Image

Hit Me!

TICKET GIVEAWAY: The Wombats @ Troubadour – Los Angeles, Wednesday June 1

the-wombats-this-modern-glitch

Do you live in Los Angeles? If so, then we’ve got some good news for you! The Wombats will be in town for a show at the Troubadour this Wednesday, June 1st, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets! Get your dance-on to witty alt-pop from Wombats’ latest This Modern Glitch LP as well their UK platinum-selling debut The Wombats Proudly Present: Guide to Love, Loss And Desperation. Just email us HERE and we’ll enter you to be our lucky winner for a drawing this Tuesday. Get into it!

The Wombats: (Official) (Twitter) (Tix @ Troubadour)

reviewed by
05-29-11

D’Angelo – Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine (No I.D. Remix)

dangelo

Keith Murray, Jodeci, LL, and now D’Angelo, it’s been an Erick Sermon kind of weekend. Brown Sugar 1996.

D’Angelo – Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine (No I.D. Remix)

reviewed by
04-10-11

5 Live Acts You Should See in 2011!

We recently caught up with aloud.com Editor Callie Morris to get her recommendations on the top live acts for your radars in 2011. Check it out:

Janelle Monae

With her penchant for dapper tuxedos, perfectly coiffed hair and massively energetic performances, Janelle Monae is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Her debut album The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) was released in May last year, gaining her a Grammy nomination and a massive following of fans. With music style similar to Outkast, Funkadelic and James Brown this is definitely one act I will be checking out in 2011.

She is currently touring the UK but keep checking her Myspace page for more news and info, you can get tickets here .

Warpaint

With the release of their debut album The Fool in October 2010 LA based band Warpaint have been steadily rising to the top of their alternative/dreamy rock genre. They also frequently appear on 2011 ‘ones to watch’ lists including the BBC Sound of 2011 poll, so if you haven’t already checked them out it’s definitely time to do that..!

They will be touring the US extensively from 5th March, following this with a UK tour in May. Keep an eye on their Myspace site for more details and get tickets here.

Pete Doherty

Anyone who was at the British festivals Reading or Leeds in 2010 (or just follows music news) will know that one of the most talked about acts were The Libertines and their epic reunion performances… With that it seems frontman Pete Doherty has been catapulted back into the music scene with his solo tour in May this year. As well as his solo stuff the crowd can probably expect to hear tracks from The Libertines and Babyshambles too. Pretty flippin exciting.

Get Tickets

Hercules And Love Affair

Hercules And Love Affair is a musical project started by DJ Andy Butler in New York, playing with disco, dance-punk and nu-disco Andy has said that he likes to feature different guest vocalists and band members to keep audiences on their toes – including vocals from Antony Hegarty (from Antony & The Johnsons) and Nomi Ruiz on various tracks. Live they bring charisma, energy and a lot of fun… Definitely on my to-see list for 2011!

They’re off on a European tour in March, which will be well worth your time. Get tickets.

James Blake

James Blake has a pretty amazing voice. When this voice is mixed with the experimental dubstep beats that have now become his trademark, he creates awesome tracks and gets a lot of attention from both the media and his ever-expanding fan base. Originally from London, England he began by recording tracks in his bedroom, fast-forward a couple of years and he is busy promoting his debut album James Blake which was released in February this year and preparing for his European tour beginning on 10th March.

Get Tickets

reviewed by
03-10-11

Lady Gaga!

lady_gaga_the_monster_ball_tour1

Lady Gaga has yet to meet a Pop chart she didn’t smash. Just last week, her new single “Born This Way” debuted at #1 with a highest ever 78.5 million in domestic airplay. Ay caramba! that’s like 1 in 4 of every Americans! For some perspective – line up like your goofy cousin, your creepy neighbor, that dude you have no clue what his name is that you see in the hall at the office, your grandma, at least 1 of those 4 people has heard “Born This Way” in the last week. Gaga is killing it. You know you want a piece.

Bloggers! Fans! Check this! Virgin Mobile is collaborating with the Monster Ball Tour, hooking up free passes to a show, access to interview her, and a peak at things behind the scenes for a select few. Check the details here. Get into it!

Upcoming Monster Ball dates.

