I think this is what falling in love feels like… definitely sounds like. 

Vitamin String Quartet are a group of LA based session musicians who make perfectly arranged string section covers of your favourite songs. (Seriously, the range of songs they cover is astounding from death metal to mainstream pop). I’ve made a playlist of my personal favourite ones… it has 256 tracks.

**Covers range from Florence + The Machine, The Pixies, The Cure, Foster The People, Adele, David Bowie, The Beatles, Coldplay, Tupac, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West, INXS, Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple, Semisonic, Robyn, Bon Iver, M83, Joy Division, Gwen Stefani, The Fray, Guns N Roses, New Order, Massive Attack, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys, The Roots, Foo Fighters, Muse, Queens Of The Stone Age, Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, U2, Spoon, Lykke Li and Celine Dion. (AND SO MANY MANY MORE)**

Vitamin String Quartet: Website…Facebook…Twitter…Spotify

ITYLTS’ Best Remixes of 2012 from ITYLTSmusic on 8tracks Radio.

So by now you have checked out the ITYLTS’ 33 Best Songs of 2012. Having done that, here’s the ITYLTS’ 10 Best Remixes of 2012! (plus one extra!)

Dimitri From Paris Remix “Headphones” (Little Boots)

Passion Pit Remix “It’s Time” (Imagine Dragons)

Party Ben & MyKill Remix ”We Are Young” (Fun.)

Bobby Tank Remix “You Know You Like It” (AlunaGeorge)

Cruelty Remix “Blue Jeans” (Lana Del Rey)

Perseus Remix “Night Light” (Jessie Ware)

Djemba Djemba Remix “Every Single Night” (Fiona Apple)

Atlantic Connection Remix “The Morning” (The Weeknd)

Clams Casino “Never Let Me Go” (Florence + The Machine)

Psychemagik Remix “Dreams” (Fleetwood Mac)

+ BONUS TRACK

Penguin Prison “It’s Time” (Imagine Dragons)

Its that time of the year again, its the best of lists. There’s been a few rolling around but I know y’all have been waiting for me to grace the interwebs with my choices, right?

Anyway, here are my top 10 albums of 2012, the ones that have been in heavy rotation, the ones that made me think about music differently- the ones that made me listen different. 

…in no particular order.

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Fiona Apple has put out a contribution to Judd Apatow’s This is 40 soundtrack and its great. Not a stranger to Apatow films, Apple’s “Paper Bag” was used already pretty well in Bridesmaids and new track “Dull Tool” looks like its going to do something similar. Alongside a frantic and frenetic accompaniment, Apple’s fed up and scorned lyrics weave in and out to paint the picture of someone who is not particularly happy with what they’ve been left with… I guess this is 40.

 The soundtrack is out December 11.

So back in the day I used to do a monthly round up of what was posted up to catch you guys up, then that moved to a bi-monthly thing because I kept forgetting and now we’ve achieved a world record (olympic fever y’all) and we’re going for the big three month round up, it just got real. 

Here are the highlights of the last three months…

Check out the ITYLTS Best of 2012…so far - 30 of the best of 2012

Work Drugs dropped their latest album Absolute Bearing, with “Boogie Lights”, “License to Drive” and I chatted to them about important worldly issues. 

Childish Gambino dropped a new mixtape Royalty (first new material since last year’s Camp). Highlights were his collaboration with Beck on “Silk Pillows“ 

The Neighbourhood released their debut EP, I’m Sorry and got everyone very excited for what was going to come next, definitely check out “Sweater Weather“ 

Frank Ocean surprised the internet by releasing his hotly anticipated debut album Channel Orange a week before originally scheduled, before all this “Pyramids” gave us a taster of what we were to expect from the album. 

Hit-Boy stepped from behind the boards in the studio to say hey I can rap, here’s “Old School Caddy” with Kid Cudi. 

Passion Pit gave us the first taste of their new album Gossamer with “Take A Walk” “Constant Conversations” and “I’ll Be Alright”

Moby re-recorded “Extreme Ways” for the new Bourne film. 

Tame Impala have new material out, “Elephant” and “Apocalypse Dreams”

The Olympics are upon us and Underworld were in charge of the music for the opening ceremony, check out “Caliban’s Dream” featuring Alex Trimble from Two Door Cinema Club- who also have new track out “Sleep Alone“ 

Fiona Apple came out of a hiatus to deliver her first album in 7 years, The Idler Wheel… and did not disappoint- check out “Every Single Night“ 

Yeasayer teased their new album with “Henrietta” and “Longevity“ 

The Griswolds followed up “Mississippi” with the amazing “Heart of a Lion” while chatting with me about even more important global issues. 

The Helio Sequence broke their silence with “October” from their forthcoming album.

Nas came back to a career high with new album Life is Good, check out “Bye Baby” and “Cherry Wine ft. Amy Winehouse“ 

Theophilus London dropped his new mixtape Rose Island, Vol. 1 with the amazing cover of Wang Chung’s “Dance Hall Days“ 

The xx leaked the first track “Angels” from Coexist, the follow up to their massive debut. 

The Antlers released a game changing EP Undersea, “Drift Drive”

Hoodie Allen kept on giving with “Hey Now” that didn’t quite make it to All American

Freelance Whales has a new album coming out, here’s “Locked Out“ 

Slow Club had a video starring Daniel Radcliffe for “Beginners“ 

Carly Rae Jepson took over the whole world with “Call Me Maybe”, so check out these live performances with Jimmy Fallon and covers by Ben Howard. 

