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The XX – Our Song

Midnight has struck stateside and we’ve had the beautiful and introspective duet “Our Song” on constant repeat. The track closes out The XX’ new and highly anticipated sophomore Coexist release. The album itself continues to explore the bottomless abyss of The XX’ inclination towards minimalist and emotive composition. The melancholy lullaby of “Our Song” especially strikes a chord, telling a humbling story of relationship ups/downs by way of pulsing atmospheres and chilling legato. Sample the track below and pick up Coexist today.


The XX (Official) (Purchase)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
09-10-12

RAVE’S FAVE! Diamond Rings – I’m Just Me

Diamond Rings has been around a few years, and has also graced these B3Science pages. This just might be tune to take him to the next level. The retro-leaning “I’m Just Me” is an ideal combination of melody, dance, and a a serious chorus. I’ve been spinning it on my show and getting strong reaction, so I think theres a good chance you’ll feel the same way.

Diamond Rings – I’m Just Me

Diamond Rings (Facebook)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
09-10-12

The Raveonettes – The Enemy

Everyone’s fave Danish duo ring in a decade of hauntingly sweet records with their forthcoming and impressively solid seventh studio album Observator. The album of which was recorded in an incredible seven days with producer Richard Gottehrer (credits include Blondie, Go-Gos, Richard Hell), holds true to The Raveonettes signature sound and prolific pop song appetite. New single “The Enemy” previewed here, particularly showcases the bands affinity for those glittery guitar songs, harkening bands from The Smiths to The Beatles, and those between (plus we’re sure some NME puns intended).

The Raveonettes – The Enemy

The Raveonettes denmark (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
09-04-12

Zak Waters – The City (Acoustic) (Madeon)

Zak Waters (the featured vocalist on the original track) re-spins the pretty much perfect melody on Madeon’s “The City” into a really neat piano ballad. Waters’ vocals are especially powerful/visceral/emotionally-laid-wide-open here; he pulled us in immediately with his tone, emotive quality & vulnerability – almost too good. Do yourself the favor and give this really really good take on Madeon’s “The City” a spin below.

Zak Waters – The City (Acoustic) (Madeon)

Zak Waters (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
08-30-12

Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing (Feat. Florence + the Machine)

Wait for it.. Wait for it.. Wait for it… and…. YES. The Harris-Welch connection links up again (CH’s mix of “Spectrum” is one of our fave remixes of 2k12) on brand new track “Sweet Nothing”. It’s pretty standard going for Calvin Harris; big choruses, even bigger builds, and that “Calvin Harris bounce” (you know what we mean!) you’ve come to expect from the Scottish producer. Lets see that track.

Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing (Feat. Florence + the Machine)

Calvin Harris scotland (Facebook)
Florence + The Machine (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
08-28-12

Josh Doyle – Solarstorms

Josh Doyle, the former frontman of UK pop band The Dum Dums returns with “Solarstorms”, excerpted from the now Nashville-based singer/songwriter’s upcoming self-titled debut LP (due Oct. 23). “Solarstorms” puts on offer Doyle’s impressive songwriting chops (especially his feel for melody and cadence) and features a hook-after-hook-after-hook chorus that will absolutely crush radio. Give Mr. Doyle your ears below.

Josh Doyle – Solarstorms

Josh Doyle (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
08-28-12

Chad Valley – Fall 4 U (Feat. Glasser)

A stunning vocal (c/o of Matador songstress Glasser) and a set of remarkable melodies headline Chad Valley’s latest “Fall 4 U”. Valley’s debut LP Young Hunger is due on Cascine October 30th.

Chad Valley (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
08-23-12

Rah Rah – Prairie Girl

Rah Rah score yet another pop rock jewel with “Prairie Girl”. The track is previewed below from the band’s forthcoming The Poet’s Dead LP coming out October 22 on Hidden Pony Records. Attitude included, this catchy tune is sure to rev-up your day in just a few listens.

Rah Rah – Prarie Girl

Rah Rah (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
08-23-12

South Pole – Skua

Patiently crisp tones here from new Southampton collective South Pole. Complete with big choruses and a powerful vocal, “Skua” hopefully forshadows only more of what’s to come for South Pole.

South Pole – Skua

South Pole england (Facebook)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
08-23-12

RAVE’S FAVE: Two Door Cinema Club – The World Is Watching

Two Door Cinema Club’s sophomore album Beacon drops the first week of September. The sound on the new LP is a bit bigger, and the direction is slightly more pop than on the band’s debut. Complete with arena hooks and melodies, most of the full-length sounds like Two Door in full stride. What I’m liking about the pretty “The World Is Watching” is that it provides some of the album’s most uplifting moments. By Bruce Rave

Two Door Cinema Club – The World Is Watching

Two Door Cinema Club (Official)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
08-21-12

OUTSIDE LANDS 2012: Looking Back + Interview w/ Caveman

​Safely returned to the mid-August L.A. swelter, we took to the airwaves of Virgin Mobile Live on Friday to recap last weekend’s Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival in San Francisco. The beautiful cloudy chill of Golden Gate Park played gracious host to an immaculate lineup of artists from all eras and most genres past, present, and future. Check out our recap below featuring music from some of our favorite Outside Lands artists as well as an interview we did backstage on Saturday with New York band Caveman.

SETLIST

Little Stevie Wonder – Fingertips (Part 2) [extended edit] Tame Impala – Lucidity
MICS UP: Metallica – For Whom The Bell Tolls
Portugal. The Man – So American
Birdy – People Help the People (Cherry Ghost Cover)
Foo Fighters – Big Me
MICS UP: *Bruce Rave w/ Raves Fave
*Bloc Party – Team A
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)
Caveman – Thankful
INTERVIEW w/ Caveman backstage at Outside Lands, SF 2012
Big Boi & Theophilus London – She Said OK (Feat. & Tre Luce) [Clean]

Click here for more coverage on Outside Lands 2012.

Outside Lands (Official)

reviewed by
08-19-12

B3SCI Premiere: Aiden Grimshaw – This Island

Aiden Grimshaw keeps it on with “This Island”. The anthem is previewed here from the forthcoming (massive) Misty Eye release.

Aiden Grimshaw: england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
08-18-12