* Las Vegas – MGM Grand, March 25th
* Phoenix – US Airways Center, March 26th
* Los Angeles – Staples Center, March 28th
* Houston – Toyota Center, April 8th
* New Orleans – New Orleans Arena, April 9th
* Miami – American Airlines Arena, April 13th
* Atlanta – Gwinnett Center, April 18th
* Nashville – Bridgestone Arena, April 19th
* New York – Nassau Coliseum, April 23rd

reviewed by
02-22-11

Top Ten British Rock Albums 1979-1995

Contributed by Chris Gedos

My mind deals in chronologies. By memorizing the dates of artworks and events, I gain a greater understanding of particular historical progressions. I always keep this in mind when listening to music, which band another band was listening to when they were writing a particular song or album, or whether they were listening to a different genre or no music at all, since they didn’t want to get encumbered by another’s expression and run the risk of intellectual plagiarizing. The period of 1979-1996 could loosely be defined as the third era of British Rock Music, with the first encompassing the Beatles and the second going from Elton John through the Sex Pistols. (One man’s opinion. Don’t burn an effigy of me just because I didn’t put Boys Don’t Cry or Disintegration on the list!)

10. Teardrop Explodes — Kiliminjaro (1980)

teardrop-explodes-e28094-kiliminjaro

Front-man Julian Cope used to play with Ian McCulloch of The Bunnymen in Liverpool in the late 70’s, before each of them became leader of their own outfit. One can only imagine, however, Julian Cope as the 5th member of the Bunnymen, sharing lyrical duties with McCulloch and battling for bravado rights. Key tracks include the infectious “Treason”, “Poppies in the Field”, and the final song “When I Sleep”, which was a hit single in England. The CD also includes the Kiliminjaro EP with title track, which is a mystical journey toward the snowy peak of Africa. The song’s only lyrics: “We set sail a year and a day ago, making our way for Kilimanjaro.” The group plays with an hysteric tightness rarely seen even in the Post-Punk realm.

9. The Wedding Present — Seamonsters (1991)

the-wedding-present-e28094-seamonsters

The Wedding Present, a favorite band of the late British DJ John Peel, is the product of David Gedge. What he lacks in vocal range he more than compensates for in lyrical mastery. Seamonsters contains some of the great rock love songs of the past 25 years. “Dare” is Gedge’s attempt to persuade a girl to love him:

Stay all night, I dare you
Look who is going to know?
I can’t believe you want to go!

Other key tracks include Carolyn, Octopussy, Suck and Niagara, which climaxes in a magical “1,2,3,4!” count-off into the final instrumental. There’s a steep listening curve on this album, but the rewards are more than worth it.

8. The Smiths — The Queen is Dead (1986)

the-smiths-e28094-the-queen-is-dead

This album should probably be higher on the list. Actually, I forgot about the Smiths when I first created this list late at night, but it would be criminal to shun them from any list of this nature. They are too representative of the era not to give them their proper notice.

The Smiths are highlighted by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Steven Patrick Morrissey, who of course is better known as simply Morrissey. The Queen is Dead features several of the most iconic Smiths hits, including “Cemetery Gates,” “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” ” A Boy with a Thorn in His Side,” and a personal favorite, “There is a Light that Never Goes Out”. Morrissey’s trademark self-conscious self-deprecation permeates the album, epitomized by the lyric “It lasted 20 years, 7 months, and 27 days whoah-oh ah-ohoh…” (from the song “Never had No One Ever”.)

7. Echo and the Bunnymen — Ocean Rain (1984)

echo-and-the-bunnymen-e28094-ocean-rain

Today, Echo and the Bunnymen is best known as the group that recorded the song “The Killing Moon”, which gained prominence after it was featured in the 2001 movie Donnie Darko. Following the release of the movie, which was a massive cult hit among lovers of independent cinema, Echo also gained notoriety as a key musical influence for groups like Interpol and British Sea Power.

This is not to say that Echo and the Bunnymen wasn’t important in their own day. While virtually unnoticed in America, they had 4 top ten albums in the UK, and “The Killing Moon”, which starts out the second side on Ocean Rain, made it to #8 on the UK singles charts. Bunnymen zealots contend that guitarist Will Sergeant was better than The Edge and also that Bono ripped his vocal style off of Mac the Mouth.

