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Rock

Sunflower Bean – The Stalker

sunflowerbean

B3 recently appreciated “I Hear Voices” the fast-paced hazy-vocaled deeply guitar-driven genre-bending indie single from young Brooklyn-based psychedelic trio Sunflower Bean which just released as a lead-in to the group’s new July 24-release EP out via Fat Possum. The EP’s dynamic second single “The Stalker” wows our sentiments completely with its divinely-interspersed blend of a dark-sided feedback-chaotic vibe meshed beautifully with an ominous and galactic Black Sabbath-esque guitar groove and melody laced with drama-excellent new wave revival boy-girl vocals. “The Stalker” is the 7-inch b-side to “I Hear Voices”. Incredible track. Reviewed By Erin Shay.

Sunflower Bean (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-10-15

Kins – Cyclical

kins

B3 recently showcased UK band Kins for their fast-paced progressively-inclined guitar-rock EP first-single “Young” from the foursome’s “Cyclical” EP (out now via East City Records). Much like “Young”, the EP’s title track “Cyclical” stands out as a creative ace; we especially like its robust and dramatic synth accents, brightly emotive instrumentals and the track’s fresh vastly-wavering highly-vulnerable vocal style which (more so on “Cyclical”) has a modern-twist vocal charisma feel that draws comparison to Thom Yorke from Radiohead school of singing. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Kins (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-09-15

Coasts – Oceans

coasts

In 2013 we expected great things from Bristol band Coasts, who we covered for their sublimely bright new track “Oceans” which features an anthemic break-out crazy-good chorus, inspired commercial-appeal lyrical sensibilities and a luminous, dynamic pop infused style. At the time of our post the song was merely out on YouTube; it later hit Soundcloud in 2014 and the track lit up the blogosphere in a blaze of sincere glorification (including our own). Unfortunately, the track was later yanked by record companies and/or the band thus rendering many of the blog’s posts 2-dimensional. We deliver good fun news for all! The outstandingly timeless and sunny track is out yet again via the group’s Soundcloud page and just in time for the sweet heated heart of summer. Good luck Coasts, although you have released “Oceans” time and time again, we’re totally still into its upbeat summer-ready style and phenomenal break out potential. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Coasts england (Facebook)

reviewed by
07-09-15

Rave’s Fave: Ezra Furman – Lousy Connection

ezrafurman

Ezra Furman is one of those respected, uber talented artists who’s always floated just under the radar. Perhaps his new album Perpetual Motion People will be the vehicle to expand his reach. “Lousy Connection” touches on 50’s doo-wop and chord progressions. The hooky melody does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It will hook you. Ezra touches on the 50’s through the 90’s with his music. Hopefully this is the time we’ll all catch up to him. Most of his scheduled tour dates are in Europe as of now, with only a few US shows scheduled for August. Reviewed by Bruce Rave

Hear Bruce’s “Go Deep With Bruce Rave” weekly new music show on Indie1031/Los Angeles, KX 93.5-FM/Laguna Beach, and WSUM-FM/Madison. Details and archived shows can be found on his blog and be sure to follow Bruce on Twitter too!

Ezra Furman illinois (Facebook)

reviewed by
07-06-15

Let’s Away – Golden Morning

letsaway

From the lead singer’s beautifully-plaintive softly-sung vocals to the downplayed atmospheric guitar riffs and sublimely-dynamic background vocal coos, we like the sound of new UK indie rock newcomer duo Let’s Away; who’s track “Golden Morning” was just released as a part of the pair’s recently recorded demo sessions that were created with producer-wiz James Mottershead of British Sea Power, Sundara Karma and SCUM fame. Let’s Away, a musically-gifted twosome who grew up together in Sunderland and later moved to separate UK locales (yet stayed in touch artistically by exchanging music through hundreds of iPhone recordings) finally hit the studio a few months ago with Mottershead to record their first official demos, including the very lovely and subtle “Golden Morning”. New discovery Let’s Away have a very appealing understated and witty dream-versus-gloom vibe that with this one track reminds us a bit of quintessential 90’s alt-rock trio Semisonic, especially in the tone and pace of the vocals. We dig it. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Let’s Away england (Facebook)
Let’s Away

