By Stephen Dobrinich
Here’s a nice offering from the psychedelic pop group, Of Montreal. ‘Feminine Effects’ has a chilled out vibe and a great hook that’s got me playing it on repeat. This comes as a part of the group’s contribution to a forthcoming split single with Deerhoof set to be released on Record Store Day. Make sure you check it out.
Of Montreal 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
The mighty Miike took to Annie Mac’s Radio 1 show last night to debut “Bavarian”, the third single from the band’s due March 26 LP Happy to You. One of the band’s more playful whimsical moments, “Bavarian” marches along (the band got the Swedish military drum corps to perform on the track) most of its 4 minutes duration; with punches of electronic pulse distributed throughout the give the song more of a Miike Snow sound. “Bavarian” wins on melody, though, with a particularly sharp chorus hook. Give it a spin below.
Miike Snow 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.0
By Bruce Rave
A group of us heard Fun’s “We Are Young” for the first time together, and the track got a unanimous thumbs-up. The group and their fans are having so much fun that the single sits at #2 on the national alternative airplay charts. The good news is that there’s more to their album than just the hit. “Be Calm” sounds like Queen meeting Mika and The Sparks. The song will probably calm you, and will hopefully make you feel good. Fun is a good name for these guys.
fun. 
(Official)
Check out Bruce’s “Go Deep” show on Fridays 1-3 pm Pacific, 4-6 pm Eastern, 9-11pm GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.
We tipped you to Thomas Azier back in January with his excellent synthpop track “Metropolitan Tribe”. Well, Thomas Azier is back with a song equal on quality but a bit different stylistically, here TA turns up the cinema and gravitas with new tune “Red Eyes”. “Red Eyes” is a track of high caliber that demands your ears. Ears meet track.
Thomas Azier 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
AMERICA: Get your shit together and get up on this band. Don’t let our British cousins nick these immensely talented ladies away! You like First Aid Kit? Invisble Band-era Travis? Uncle Neil when he gets “gentle”? You need to familiarize yourself with The Pierces. Start with “I Put Your Records On” below.
The Pierces (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
By Chris Gedos
“Let Me Try”, a hot-off-the-presses dittie from Fast Years, is some perfectly saccharine surf-pop in anticipation for their SXSW premiere and debut EP later this spring. For a brand new band, they know their sound. It serves them very well that the two most well-known bands they’ve opened for, Howler and The Vaccines, are perfect compliments for their style of play (better than Metronomy or even Wu Lyf, for instance). Stay tuned for an interview from b3sci HQ with the contagious four piece.
Fast Years – Let Me TryFast Years (Facebook)
Rating 8.43
Included in the bonus material to Boy Friend’s awesome debut Egyptian Wrinkle is this (like most BF material) first hour back inside the space station version of The Cars’ classic monster ballad “Drive”. Seemingly built for that spacewalking astronaut’s ipod, BF’s version of “Drive” relaxes and comforts despite the orginal song’s more withdrawn subject matter.
Boy Friend 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
St. Lucia’s much anticipated debut EP hits the streets tomorrow. Right now c/o of Neon Gold you can stream the excellent EP in its entirety, including ace dreampop track “Closer Than This”.
St. Lucia (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
For all you fuzz pop and Viv G. fans in the house, the other Kickball Katy moniker known as La Sera is rolling through L.A. for a gig at The Satellite this Thursday while on tour in support of her forthcoming Sees The Light LP release. And we’ve got a pair of ticket to giveaway for the show… which will also feature support from the likes of Magnetix, Cold Showers and Neverever! Drop us a line to enter the Wednesday raffle for tickets. You can purchase tix and get more info on the show here. GO!
La Sera – Please Be My Third EyeThe Satellite 
(Info)
La Sera (Facebook) (Hardly Art)
By Chris Gedos
So Cal four-piece Mrs. Magician is in the midst of a cross-country jaunt with fellow San Diegans, Cults. They’re less influenced by the NYC girl groups, instead taking cues from Don Van Vliet and a whole lot of jangle pop. Fans of irreverent, Rivers Cuomo / Stephin Merritt style songwriting should wake up early this Tuesday, March 6th, and purchase a digital copy of their debut LP, Strange Heaven, out via Swami records. The Prescription Vision 7” was released this past November, but the album version of “There is no God” is an anthem for atheists. Love this shit before a mini-encyclopedia emerges post-SXSW.
Mrs. Magician – There Is No GodMrs. Magician (Facebook)
Rating 8.49
By Trevor Meyer
18 yr old, George Barnett is set to release 17 days, on March 12th. “Lone Rose” is the first single to be released from the album. Not only does Mr. Barnett write wonderful music, he also produced, directed, and edited the video for Lone Rose. To top it off, George plays all of the instruments. To say this young man has a bright future is an immense understatement. There’s no need to wait, George Barnett is burning new paths by fusing musical and audiovisual mastery right now.
George Barnett 
(Facebook) (Bandcamp)
Rating 8.07
Even Monkey Man is surprised by this one. And from all places The Ting Tings (remember them?)! The “That’s Not My Name” hitmakers rolled through Radio 1’s Live Lounge today and turned in an acoustic mash of LDR’s “Born to Die” and Ian Brown’s iconic track “F.E.A.R.” from 2001. The (awesome) results may surprise you. Play the track.
The Ting Tings (Facebook)
Rating 8.5
