Image

B3Sci Mixtapes

B3SCI TOP 50 SONGS OF 2011

blankfeintop50tracks

2011. What wasn’t to love? The rise of weirdo R&B, the fall of chillwave, the end of R.E.M. We started the construction of this list over a month ago. One truly epic and extensive Google spreadsheet later, we arrived at this Top 50. We sorted and sorted and sorted, listened through a TON OF STUFF, “traded jabs” on whether James Blake or Jamie Woon put on the tougher persona, etc. Thanks for reading and we hope y’all enjoy the list!

james-blake-the-wilhelm-scream
01. James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream (Buy It) (Read)

the-weend-the-morning
02. The Weeknd – The Morning (Buy It) (Read)

lana-del-rey-video-games
03. Lana Del Rey – Video Games (Buy It) (Read)

gotye-somebody-that-i-used-to-know
04. Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (Feat. Kimbra) (Buy It) (Read)

britney-spears-till-the-world-ends
05. Britney Spears – ‘Till the World Ends (Buy It) (Read)

maverick-sabre-i-need
06. Maverick Sabre – I Need (Buy It) (Read)

drake-marvins-room
07. Drake – Marvin’s Room (Buy It) (Read)

beyonce-party
08. Beyonce – Party (Feat. Kanye West & Andre 3000) (Buy It) (Read)

jamie-woon-lady-luck
09. Jamie Woon – Lady Luck (Buy It) (Read)

michael-kiwanuka-i-need-you-by-my-side
10. Michael Kiwanuka – I Need You By My Side (Buy It) (Read)

kendrick-lamar-adhd
11. Kendrick Lamar – ADHD (Buy It) (Read)

the-alabama-shakes-i-found-you
12. The Alabama Shakes (formerly The Shakes) – I Found You (Buy It) (Read)

nneka-my-home
13. Nneka – My Home (Buy It) (Read)

rihanna-we-found-love
14. Rihanna – We Found Love (Feat. Calvin Harris) (Buy It) (Read)

dj-khaled-im-on-one
15. DJ Khaled – I’m On One (Feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil’ Wayne) (Buy It) (Read)

adele-rumour-has-it
16. Adele – Rumour Has It (Buy It) (Read)

labrinth-earthquake
17. Labrinth – Earthquake (Feat. Tinie Tempah) (Buy It) (Read)

jay-z-kanye-west-otis
18. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Otis (Buy It) (Read)

flo-rida-good-feeling
19. Flo Rida – Good Feeling (Buy It) (Read)

bon-iver-towers
20. Bon Iver – Towers (Buy It) (Read)

azealia-banks-212
21. Azealia Banks – 212 (Buy It) (Read)

big-black-delta-huggin-kissin
22. Big Black Delta – Huggin’ & Kissin’ (Buy It) (Read)

florence-the-machine-what-the-water-gave-me
23. Florence + The Machine – What the Water Gave Me (Buy It) (Read)

flight-facilities-foreign-language
24. Flight Facilities – Foreign Language (Feat. Jess) (Buy It) (Read)

cults-abducted
25. Cults – Abducted (Buy It) (Read)

raphael-saadiq-good-man
26. Raphael Saadiq – Good Man (Buy It) (Read)

spector-never-fade-away
27. Spector – Never Fade Away (Buy It) (Read)

marina-and-the-diamonds-radioactive
28. Marina & the Diamonds – Radioactive (Buy It) (Read)

afrojack-lionheart
29. Afrojack – Lionheart (Buy It) (Read)

noel-gallagher-if-i-had-a-gun
30. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – If I Had a Gun… (Buy It) (Read)

active-child-playing-house
31. Active Child – Playing House (Feat. How to Dress Well) (Buy It) (Read)

m83-midnight-city
32. M83 – Midnight City (Buy It) (Read)

radiohead-lotus-flower
33. Radiohead – Lotus Flower (Buy It) (Read)

madlib-freddie-gibbs-thuggin1
34. Madlib & Freddie Gibbs – Thuggin’ (Buy It) (Read)

