Martina from Dragonette for Vinyl and Vodka

Why Are We Whispering is the new side and collaboration project consisting of Don Diablo and rapper Ish. Their first release is their remix of Martin Solveig and Dragonette’s poppy tune “Hello”. I agree with what Confusion said about ditching genres because this is basically a mashup of electro, rap, and pop. This remix gives the song a fresh vibe, as I was getting so sick of radio stations playing it.

Martin Solveig & Dragonette – Hello (Why are we whispering Remix) by dondiablo

Just when I was hoping for new material from Dragonette, I get a new press release about them e-mailed to me with a brand new single (that isn’t on the Fixin’ To Thrill album) called “Our Summer“. It’s basically a hot summer song with infectious beats that samples the lines from Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”. This is cowbell and pot-clanging done right. Move over Kesha and Katy Perry, Dragonette’s coming with some GOOD pop music.

Dragonette – “Our Summer”

(It’s me on the cover!)
For the past two months, I have been working really hard on a side project of this blog: an online magazine. It has always been my dream to persue a career in publishing and in magazines other than blogging, and I feel like this is the right time to start to get a sense of what it’s like.

I haven’t had anyone help me other than opinions design-wise on the magazine, and it took me 2 months to finish it all which is a pretty long time for such a small magazine. But I have school and work as well, which has slowed down my process of finishing this as fast as I could. I’ve had amazing contributors who would help me out and submit articles and reviews who I have to thank a lot for spending their time and making this possible.

The magazine is mainly focused on music, but there are so fashion aspects to things as well. In this issue, there’s an article on Alexander McQueen and a spread of a Holiday Shopping Guide which will help you find a gift for someone you love! This issue features interviews from Dragonette, Freelance Whales, and Antonia Schindle from the fashion blog Live Glam Or Die. The highlight articles of this issue are “Is Indie the New Outtie”, “3 Worst Trends In Music” and a review of Where The Wild Things Are.

Also, in this issue you have a chance to win a FILTER prize pack! Read about it in the magazine.

READ THE MAGAZINE

I hope that you like this issue, and attached with this issue is a podcast called “Vodkast” which will be released every single issue featuring different artists. Read more about that here.

I want to hear your comments on this magazine, like what can I do to improve it. The ads in this issue were free so if you are a small company or a blog and want your ads in the next issue, email me. If you want to help me out and contribute to the magazine, that would be fantastic! Just email me at vinylandvodka@gmail.com. If you would like to buy a print copy of the magazine as well, email me so I can print it off and ship it for you.

Please share this with your friends as this means a lot to me! And if you’re a blogger, I would love if you posted about this magazine, link the post to this post and to the magazine. Thank you!!!

It is often said that behind every great man there’s a great woman.  John had Yoko, Adam had Eve, and Bill had Monica (insert joke about Bill having Monica).  Likewise, every great music blog needs its own mix series.

Introducing Vinyl & Vodka’s very own Vodkast, a collection of songs compiled by Willis and Dan McGrath that will surely leave you three sheets to the wind (let’s see how long I can run with this alcohol motif…) Every issue will have a different one with a different cover. By the next issue, we will have it up on iTunes so you can subscribe. Download it and plug it into your iTunes and iPod. Listen to it on your way to work, make it your workout song, etc.! This month’s issue features music by Dragonette, Plastiscines, The XX, School of Seven Bells, Total Babe, and more.

1. Freelance Whales – Generator ^ First Floor
2. Dragonette - Pick Up The Phone
3. Wolf Gang – The King And All Of His Men
4. Total Babe – Short Stories
5. Morningbell - Marching Off To War
6. The Basics - With This Ship (Peter Cobbin Mix)
7. Plastiscines – Barcelona
8. New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
9. Bell XI – Rocky Took A Love
10. Israel Darling – Samson The Mason
11. Robert Francis – Junebug
12. The xx – Stars
13. School Of Seven Bells – Half Asleep (Alternate Version)
14. M83 – Kim & Jessie
15. Erik Hassle - Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix)
16. From – Fight for Your Right
17. Fyfe Dangerfield – When You Walk In The Room
18. Jason Mraz – If It Kills Me

Vodkast by vinylandvodka

Download: Vinyl and Vodka – Vodkast 1

Keep on reading for a song-by-song write up of the Vodkast:

1. Freelance Whales - Generator ^ First Floor
I was skeptical when these guys (and girl) started popping up on all the blogs I frequent.  What can I say, the hype beast and I rarely get along (case in point, I don’t really like Animal Collective’s My Girls… “Gasp!!!”).  However, this is totally the exception.  I’m a sucker for banjoes, harmoniums, and ethereal introductions, and lucky for me Freelance Whales rely heavily on all three.  This is one for the year end lists.

2. Dragonette - Pick Up The Phone
Dragonette has always been my favorite indie pop band, and “Pick Up The Phone” tones down the excitement from their previous single “Fixin To Thrill” but still remains Dragonette-cool.

3. Wolf Gang – The King And All Of His Men
It might just be my childhood fixation with Humpty Dumpty speaking, but man I love this song.  It’s quite catchy and could have fit seamlessly on Passion Pit’s debut Manners.  I haven’t heard anything else from Wolf Gang at this point, but I sure as hell look forward to it.