Ocean Rain was supposed to be the album to catapult the Bunnymen toward international superstardom. While it didn’t quite do that, it made it to #4 on the UK album charts. The album features one of my favorite second halves. Starting with “The Killing Moon”, it sequences into “Seven Seas”, featuring one of the greatest bridges of the 80’s, “My Kingdom” and the epic title track to close things out. The Bunnymen are great for toeing the line between passion and histrionics.

6. Oasis — What’s the Story Morning Glory (1995)

whats-the-story-morning-glory-oasis

Oasis was the biggest thing since the Beatles. Or at least The Brothers Gallagher thought they were. But these guys had the brawn to match the hubris. Oasis’ critics say that they only had one gear and couldn’t change their sound up enough (the paradigmatic one-trick pony), but they knew their sound and usually knocked it out of the park.

While some prefer Definitely Maybe, their debut, I prefer (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, which showed no signs of a sophomore slump. Morning Glory roars out of the gates with “Hello” (more of the Definitely Maybe vein), “Roll With It” (Nirvana meets Britpop), “Wonderwall” (their most accessible hit), and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” (title inspired by the John Osborne play). The album gets a little sleepy in the second half before closing with “Champagne Supernova” (another classic).

5. Radiohead — The Bends (1995)

radiohead-e28094-the-bends

Radiohead is the band which defines our generation. In fact, I had to tailor this post to end in 1995 instead of 1997 so I wouldn’t be obliged to put OK Computer at the top of this list. In many ways they are the current end-product of the entirety of British Rock.

This album kicks ass! I often listen to it in the morning to get my iconoclastic juices rolling before a long day hunting for my piece of cheese in the rat race. The album is replete with attitude, strong choices and general precociousness. Few bands rock as hard as Radiohead on The Bends. After the merely-above-average debut of Pablo Honey, Radiohead went to the sketch pad and drew up the plan for their second album. This is when Radiohead started to become the best band of Earth, even if Yorke owes Buckley’s estate some royalties for “Fake Plastic Trees”. (And I think “Street Spirit” is overrated.) But the quality is uniform throughout.

4. The Clash — London Calling (1979)

the-clash-e28094-london-calling

Rolling Stone Magazine shocked its readership in 2003 when it placed The Clash’s London Calling at #8 on their 500 Greatest Albums list. I remember them getting some negative feedback, probably justified (with albums like Velvet Underground and Nico, Abbey Road, Are You Experienced, and Nevermind ranked after — a minor misdemeanor.) But even if London Calling isn’t number eight, it undoubtedly clocks in somewhere before twenty.

“Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust” sings Strummer on the opening title track. Although there is an outward rejection of the past, The Clash were receptive to incorporating other genres into the framework of punk. “Brand New Cadillac” is Jan and Dean, “Rudie Can’t Fail” is Proto-Ska. Then there’s “Lost in the Supermarket” and “Lover’s Rock”, which for me transcend definition and float within the timeless realm of ineffability. This nineteen track double album is guilty of some filler, but it closes the deal with “Trian in Vain (Stand by Me),” one of their most popular songs.

3. The Stone Roses — The Stone Roses (1989)

the-stone-roses

The iconic bands share a self-fulfilling vision to be the greatest band on the planet. These guys had that vision. Led by frontman Ian Brown and guitarist John Squire, driven by the incessant beat of bassist Mani and drummer Reni, who battles the late Pete Defritas of The Bunnymen as the best English Drummer of the 80’s, The Stone Roses’ eponymous debut is a statement of purpose.

They are unapologetic about their intentions, as indicated by the opener, “I Wanna Be Adored”, which was an American college radio hit. Next comes the infectious bass line from “She Bangs the Drums”, made recently popular by the videogame Guitar Hero II. “Don’t Stop” is “Waterfall” played backwards! — I mean, who else plays a song backwards? The epic finale is much-loved, but I prefer the saccharine sweetness of “Sugar Spun Sister”.