Remix, Baby: Some amazing remixes of AlunaGeorge, Fiona Apple, Theophilus London, The Weeknd, Lana Del Rey and Imagine Dragons and of course remix artist LEANN GRIMES.

disCOVER: Here are some flipped covers of Lana Del Rey, Robyn, Twin Peaks by She’s So Rad, Foster The People by Usher, Coldplay, Spoon, Frankie goes to Hollywood by Fossil Collective, Body Language by Emil & Friends, Gotye by fun. and Active Child by Ellie Goulding.  

New Discoveries (new to me at least): the amazing of Verona, Kick Up The Fire, Splash, Friends, JMSN, Rhye, UMA, Alex Evans, Big K.R.I.T., Wild Combination and Youth Lagoon. 

Summer Playlist 2012 with Poolside, Trails and Ways, RAC, The Knocks, Blackbird Blackbird and Tyler the Creator & Toro Y Moi. 

Biggest Videos: If you haven’t seen these, well go and see brand new videos from Lana Del Rey, Delta Heavy, Watch The Throne, Coldplay & Rihanna, San Cisco and Charli XCX. 

Enjoy party people.  

I don’t know how it happened, but its that time of the year again- we’re half way through. Somehow its June of 2012 and lists are being made of the best things that have been in our ears since January. As much of a slave to routine as anyone here is ITYLTS Best of 2012…so far.

To do things a little different and challenge myself I’m only going to say three words as a write up for the song and they won’t be in a sentence, just three different words hanging out.

(in no particular order, maybe chronological)

ITYLTS Best of 2012…So Far from ITYLTSmusic on 8tracks.

30 Best Songs…So far 

Nicholas Jarr- “And I Say ft. Scout LaRue & Will Epstein”- Crazy. Sexy. Cool.

Jay-Z- “Glory ft. Pharrel & Blue Ivy Carter” Proud. Love. Loss.

The Shins- “Simple Song” Simple. Memories. Sixties.

Gotye- “Somebody That I Used To Know ft. Kimbra” Betrayal. Ends. Everywhere.

Seasfire- “Falling” Nighttime. Gravity. Comparisons.

Work Drugs- “License To Drive” Roadtrip. Freedom. Coast.

DJ Fresh- “Hot Right Now ft. Rita Ora” Fad. Next. Now.

AlunaGeorge- “You Know You Like It” Fresh. Evening. Tipsy.

Lady Danville- “Operating” SoCal. Intentions. Acceptance.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros- “Man on Fire” Digeridoo. Cash. Baggage. 

Rizzle Kicks- “The Traveller’s Chant”- Youth. Escape. Expectations.

Ludovin- “If I Die Before You”- Whistles. Community. Hope.

Beach House- “Myth” Dream. Finished. Over

The Neighbourhood- “Sweater Weather” Cold. Together. California.

Maroon 5- “Come Away To The Water ft. Rozzi Crane” Sacrifice. Menace. Real.

Alabama Shakes- “Hold On” Southern. Perseverance. Faith.

Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz- “Mercy” Bravado. Family. Brag.

Marina & The Diamonds- “Primadonna” Diva. Entitled. Knowing.

Jessie Ware- “Running” Infatuation. Effect. Ready.

Mikey Mike- “If I Ain’t Stopped Loving You By Now” Done. Always. Never.

Carly Rae Jepson- “Call Me Maybe” Not. Even. Embarrassed.

Passion Pit- “Take A Walk” Pride. Evolution. Determination.

She’s So Rad- “Confetti” Nostalgia. Truth. Shoegaze.

Mark Foster + A-Trak+ Kimbra- “Warrior” Fight. Bells. Mix.

Delilah- “Breathe” Strings. Quiet. Mask.

Friends- “Friend Crush” Boundaries. Unsure. Temptation.

Fiona Apple- “Every Single Night” Identity. ?. Everything.

The Secret Sisters- “Tomorrow Will Be Kinder” Destruction. Rebuild. Overcome.

The Griswolds- “Mississippi” Infectious. Restraint. Apart. 

Frank Ocean- “Pyramids” Complex. Respect. Electic. 

I tried to hold off from posting this for a while because I just posted on “Every Single Night” but this remix is TOO good. Sped up samples of Apple’s hook “I just want to feel everything” over a hip hop beat just goes SO amazingly together. Don’t you agree?

I can’t remember why I haven’t posted on the first single “Every Single Night” from Fiona Apple’s eagerly, oh SO eagerly, awaited album The Idler Wheel… that has been seven years in the making since the mesmerising Extraordinary Machine. 

NPR has the whole album to stream right now and the opener “Every Single Night” is captivating. It’s lullaby-esque instrumental is so disarming that it takes a few listens to understand the darker tones of Apple’s lyrics- which is what I love about Apple’s song craft. The rest of the album is wonderful, perhaps a little bare when compared to Extraordinary Machine but it is still very good.

The Idler Wheel… is available to pre-order now. 

Since debuting a few new songs at this year’s SXSW, everyone and their dog have been ready and excited about studio versions of new Fiona Apple material. Here’s “Anything We Want”, a true delight of a track with heavy happy pianos and what sounds like the ocean in the background. It’s just lovely. 

“Anything We Want”, “Werewolf” and the lullaby-esque “Every Single Night” are all from the upcoming album The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do that is due June 19, available to pre-order here. 

It’s been a while since part two, life just keeps getting in the way, quit it life. Anyway, here’s part 3 of the 25 albums that changed my life (part 1 and part 2 included eminem, blink 182, 2pac, nas, fatboy slim, the verve, nwa, kanye west, jayz, moby, outkast)

Check out part 3 after the jump…

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