the-rapture-how-deep-is-your-love
35. The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love (Buy It) (Read)

no-ceremony-hurtlove
36. NO CEREMONY/// – Hurtlove (Buy It) (Read)

ifan-dafydd-no-good
37. Ifan Dafydd – No Good (Buy It) (Read)

bombay-bicycle-club-shuffle
38. Bombay Bicycle Club – Shuffle (Buy It) (Read)

tokimonsta-little-pleasures
39. TOKiMONSTA – Little Pleasures (Feat. Gavin Turek) (Buy It) (Read)

colleen-green-cujo
40. Colleen Green – Cujo (Buy It) (Read)

foxes-youth
41. Foxes – Youth (Buy It) (Read)

jacques-greene-another-girl1
42. Jacques Greene – Another Girl (Buy It) (Read)

grouplove-gold-coast1
43. Grouplove – Gold Coast (Buy It) (Read)

family-of-the-year-st-croix
44. Family of the Year – St. Croix (Buy It) (Read)

lucy-rose-middle-of-the-bed
45. Lucy Rose – Middle of the Bed (Buy It) (Read)

lips-everything-to-me
46. LIPS – Everything to Me (Buy It) (Read)

trophy-wife-wolf
47. Trophy Wife – Wolf (Buy It) (Read)

dev-in-the-dark
48. Dev – In the Dark (Buy It) (Read)

john-west-lovely
49. John West – Lovely (Feat. Pusha T) (Buy It) (Read)

anchorsong-ghost-touch
50. Anchorsong – Ghost Touch (Buy It) (Read)

reviewed by
12-26-11

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Phonat live @ The Avalon, Hollywood CA. Friday 12/2/2011!

phonat-2011-fall-tour

Get PSYCHED! Electronic producer Phonat is coming to the States for his first North American tour and B3SCI is hooking you up! Praised by the likes of Skrillex as “easily the most underrated producer out there”, loved by Herve, Annie Mac, Norman Cook, Pete Tong, Rob Da Bank and more, the 7 foot Italian has been making waves across the EDM world since the release of his self-titled debut LP. This tour will be HUGE!

Interested? B3SCI has you covered! Just give us a shout and we’ll enter you to win a pair of tickets for the set!

The Avalon info and tix (HERE)

US TOUR DATES

Wednesday NOV-23-11 New York USA Webster Hall
Thursday NOV-24-11 Montreal Canada Le Belmont
Friday NOV-25-11 Toronto Canada Mod Club
Saturday NOV-26-11 WashingtonUSA Fall Massive
Thursday DEC-01-11 Denver USA Beta
Friday DEC-02-11 Hollywood USA Avalon
Saturday DEC-03-11 San Diego USA Voyeur

Give his new Fall 2011 mix a spin below:

Phonat newyork: (Facebook)

reviewed by
11-16-11

B3SCI on Virgin Mobile Live: HALLOWEEN!

creature-from-the-black-lagoon

This week’s show features choice Halloween tracks past/present plus some nods to classic throwback horror flicks. Get this year’s full Halloween mix HERE. #BLAHZAY

Catch B3SCI Radio on Virgin Mobile Live, Fridays and Saturdays every week 12pm pac/ 3pm east. Click for B3SCI Radio archives and be sure to check out fam Virgin Mobile Live.

TRACK LIST:

Intro
Oholics – Suzy Banyon Blues
ToxiK – Saw Theme Song (Dubstep Refix)
Lupe Fiasco – The Cool
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll
mic up: *Rave’s Fave + Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me (edit)
*The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Time Warp
Beetlejuice – Beetlejuice Theme (Figure Drumstep Mix)
Bo Diddley – Bo Meets The Monster
Green Go – Brains For Breakfast
Skrillex – Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Villains Too Tight Pants Remix) (B3 edit)
Roky Erickson – I Walked With A Zombie

reviewed by
10-29-11

B3SCI MIXTAPES: Halloween Vol. III

snipesisready

Get ready for this year’s SPOOKY as hell HALLOWEEN mixtape handpicked by the freaks and ghoulz at team B3SCI. #makelikesnipes #blahzay

