2005 Year End Chart - DJ Ron Slomowicz
Albums
People often say that dance music lacks artists, so in response, here are my "sweet 16" artist albums of the year.
1. Second Sun - Inside Out (System)
2. Juliet - Random Order (Virgin)
3. Annie - Anniemal (Big Beat)
4. Iio - Poetica (Made)
5. Tina Cousins - Mastermind (Big-AUS)
6. Georgie Porgie - Love, Life and Be Happy (Music Plant)
7. Goldfrapp - Supernature (Mute)
8. Madonna - Confessions on a Dancefloor (Warner Bros.)
9.
Madelin Zero - Dirty Purple (Indecent/Radikal)
10. Mylo - Destroy Rock and Roll (Breastfed)
11. Sherrie Lea - Spellbound (HiBias-CA)
12. Suzanne Palmer - Home (Star 69)
13. Superchumbo - Wowie Zowie (Twisted)
14. Mynt - Still Not Sorry (Ultra)
15. Prodigy - Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (Maverick)
16. Armin Van Buuren - Shivers (Ultra)
Singles (and remixes)
Top 21 (in honor of the drinking age)
1. Blaze / Barbara Tucker - Most Precious Love
Sometimes there is a song that brings out good memories no matter where you are. Maybe it's the song's origin as part of the Keep Hope Alive compilation benefit for Lifebeat. Maybe it's the positive energy that comes from people who create house music out of love for the music. Whether hearing hedonist spring breakers sing along, watching clubgoers in Amsterdam screaming when the hook is sampled in a DJ set or noticing fratboys at a lounge in Nashville bop their head, the definitive anthem of WMC 2005, Most Precious Love's universal appeal transcends every situation.
2. Rosko - Love is a Drug
Wait, was that a Stephane K and John Creamer remix that I heard on satellite radio? This deliciously dark ode to unrequited love proves that male vocals work well on the radio as well as the dancefloor.
3. Silosonic - Something
Another sample record. But so much more than that, by choosing an obscure Julia & Company Hi-NRG club record, Silosonic concocted this sleeper of a club hit. Originally released early in 2005, look for a big push in 2006 with new remixes on Adhesive (a subset of All Around the World) in the UK.
4. Nine Inch Nails - Only
Taking me back to my goth days, this is the first NIN record in years that I was able to relate to. The ultramodern iPod-like video is both accessible and unnerving in the way it subverts a normal office setting. The Richard X remix pumps the track up with a cool 80's electro feel.
5. Faith Evans - Mesmerized
Yes, I realize that "Love on My Mind" was the debut single from the Freemasons, but it was their classy disco-tinged house mix of "Mesmerized" that made me take notice. A classic soulful song impeccably vocalized by Miss Evans, this record was a clubland hit that deserved a major crossover.
6. Olav Basoski - Waterman
Time for a Golden Girls moment. Picture this, WMC 2005 backstage at BBC Radio One party, I am handed a sampler from Positiva records. Listening to the CD, a jamaican-styled dancehall-influenced record catches my ear. Labeled as Reflekt featuring Deline Bass "Need to Feel Loved," the song quickly becomes a response record everytime I DJ out. Being the respectful DJ that I am, I buy the CD single and am surprised that none of the other mixes sound anything like it. Who knows, maybe it was just an insane dub. Cruising myspace one day, I find the video for Waterman and I realized why I spend so much time labeling all my CDs and creating playlists. A new vocal from Michie One will take this record into 2006.
7. Juliet - Ride the Pain
While Avalon was the clubland anthem, Ride the Pain is the song that made me a Juliet fan. Her debut CD is incredible and she is one of the best performers I have ever seen live. While the meaning of the lyrics is up-to-debate, the Mike Rizzo remix is undeniably one of the best remixes of the year.
8. Jen Cunetta - Come Rain Come Shine
Let's take gifted dance music producers Andy & the Lamboy, stir in a sample from Paul McCartney and Wings, and spice it up with a solid vocal performance by the gorgeous and talented vocalist Jen Cunetta. Come Rain Come Shine tastes sweeter with every listen. Just be sure to skip the misguided video to avoid the bitter aftertaste.
9. Cascada - Everytime We Touch
The unofficial myspace theme, it's the euro record that seems to have exploded on its own. Just call it the high school dating song..
10. Paul Van Dyk - The Other Side
Debuted at Ultra in Miami, the tsunami-inspired "The Other Side," sung by Paul Jackson, gave a sense of depth and spirituality sorely lacking in most dance music.
