10. Nosaj Thing [Flying Lotus - Camel]
Flying Lotus holds a very special place in my heart.  This remix is perfect. Made even more perfect of DJ Cerebral Paulson‘s mash up with Beck‘s Where It’s At.

Flying Lotus – Camel (Nosaj Thing Remix)

9. Death to the Throne [Daft Punk - Technologic]

Listening to this song just makes me feel so good. There isn’t much in terms of chord progressions, but the changes are perfect. Everything sounds so dangerous.

Daft Punk – Technologic (Death To The Throne Remix)

8. Toro Y Moi [Washed Out - Feel It All Around]

I’ll never forget the first time I heard Washed Out’s Feel It All Around but Toro Y Moi‘s remix is a great reinterpretation of one of my favorite jams of the year. Washed Out is pretty apprehensive of letting anyone comprehend what he’s singing about, but I’m happy this remix let’s everyone know what’s going down.

Washed Out – Feel It All Around (Toro Y Moi Remix)

7. CFCF [Health - Before Tigers]
I’ve honestly never heard anything that’s sounded like this. This song is so much better than the original and highlights legit CFCFis in terms of production. You really must read Danger‘s review of Continent.

Health – Before Tigers (CFCF Remix)

6. Chico Love [Phoenix - Lisztomania]

Danger‘s review describes this better than I ever could. 8 minutes of excellence.

Phoenix – Lisztomania (Chico Love Remix)

5. Neon Indian [Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader]

Vekatimest was one of my favorite albums of the year, and Neon Indian was able to recreate Grizzly Bear‘s sound in a way that made me yearn for more.

Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader (Neon Indian ‘Studio 6669′ Remix)

4. Flying Lotus [Lil Wayne - A Milli]

Flying Lotus + Lil Wayne is a combination I’d love to see live. Too fucking good. Praying they’ll collaborate in a studio someday and create something I’d dream to hear.

Lil Wayne – A Milli (Flying Lotus Remix)

3. Lissvik [Fever Ray - When I Grow Up]

This remix of Fever Ray made Lissvik one of my favorite producers of all time, and I can’t wait to hear what he’ll make next.

Fever Ray – When I Grow Up (Version by Lissvik)

2. Phaseone [Animal Collective - Daily Routine]

White Collar Crime threw this producer from Missouri on the map, and I wonder how this remix will influence his first official release. Definitely one of my favorite songs of the year.

Animal Collective – Daily Routine (Phaseone Remix)

1. Breakbot [Digitalism - Apollogize/Pacific! - Runway to Elsewhere]

For me, this was the year of Breakbot. Everything he makes fits into the same aesthetic and I can’t believe Ed Banger still hasn’t released his LP.  2010 will be the year of the Bot. Apolo-Gize is one of my favorite songs of all time.

Pacific! – Runaway To Elsewhere (Breakbot Remix)

Digitalism – Apollo-Gize (Breakbot ‘Hypnotoad’ Extended remix)

So it’s that time of year again, the time for the “best of” lists that seem to crop up everywhere. While I find the idea of a list of the best albums of a year overwhelming (let alone of a DECADE, not even gonna touch that one), I know that I will be able to handle it. However, for now I’m easing into it with a more specific category, my favorite remixes released this year. Though often overdone, and largely mediocre, a good remix can be a powerful thing. It can transform a great song into an even greater one, and a not that great one into an enjoyable listening experience. They allow music to transcend genres, and when done right, create a song that one thinks of as completely separate from the original. I tried to choose five, but had to bump the number up to ten, because there was too much greatness to go around. I’ve also chosen to list these by remixer, not original artist. So let’s get to it.

1. Faux Pas [Paul Dempsey - Ramona Was a Waitress]

Faux Pas has never let me down. This song is number one not only because it is catchy, danceable, and has an amazing instrumental interlude, but because of how far it has come from the original version. He has transformed a song I would have never otherwise listened to, into one that I can’t get out of my head. Pure Genius.

