Grade: A- | Genre: Dance Summary: The DFA has been the only dance label I've listened to regularly the last couple years. A mix of every single they've put out this year is perfect. It's like they read my mind. The DFA has been making quite a name for themselves recently. They've been putting records out for a while now, but most of the world received their introduction when Echoes by The Rapture came out in 2003. That record was amazing enough to ensure that I would be paying close attention to whatever the label put out for quite a while. Turns out that was a good idea. I've gotten to enjoy LPs from LCD Soundsystem, The Juan Maclean (kind of enjoy one from Black Dice), and have my mind blown by the sprawling DFA Compilation #2. This excellent 50-minute dance mix compiled by Tim Sweeney and Tim Goldsworthy is the natural next step; it rocks hard, and if you actually want to do some dancing, it's got you covered.

You're gonna want this album, so something needs to be said: this was released November 22, but it's digital only. You can only buy a tangible copy overseas. However, downloads are only 99 cents for the whole album. However again, it's only available until the end of the year. Another interesting fact: it has nothing to do with the holidays. The title just notes that it is to be released during the holidays. It would definitely make a swell gift for your favorite friends though.

Just like any DFA release, this takes a little while to appreciate. It doesn't take long though. When I first put this in, it sounded just like any over-indulgent dance mix that anybody could put together. On my second listen, I was paying a little closer attention and realized that this is very artfully done. The mixing is incredible. It really does sound like just one huge song, albeit a song that could also easily be divided into nine distinct sections. Whoa wait, that's what it is! God this is awesome.

The bass ends are what really get me. Black Dice's "Smiling Off (DFA/Luomo Remix)" blends slowly into LCD Soundsystem's "Too Much Love (Rub 'N Tug Mix)", and when you finally realize what has happened, you can't believe it. I rewound several times to try and figure out when one song turned into the other (my copy is just one track), and I just couldn't make up my mind. The low parts are different, but it morphs so perfectly it seems that it should never be any other way.

After this, the songs get a bit tough to distinguish. Problem? Nope. You hear "Give Me Every Little Thing (Dub)" by The Juan Maclean, and then it rushes headlong into a huge chunk of the CD that's mostly without vocals. Yes it gets repetitive, but these are sounds that need to be repeated. It's so good. All of a sudden, LCD Soundsytem's "Tribulations (Tiga's Out of the Trance Closet Mix)" is blowing out. This is my favorite part of the mix. The original was tremendous, and this heavy little remix might be even better. This somehow turns into "Daft Punk Is Playing In My House (Soulwax Shibuya Mix)", and the same thing goes for this track. It feels like a constant crescendo, which could also be said of the whole record. It just builds up with so much energy and awesomeness for 50 minutes, then all too soon, it's over.

Yes, you will listen to it again.