Love The Hate The
p.r. piece for the new album Hate
Culture by William Control
(Victory Records) describes it as "dark, violent and horribly
addictive" and a "depraved, darkwave electro rock romp
through his twisted world, where the underbelly of society comes
out to play, dance, and singalong in despair." It also
says that the album is "the psycho-sexual debut" from
the omnisexual alter ego of Wil Francis, the fontman of the group
Aiden, and that it will appeal to fans of Nine Inch Nails, David
Bowie, The Faint, & New Order." The write-up says other
things as well, but what I say is that this album, while not
typically something I would listen to, is quite interesting and
very appealing to the darker edged aspects of my personality.
I like it when an artist presents a challenge to my musical
sensibilities, and the 12-track Hate Control not only challenges
me, it also entertains and thrills.
Betty's Beau?
The cutie next door neighbor
Jesse that is making Betty Suarez moist this season on the TV
show Ugly Betty is none other than Val Emmich, a 29-year-old
indie pop-rock singer-musician who is deservedly seeing his star
rise. A jack of various artistic trades, Emmich
has had some modest success as an actor - TV appearances on 30
Rock, Ed, and Third Watch - and released six albums.
The most recent musical offering, Little Daggers (No
Code Records /Bulhammock), is a 10-track LP that came out last
spring and is making a resurgence up the charts in light of the
Ugly Betty star turn. However, the recent success of
Little Daggers is not a product simply of opportunistic
timing and hype as Emmich has put forth a package great songs
with strong melodies and relevant, catchy lyrics. While Betty
might be falling for Jesse in the fake world of TV, those of
us in the real world are finding Emmich to be our cup of tea
as well.
Suggested MP3 Playlist
Additions: "Bossy" byLindsay
Lohan (Motown). You may have
missed this Ne-Yo penned track that came out several months ago
but it is surprisingly - at least surprising to me - quite good.
The radio version has a deliciously good hook that allows the
dance remixes to reach way beyond ordinary. My fave is the Mike
Rizzo Funk Generation Mix with its upbeat Freemasons/Moto Blanco
feel. The Escape & Capello Mix is just what you'd expect
to hear in a big room at 1am while the Mr. Mig Remix is slower,
possessed with a light urban sensibility and a heavy funky downbeat.
"Keeps Gettin'
Better" by Christina Aguilera (Sony/BMG) Ever since she sang this
song on the MTV VMAs, folks have been requesting this of me nonstop.
The dance remix that most closely resembles the original is
by the Booth Pimps while the most traditional clubby version
is by Bimbo Jones. That said, the Tom Neville Mix is quite intriguing
with a more understated progressive vibe set against a modest
tempo.
"Bad Habit 2009" by ATFC
featuring Lisa Millett (Defected).
Originally released in 1999, this song is in my Top 10 of all-time
house tracks and it's been spiffied up and given punchy new
life for today's audience (though I still often play the original
mixes to smiling clubbers). Of the updated package, the Lectrotek
Re-Visit Mix has energized dance floors around the globe, melding
the original popular melody and those amazing synthesized horn
lines with a harder edged, yet sophisticated, electro-ish sound.
While the dub versions (Letrotek Dub and Bad Habits Die Hard
Dub) that have been released are probably not worthwhile for
most of you, any DJ reading this needs to get them and use them
as DJ tools to spice up their sets.
Going Gaga For
those of you who liked the smash summer hit "Just Dance"
by Lady Gaga, you'll definitely want to get your hands on their
recently released album The
Fame (Interscope). The
NYC-based theatrical dance-pop singer/songwriter/pianist has
been rocking that city's underground scene for several years
and is now poised to hit the big-time. This album is a strong
effort and includes her next soon-to-be big hit single: "Poker
Face."
The
p.r. piece for the new album Hate
Culture by William Control
(Victory Records) describes it as "dark, violent and horribly
addictive" and a "depraved, darkwave electro rock romp
through his twisted world, where the underbelly of society comes
out to play, dance, and singalong in despair." It also
says that the album is "the psycho-sexual debut" from
the omnisexual alter ego of Wil Francis, the fontman of the group
Aiden, and that it will appeal to fans of Nine Inch Nails, David
Bowie, The Faint, & New Order." The write-up says other
things as well, but what I say is that this album, while not
typically something I would listen to, is quite interesting and
very appealing to the darker edged aspects of my personality.
I like it when an artist presents a challenge to my musical
sensibilities, and the 12-track Hate Control not only challenges
me, it also entertains and thrills. 
rise. A jack of various artistic trades, Emmich
has had some modest success as an actor - TV appearances on 30
Rock, Ed, and Third Watch - and released six albums.
The most recent musical offering, Little Daggers (No
Code Records /Bulhammock), is a 10-track LP that came out last
spring and is making a resurgence up the charts in light of the
Ugly Betty star turn. However, the recent success of
Little Daggers is not a product simply of opportunistic
timing and hype as Emmich has put forth a package great songs
with strong melodies and relevant, catchy lyrics. While Betty
might be falling for Jesse in the fake world of TV, those of
us in the real world are finding Emmich to be our cup of tea
as well.
"Bossy" by Lindsay
Lohan (Motown). You may have
missed this Ne-Yo penned track that came out several months ago
but it is surprisingly - at least surprising to me - quite good.
The radio version has a deliciously good hook that allows the
dance remixes to reach way beyond ordinary. My fave is the Mike
Rizzo Funk Generation Mix with its upbeat Freemasons/Moto Blanco
feel. The Escape & Capello Mix is just what you'd expect
to hear in a big room at 1am while the Mr. Mig Remix is slower,
possessed with a light urban sensibility and a heavy funky downbeat.
been spiffied up and given punchy new
life for today's audience (though I still often play the original
mixes to smiling clubbers). Of the updated package, the Lectrotek
Re-Visit Mix has energized dance floors around the globe, melding
the original popular melody and those amazing synthesized horn
lines with a harder edged, yet sophisticated, electro-ish sound.
While the dub versions (Letrotek Dub and Bad Habits Die Hard
Dub) that have been released are probably not worthwhile for
most of you, any DJ reading this needs to get them and use them
as DJ tools to spice up their sets. 
For
those of you who liked the smash summer hit "Just Dance"
by Lady Gaga, you'll definitely want to get your hands on their
recently released album The
Fame (Interscope). The
NYC-based theatrical dance-pop singer/songwriter/pianist has
been rocking that city's underground scene for several years
and is now poised to hit the big-time. This album is a strong
effort and includes her next soon-to-be big hit single: "Poker
Face." 