It’s a Hit

by Maroon 5 ft. Mary J. Blige
(A&M/Octone)

It’s funny how the man who’s probably the hottest remixer around
right now is also the most all-the-way-live practitioner ever to hold
that seat. It’s no use at this point to pretend Mark Ronson’s sound
lives or dies on which Dap-Kings he hires to play; even a cursory A-B
between Ronson’s more recent productions and those of Daptone Records
reveals that Ronson’s grooves are leaner, springier, and have sharper
angles. And he can make just about anyone sound better than usual. Take
this reworking of a Maroon 5 album track: Speaking as someone who’s
never loved Adam Levine, between his vocal on Kanye West’s “Heard ‘Em
Say” back in 2005 and this remix, the man clearly thrives on
collaboration. The booming breakbeat, plucked guitar, horn punches, and
a piano that gradually takes over the arrangement all make this
cheating-and-murder number sound… jaunty!

by Sharon Jones
Daptone 7-inch)

Meanwhile, over at Daptone HQ, the Dap-Kings’ greatest number with
lead singer Sharon Jones undergoes a remix of its own by fellow
Brooklynite Victor Axelrod, aka latter-day dancehall producer Ticklah.
In addition to being a Dap-Kings keyboardist (and frequent Mark Ronson
session player), Axelrod also had a hand in the Easy Star All-Stars’
Dub Side of the Moon and Radiodread—Pink Floyd and
OK Computer covers albums that are far, far better than they
have any right to be. This remix of “How Long Do I Have to Wait for
You,” from 2005’s Naturally, doesn’t do much you couldn’t have
heard coming if you know the original: The vocal and fluttering guitar
lead need only the barest of adjustments to fit Axelrod’s organ-led,
circa-1973 skank. The original track is a classic soul performance,
whatever its year of origin; this version can hang with the Jamaican
records from the era it evokes.

by Low
(Sub Pop 7-inch)

Speaking of Jamaican songs, here’s another 7-inch special, the
B-side of the sour “Santa’s Coming Over,” in which Duluth, Minnesota’s
most famous indie band take on a Rastafarian hymn (originally by Max
Romeo). It’s tentative (Low’s specialty) and not a little clunky, but
this band has handled the holidays better (and more consistently) than
most in their realm. Minor, but a
likable stocking stuffer
nevertheless.