2. Echo and the Bunnymen — Heaven Up Here (1981)

echo-and-the-bunnymen-heaven-up-here

Echo and the Bunnymen’s second album, Heaven Up Here, was their only LP to make the Rolling Stone top 500 list, squeaking in somewhere between 450 and 500. The inclusion is a bit of a pity prize, but I am at least glad that a) they got the recognition in the first place and b) the preferred Echo album was Heaven Up Here, which, in my opinion, is the most cohesive album of the 1980’s. Still in their early 20’s, they built on the foundation laid with their 1980 debut Crocodiles. While some of Crocodile’s pop infectiousness is lost on Heaven Up Here, Echo makes up for it with a surety of purpose evidenced by a higher lyrical quality; the band follows suit in this step up to the big league. (To compare it with Boy by U2 is a joke, quite honestly.)

“Realistically, it’s hard to dig it all too happily,” Ian McCullloch croons at the start of the opening track, “Show of Strength”. Echo, like the Stone Roses, make an overt statement of greatness with the opening track and somehow manages to succeed. Seargent’s guitars are mesmerizing and DeFritas’ drums cannot be played at a loud enough decibel. The hysteria continues with the dystopic “With a Hip” and the six-minute epic third track, “Over the Wall”, where Mac the Mouth takes the listener to their logical limit. Even filler like “It was a Pleasure” kicks absolute ass. Any doubts are handled by the time we get to “Zimbo”, a metaphysical journey not unlike Kiliminjaro (see#10).

1. The La’s — The La’s (1990)

the-las

I was not impressed with this album when I purchased it off Amazon about five years ago. I thought it was too short and that the songwriting was not original enough, outside of “There She Goes” and “Timeless Melody”, the album’s premiere cuts. Most importantly, I found Steve Lillywhite’s production shoddy and hated how I had to crank the volume up before even beginning to rock out.

But over time, I grew attached to this album. I listened to it at least once every day for a six month period, and I still listen to it on a regular basis. This album makes #1 because it breaks all stereotypes of chronology, with tracks sounding like they could’ve been recorded in 1959 or 2009, but definitely not 1989. The La’s came from a different era, taking their, ahem, timeless melodies from that great magical jukebox in the sky.

The La’s, originally from Liverpool, were hailed as the second coming of the Beatles. They put a record company out of business while making this album. Once the label put Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews) to the task of salvaging the wreckage of three years of false starts, the album finally came out in 1990. The band, especially frontman Lee Mavers, hated the album and publicly lambasted it, urging their fans not to buy it. They had minimal buzz in the US, appearing on Letterman in 1991; “There She Goes” went to #5 in the UK. After the band broke up, the song continued to grow, being covered by The Cranberries and Sixpence None the Richer and being featured in movies like So I Married an Axe Murderer.

There She Goes was originally released in 1988 as a single, then climbed to #5 when re-released with the album. It is the perfect pop song. Unforgettable guitar intro, pitch-perfect falsetto, 2 minutes 40 seconds, all the ingredients. “Timeless Melody” is almost as good, along with “Way Out”, “IOU”, “Freedom Song”, and the epic finale “Looking Glass”. This album is #1 because there’s no filler. Each track is equally qualified for radio airwaves. Please buy this album, don’t download, since Lee Mavers lives off the royalties. Just don’t tell Lee that you liked his album.

reviewed by
01-30-11

b3sci asks James Vincent McMorrow

jamesvincentmcmarrow

Photo by Carrie Day

Ask and ye shall receive. In prepping a November b3sci feature on the killer tune “The Sparrow and the Wolf”, we were really knocked out by Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow; really knocked out by some of his ideas about music and about songwriting. His debut album Early In The Morning will be released in the States January 25. And a fantastic debut it is. We recently had the chance to catch up with James and ask him a few questions about his album, musical influences, the internet, Dublin’s music scene and more…

b3sci: While growing up, when did you know that music would become a major part of your life?

JAMES: I think I always knew music would be a huge part of my life, which is strange considering when I was younger I didn’t really play any instruments, and I certainly didn’t sing or write music. I just always felt drawn to it, the feeling of holding a record that you loved in your hands was always a magical thing to me, I wanted to be part of that.

b3sci: With Ireland’s legendary tradition of folk music, are there any classic artists in particular that you‘ve looked up to or grew up with?

