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Rave's Faves

RAVE’S FAVE! The Presets – Ghosts

Australia’s Presets will soon embark on a US tour. This is an awesome live band that always creates a party. “Ghosts” is lower key than some of their dancier songs, and but it’s got a great melody that sticks in my head. The song has sort of an English pub feel to it. Check it out and if you’re in the US, hope it’s a great holiday weekend for you.

The Presets – Ghosts

The Presets australia (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
09-04-12

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

RAVE’S FAVE: The Vaccines – Bad Mood

Come Of Age is a perfect title for The Vaccines forthcoming album. The band promised us a true evolution on the follow-up to their debut album that we truly loved. Long time B3SCI readers might remember that we were among the band’s original US supporters. When Mike from B3SCI and I caught them at The Satellite in LA during their first tour in America, prior to their UK album release, he turned to me and said they were really good, but wondered if they could nail the follow-up. They did by a longshot! ‘Coming of age’ can mean becoming boring, but not here. The Vaccines still sound like The Vaccines, but there is more variety this time. I’ve already posted their awesome “Teenage Icon” single, and there are many good choices on the album worthy of “fave” status. I’m going with “Bad Mood”, which is one of the harder tracks. It smokes, and features some of the hottest guitar we’ve heard from Freddie Cowan. B3SSCI will again be joining me when they play at the sold-out Troubadour here in LA next month. The band used to play short sets because they didn’t have enough songs. Now they can play originals for an hour and have all winners. By Bruce Rave

The Vaccines – Bad Mood

The Vaccines (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

RAVE’S FAVE! The Adventures Of… – Pretty Crazy Girls

This UK band is described as “glammed-up indie”, and are probably the last thing you can imagine being singed to Tori Amos’ new label as her first artists. They are great fun, and don’t we all relate to the line “Why do all those pretty girls I know have to be a little bit mental”? Feel free to substitute the word “boys” if you’d like. I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been there at least some of the time. By Bruce Rave

The Adventures Of… – Pretty Crazy Girls

The Adventures Of… (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
08-18-12

RAVE’S FAVE! Bloc Party – Team A

Bloc Party return with Four, which drops the week after next. It’s a long-awaited return, preceded by a few US shows including their storm-delayed Lollapalooza set last weekend. These Brits are used to playing for mud-caked fans in the UK, so this was nothing new for them. “Team A” throws us some of those unique rhythms we loved on their Silent Alarm debut. Bloc Party are already saying there may not be a fifth album, so let’s enjoy them while we can. By Bruce Rave

Bloc Party – Team A

Bloc Party (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
08-09-12

RAVES FAVE: Iggy Pop & Bethany Cosentino – Let’s Boot and Rally

Check out this cool collab between Iggy and Best Coast’s Bethany. The song was recorded for True Blood and it aired under the closing credits of a recent episode a few weeks back. It’s grit from the garage just as you’d expect, and the title words perfectly. By Bruce Rave

True Blood (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
07-31-12

RAVE’S FAVE: The Vaccines – Teenage Icon

They promised us a different album this time around. The title of their new album will be Come of Age and you can hear it. The fast drum intro hits you right away, and then comes that signature 50’s riff. Justin sings “I’m no teenage icon, I’m no Frankie Avalon.” The first song we heard from Come of Age was the surprisingly Dylan-esque “No Hope”, and now this killer. I’ve got heaps of hope for what the rest of the album will sound like. By Bruce Rave

The Vaccines – Teenage Icon

The Vaccines (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.

Rating 9.3

reviewed by
07-20-12

RAVE’S FAVE: Passion Pit – It’s Not My Fault, I’m Happy

2012 has been a great year so far for developing acts because many of indie’s major artists have been quiet. That is about to chance, with an onslaught of higher-profile people dropping albums over the next two months. Passion Pit’s “Gossamer” comes next Tuesday. This album is brighter and lighter than it’s predecessor. Their “Take A Walk” single has become a hit, and this is my next fave track. The title along makes you want to give it a listen. It has a bit of the “Take A Walk” vibe with a driving beat and great melody, but it’s stands quite nicely on its own.

Passion Pit (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

*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
07-19-12

RAVE’S FAVE: Two Door Cinema Club – Sleep Alone

Two Door Cinema Club are one of the most promising new bands with a killer live show, and this brand new single begins their sophomore effort. There are no surprises here but it’s a good one. It’s fresh-sounding song with hooks that should soon have it all over the summer airwaves. By Bruce Rave

Two Door Cinema Club (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

*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
07-19-12

RAVE’S FAVE: The Walkmen – We Can’t Be Beat

Of all the newest albums, it seems The Walkmen’s Heaven is getting the most raves in chats I’m having with friends. True, these New York dudes are in fine form this time around. A few weeks ago, I posted “Heartbreaker”, which I feel would be a strong single. “We Can’t Be Beat” leads off the album. It’s acoustic, with a soothing, inspiring melody and beautiful harmonies. Perfect for late summer nights, or early weekend mornings…or anytime for that matter. – By Bruce Rave

The Walkmen – We Can’t Be Beat

The Walkmen (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
07-06-12

RAVES FAVE: Blake Miller -Four Leaf Clovr

You may know Blake as the singer in Moving Units. He just dropped a solo EP called Baby Food. One listen to the synth in this intro, and I was hooked. Summer is all about the party, and “Four Leaf Clovr” provides an ideal soundtrack. By Bruce Rave

Blake Miller -Four Leaf Clovr

Blake Miller california (Official)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 8-10 pm Pacific, 11-1 am Eastern, 4-6 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
06-29-12

RAVE’S FAVE! Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Dear Believer

This current Edward Sharpe album is mellower that its predecessor, and they really nail the quiet beauty on “Dear Believer”. It would be my choice for their next single. By the way, check out their Letterman and Kimmel appearances if you’re a fan. Some of the best late-night gigging in recent memory, with leader Alex Evert dancing in the crowds during “Man On Fire”. By Bruce Rave

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Dear Believer

Ed Sharpe california (Official)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 8-10 pm Pacific, 11-1 am Eastern, 4-6 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

Rating 8.8

brown93

reviewed by
06-23-12