4. Total Babe - Short Stories
I have to admit, I only gave this band a listen because their name intrigued me.  Expecting some bass pounding euro-pop, I was pleasantly surprised when I heard fiddles and folkie vocals. Add them to your list of bands to watch in the upcoming year.

5. Morning Bell - Marching Off To War
This psychedelic-inspired indie pop band have some pretty interesting sounds backed up with screaming ’aaaahs’ from their single “Marching Off To War”.

6. The Basics - With This Ship (Peter Cobbin Mix)
Those of you who’ve heard of Gotye already know 1/3 of this band (those of you who haven’t aren’t living life to its full potential).  Lead singer and percussionist Wally DeBacker is another personal hero of mine and continues to wow with this track.  Only a true musical genius would think to add audio clips of garrrhhing pirates in the middle of a song about sinking ships.

7. Plastiscines - Barcelona
Get up and dance to this anthem by the French rock all-girl band. Who doesn’t like Barcelona?

8. New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
99.9% of the time I would say nothing good has ever come from suicide.  However, in the case of Hitler and New Order (the remains of Joy Division post Ian Curtis’ death) I have to say otherwise.  That sounded a lot less insensitive in my head…  Often regarded as one of New Order’s best singles, this song has become a classic over the last decade and was ranked 201 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

9. Bell XI - Rocky Took A Love
Seeing as how they are one of the biggest bands in Ireland, it’s befuddling (yes, you heard me, befuddling!) to me how this band hasn’t exploded stateside yet.  The lyrics are great, and it’s just so damn catchy! “If there was a god then why is my ass the perfect height for kicking”.

10. Israel Darling - Samson The Mason
Everything in this song is perfect. From the lyrics to the ‘hey heys’ to the band, you just have to put this on repeat.

11. Robert Francis – Junebug
This song was the free single on iTunes a few weeks back and after downloading and loving it upon first listen, I was shocked to see it had been absolutely torn apart by everyone on iTunes.  Then I saw that I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas was still the number one single for the millionth week in a row, and it all made sense… Part Ryan Adams, part Springsteen, with a little Delta Spirit thrown in, Francis shines on this track off his sophomore album Before Nightfall.  If you like this one you’ll like them all.

12. The xx - Stars
The xx exploded in 2009, and they were known for their minimalist sound. “Stars” is one of my favorites from the album, and both of the singers voices sound so beautiful in this.

13. School of Seven Bells – Half Asleep (Alternate version)
A good friend of mine sent this to me.  No explanation necessary, just watch the trippy video.

14. M83 - Kim & Jessie
This song reminds me of Molly Ringwald… probably because it reeks of the 80’s and would fit perfectly in any one of the John Hugh’s classics from that decade.   For this reason, I love this song and so should you.

15. Erik Hassle – Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix)
Remember how shocked you were when you first saw a picture of Rick Astely (I mean come on, who would have guessed a skinny white ginger sang Never Gonna Give You Up)?  Well the same thing happened when I googled Erik Hassle… who strangely looks like Astley… Either way, this song is awesome and constantly stuck in my head.  You’d think after Susan Boyle I’d have learned once and for all to never judge a book by its cover… or in this case a cover by its book?… my head hurts.

16. From - Fight For Your Right
If you’ve never heard of From, you should, because their French cover of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” is truly amazing. Trust me.

17. Fyfe Dangerfield - When You Walk In The Room
Fyfe, when you walk in the room, I see things that I do understand. “I want you endlessly, I want you endlessly…”

18. Jason Mraz - If It Kills Me
Classic story.  Friend hopelessly feels for friend.  Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

When I recieved this remix in my inbox yesterday night, I was quite excited – I’m pretty much on a Dragonette high right now and I know that Buffetlibre is an amazing DJ so when I heard that he remixed “Easy”, I was swamped with joy.

In my interview with Dragonette this past month, Martina in her opinion described “Easy” as one of the most un-pop songs off of a very poppy record. Buffetlibre managed to make it very electropop, but maintaining the sedative moderate state without adding too much blasting, exciting beats.

Speaking of the interview, I haven’t published it yet because I want it to be an exclusive to the magazine that I’m working on…it will be released in the next couple weeks but I may give you a sneak peek on it sooner than that!

Dragonette – “Easy” (Buffetlibre remix)Stream

–

Earlier, we reviewed Dragonette’s album ‘Fixin To Thrill’.

Read the review and download some of the songs here.

Buy: iTunes | Amazon

Dragonette -

Fixin To Thrill

[Out 9/29 in Canada, 10/3 in Australia, 10/27 in US]
Released by Mercury Records (Canada), Universal (Australia), I Surrender (US)

Dragonette, a Canadian electronic pop group, is back with their second album, Fixin to Thrill. “Fixin to Thrill,” “Gone Too Far” and “Pick up the Phone,” are all stand out singles from the album, which have grown in popularity over the course of this year. Fixin to Thrill is not a ground-breaking album or a beacon of undeniable greatness, but it is pleasure for the ears and an upbeat poppy record for the collection.

