Reasons to Smile

What a week! 808s and Heartbreak is finally out! Unfortunately, I can’t say that I’ve yet had a listen, as I’m being a good boy and I’m waiting for my copy to arrive in the post. I haven’t done that since Hell Hath No Fury!

It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a fan of Kanye’s one-time tour DJ, former DMC champion A-Trak. He’s a great DJ, producer, and he’s pretty funny when he gets to typing stuff up and putting it on the internet. So, after contributing at length to blogs on Myspace, The Fader and Colette, he’s only gone and established his very own sole-purpose blog. Go have a look for some hilarious reads.

As well as the afore-mentioned 808s, I think everyone should check out this Fear and Loathing in Hunts Vegas mixtape. Diplo and Benzi have thrown together a bunch of half-speed tracks from the Alabama-based Paper Route Recordz collective – some originals, some remixes, but all completely bonkers. I’m talking reworkings of Born Slippy, Careless Whisper and A Change Is Gonna Come, to name but three. Bizarre. Essential. You can grab it for free or for under $5 at 192kbps, and anything over $5 gets you 320kbps and a few bonus tracks. It’s all worth it.

And on the freebie side of things, check out Simian Mobile Disco‘s twisted Re-Edit of Deerhunter‘s Octet over on Pitchfork. It’s better than a kick in the face.