Yes. One of our favorite producers anywhere right now xxxy links up here with Finnish singer Sara Sayed for a track that can only be described as sublime. Spare keys frame Sayed’s simple, visceral, icy melody; that moment at 1:00 when the clicking counterrhythm drops into the track is particularly special. Listen.
Sara Sayed & xxxy – The Earth Got Roundxxxy 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
More sunny guitar pop from Morecambe collective The Heartbreaks. “Winter Gardens” is previewed from the band’s forthcoming Funtimes debut LP expected this May, and is currently a free download at the band’s Facebook. We’re into it.
The Heartbreaks – Winter GardensThe Heartbreaks: (Facebook) (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.1
Brooklyn based Neon Gold artist St. Lucia is performing a weekly residency every Tuesday at Pianos in N.Y.C. throughout the month of February with a culminating gig on Thursday, March 1st at Santos… which will also feature a set from The Knocks! If you’re in The Big City, get in the mix for one of these sets from the to-be-2012-noise-maker! Also, get in the mood with this Disco Arcade flip of the St. Lucia track “All Eyes On You”, which is your new singalong for the rest of the day.
St. Lucia – All Eyes On You (Disco Arcade Remix)St. Lucia 
(Soundcloud) (Facebook)
Chromatics are about to bum you out with their take on the Uncle Neil classic “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)”. A consensus b3 staff Top 10 Neil song, the bar here for a b3sci co-sign is a lofty one. How do the PDX Chromatics crew measure up then? The cover is cinematic, it’s grand-gesturing but it’s also, at times, sort of tortured and unnecessarily languid; however we think it ticks enough “sweet Neil cover” boxes for us to give it a small “yes”.
Chromatics – Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) (Neil Young)Chromatics 
(Facebook)
Rating 7.8
The Two Nicki Minajs. “Young Forever” is more of the “Super Bass”, appearances on “Ellen”, emulated on YouTube by 10 year olds Nicki that became a pop star last year. That fierce Nicki, that Nicki that reps Young Money (you know Slim, Baby) that chews up just about every rap track she’s featured on, (“Monster”, “All I Do Is Win”, “Bottoms Up”, etc) is all but bottled up on this Dr. Luke produced track. Is this a sustainable dynamic for her? For certain, “Young Forever” is a huge Top 40 track. Like it doesn’t have that instant hookiness or cool uniqueness (like nothing else sounds like it on radio) that “Super Bass” had. “Young Forever” sounds like EVERYTHING on radio right now. This track though will get ramrodded so hard into Hot Hip hip/R&B/Pop radio rotation; the breaking of its’ audience is nothing short of certain. We’re calling a peak at Billboard #4.
Nicki Minaj – Young Forever (Prod. Dr. Luke)Nicki Minaj (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
We recently had the chance to ask budding LA scenestress Coco Morier a few questions. We got her thoughts on music labeling, guilty pleasures and rodeo costumes! Check out the Q&A and her song “Explosions” below.
Q: So who is Coco Morier in a shifting blackhole between commercial and independent music?
A: The satellite of love.
Q: Do you have a take on if there’s an increase in the popularity of independent music and art?
A: I dont see it that way really. There’s always gonna be people that listen to what’s spoon fed to them, and those who dig a bit deeper. It just depends on what the people decide to spoon feed us that might change a bit. But “independent” in the true sense of the word artistically is always there. People just doing what they love with no corporate backing and a community that supports them.
Q: What sort of things entertain you as a fan?
A: I love to see people who put on a show or add some kind of visual element to their performance. That gets me pretty excited and inspired.
Q: Let’s talk dancing. What’s your take on choreography and how important is dancing to you and your music?
A: I never had the budget to really have choreographed dancers or anything but I love it. For me it would be more as a performance art thing and less of a pop type deal. But I love that stuff too, its just not really where I am musically.
Q: You’re rather multi-instrumental, can you see yourself working in a world of remix projects as well?
A: Yeah, I’m working on some remixes right now!
Q: What’s something you listen to that might come as a complete surprise to fans?