01. Oholics – Susan Banyon Blues
02. Rocky Horror Picture Show – Time Warp
03. Toxik – Saw Theme Song (ToxiK Dubstep Refix)
04. Green Go – Brains for Breakfast
05. Lupe Fiasco – The Cool
06. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll
07. Michael Jackson – Thriller (Villains Too Tight Pants Remix)
08. Roky Erickson – I Walked With A Zombie
09. O. Children – Dead Disco Dancer
10. Skrillex – Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites
11. Classics IV – Spooky
12. The Beatles – Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
13. Screamin Jay Hawkins – I Hear Voices
14. Bo Diddley – Bo Meets the Monster
15. Ministry – Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones Cover)
16. The White Stripes – Jack the Ripper
17. 2pac and Eazy E – Halloween
18. The Cramps – Goo Goo Muck
19. Beetlejuice – Beetlejuice Theme (Figure Drumstep Mix)

Download the full mixtape here

Check mixtapes 2009 and 2010.

buy music

reviewed by
10-27-11

Neil Young: A Top Ten

neil-young-70s

Neil Young: A Top Ten
By: Chris Gedos

It’s October! That time of the year again. Time to watch playoff baseball, battle that addiction to baseball-reference.com and lament Joe Buck’s poor imitation of Bob Costas. (DiMaggio had just 13 strikeouts in 1941!) Time to uncork those vintage Rieslings, pick apples, ride bikes and listen to “Monster Mash”, and only the version by Bobby “Boris” Pickett which made it to #1 in 1962. And finally, it’s time to listen to Neil Young, my favorite Canadian! So roast up those pumpkin seeds, pour a glass of hot cider and take a look at my selections for Neil’s top ten. And by “top ten” I explicitly mean not the best, completely arbitrary, but rather my ten favorite Neil songs which hopefully provide a sufficiently comprehensive introduction for the Neil neophyte.

10. “Silver & Gold” – Although released in the year 2000 on the album of the same name, “Silver & Gold” the song was originally written in 1981. Neil has been known to sit on songs for decades, as one can only conjecture as to how many albums of unreleased material reside in Mr. Young’s vaults. “Silver & Gold” is one of his sweetest love songs, concurrently saccharine, innocent, hopeful and eternal.

9. “Out On The Weekend” is the opening track on Harvest, his most popular album and one of the most popular of the year when released in 1972. “Think I’ll pack it in, buy a pickup, take it down to LA” is one of those famous Neil lyrics which epitomizes his infatuation with the American West. Although Harvest is far from Shakey’s most cohesive work, it does feature 5 of his best songs, with “Out On The Weekend” kicking things off in a big way. (see Elliot Smith and Lady Gaga covers).

8. “Mellow My Mind” is Neil’s most uplifting track from his most despondent album, Tonight’s The Night, originally released in 1975 after a two year delay, recorded in a tumultuous period following the death of Danny Whitten (of Crazy Horse and The Rockets). Album #3 in the Ditch trilogy (following Time Fades Away and On The Beach), Tonight’s The Night is a big favorite among hardcore Neil Young fans (see Thrasher’s Wheat).

7. On The Beach” – 1974’s On The Beach, Neil’s first studio release post-Harvest, was recorded under the influence of Honey Slides, a marijuana infused concoction that “felt like heroin”, according to Shakey, the Neil Young tome of a biography written by Jimmy McDonough. Much like Tonight’s the Night, the album was unappreciated upon release on account of its crude production and sense of foreboding which set a clean stylistic break from his first four studio albums. The title track’s combination of lyrical repetition and remorseful jamming add up to a perfect commentary on the failed social revolution of the late 60’s. On The Beach was finally released on CD in 2003, after a long petition spearheaded by Thrasher’s Wheat.

