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Rock

Rave’s Fave: The Strypes — What A Shame

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Ireland’s Strypes have been gigging around the UK nonstop, having played over 200 gigs. Their debut album finally drops in the UK this September, and it’s produced by the legendary Chris Thomas (Sex Pistols, Pretenders, Roxy Music, Pulp, so many more). Their new track “What A Shame” is consistent with the high-speed garage music we’ve heard from the band so far, but with just a bit more polish. It’s also one of their catchiest originals so far. Expect this new album to contain the a few cover songs, as the band continue to pay homage to many of their favorite songs and artists. The plan is for The Strypes to hit US shores early in 2014. Keep an eye out, because they’re one of the best new live bands. I hung out with the band in England back in May during TGE. Check out our chat here.

The Strypes — What A Shame

The Strypes ireland (Facebook)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
08-03-13

Interview with The 1975 in Los Angeles 7/24/13 [Audio]

1975photo_TroubadourLA

The 1975 made their Los Angeles debut known last Wednesday night at the world famous Troubadour in West Hollywood. The band were dialed-in that night and performed an inspiring, airtight, confident set; consisting of tracks from the ’75s four EPs (all released within the past year) as well as new material from their forthcoming Mike Crossey co-produced self-titled debut album (due in September via Vagrant/Interscope). Highlights from the night included “Head.Cars.Bending”, “The City”, “Sex” and set closer “You” as well as new album cuts like “Girls” which singer Matt Healy describes as (like much of the album) ‘made to sound like an 80s movie’.

Unbeknownst to the ’75 (or not), the guys are making moments. Whether winning over the likes of Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, or turning heads at Glastonbury, The 1975 are poised and ready to take over the world; and they are doing so on their terms first. Prior to the band’s sold-out Troubadour set, we talked with Mr. Healy; discussing everything from the band’s history and philosophy, to their current state of mind and, finally, what fans can expect from their new album. Listen to the interview below and have a look at The 1975’s new video for their forthcoming single “Sex”.

The 1975 england (Official)(Facebook) (Read more about The 1975 on B3SCI)

reviewed by
08-02-13

Those Darlins – Oh God

BTL Full Cover Pic

Nashville-based soul/American/indie (lol, whatever any of that actually means) band Those Darlins return with the immensely affecting and infinitely soulful “Oh God” from the band’s upcoming Blur The Line LP. We are loving it.

Those Darlins – Oh God

Those Darlins (Official)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
08-01-13

Blaenavon – Prague

Blaenavon

UK teenagers Blaenavon (all members of the band are 17) impress again with new track “Prague”. Previewed here from the Hampshire trio’s up coming “KOSO” EP, “Prague” is as potent as it is emotionally grinding. There’s a reality to “Prague” that for rock music of any geography (UK or otherwise) that is especially refreshing and in 2013 increasingly rare.

Blaenavon (Facebook)

Rating 9.1

brown93

reviewed by
08-01-13

RAVE’S FAVE: The Jim Jones Revue — Where da Money Go

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You know that you will always get 110% from The Jim Jones Revue, whether it’s live or in studio. Even the one-note piano intro on this song will stop you in your tracks, and that’s only the beginning. Check it out, but not right before bedtime because it will probably keep you up. “Where da Money Go” comes from their new album This Savage Heart. By Bruce Rave

The Jim Jones Revue — Where da Money Go

Jim Jones Revue (Facebook)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
07-30-13

The Red Lights – Chaperone

the red lights

Wow. Australian band The Red Lights new single “Chaperone” is very very good. Though (in a very good way) “Chaperone” almost feels 3 minutes 28 of non-stop choruses (the track’s actual chorus is one of our favorites of the year), “Chaperone” doesn’t lack for variation and dynamics; ably maneuvering between the quieter bits to the song’s more hectic chorus with ease. The Red Lights as they make their introductions to America are definitely a band to keep ears on.

The Red Lights australia (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
07-29-13

Review: Night Terrors of 1927, Jaymes Young @ The Echo in Los Angeles, CA. 07/25/2013

nightterrorsof1927

It was a night of firsts at The Echo. First time I had seen either of these budding LA acts on the eve’s bill (Night Terrors of 1927 or Jaymes Young). First time Jaymes Young has played a show live in LA. First time I have seen a celebrity at an indie show (thought this shit happened all the time in LA?). And after leaving The Echo that night, however, I can say that both Jaymes Young and Night Terrors of 1927 have a lot more firsts coming their way (label, tours, releases, successes, etc.).

Jaymes Young is a talent. B3SCI picked up on him early, covering the piano driven “Wondering” and the live performance was just as moving. You could see Jaymes seemed a bit hesitant, and it being his first official show was probably the reason why. However, there was a sense that Young could rely on his strong voice and overall raw talent. Playing from a small cataloge of tracks, Jaymes and the band played smoothly through “Hold You Down”, “Dark Star”, “Fragments” and ended on the brilliant (albeit an odd) cover of Haddaway’s ’93 single “What Is Love”.