reviewed by
07-02-15

Fractures – Reactor

fractures

We love the slightly-intense mismatched interludes of beats and guitar as well as the beautifully spun wandering-debate I-am-human emotional lyricism and heart-felt falsetto vocals of Melbourne multi-instrumentalist musician-singer and producer Fractures on his fresh new track “Reactor” which is the first song the solo artist has released since his atmospheric self-titled EP that includes B3 highlighted winner track “Cadence”. We look forward to hearring more tracks off Fractures’ debut early-2016-release full album. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Fractures australia (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-24-15

Fronteers – Youth

fronteers

Sing along with the sincere lyrics and bubbly slow-cadence vocal hook of “Youth” the decidedly catchy career debut single from four-peice band Fronteers who have indeed captured a bold-type quintessential British-rock sound that has us interested in hearing more tracks to come. Look for the new indie-stunner “Youth” on August 7th via Human Music. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Fronteers (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-23-15

COMPNY – Gently Let You Down

compny

South London band COMPNY reveal latest track “Gently Let You Down”. Produced by UK indie hitmaker and all-time great name Barny Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club, Peace),
“Gently Let You Down” fixes a sharp summery atmosphere about kinetic polyrhythms and a subtle but infinitely catchy vocal hook “sometimes we’re out of love (or luck)…”.

COMPNY england (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-23-15

Jaill – Getaway

jaill

Milwaukee psych-rock guitar-pop stylish-weirdos Jaill, who have been on the quiet for several years now since a slew of releases on Sub Pop, swagger in and premiere their brief and classically-harried jangly-guitar-driven pop-catchy dry-wit charmer “Getaway” which is off the indie veteran trio’s upcoming fourth studio album, Brain Cream that is out via Burger Records on June 30th. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Cop a peep at the Brain Cream Tracklist below and try to catch the band live on their short and sweet Northeastern US tour.
Brain Cream Tracklist

01. Just A Lovely Day
02. Getaway
03. Got An F
04. Slides and Slips
05. Symptoms
06. Change Reaction
07. Picking My Bones
08. Little Messages
09. Draggin’
10. Pointy Fingers
11. Chocolate Poison Time
12. Look At You
13. Sweet Tooth Lovers *
* = bonus track
Jaill 2015 Tour Dates

07/09 – Indianapolis, IN @ Joyful Noise
07/11 – Columbus, OH @ 4th and 4th Fest
07/12 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
07/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
07/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium
07/16 – Cambridge, MA @ Lilypad

Jaill (Facebook)

reviewed by
06-22-15

Seapony – Let Go

seapony

We’re totally into the fresh synthy surf pop effervescence and hazy shoegaze vibrations of Seattle-based hybrid band Seapony who we recently pointed out again on the blog (after multiple past features) for their very good third album debut track “Saw the Light” off the Northwestern quartet’s new rapidly approaching album that is out on July 31st. The group’s newest track “Let Go” is a perfectly blissed-out guitar pop jam that is the second single to release off their upcoming album, A Vision; which apparently encompasses Seapony’s newfangled penchant for live drumming. Curiously the drums on the album were recorded at legendary producer Jack Endino’s Soundhouse Studio. Its interesting to note that Seapony began with a drum machine and the creative vision of the two original band members, Vocalist Jen Weidl and guitarist Danny Rowland, who worked together before moving to Seattle in 2010 and teaming up with bassist Ian Brewer. The upbeat-vibe Seapony who are back from a two year hiatus with the recent addition of a drummer (fourth band member Aaron Voros) and an increasingly greater degree of live gigs under their belt as a complete group, is quickly adapting into their totally-fresh new more-acoustic-leaning instrumental style that is celebrated on the album. On new track “Let Go” Seapony excels at beautifully intermingling the aforementioned natural percussive elements with a classic surf-pop-infused vocal melody and subtly-explosive matted down indie guitar riffs. We dig it. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Seapony (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-19-15