“Rad Scared” is previewed from Bats Pajamas forthcoming sophomore full-length expected later this year. Their Steve Albini recorded self-titled debut caused a stir and the Toronto based collective continue to bring the noise with this effort.
The Bats Pajamas – Red ScaredThe Bats Pajamas 
(Bandcamp)
Rating 8.3
By Chris Gedos
Slothbear bassist and multi-instrumentalist Doug Bleek drops a mutha’ of a track with “Island in the Sky”. A hypnotic intro and chord progression, reminiscent of one of those great B-sides from Mavers and The La’s (“Over”and “Endless”, in particular), leads into a sweet vocal more nuanced than “Sleepy Daze”, Bleek’s track from Slothbear’s Canter On EP, which was spun into the ground here @ HQ. Comparisons to Sloan come to mind as well. Bleek’s well versed in the pantheon; that much is certain. Listening to “Island in the Sky”, one is struck with that feeling of a shared history, of having heard the same music, read the same books and lived the same experiences, an increasingly rare thing given 2k12’s hyper-fragmented culture.
Doug Bleek – Island in the SkyDoug Bleek 
(Bandcamp)
Rating 8.6
By Trevor Meyer
Freedom Fry is a French-American duo hailing from Paris and New York. Their debut EP, Let The Games Begin features “Tallest Dreams” along with four other tracks. This duo has a great feel for rhythmic dynamics. Not only does Freedom Fry have a knack for percussive adeptness, but they also use instrumentation such as the harpsichord, autoharp, and ukulele. Freedom Fry has a distinct musical chemistry that shimmers through “Tallest Dreams.” Make sure to give these guys a listen and pick up their debut EP, Let The Games Begin.
Tallest Dreams – Freedom FryTallest Dreams (Facebook) (Bandcamp)
Rating 8
By Trevor Meyer
Vancouver natives, Panther & The Supafly just dropped their debut EP, Nkazi. “Diamond in the Africa Rough” is a sick fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and pop. This track is driven, inspirational, and poised for greatness. Give these guys a spin.
Panther & The Supafly – Diamond In The Africa Rough Panther & The Supafly – ChroniclesPanther & The Supafly (Download at Bandcamp) (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
By Chris Gedos
“This is Separation” succeeds on the same formula as Tree’s previous offering, “People” lo-fi ethos, big yet intimate refrains, and very deliberate arrangements with unexpected shifts not unlike symphonic movement transitions. Whether Tree & Shelf Nunny record alone or in collaboration, I’ll be very excited to see if the youthful San Fran artists plop any LPs in 2k12.
Tree & Shelf Nunny – This is SeparationTree 
(Facebook) (Free Download)
Rating 8.2
By Trevor Meyer
Once again, Team Me offers up an appetizing track. Accompanied by a stunning, and eye-catching video, “Show Me” displays the diverse pop writing ability of the Scandinavian six piece. “Show Me” is from their album To The Treetops! The album is set to be released, March 5th. Keep doing work in Oslo!
Team Me – Show MeRating 8.1
Whoa… what have we here? Beyond a beautiful and promiscuously toned video, oozes the gospel tinted blues and shoegaze of Oslo, Norway exports Phone Joan. Soak yourself in the vulnerable timbre of their dynamic new single “Damned” and be sure to pick up a copy of Phone Joan’s sophomore LP +47 91799466 due March 14th.
Phone Joan – DamnedPhone Joan 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
Contributed by Trevor Meyer
Still swimming in nostalgia from the return trip to California, I took a few listens to Old Soul’s self-titled 2011 release. The album features a nice collection of folk tunes and blends elements of soul and pastoral ambience. My favorite tracks are the waltzy, “People Are Talking” and the dynamic “Red & Gold,” a track that draws parallels to older Coldplay and A.A. Bondy. Also, “Caught A Train” is a well-knit piece woven together by a fusion of soul, acoustic, and alternative rock. This album has a lot to offer its listeners. I highly recommend checking these guys out.