6. “I’m The Ocean” – The best track on 1996’s Mirror Ball, recorded with Pearl Jam as a most fitting backing band for the Godfather of Grunge. While somewhat inconsistent, Mirror Ball ranks among Neil’s hardest albums (along with Ragged Glory and side 2 of Rust Never Sleeps.) A 7 minute jam, “I’m The Ocean” is a lyrical tour de force. “I’m a Cadillac, I’m a Cutlass Supreme,” is a line so emphatically American it’s hard to believe it was written by someone from Winnipeg.

5. “Rockin’ in the Free World” – Opening song on 1989’s Freedom, the album which re-launched Shakey’s career (after a shakey Eighties), the live version of “Rockin’ In The Free World” was the emblematic song of the period surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall. Again, much like On The Beach, the effective repetition during the chorus is striking for a musician best known for his lyrical variety and depth. Along with “Ohio”, “Rockin’ In The Free World” is Neil’s most overtly political song. Listening to it two decades later makes you feel as though you’re taking part in a still-burgeoning political movement.

4. “Down By The River” – One of Neil’s most popular and oft covered tracks, “Down By The River” closes side one of 1970’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, his second studio album. The song’s ranking may be inflated because it’s my favorite of his longer, more expansive, jam/solo driven tracks ( including “Cowgirl in The Sand”, “Like A Hurricane” and “Cortez The Killer”, among others. The track further proves Neil’s obsession with water as a Mark Twain between safe and dangerous, sanity and desperation, happiness and despondency. No posturing, only music. Even the lyrics during the chorus seem to fade into the swirl established by the urgent jamming of Danny Whitten’s Crazy Horse.

3. “Journey Through The Past” – What a shame that the only version of “Journey Through The Past” available on CD is the Live At Massey Hall version (which fortunately captures Mr. Young at his commercial and creative peaks), as 1973’s Time Fades Away, a live album, has yet to receive a proper CD release. The past as halcyon days is a theme Neil returns to again and again, but never as effortlessly as on “Journey Through The Past.” Shakey’s voice has never sounded so haggard or beautiful. “I will stay with you if you stay with me, said the fiddler to the drum. And we’ll keep good time on a journey through the past.” Solid gold.

2. “After The Gold Rush” – Much like Journey Through The Past, the sparse instrumentation of piano and muted french horn on “After The Gold Rush”, the title track off his 1971 LP, his best minute-for-minute album. The imagery is inventive, simplistic, visceral and timeless, from knights in armor to spaceships in the sky. Recorded in the period after Déjà Vu, it’s the album which bears the most traits of kin with CSNY.

1. “Heart of Gold” – His best track on his most famous album, “Heart Of Gold” is the perfect three minute pop song. The slide guitar is divine. This is the Neil song most recognized by the general populace, but by no means was he selling out, as proven the subsequent “Ditch” trilogy. By casting a wide geographical net, it contains some of his most ambitious lyrics. The backing vocals at the end by James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt are wonderful as well. The song represents a critical juncture in Neil’s career as the moment he officially entered the rock pantheon, right before he forsook his commercial fame.

Second Ten (no order): Don’t be Denied, Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Lotta Love, Like A Hurricane, Harvest Moon, Old Man, Don’t Cry No Tears, Thrasher, Burned

And just like with any of the great artists, the more that Mr. Neil Young reveals of himself, the more enigmatic he becomes.

Neil Young canada (Official)

reviewed by
10-26-11

B3SCI on Virgin Mobile Live (feat. Small Black)

b3sci-radio-banner-small-black2

Josh from Small Black calls in this week to talk about the band’s new Moon Killer mixtape being released on 11.11.11, the issues related with sounding like, #occupywallstreet and more. Catch new B3SCI Radio on Virgin Mobile Live, Fridays and Saturdays every week 12pm pac/ 3pm east.

Click for b3sci radio archives and be sure to check out fam Virgin Mobile Live and Abbey Braden!

