Anthony Augustine

December 22/11 - Uptown Magazine

Resident Advisor Poll: Top DJs of 2011
If DJ Mag’s annual list is a global barometer of the growing popularization and commercialization of electronic dance music, then Resident Advisor’s readers’ poll is a gauge of underground dance music culture. While some may argue that RA’s list is too heavily weighted toward house and techno DJs, it is the most respected annual poll in electronic music. From newcomers such as Minneapolis’ DVS1, who has taken the world by storm with his stripped-down techno and seemingly endless tour schedule, to hybrid bass house lover Justin Martin, who tore up the Pyramid when he played here, to Toronto’s Art Department, which released its critically acclaimed breakthrough album this year, to deep house aficionado Jamie Jones, who played over 142 gigs and seemed to be everywhere you turned over the past year, the best and brightest are represented. 

This is My Jam
This is My Jam hopes to be the new go-to spot to find out what tracks are hot on the web and make it easy to let your friends know about new music you are into. Although still in private beta, it only took a couple of days to get my invite after signing up. Right now it works for Canadian users, but who knows how long that will last.

The Classical
 While ESPN backed Bill Simmons’ recently launched sports site, Grantland, The Classical took a different approach. Using crowd-funding from Kickstarter, The Classical was partially bankrolled by readers who were interested in the site’s concept. While the web design leaves a lot to be desired, the wide-ranging sports coverage helps you forget the fact that the site looks like it was thrown together after an all-nighter fueled by Red Bull and looming launch deadlines.

MP3 of the Week: Office of Future Plans – Harden Your Heart
 Former Government Issue/Jawbox/Burning Airlines member J. Robbins is back with a new group called Office of Future Plans. Despite its reunion for Jimmy Fallon, it doesn’t look like Jawbox is going to hit the road anytime soon. Out this month on Dischord  Records, Office of Future Plans’ debut will have to do.

Video of the Week: Porter Robinson – Tiësto College Invasion Tour 2011 Mini-Documentary
 If Contakt showed the ubercoolische of Richie Hawtin and the Minus crew, and Take One was all about the explosion of the Swedish House Mafia, then the new mini-documentary on electro whiz kid Porter Robinson is firmly rooted in the rejuvenation of electronic dance music (EDM) in the United States. He may not have reached superstar status but, with endorsements from Skrillex and a bunch of tours with Tiësto, Robinson is on the forefront of the new hybrid electro, dubstep, trance and big-festival house sound that is sweeping across North America right now. From bedroom producer to rising EDM star, few artists had the type of breakthrough year Porter had in 2011.

Uptown Magazine - November 10th

Top 100 DJs
DJ Mag’s annual Top 100 DJ list was recently revealed. For some, this list is a barometer of what’s happening worldwide; for others, it’s a popularity contest that doesn’t really represent what’s going on in electronic music culture. However you look at it, the past couple years have seen the rebirth of festival culture in North America, the growth in popularity of dubstep, the resurgence of big club events and the embrace of social networking by most DJs. Dance music culture is riding a high wave not experienced since the glory days of the late ’90s or even the disco era. In many ways, electronic music’s influence is stronger than it has ever been. While big-name trance DJs still are represented in the list, it feels like a changing of the guard, with French electro house superstar David Guetta taking home top spot, knocking off four-time champ Arman van Burren, and holding off Tiësto and Deadmau5. It’s no surprise dubstep hero Skrillex takes home the trophy for Highest New Entry into the list, landing at 19. While he may have only cracked the Top 20, he’s king in North America right now. Interestingly, no drum ’n’ bass DJs made the cut, marking the first time big names such as Andy C, Grooverider and Fabio weren’t represented. In a more disturbing trend, there were also no female DJs represented in the Top 100. High profile party rockers such as Misstress Barbara, Magda, Shortee and DJ Rap didn’t garner enough votes to be included. Is this because their fans didn’t support them or because the electronic scene is still a bit of an old boys club?

TEDx Manitoba
If you want to be part of the TEDx Manitoba action next February, you have until Nov. 27 to get your application in for one of the coveted spots in the audience. This is the second TEDx gathering in Manitoba, and it’s being held at the MTC Warehouse on Feb. 9. If you don’t get a spot, you can watch the live stream or view any of the presenters on-demand after the event.

MP3 of the Week: Apparat – Song of Los
Taken from Apparat’s new album, The Devil’s Walk, Song of Los is the type of simple, melancholic electronic music that is difficult to pull off without coming across as corny. Song of Los will make you forget that Postal Service hasn’t put out another album and it looks like the Junior Boys are going to break up. 

Video of the Week: Speed Dial 7 – Pure Evil (featuring Pip Skid)
 Wonderfully weird filmmaker Mike Maryniuk has teamed up with the Marathon of Dope crew again, this time for a new video for Belgium’s Speed Dial 7’s track, Pure Evil. Fellow troublemaker Pip Skid guests on the 16mm, hand-processed video from the former l’Atelier-National du Manitoba member. Speed Dial 7, Pip and DJ Co-op are currently on tour in Europe. They recently opened up for Antipop Consortium’s founding member Beans in Paris.