Old Soul – Caught A TrainOld Soul 
(Bandcamp)
Rating 8
The Maccabees space things on the cosmic sounding “Feel to Follow”. Beginning with a feel-good melody and rhythm figure, the track builds into an excellent cinematic-sounding closing instrumental. Give the sharp “Feel to Follow” your attention below.
The Maccabees – Feel to FollowThe Maccabees 
(Official) (Myspace)
Rating 8.3
Contributed by Chris Gedos
“Last Memories” by Welsh band The Revolutionary Spirit is a demo of big ideas. They’re a new band that’s also a mature band, both in demeanor and the development of their sound. I would expect nothing less from a band called The Revolutionary Spirit. Move the drums to the middle and you’ve got yourself gold.
The Revolutionary Spirit – Last MemoriesThe Revolutionary Spirit 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Although we’ve come to the end of the road, still Adele we can’t let you go. We’ve reached 2011’s closing hour and now it is time: b3sci presents it’s Top 50 Albums of 2011. No one’s even come close to having the year Adele’s had. The most albums sold in a single year since 2004, two of the biggest singles of the year, etc, a truly international breakthrough both commercially and critically on a level we haven’t seen in a long time. Adele, our girl, the crown is yours. 21 is b3sci’s Album of the year.
So where the fuck is Adele on many of these respected-indie-press-dude best of lists? That period between Nov 2010 when “Rolling in the Deep” first broke and the lead up to the album’s release in late January, Adele ruled the blogosphere, the fold was united. Then “RITD” got overplayed to the point of absurdity, your mom bought the record, probably your grandma bought it too; those bros that listen to Foo Fighters and Deadmau5 started bumping “Someone Like You” out their trunk. Soon, the “wrong people” liked 21 and Adele’s brief moment atop the indiesphere was over. Right.
Thanks for reading this year, y’all. We’ve got some big plans for 2012. Stay tuned. Much love.
01. Adele – 21 (Buy It) (Read)
02. The Weeknd – House of Balloons (Buy It) (Read)
03. Drake – Take Care (Buy It) (Read)
04. James Blake – James Blake (Buy It) (Read)
05. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (Buy It) (Read)
06. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – We’re New Here (Buy It) (Read)
07. WU LYF – Go Tell Fire on the Mountain (Buy It) (Read)
08. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne (Buy It) (Read)
09. The Horrors – Skying (Buy It) (Read)
10. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (Buy It) (Read)
11. Wye Oak – Civilian (Buy It) (Read)
12. Girls – Father Son, Holy Ghost (Buy It) (Read)
13. Real Estate – Days (Buy It) (Read)
14. A$AP Rocky – Live Love A$AP (Buy It) (Read)
15. Sepalcure – Sepalcure (Buy It) (Read)
16. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake (Buy It) (Read)
17. The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient (Buy It) (Read)
18. Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming (Buy It) (Read)
19. Metronomy – The English Riviera (Buy It) (Read)
20. SBTRKT – SBTRKT (Buy It) (Read)
21. Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica (Buy It) (Read)
22. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From the Vaccines (Buy It) (Read)
23. Destroyer – Kaputt (Buy It) (Read)
24. The Antlers – Burst Apart (Buy It) (Read)
25. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l (Buy It) (Read)
26. Beyonce – 4 (Buy It) (Read)
27. Wild Flag – Wild Flag (Buy It) (Read)
28. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Buy It) (Read)
29. Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4eva (Buy It) (Read)
30. Clams Casino – Instrumentals (Buy It) (Read)
31. Gillian Welch – The Harrow and the Harvest (Buy It) (Read)
32. Low Roar – Low Roar (Buy It) (Read)
33. AraabMUZIK – Electronic Dream (Buy It) (Read)
34. Active Child – You Are All I See (Buy It) (Read)
35. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues (Buy It) (Read)
36. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’ (Buy It) (Read)
37. Cults – Cults (Buy It) (Read)
38. Radiohead – The King of Limbs (Buy It) (Read)
39. Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials (Buy It) (Read)
40. Alex Clare – The Lateness of the Hour (Buy It) (Read)
41. Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise (Buy It) (Read)
42. Jhene Aiko – Sailing Soul(s) (Buy It) (Read)
43. The Stepkids – The Stepkids (Buy It) (Read)
44. Freddie Gibbs – Cold Day in Hell (Buy It) (Read)
45. Gardens & Villa – Gardens & Villa (Buy It) (Read)
46. Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know (Buy It) (Read)
47. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo (Buy It) (Read)
48. Foster the People – Torches (Buy It) (Read)
49. Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (Buy It) (Read)
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!