A: Ha! I would think if you were a fan and really knew all of my discography there would be little that surprised you. My taste is all over the place. R. Kelley? Slayer? Boney M? The Pointer Sisters?
Q: True that. So then what kind of headspace inspires you to write?
A: All kinds of moods, locations, and studios. I really love to be far away from home like Sweden or Vietnam or something, then I get really creative.
Q: Is there a first instrument that you’ll grab for?
A: Guitar or maybe a drum machine.
Q: Have your prior experiences as a musician effected the way that you approach your music today compared to the past?
A: Well, its nice to be involved in all the different facets of making music. I started out playing live mostly but as soon as I made a record I realized the possibilities in song writing, and that in turn informed my live show because all of a sudden I had to perform stuff how it sounded on the record and not the other way around.
Q: Your live show, that reminds us, who is your mini ‘tiger friend’ that you bring on stage for your live performances? Does it have a name?
A: Not yet, he’s an orphan. I will take suggestions if you got em.
Q: B3tiger. So gotta ask, if you weren’t playing music today then what would you be doing today?
A: I’d be in the rodeo, only for the sequence costumes.
Coco Morier – ExplosionsCoco Morier 
(Facebook)
Our first mix of 2012 hit VML yesterday! The show features some choice jams plus a phone-in with Adam Granduciel from The War on Drugs who chatted with Chris Gedos about writing, the band, Zeppelin, and more. Get it below:
TRACK LIST
Intro
Fast Years – Young Heart
mic up: Yuna – Live Your Life
Schoolboy Q – Hands On The Wheel (feat. A$ap Rocky) [edit]
mic up: Bruce Rave with Rave’s Fave of the Week
The 2 Bears – Work
The War On Drugs – Brothers
mic up: Chris Gedos phone-in interview with Adam from The War On Drugs
The War On Drugs – Baby Missiles
The Record Company – Born Unnamed
Release date: Feb 10, 2012
Check more b3sci on Virgin Mobile Live, Fridays and Saturdays 12pm pac/ 3pm east. 2:1 on Soundcloud.
Click for b3radio archives.
Portland-based husband and wife duo Mint Julep turn in this beautiful subtle version of the Headphones track “I Never Wanted You”. The cover strikes a really nice line between the urgency and tension of the song’s instrumental track and the more withdrawn stylings and delivery of singer Hollie Kenniff. It’s quite the compelling dynamic. Listen.
Mint Julep – I Never Wanted You (Headphones Cover)Mint Julep (Facebook)
Rating 8.5
Our dude (and one of our favorite new vocalists) Jhameel jumps on “Hurry” a new synth pop track from his pal Surrender’s upcoming debut LP. Give it your ears below.
Surrender – Hurry (Feat. Jhameel)Jhameel (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
By Chris Gedos
Our homie tree keeps the hits rollin’ with “Universal” (feat. Ariel Thiermann). The song, which also features Finn Rivera and Shelf Nunny, is captivating from its inception, clear and concise proof that previous offerings “People” and “This is Separation” were not simple flukes. Per his Soundcloud: “This track is sending positive energy to the beautiful people of planet earth.” If that’s not a reason to partake in the process of creative actualization, I don’t know what is! tree sings songs about the slow movement of time and the presence of a universal consciousness. And then at 2:10 he starts riffing off Bon Iver. #sickasfuck
tree – Universal (Feat. Ariel Thiermann)tree (Facebook)
Rating 8.67
YES! This is the real one right here. Jakwob has delivered an absolute gem with this new remix for Niki and the Dove. Opting for a slow burning, shake-you-right-into-your-guts submarine feel for the track, the UK producer has maybe his finest work to date here on “DJ Ease My Mind”. Do not miss it.
Niki and the Dove – DJ Ease My Mind (Jakwob Remix)Jakwob 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.7
California duo Tashaki Miyaki do a rainy-day 50’s pop/early 90’s alterna-gaze hybrid version of Uncle Bob’s 1970 song “If Not For You”. The song’s warm but far-off female vocal and laid back production values will definitely remind of Mazzy Star. Listen.
Tashaki Miyaki – If Not For You (Bob Dylan)Tashaki Miyaki (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