Night Terrors of 1927 hit the stage immediately following Jaymes Young. There is a bit of background to this relatively unknown group: Blake Sennett, of the now defunct Rilo Kiley and former leader of the Elected, joined forces with former frontman of the Honorary Title, Jarrod Gorbel, to create this new indie synth pop band. They have only two released tracks, “Dust and Bones” and “Watch The World Go Dark” (both were played live and both sounded incredible). The rest of the set that night was unknown to me, but here are some factors that can be taken away. Night Terrors have a HUGE sound. A sound way to big for The Echo. The band played extremely and should be touring more heavily in the very near future (not known, just assumed). When the album, or EP, comes out, expect other blogs and outlets to immediately jump on the bandwagon. Other than that, Night Terrors of 1927 sound has pop hits written all over it.

I mentioned that a celebrity was at the show and he had to be pointed out to me. Blake Sennett, an indie star already, had a role on Boy Meets World and Salute Your Shorts, known as Blake Soper or Blake Swendson. Though I loved both programs and think Sennett is talented, he wasn’t the celebrity. Tobey Maguire was rocking front row, catching the new sound of both acts.

Reviewed By Brian Litwin

Night Terrors of 1927 california (Facebook)

James Young california (Facebook)

reviewed by
07-29-13

Indigo Joseph – Others

indigo joseph others

I have been waiting to hear this studio version of “Others” for what feels like ages. This is a special song for the band, that they have been playing it at shows for a few years now, but they were holding out for that perfect moment to get in the studio and release it to the masses. B3SCI has detected some early Kings of Leon sound in this one. At their live shows I never stop dancing, but Canadian blues-rockers Indigo Joseph have their grooviest single yet with “Others”. Just wait until you hear those keys. By Jon Herriot

Indigo Joseph – Others

Indigo Joseph canada (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

reviewed by
07-27-13

RAVE’S FAVE: The Vaccines – Everybody’s Gonna Let You Down

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The Vaccines’ first album was titled What Do You Expect From the Vaccines. Years later and two new tracks from their upcoming Melody Calling EP, things appear to be nothing at all what we’d expect. Those ace melodies are still calling, but the delivery is much softer. While the title track on Melody Calling is getting most of the attention so far, “Everybody’s Gonna Let You Down” to me is one of their best-written songs to date. Singer Justin Young has talked about how the band’s success hasn’t changed much in terms of his mental outlook on things. Here he sings, “I just burn all night, it’s a lonely life. A lonely ride.” By Bruce Rave

The Vaccines – Everybody’s Gonna Let You Down

The Vaccines (Official)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
07-27-13

Lords of BTOWN: Swim Deep

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Swim Deep is a new band on the cusp of an emergence into the mainstream spotlight – having flourished amongst a newly thriving British Midlands music scene. In the 70’s and 80’s Birmingham was a hive of undiscovered rock and metal, producing legends such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. During the 90’s it was engulfed in the Madchester Britpop movement with bands like The Charlatans and Ocean Colour Scene mimicking what was happening in the North. In truth, it was missing a true musical identity of its own. Fast forward to 2012. The almost overnight success of Peace, a Cure-inspired indie-pop outfit, saw a whole host of indie labels fighting to pluck the next big thing out of dingy nightclubs like The Rainbow, The Victoria and Sunflower Lounge.

Suddenly the city seemed filled with bands making ironically indie-beach-pop music set against a dingy industrial backdrop, christened BTOWN by the locals. The fact that the city is so vast and yet the amount of live music venues is relatively small, has meant that bands have needed to network in ways different from bands in other larger cities. It’s well documented that successful locals such as Peace, Troumaca, Corelli, Wide Eyed, JAWS and Swim Deep were all regular drinking buddies when they were growing up. In turn, this created a chain of bands bringing one-another into the mainstream; Swim Deep began supporting Peace, JAWS started supporting Swim Deep and Wide Eyed have recently begun supporting JAWS. Swim Deep are undisputedly the new next-big-thing to come out of BTOWN. Dressed like ninenties throwbacks and sporting long hair like California surfers you can’t dispute their talent – The dreamy rhythms, the introspection of their lyricism and altogether rawness of their sound. Debut track “King City” flew around the social-web with a video that was paid homage to the city that was backing them, showing the boys skating around run-down graffiti-clad parts of the city and drinking in local bars. Next came “She Changes The Weather”, a laid-back, sleepy love-song that could still be adapted when the band thrashed it out live, stage-dives and all.

Having signed to RCA last year, the four-piece have broken the city limits jetting around the world to spread their sun-kissed tunes supporting the likes of Spector on tour. Swim Deep will no doubt be heading along a path of international recognition with the release of their debut album Where The Heaven Are We making its appearance this September. But they will always be a product of an incredible wave of music that’s coming out of Birmingham. By Angela Newfield

Swim Deep england (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
07-27-13

Lucius – Hey, Doreen

lucius - hey doreen

Hey, Doreen what a lovely track you’ve got there. Proving again that Mom + Pop are unable to miss in the artists they select, latest signees Lucius absolutely knock it out with new single “Hey, Doreen”. The likely soundtrack to the premiere episode of Season 3 of Girls or at the very least The Mindy Project, “Hey, Doreen” is infinitely catchy, but perhaps the track’s greatest asset (or it’s maybe secret weapon) is it’s soulfulness; like you can imagine melodically “Hey, Doreen” (and we mean this in the absolutely best way possible) coming off the assembly line at Motown and out through the vocal cords of someone like Martha Reeves or Mary Wells; it’s that good. Lucius’ Wildewoman LP is out October 15th on Mom + Pop.

Lucius (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
07-24-13