JAMES: Not neccessarily grew up with, when i was a kid I didn’t really have the appreciation for folk music that i do now. But for me, and for most people, when you talk about Irish folk music, you can’t look past Van Morrison. Astral Weeks and Veedon Fleece are two records I listen to almost constantly. My dad was a huge Luke Kelly and Planxty fan as well, when we were growing up he’d play their songs at parties in our house, it had a much bigger impact on me than I realized at the time.

b3sci: So then given the history of folk music, did you feel there were specific obstacles to overcome as an artist before you were embraced by your peers?

JAMES: Not really, I think like most countries there’s a route you have to travel in order to gain some sort of respect from your peers, play certain venues, play a certain amount of shows, things like that. But when it comes down to it you either make music that’s worthy of other musicians respect, or you don’t.

b3sci: Are there any particular places that you find inspiration, or types of music you love, which you think might come as a surprise to some?

JAMES: I think the main influences I have that surprise people are Hip Hop and Hardcore Rock. I mean drums were my first instrument, I learned to play drums along to bands like Refused, At The Drive-In, and Glassjaw. And then listening to Hip Hop and seeing people like the Neptunes and Timbaland making such incredibly unique music made me want to learn how to record and produce music myself.

b3sci: Can you tell fans a bit about your songwriting process? Has the ability to play all the instruments on your new record affected this process?

JAMES: Songwriting definitely involves all the instruments for me, I tend to switch between them as I write. I’ll hear drum lines or banjo parts, and follow them wherever they’re going. I record a lot of demos as i write as well, so I can hear things back, figure out what’s working and what isn’t. I think it gives everything a pretty singular feel, it’s not just a singer with a guitar plus a backing band putting down tracks, everything is very deliberate and every part serves a purpose.

b3sci: If you could collaborate with anyone past present or future, who would it be with and why? Keep in mind they wouldn’t need to be a musician… any sort of artistic collaboration counts.

JAMES: I think based purely on hero worship it would have to be Roy Orbison. As far as i’m concerned there never was a better singer, songwriter, or interpreter of melody. I sometimes sing ‘In Dreams’ in my set, I dont even come close to doing it the justice it deserves, but it’s the most compelling pop song I’ve ever heard, just the way he builds it and builds it, then finishes with that soaring note, it’s perfect.

b3sci: Are there any tracks from your album that you feel especially connected to or proud of as an artist? If so, which and why?

JAMES: I think I feel equally proud and connected to every song on the album. If there was one track I’d single out it would be “If I Had A Boat”, it’s the first thing I wrote for the album, I
remember finishing the first demo of it and the feeling I got listening back to it, I knew it was the song that would open the record. I didn’t even have the acapella intro written yet, I could hear it in my head already though.

James Vincent McMorrow – If I Had A Boat

b3sci: Is there a message… theme, specific sound, or concept on the album you are looking translate to the musical world?

JAMES: There was no specific theme I was consciously exploring while I was writing and recording, but looking back and hearing it finished there’s a lot in there about transition and change. Moving out to the house to record by myself was a decision I took because I’d realized I needed to change something fundamentally if I was every going to get it done, and that definitely found it’s way into the foundations of the album. Also I can hear the time passing when I listen back to it, starting it in January when it was freezing cold, moving into the spring and finishing it in the summer. Plus the proximity to the sea also played a huge part, I can hear the sea in every song.

b3sci: Do you feel the internet has played a role in the development of you as an artist? How would ideally like to see both your career and your fans affected by it moving forward?

JAMES: The internet has been vital to my record, when I put it out I hadn’t really played live, I certainly hadn’t played any of these songs live, so no one had really heard of me. Giving my record to blogs, them talking about it, using things like myspace, facebook, and soundcloud, they gave the album life really early on, and it’s sustained it all the way through to now. I’d like that to continue and grow, I like people to feel like they’re connected to what I’m doing, what I’m trying to do.

b3sci: What are some of your favorite sources for news and music discovery?

JAMES: I read a lot of music blogs, although not as many as i used to. Stereogum, Yourstru.ly, Pitchfork, Gorilla VS Bear, all really good for finding new music. I read a lot of news websites as well, not music related, things like CNN and the New York Times, if I’m not playing music I’m usually off reading something.

b3sci: Is there something really great that you’re listening to and influenced by at the current moment?

