by marisa brown
Last Fistful of Dollars was about vinyl, and this time, we’re about singles. If I had my druthers, we’d all still be buying cassingles and comparing our collections with our friends’ at recess, but as that’s not the case, we’re stuck with those of the digital variety. Don’t let that stop you from showing off your newest purchases at the nearest swingset, though.
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► Jinder – “Youth Blood” ($8.21)
Jinder, also known as Little Jinder, first came to my attention last year when I heard a track off her Polyhedron EP Eat My Fear. That song was dark but still nicely poppy, but “Youth Blood,” which has been getting some hype from the Trouble & Bass crew for a couple of months now, blows that all away. It’s addictively catchy, creepy, and fun, and I literally cannot get enough of this song, which means that the fact the single comes with six (6!) remixes (the slowed-down 12th Planet & Flinch one is particularly good) seems like a pretty fantastic buy. Here’s a case where it’s worth it to pay extra for the 320 kbs version, so you can play this how it’s meant to be heard — and have it still sound good.
► Crystal Fighters – “I Love London” ($5.99)
So I know groups with the word crystal in their names was so 2008, but hey, when it works it works, and Spanish five-piece Crystal Fighters (signed to the oh-so-hip Kitsuné Music) work. Some of the band’s previous work falls more into the indie-electronica realm, a mix between Ratatat, Crystal Castles, and your favorite indie electronica DJ, but the single “I Love London” is nothing but hard-hitting electro dance. It too comes with six remixes, and it too is definitely worth the dollars.
► Maluca – El Tigeraso EP ($3.99)
This was released back in August, but is worth making note of here, not only because Maluca pretty much tears shit up, but also because it’s a nice counterpart to all this European stuff we’ve got going around us in this post. A Dominican-American, Maluca raps in English and Spanish, references her hometown of New York City, and “El Tigeraso,” which is about guys with too much game, is pretty kickin’. The 12″ came out a couple of weeks ago, but let’s stick with the theme here and pick up the digital EP, which is more like a single, and includes five other versions of the song. I like the a cappella cuz I can show off my sick beatboxing skills behind it.
► Portishead – “Chase the Tear” ( $.99)
And since we’re nearing the holiday season, let’s end things with Portishead. They took way too long to release their last album (2008’s Third), so I’m happy to hear their newest effort, “Chase the Tear,” which sounds like a mix of a-ha, and well, Beth Gibbons, and all proceeds of which go to Amnesty International. Not a bad way to spend 99 cents.
