YSI link ) I wasn't sure if this was the right choice to start the week. On the one hand, I can't think of a better way to kick off the weekdays than with a Dance Mania ghetto house classic . On the other hand, I don't want you to peak on Monday afternoon, unable to regain the euphoria and joy that you will soon feel when you download [...]

Okay, the East Coast seems to be quiet(ish) tonight and the West Coast put up bulletins early and so the West takes it. East Coast bias what? Not hard to see why when you see the fliers for Blasthuas in San Fran, Blow Up and Check Yo Ponytail in LA. I'm gonna lead off with the Blasthaus 12th Anniversary party at Mighty (119 Utah St) featuring a DJ set by Tiefschwarz , the legendary German techno duo. I lied a week or so ago and said that their set in Brooklyn was their only US appearance. This [...]

So yeah, light at the end of the tunnel meet DFA Holiday party . I mean, this is such perfect timing, I don't know what to say. One of the best parties I've been to in NYC was last year's DFA holiday jawn, three apartments and many panic attacks ago, it's kinda hard to believe that I've made it around to another one. The DFA label has had the complete opposite year as me, completely owning 2007, turning into a dance juggernaut. LCD Soundsystem, Holy Ghost!, Hercules and Love Affair, Death From Abroad, 45:33 , like [...]

Burial, "Archangel" ( YSI link ) Burial, "Untrue" ( YSI link ) I'm about to embark on one of the biggest/scariest moments of my life, it's raining and miserable and I'm physically and mentally exhausted. I can't think of a better time to jump back into dubstep by taking a look at its most acclaimed artist, Burial ? Actually, I probably should be doing a post on love songs or brainless sugar pop tunes, but whatever. Burial's Untrue is his second LP on [...]

Mixmag Presents Claude VonStroke's The Beats Of San Fran Disco mix ( YSI link ) It's been a really big day in Pound for Pound world. After a really rough go of it for the past month or so, I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I really feel upbeat. We're not there yet, but we're on the way, ya feel me? Sorry for the lack of posting today, but I think that you will see a noticeable upswing in the next few weeks, along [...]

Wow, so much going on tonight, it's a little overwhelming. I'm going to lead off with an old favorite, the High Voltage party at The Annex (152 Orchard St) This is the final one for the year, your final chance to hang with Dimitry!!! and crew and be young and drink free vodka and get way too drunk on said vodka and dance and enjoy the final night of Hanukkah. Dimitry and Prince Terrence are joined by DJ Krames of Cobra Kai , should be a night of serious party music from cheesy pop to [...]

Battles, "Tonto (The Field remix)" ( YSI link ) Battles, "Tonto (Four Tet remix)" ( YSI link ) The end of the year is nearly upon us and I have a feeling that the Battles LP, Mirrored , will make on a few end of the year releases. Perhaps to keep them in the mind of the blogosphere's voters, they recently released the Tonto + EP with some remixes, live songs and a DVD. Not surprisingly, the band chose interesting remixers [...]

Okay, this one is short and sweet, as I'm off to a Hanukkah party hosted by the the Divine Miss TE. If there was a flier for it, it would be top choice. There isn't, so y'all will just have to have jealous boots that I am going to be eating many delicious latkes in less than an hour. Yeah! Sadly, tonight is the final Suji's Basement party at APT (419 W. 13th St) , as the weekly calls it quits. Thankfully, Sujinho has decided to go out with a bang, as he's invited one of [...]

Paul Johnson, "Hot (Surkin remix)" ( YSI link ) Justine Electra, "Killalady (Surkin remix)" ( YSI link ) I wanted to put up one last post for Surkin as the year comes to an end, as he's had a huge 2007. I had to put up this remix of a Paul Johnson track, as it perfectly encapsulates some of Pound for Pound's main interests: Paris electro remixing a Chicago house legend. Johnson is a stone-cold legend, from his early releases on Dance Mania to his classic [...]

Goran Bregovic, "Wedding Cocek" ( YSI link ) Kocani Orkestar, "Siki, Siki Baba" ( YSI link ) Shantel feat. Boban Marcovic Orkestar, "Disko" ( YSI link ) This one seems like the obvious follow-up to our Hanukkah post, as I've been meaning to dig a little deeper into the whole gypsy beats scene that has formed over the past 5 years in Europe and the States. Shantel has been at the forefront of this blending of Balkan, Eastern European and Jewish music with more modern [...]

Super quick post here, will have music up later tonight finally. I had to post this one up, as Still Fucking Awesome is one of the awesomest parties out there and tonight they are taking it up a notch with a live show by The Black Ghosts. We've discussed them a few times here, big fan of their electro rock stylings, feel like this might be one of the first US appearances for them. Add in DJ Orgasmic from Paris, Treasure Fingers From Atlantaresidents Franki Chan and Har Mar Superstar and you've easily over your case of the Mondays. It [...]