TRACK LIST:

A$AP Rocky – Out of This World
Coldplay – Princess of China (Feat. Rihanna)
mic up: Birdy – Shelter (Essays Tearful Remix) (Edit)
Dirty Beaches – Lone Runner
The Owsley Brothers – Burden On Your Eyes
mic up: Massive Attack – Paradise Circus (Burial Remix)(edit)
Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty)
mic up: Rave’s Fave
Justice – Parade
Lana Del Rey – Video Games (Joy Orbison Remix) (edit)
Small Black – Weird Machines
Interview part 1: Josh from Small Black call’s in
Small Black – Two Rivers (Feat. Heems)
Interview part 2: Josh from Small Black call’s in
Small Black – Moon Killer

reviewed by
10-22-11

B3SCI on Virgin Mobile Live

b3sciradiobanner1

The week’s mix includes subtle tributes to John Lennon’s recent 71st birthday. Be sure to catch new B3SCI Radio on Virgin Mobile Live, Fridays and Saturdays @ 3pm eastern here. Tracklist is after the jump.

Click for link b3sci radio archives and be sure to check out fam Virgin Mobile Live and Abbey Braden!

reviewed by
10-15-11

B3SCI on Virgin Mobile Live

b3sciradiobanner1

Jams! Stream the weekend’s broadcast below, and be sure to catch new B3SCI Radio on Virgin Mobile Live, Fridays and Saturdays @ 3pm eastern HERE. Tracklist is after the jump.

B3sci VML show11 9.30.11 by blahblahblahscienceradio

Click for link b3sci radio archives and be sure to check out fam Virgin Mobile Live and Abbey Braden!

reviewed by
10-01-11

b3sci MIXTAPES: Darkchild, Vol. 2 – Gems from the Dar-chives

bestofdarkchild

When Mud Hut Music maven and all around great bloke Ed Blow asked us to curate this month’s MHM Podcast, we were like, “YEAHHHHH!” Listen as we pay tribute to one of our ALL TIME favorite producers, Rodney Jerkins. Songwriting 101.

Mud Hut Music Podcast 025 – b3sci Presents: The Best Of > Darkchild – Gems From The Darc-hives by Mud Hut Digital

Tracklist:
01 Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath
02 Shareefa – Need a Boss (Feat. Ludacris)
03 Mariah Carey – So Loney (Feat. Twista)
04 Brandy – What About Us
05 Toni Braxton – He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me
06 Black Eyed Peas – Just Can’t Get Enough

reviewed by
09-28-11

B3SCI on Virgin Mobile Live

b3sciradiobanner1

Stream the weekend’s broadcast below! And be sure to catch new B3SCI Radio on Virgin Mobile Live, Fridays and Saturdays @ 3pm eastern HERE. Tracklist is after the jump.

B3SCI VML show10 9.23.11 by blahblahblahscienceradio

Click for link b3sci radio archives and be sure to check out fam Virgin Mobile Live and Abbey Braden!

reviewed by
09-25-11

Lana Del Rey – You Can Be the Boss

lanadelrey1

#TEAMLANA. Here’s a something we hadn’t heard yet from Lana Del Rey. We did some research and came up empty with any sort of attachment of this song to her Lizzy Grant persona. Everything Lizzy Grant has been wiped from the record. Gone. However, judging from the “hi-fi” production values and Lana’s singing style on the track we’re guessing this track dates a little a bit. The track’s vid does look like a post-enhancement Lana though. #lipinspection. That aside, it’s still a nice track from Ms. Del Rey Grant.

Lana Del Rey – You Can Be the Boss

Lana Del Rey newyork (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
09-21-11

B3SCI on Virgin Mobile Live

b3sciradiobanner1

Here’s our latest Virgin Mobile Live broadcast because we’ve been straight drooling to recap the week’s choice tunes. Tracklist is after the jump. GET INTO IT!

Listen to B3SCI Radio on VML Fridays @ 3pm eastern HERE!

B3sci VML show9 9.16.11 by blahblahblahscienceradio

Click for link b3sci radio archives and be sure to check out fam Virgin Mobile Live and Abbey Braden!

reviewed by
09-17-11