01. James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream (Buy It) (Read)
02. The Weeknd – The Morning (Buy It) (Read)
03. Lana Del Rey – Video Games (Buy It) (Read)
04. Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (Feat. Kimbra) (Buy It) (Read)
05. Britney Spears – ‘Till the World Ends (Buy It) (Read)
06. Maverick Sabre – I Need (Buy It) (Read)
07. Drake – Marvin’s Room (Buy It) (Read)
08. Beyonce – Party (Feat. Kanye West & Andre 3000) (Buy It) (Read)
09. Jamie Woon – Lady Luck (Buy It) (Read)
10. Michael Kiwanuka – I Need You By My Side (Buy It) (Read)
11. Kendrick Lamar – ADHD (Buy It) (Read)
12. The Alabama Shakes (formerly The Shakes) – I Found You (Buy It) (Read)
13. Nneka – My Home (Buy It) (Read)
14. Rihanna – We Found Love (Feat. Calvin Harris) (Buy It) (Read)
15. DJ Khaled – I’m On One (Feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil’ Wayne) (Buy It) (Read)
16. Adele – Rumour Has It (Buy It) (Read)
17. Labrinth – Earthquake (Feat. Tinie Tempah) (Buy It) (Read)
18. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Otis (Buy It) (Read)
19. Flo Rida – Good Feeling (Buy It) (Read)
20. Bon Iver – Towers (Buy It) (Read)
21. Azealia Banks – 212 (Buy It) (Read)
22. Big Black Delta – Huggin’ & Kissin’ (Buy It) (Read)
23. Florence + The Machine – What the Water Gave Me (Buy It) (Read)
24. Flight Facilities – Foreign Language (Feat. Jess) (Buy It) (Read)
25. Cults – Abducted (Buy It) (Read)
26. Raphael Saadiq – Good Man (Buy It) (Read)
27. Spector – Never Fade Away (Buy It) (Read)
28. Marina & the Diamonds – Radioactive (Buy It) (Read)
29. Afrojack – Lionheart (Buy It) (Read)
30. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – If I Had a Gun… (Buy It) (Read)
31. Active Child – Playing House (Feat. How to Dress Well) (Buy It) (Read)
32. M83 – Midnight City (Buy It) (Read)
33. Radiohead – Lotus Flower (Buy It) (Read)
34. Madlib & Freddie Gibbs – Thuggin’ (Buy It) (Read)
35. The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love (Buy It) (Read)
36. NO CEREMONY/// – Hurtlove (Buy It) (Read)
37. Ifan Dafydd – No Good (Buy It) (Read)
38. Bombay Bicycle Club – Shuffle (Buy It) (Read)
39. TOKiMONSTA – Little Pleasures (Feat. Gavin Turek) (Buy It) (Read)
40. Colleen Green – Cujo (Buy It) (Read)
41. Foxes – Youth (Buy It) (Read)
42. Jacques Greene – Another Girl (Buy It) (Read)
43. Grouplove – Gold Coast (Buy It) (Read)
44. Family of the Year – St. Croix (Buy It) (Read)
45. Lucy Rose – Middle of the Bed (Buy It) (Read)
46. LIPS – Everything to Me (Buy It) (Read)
47. Trophy Wife – Wolf (Buy It) (Read)
48. Dev – In the Dark (Buy It) (Read)