JAMES: Mines by Menomena was my favorite record of 2010, sonically it’s like nothing I’ve heard before, really great songs articulated so uniquely. I also love the new album by the Walkmen, Lisbon, they’re such a great band, and the production on it reminds me of the early Sun recordings, I’m pretty sure they’ve gotten the best guitar and drum sounds I’ve ever heard.

b3sci: Hypothetical situation, you’re stranded on an island… and you can chose between having with you either 30 songs OR 10 albums… do you chose to have the albums or songs with you, and why? What’s at least one that would be in your selections?

JAMES: 10 albums for sure, I have always been and will always be an albums person. After the Goldrush by Neil Young is an album that I’d find it very hard to live without.

b3sci: What general observations, if any, do you have about the reception of emerging songwriters from Ireland, and even Europe, in the States?

JAMES: I’ve been treated incredibly well so far in the US, the reception to the record has been exactly what I always hoped it would be. So much of what I do is rooted in American music, so to be able to go over there and for people to care about what I’m doing is something I am very grateful for.

b3sci: How would you say emerging American songwriters are received over in Ireland are Europe nowadays?

JAMES: I’m not sure I’m qualified to speculate on that, although from personal experience I’ve always been pretty excited to see great American musicians come over here and play!

b3sci: What in your eyes are some of the popular misnomers about being an emerging independent artist among the general, casual listening public?

JAMES: I’m not sure I’ve ever come across any specific popular misnomers to be honest. I mean the word ‘indie’ often has certain connotations attached to it, some good, some bad. More now so than ever though it feels like independent music is really at the forefront of modern music. I mean bands like The National, Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, all debuting near the top of the US charts, things like that happening make it a whole lot easier for new acts working independently to be taken seriously early on.

b3sci: We are heading to Dublin for our first time in a few weeks. Few Questions for you:

1) What food MUST we try?
2) What beer MUST we drink?
3) And what clubs must we check out for spectacular local music?

JAMES: I can’t think of a way to answer that question without sounding terribly cliche and twee, people tend to have very specific ideas about Ireland and the food and drink we have on offer!! Guinness and Stew! As for live music venues, there are a lot of new places popping up, like the Workmans Club down on the quays, that have a lot of great bands coming through them, and the institution that is Whelans is somewhere you should go, at the very least for the history to be found, pretty much everyone has played there at some point.

b3sci: We love to cook. Is there a specific dish you love or recipe that we should try out?

JAMES: I really like to cook, I mean i get zero time for it these days, but when i do there’s a Morroccan chicken and couscous recipe I found on the internet, think it was BBC good food or something like that, it’s really easy to make and properly good.

b3sci: Happiness… what in this world of ours will ultimately do it for you?

JAMES: Will ultimately do it for me!?? Thats a pretty big question, one I have no answer for. I mean a lot of things make me happy, my family, my friends, getting to do what I love. But sure ultimate happiness isn’t really something musicians have in spades, if I was content I don’t think that I’d be making music, or trying to search for new and interesting things to sing and write about.

James Vincent McMorrow – Sparrow and The Wolf

James Vincent McMorrow – Down The Burning Ropes

James Vincent McMorrow – Breaking Hearts

More James Vincent McMorrow on b3sci HERE

Info on James Vincent McMorrow / Purchase his music here

reviewed by
01-17-11

b3sci exclusive: Summer Fiction

summer-fiction

Summer Fiction are one of our favorite surprises of 2010. b3sci recently had the chance to catch up with frontman, and singer/songwriter, Bill Ricchini to ask him a few questions about music and life. Check it out:

b3sci: Where can fans expect to see Summer Fiction perform in 2011?

Bill: We mostly play on the east coast, in NY and Philly, but yes, we’re coming to a town near you, hopefully. We’re planning some touring and speaking to some possible booking agents. We also just booked PopFest in NYC for the spring. Possibly SXSW…

b3sci: When people experience Summer Fiction for the first time, is there a particular message that you’re hoping translates?

Bill: I like to leave it pretty open ended and hope the audience or listener brings their own thing to the songs and performances. I will say the music is coming from a place of sincerity and hopefully that comes across on an emotional level.

b3sci: Just listening to the album, you can tell songwriting seems to just resonate in your bones. While your songs seem basic at the core they are complemented by fairly intricate arrangements and counter melodies. What has inspired you to be a songwriter, and what sort of education, experience, or vision leads you down your path of record production?