Paul Dempsey – Ramona Was A Waitress (Faux Pas Remix)

2. Chico Love [Phoenix - Lisztomania]

I was already obsessed with Phoenix as well as this track, when I came across this remix by Chico Love. It is eight minutes long and worth every second. The vocals are slowed down dramatically, and every syllable becomes all the more significant. This track becomes almost a ballad, and even though you’ve likely had Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix on constant rotation for months now, there is something new to be discovered here.

Phoenix – Lisztomania (Chico Love Remix)

3. Bibio [Wax Stag - Folk Rock]

This remix was the second date in what was to become my full-blown love affair with Bibio. This track was one that would come up randomly every so often in my iTunes, and I was blown away each time. It is perfectly crafted and just plain irresistible. It is Bibio through and through, and my favorite time to listen to it is when on a train, it makes your journey seem all the more magical.

Wax Stag – Folk Rock (Bibio Remix)

4. Treasure Fingers [Little Boots - Meddle]

I was already quite enamored with Treasure Fingers when I first heard this remix, which also served as my first introduction to Little Boots. The internet was all abuzz about her, and I decided to check out the rest of her stuff. Well, I was hugely let down by its mediocrity, which only further confirmed the genius of Treasure Fingers. This will get you dancing whether you like it or not.

Little Boots – Meddle (Treasure Fingers Remix)

5. Peter Bjorn & John [Miike Snow - Animal]

This song by Miike Snow was already pretty catchy, but Peter Bjorn & John took it to the next level. I like this version more than the original now, everything these guys touch becomes gold. Check it.

Miike Snow – Animal (Peter Bjorn and John Remix)

6. Memory Tapes [Fool's Gold - Nadine]

This track is especially dreamlike, and lured me in with it’s intro of “don’t bare your soul to me”. Memory Tapes is one of my all time favorites, and has clearly done justice to this song, bringing their two styles together impeccably. The refrain of “Nadine” near the end is so amazing.

Fool’s Gold – Nadine (Memory Tapes Remix)

7. Washed Out [Small Black - Despicable Dogs]

I love everything that Washed Out creates separately, with all the hazy fuzz permeating throughout. Similar in style to Small Black, but more electronic than rock. He brings the perfect amount of his own aesthetic to their sound.

Small Black – Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)

8. Siriusmo [Chromeo - Night by Night]

Chromeo‘s track “Night by Night” is brilliant enough as is, but Siriusmo has infused it with his own brand of quirkiness. It starts out like a pretty basic remix, then transitions into a pretty gnarly interlude that works perfectly, and almost makes you forget what you’re listening to.

Chromeo – Night by Night (Suriusmo Remix)

9. Blueshift [Bat for Lashes - Daniel]

I really don’t know much about Blueshift except that when I was obsessed with this Bat For Lashes track, he was the only one to create a remix that I thought was worthy of the original (and that I longed for).

Bat For Lashes – Daniel (Blueshift Bootleg Vocal)

10. Delorean [Lemonade - Big Weekend]

I have to admit, I’m really not the hugest fan of Delorean (although their name is awesome) or Lemonade, but somehow when they get all mixed up together, voila! Perfection. This track is great, despite my prejudices. To quote the song “the future of sound came to him in a dream”, brilliance.

Lemonade – Big Weekend (Delorean remix)

All right guys, that’s it. I’m sure I’m probably missing some great remix out there in the world, but this is the best of what I’ve heard. Let me know what you think!

In memoriam of those fallen tickets, you get to listen to my favorite Phoenix remixes. Bonus Chief adventure.

Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better (Chief Remix)

Phoenix – Lisztomania (Chico Love Remix)

Phoenix – Rome (Neighbours + Devendra Banhart Remix)

So I couldn’t find much information about Chico Love, but this Phoenix remix is rocking my world. Rarely am I tolerant of overly long remixes, or perhaps I just lack the attention span, but for me this one is different. It is so perfectly chilled out, that it actually feels as if every section is perfectly valid. The original has become transformed and it is rare to hear Phoenix sound so low key, but it’s a welcome variation from an already awesome song.

Phoenix – Lisztomania (Chico Love Remix)
Phoenix – Lisztomania