Octover: "Satisfy"

Still mystifying to me that garbage like Gaga and Bieber are considered the state of the art in pop, while the likes of Octover, Van She and Icona Pop are routinely ignored for recording far superior takes on similar styles of dance pop. Just as well, I suppose. If David Guetta got his hands on a song like "Satisfy" he'd no doubt want to ruin the slinky, booty call vibe with a bunch of unnecessary wub wub's, and why isn't there a 2 Chainz verse halfway through the song? I want him dead just thinking about it.

Icona Pop: "Ready for the Weekend" [Club Mix]

Yo, Madonna: when you laid that MDNA rave-turd earlier this year was this what you were trying to do? Silly bitch, new tricks are for kids.

RAC: "Hollywood" [feat. Penguin Prison]

Still jocking on Penguin Prison over last year's "Don't Fuck With My Money", and the RAC crew can basically do no wrong with their endless procession of high profile remixes. Here they step out with a rare original (their first?) and knock it out of the park with a mainstream pop finesse that's right in Penguin Prison's wheelhouse. Check the video for the original as well as the audio for "The Magician Remix" below.

Charli XCX: "You're the One"

Thing about Charli XCX: her vocals usually flirt a little too closely to cookie cutter mainstream dance pop for my tastes, but it always seems to get redeemed by a stellar backing track. "You're the One" is no different; replace the mean wall of sound production with something that, say, The-Dream might cook up and you've got a wannabe Katy Perry song instantly.

But that's as much a statement on how close the likes of Perry, Gaga, etc. are to currying favor with me than it is a slight on Charli XCX. If top 40 pop didn't insist on half assing every single aspect of its tunes all it would take is one unique thing about it that I could latch onto and I'd be on board in a second (see: Robyn). Until then, I've got enough shit on my plate as it is without beating myself up for not acknowledging an obligatory "no snob here!" nod to some mega-selling dance pop act. Life's too short for insincere stabs at peer acceptance. Shite is shite no matter how you Instagram it.

[UPDATE 7/3/12: added music video]:

KILLER COVERS || Ra Ra Riot: "Valerie" [feat. Delicate Steve]

As if the original rendition didn't tip you off (see below), the Friendly Fires remix of Ra Ra Riot's "Valerie" update - yes, the Steve Winwood classic - makes it clear that Ra Ra Riot were definitely inspired by Eric Prydz' super gay club version from a few years back. The latter (also included after the jump) has the distinction of being possibly the hottest heterosexual video ever made for a blatantly homo-oriented tune. Respect.

Unicorn Kid: "Pure Space"

At 20 years of age, Oliver Sabin isn't even old enough to remember the original generation of 8-bit video games. That hasn't stopped him from becoming one of the more heralded chiptune producers, and possibly the one most likely to cross over into the mainstream with his Unicorn Kid alter ego. This isn't purist shit here. The backing synths obviously don't rely on circuit bending but just good old fashion analog. Either way, just think of it is instrumental dance pop if that's what it takes.

Part Time: "I Wanna Take You Out"

This is probably a little too disco-y to be Chillwave Proper, but you get the idea. "I Wanna Take You Out" is the sound of a SF group sleeping until 1:00, waiting for the fog to burn off and then reveling sleepily in the sun. Maybe that park across the street from the Dirty Harry sniper church. Early drinking a few blocks away at Vesuvio. Dildo shopping at Big Al's. But here I am making this about me. You should make it about you. I'm in a weird place right now.