Bill: Thanks! I’m pretty obsessed with songwriting and arrangement. While I never studied music formally, I think I studied all of my favorite records growing up and somehow that is all in my DNA. I also enjoy producing, I feel it would be hard to give that up to someone, although maybe I will try it if Jon Brion calls.

b3sci: What’s your dream collaboration?

Bill: I’d love to write an album for a female singer and produce it. There are lots of gorgeous pop and torch songs I have ready to go but just need to find my muse… I’d also love to meet Brian Wilson. A while ago, one of the guys from Wondermints passed him one of my demos.. and I heard he liked it! That was kind of surreal… Music for film also excites me. I think Wes Anderson would like this record for some reason. Maybe it is the font choice.

b3sci: Is there a particular track from the album that you feel especially connected to or proud of?

Bill: I think “Kids in Catalina” has been really popping live. I like the construction of that song, the vocal choir and the vibraphone.

Summer Fiction – Kids in Catalina

b3sci: How would you say the music scene in Philadelphia has or hasn’t helped Summer Fiction along?

Bill: Philly has been 100% supportive. Bands, journalists, fans all came out for this record and many good friends from other bands contributed.

b3sci: Here’s a question we love to ask people… hypothetical situation, you’re stranded on an island and you can chose between having with you either 30 songs OR 10 albums? Which take the space?

Bill: 10 albums; no question. I like the thematic element of my favorite records, call me old fashioned but I like the way songs brush up against one another and form a complete thought. That’s what I went for with Summer Fiction. One of my choices would be It’s a Shame About Ray which is a perfect record.

b3sci: What are five things you can’t live without?

Bill:
1) Guitar
2) Digital voice recorder
3) Marble notebook
4) Good food
5) Books

b3sci: What are five things that you could totally be cool living without?

Bill:
1) Rent
2) TV
3) East coast winters
4) Hangovers
5) Traffic

b3sci: Has the internet played a role in the development of you as an artist?

Bill: Uh not sure. I tend to focus more on the message than the media, but the fact that the web is a great tool to share my art is gratifying.

b3sci: How do you discover new music?

Bill: Online, jukeboxes, shows, SXSW, radio, my friend Mike…

b3sci: What are you listening to at the moment? Anything influential?

Bill: The last Beach House record kills me. Arcade Fire and Deerhunter are really on their game… Kurt Vile is great too.

b3sci:In your opinion, what are some of the popular misnomers about being an independent and emerging artist/songwriter in today’s music industry, and with the general, casual listening public?

Bill: Maybe just how much discipline and focus it takes to make a good record.

more Summer Fiction on b3science HERE

Info on Summer Fiction / Purchase the Album at Bandcamp

Summer Fiction – Throw Your Arms Around Me

Summer Fiction – To: Alone

Summer Fiction – Chandeliers [FREE DOWNLOAD]

reviewed by
12-10-10

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Nas and Damian Marley in Manchester April 2, 2011

nasanddamien

B3SCI TICKET GIVEAWAY! Hip-Hop icon, Nas, and Reggae royalty, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley have announced three UK live dates that are surely to be among the most anticipated events in Spring 2011. Experience Nas and Damian perform choice material from their own solo catalogues as well as tracks from their recent collaborative effort Distant Relatives. A definite highlight from 2010, Distant Relatives explores the musical and ethnic roots of both artists and the connections between them and features tracks with Lil Wayne, K’NAAN, and more. Get it here!

blahblahblahscience is giving away a pair of tickets to their April 2nd performance at the O2 Apollo in Manchester! Just drop us a line here and let us know you want them… simple as that. Also, if you dont win the tickets from us, don’t fret, you can still get your hands on some here. For more performance dates and information check out www.distantrelatives.com.

LIVE DATES
London – 31st March – Wembley Arena
Glasgow – 1st April – O2 Academy Glasgow
Manchester – 2nd April – O2 Apollo Manchester

Nas – One Mic

Damian Marley – Road to Zion (Feat. Nas)

Nas & Damian Marley – As We Enter

reviewed by
11-28-10

Eliza Doolittle – Fuck You / J. Cole – I’m Coming Home / Machinedrum – Let It Feat. Melo-X (edIT of The Glitch Mob Remix)

bsci fave Eliza Doolittle holds nothing back when she throwsdown on this soulful cover of Cee-Lo Green’s “Fuck You”. shit is live, and damn it’s HOTTT! Eliza we’d never treat you wrong, call us!