(continued on next page)
People often say that dance music lacks artists, so in response, here are my "sweet 16" artist albums of the year.
1. Second Sun - Inside Out (System)
2. Juliet - Random Order (Virgin)
3. Annie - Anniemal (Big Beat)
4. Iio - Poetica (Made)
5. Tina Cousins - Mastermind (Big-AUS)
6. Georgie Porgie - Love, Life and Be Happy (Music Plant)
7. Goldfrapp - Supernature (Mute)
8. Madonna - Confessions on a Dancefloor (Warner Bros.)
9.
Madelin Zero - Dirty Purple (Indecent/Radikal)
10. Mylo - Destroy Rock and Roll (Breastfed)
11. Sherrie Lea - Spellbound (HiBias-CA)
12. Suzanne Palmer - Home (Star 69)
13. Superchumbo - Wowie Zowie (Twisted)
14. Mynt - Still Not Sorry (Ultra)
15. Prodigy - Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (Maverick)
16. Armin Van Buuren - Shivers (Ultra)
Singles (and remixes)
Top 21 (in honor of the drinking age)
1. Blaze / Barbara Tucker - Most Precious Love
Sometimes there is a song that brings out good memories no matter where you are. Maybe it's the song's origin as part of the Keep Hope Alive compilation benefit for Lifebeat. Maybe it's the positive energy that comes from people who create house music out of love for the music. Whether hearing hedonist spring breakers sing along, watching clubgoers in Amsterdam screaming when the hook is sampled in a DJ set or noticing fratboys at a lounge in Nashville bop their head, the definitive anthem of WMC 2005, Most Precious Love's universal appeal transcends every situation.
2. Rosko - Love is a Drug
Wait, was that a Stephane K and John Creamer remix that I heard on satellite radio? This deliciously dark ode to unrequited love proves that male vocals work well on the radio as well as the dancefloor.
3. Silosonic - Something
Another sample record. But so much more than that, by choosing an obscure Julia & Company Hi-NRG club record, Silosonic concocted this sleeper of a club hit. Originally released early in 2005, look for a big push in 2006 with new remixes on Adhesive (a subset of All Around the World) in the UK.
4. Nine Inch Nails - Only
Taking me back to my goth days, this is the first NIN record in years that I was able to relate to. The ultramodern iPod-like video is both accessible and unnerving in the way it subverts a normal office setting. The Richard X remix pumps the track up with a cool 80's electro feel.
5. Faith Evans - Mesmerized
Yes, I realize that "Love on My Mind" was the debut single from the Freemasons, but it was their classy disco-tinged house mix of "Mesmerized" that made me take notice. A classic soulful song impeccably vocalized by Miss Evans, this record was a clubland hit that deserved a major crossover.
6. Olav Basoski - Waterman
Time for a Golden Girls moment. Picture this, WMC 2005 backstage at BBC Radio One party, I am handed a sampler from Positiva records. Listening to the CD, a jamaican-styled dancehall-influenced record catches my ear. Labeled as Reflekt featuring Deline Bass "Need to Feel Loved," the song quickly becomes a response record everytime I DJ out. Being the respectful DJ that I am, I buy the CD single and am surprised that none of the other mixes sound anything like it. Who knows, maybe it was just an insane dub. Cruising myspace one day, I find the video for Waterman and I realized why I spend so much time labeling all my CDs and creating playlists. A new vocal from Michie One will take this record into 2006.
7. Juliet - Ride the Pain
While Avalon was the clubland anthem, Ride the Pain is the song that made me a Juliet fan. Her debut CD is incredible and she is one of the best performers I have ever seen live. While the meaning of the lyrics is up-to-debate, the Mike Rizzo remix is undeniably one of the best remixes of the year.
8. Jen Cunetta - Come Rain Come Shine
Let's take gifted dance music producers Andy & the Lamboy, stir in a sample from Paul McCartney and Wings, and spice it up with a solid vocal performance by the gorgeous and talented vocalist Jen Cunetta. Come Rain Come Shine tastes sweeter with every listen. Just be sure to skip the misguided video to avoid the bitter aftertaste.
9. Cascada - Everytime We Touch
The unofficial myspace theme, it's the euro record that seems to have exploded on its own. Just call it the high school dating song..
10. Paul Van Dyk - The Other Side
Debuted at Ultra in Miami, the tsunami-inspired "The Other Side," sung by Paul Jackson, gave a sense of depth and spirituality sorely lacking in most dance music.
(continued on next page)
Source...