Lead singer and songwriter, Martina Sorbara, said “We were just king of making up shit as we went along and we still are doing that.”

No longer guitar heavy, the album stands out as much more polished than their first. Fixin to Thrill is perfectly produced and carries digitally pleasing blends throughout. It has catchy riffs in almost every track and pop hooks that make it up lifting.

It opens with a bang, well, the hit single “Fixin to Thrill,” then continues into another possible chart breaker, “Gone Too Far.” “Gone Too Far” carries the electronic pop energy from “Fixin’ to Thrill” but adds a little something extra that sets the tone for the rest of the album, think electronic-pop meets a country hoedown with great vocals. The album takes a few dips from its livelihood mid way through.

In these lethargic moments, you hear the lead singer’s frustration with her lying significant other and need to escape from it all (tracks #3, #5). The last third of the record (with the exception of track 11) gets a bit repetitive and the modernized 80’s vibe gets a little old. But it finishes with “Don’t be Funny,” a personal favorite track that brings you into a musically perfect moment as you get lost in Sorbara’s angelic and charming voice.

All in all, it’s a warm electronic record with driving, energetic choruses that carry the entirety of the album. You get lost in the good synths, which stimulate a care and reason free euphoria – perfect for a Sunday lounge.

Tracklisting:
1. Fixin To Thrill
2. Gone Too Far
3. Liar
4. Stupid Grin
5. Easy
6. Pick Up The Phone
7. We Rule The World
8. Big Sunglasses
9. Okay Dolore
10. Come On Be Good
11. Youre A Disaster
12. Dont Be Funny

The Canadian electropop group, Dragonette, is back with their second album, Fixin to Thrill.

The latest song off their new album, “Pick Up the Phone,” already gets a little remix treatment. The Richard X version gives the great original a luring dance beat. I’m a fan of both the original and this remix. By adding some steller syths and keeping Sorbara’s original vocals, the song accomplishes a great 80s feel that makes you believe like you are under the disco ball.

I’d say definitely download! It’s a jam that will leave you feeling happy and carefree! The album will release in the US digitally on October 6th, physically October 20th, and in Canada on September 29th (which means the album should leak in the next couple days!)

Dragonette – “Pick Up The Phone” (Richard X Remix)Stream

About 2 months ago we were given a taste (rather, an entree) of Jean Paul Gaultier’s collaboration with Dragonette and Martin Solveig in “Boys & Girls”, the latest track being used for his adverts. We were also given a hint of an upcoming remix by an unknown artist at the time of the duet that was slated to be ‘released soon’.

The remix has finally arrived, and Les Petits Pilous from Boys Noize are one of the first to remix it. The song has been altered completely – and the result is a hot electro club banger.

Martin Solveig feat Dragonette – “Boys & Girls” (Les Petits Pilous remix)Stream

Catch Dragonette’s tour dates after the jump!

Tour Dates
10.2 PETERBOROUGH, ON Red Dog
10.3 MONTREAL, PQ POP MONTREAL / LE Cabaret
10.5 HAMILTON, ON casbah
10.6 LONDON, ON Call the Office
10.7 WATERLOO, ON The Starlight
10.8 TORONTO, ON The Mod Club
10.12 WINNIPEG, MB west end cultural centre
10.14 CALGARY, AB The Whisky
10.15 EDMONTON, AB Starlite
10.16 NELSON, BC venue TBC
10.17 VANCOUVER, BC Venue
10.18 VICTORIA, BC Sugar
10.19 SEATTLE, WA @ Vera Project
10.20 PORTLAND, OR @ Doug fir
10.22 SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Popscene / 330
10.23 LOS ANGELES, CA @ The Echo
10.24 COSTA MESA @ Detroit Bar
10.26 DENVER, CO @ Larimer Lounge
10.28 KANSAS CITY, MO @ Czar Bar
10.30 SPRINGFIELD, MO @ Outland
10.31 CHICAGO, IL @ Sonotheque
11.4 BOSTON, MA @ Great Scott
11.5 NEW YORK CITY, NY @ Santos
11.6 WASHINGTON DC @ DC9

After starting 2009 off with a power hitting, breath-taking single “Fixin To Thrill”, Dragonette is allowing us take a breath from the dance floor with their next single “Pick Up The Phone”, a slower but still Dragonette-styled dance song.

This song takes on a little bit more serious side to the Canadian native band, and not the typical blasting dance song that they usually take the route to. Martina’s vocals seems to have calmed down, and overall this is just a nice, laid back pop song.

They have also released the music video to this, and Martina explained what the concept was:

“A little while ago we shot a faux advert for our scent URIN, with the directorial genius that is DREW LIGHTFOOT. Aside from it being a hilarious experience just by virtue of being such a ridiculous idea, it actually looked really rad (see it here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-2ynxtlIkg). So It was our sheer delight to work with Drew again
- this time for a real live music video instead of just goofin’ around making fun of celebrity perfume lines.”

Download the song after the jump…

Dragonette – “Pick Up The Phone”Stream

*please note that this song is exclusive to Vinyl and Vodka. If re-posted, please give credit to where it belongs