Eliza Doolittle – Fuck You
info / purchase

j-cole

J. Cole keeps the streak alive with this latest track surfaced from his anticipated Cole World LP. Alex da Kid works the boards for this gem that has hit written all over it..

J. Cole – I’m Coming Home (Produced by Alex da Kid)
info / purchase

machinedrum

Stones Throw let loose on yet another killer jam, this b-side is edIT of The Glitch Mob’s take on Machinedrum’s 2009 cut “Let It” feat. Melo-X. GET IT NOW on 12-inch!

Machinedrum – “Let It” Feat. Melo-X (edIT of The Glitch Mob Remix)
info / purchase from Stones Throw

and for those in the Halloween spirit… and who haven’t seen the following, check it..

reviewed by
10-30-10

Small Black – New Chain LP Stream

new-chain

timed up with Jagjaguwar’s (one of our fav labels) Monday release of Small Black’s debut New Chain LP, the label is throwing down on a free stream of the album for the next week. can you say soundcloud party? we can! New Chain is one of our most anticipated records of the year. and, yep, as is the m.o. for Jagjaguwar bands, Small Black definitely delivers, cause the LP pretty much slays. check it for yourself, push those play buttons!

Small Black- New Chain by jagjaguwar

purchase / info

reviewed by
10-29-10

b3SCI mixtapes: Halloween II

panama_monster_450x338

HALLOWEEN.. AWWW YEAH!!! and this years mixtape kills it. so again we ask is the monster mash played out? yeah! do we give a fuck? no!

01. Curtiss King – Are You Afraid of the Dark
02. Smashing Pumpkins – Zero (Le Castle Vania Remix)
03. Colin Munroe – Bulletproof Monster (Feat. Nicki Minaj and La Roux)
04. Green Go – Brains for Breakfast
05. Grinderman – Hyper Tapeworm (UNKLE Remix)
06. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll
07. The Diamonds – Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein or Dracula
08. Roky Erickson – I Walked With A Zombie
09. O. Children – Dead Disco Dancer
10. Outkast – Dracula’s Wedding
11. NASA – Chase The Devil (Max Romeo Cover)
12. The Sonics – The Witch
13. Bobby “Boris” Pickett – Monster Mash
14. Death in Vegas – Aisha (Feat. Iggy Pop)
15. Swede:art – I’m A ROBOT (TOKiMONSTA Remix)
16. Natalia Kills – Zombie (Does It Offend You, Yeah Remix)
17. Screamin Jay Hawkins – I Hear Voices
18. The Cramps – Zombie Dance
19. The Misfits – Halloween
20. Autolux – Headless Sky
21. LAWS – Hold You Down (Feat. Big K.R.I.T. and Emelio Rojas)
22. Small Black – Weird Machines
23. The Specials – Ghost Town

download the full mixtape here

check last year’s mixtape here

buy music

reviewed by
10-27-10

B3SCI EXCLUSIVE: Ticket Giveway – Saint Saviour @ Bush Hall, London UK 10/23/10

saintsavour

ATTN: b3sci UK fam. ex-Groove Armada frontwoman Saint Savour is playing a SOLD OUT gig @ London’s Bush Hall TOMORROW NIGHT (SATURDAY). SOLD OUT FOLKS! No more tickets left. Awwwwwwwwwww ……..but wait! You know b3scis got you. Thanks to our UK CONNECTS, You can be there! (We know we would want be!) Just be the first to hit our email and two free passes will be waiting for you at the Bush Halls door. This promises to be a fantastic gig as Saint Saviour is nothing less than world class on stage. You want these tickets.

Peep Saint Saviour’s bomb new single Woman Scorned:

Saint Saviour performing with Groove Armada at Glastonbury this year. Yeah!

Saint Saviour on Soundcloud
Saint Saviour on Youtube
Saint Saviour on Myspace

reviewed by
10-22-10