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Rave’s Fave: Jake Bugg – Lightning Bolt

Jake Bugg entered the UK charts at #1 last fall, which means his debut album came in ahead of Muse and Mumford & Sons. Jake recently spent a week in the US having played in New York, LA and San Francisco, including a performance on Conan along the way. This Wednesday night B3SCI and I were on hand for his sold-out and spectacular set at the Troubadour in LA. Word is that he’ll be back for more dates this spring, including Coachella. UK hype aside, this dude is absolutely for real, and even the skeptics attending in LA seemed convinced. Most new bands play sets that sound somewhat redundant. Not Jake Bugg. Whether the songs were fast or slow, hard or soft, this 19 year old from Nottingham nailed them. He has been called the British Bob Dylan. To me, he’s slightly reminiscent of Dylan on record but sounds lots more like him live. “Lightning Bolt” is the track currently lighting up the UK and it was the set-closer here in LA this Wednesday. Check it out below.

Jake Bugg – Lightning Bolt

Jake Bugg england (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
01-17-13

Jake Bellows – Help

Jake Bellows, frontman for Omaha band Neva Dinova, readies solo side project with release of lead track “Help”. The deserted prairies of the Midwest stylings of “Help” is just one of several generes tackled by Bellows on the upcoming (cassette only) full-length. Recorded with the backing of the Saddle Creek version of Led Zeppelin (incl. members of Rilo Kiley, The Faint, The Good Life and Bright Eyes’ band), the limited cassette LP contains a trove of new to tape Bellows back material.

Jake Bellows – Help

Jake Bellows (Official)

Rating: 8.3

reviewed by
01-16-13

Kandle – Knew You’d Never

The smokey slow burner “Knew You’d Never” is new from 21-year old Montreal songwriter Kandle Osborne. “Knew You’d Never”‘s hypnotic feel and repeated minor keyed guitar figures helps shroud the excellently written and constucted song in a powerfully withdrawn and remote atmosphere.

Kandle – Knew You’d Never

Kandle (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

reviewed by
01-16-13

Josephine – Portrait

Mancunian soulstress Josephine releases the title track and third single from her 2012 LP Portrait. Ms. Oniyama’s arrow is clearly pointing up as she’s recently completely tours with The Noisettes and Michael Kiwanuka and is fresh off an appearance on “Later” with Jools Holland. “Portrait” is part soul, part folk, part pop, sort of in the same lane as her tour-mate Kiwanuka, the track excels, however on its’ deeply affecting well constructed melodies. Give Josephine your attention below.

Josephine – Portrait

Josephine england (Facebook)

Rating 7.9

reviewed by
01-15-13

Keaton Henson – Lying To You

“Lying To You” is the lead single from Keaton Henson’s forthcoming and second album, Birthdays, which sees release on February 25. The track is a simple ode of complex vulnerability and like most of Henson’s work, a moment stopper.

Keaton Henson england (Official)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
01-09-13

Widowspeak – Thick As Thieves

Widowspeak’s latest “Thick As Thieves” hushes and whispers the majority of its 2:45 duration but despite that subdued tone weaves a potent magnetic web that transfixes in 3/4 time.

Widowspeak – Thick As Thieves

Widowspeak (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by
01-09-13

Denitia Odigie – Weekend

Denitia Odigie continues to impress the b3 team with new track “Weekend”. Driven by jazz-inflected guitars, quiet storm rhythms, and a overall breadth to the track that sounds almost analogued to latter-day Radiohead (the picked arpeggios, the deep in the mix glacial vocal harmonies) “Weekend” is an absolute do not miss track.

Denitia Odigie – Weekend

Denitia Odigie (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
01-08-13

Aly Tadros – Sweet On Me

Folk-pop singer songwriter Aly Tadros must have gained some serious frequent flier miles the past few years, traveling between Mexico, Turkey, Egypt and Europe. With all those experiences, Aly had a plethora of inspiration to write her upcoming sophomore album The Fits due out on Jan. 15th. The first single “Sweet On Me”, available for download now, showcases Tadros bearing her soul over a well arranged rhythm section. One can’t help but notice her voice flourishing over the lightly plucked arpeggio chords. The Brooklyn based artist will soon be on a small West Coast tour in support of the new album.

Aly Tadros (Facebook)(Bandcamp)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
01-04-13

Angel Olsen – Sweet Dreams [Video]

Yeah this is rock and roll. “Sweet Dreams” sounds mean and dark and menacing and cool. Angel Olsen’s deep-in-the-pa wail sounds anachronistic and nostalgic as if it was ripped straight out of some dusted-out frequency and amplitude of post-psychedelia. In 2013, we need more music like this.

Angel Olsen – Sweet Dreams (Official Video) from Randy Sterling Hunter on Vimeo.

Angel Olsen (Purchase)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by
01-03-13

Big Brave – Halo

A single kinetic guitar frames up Big Brave frontwoman Robin Faye’s gritty vocal on the excellently spare new track from the French Canadian band. Check out the band’s equally good EP “Understanding Between People” on their bandcamp, here.

Big Brave – Halo

Big Brave (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
01-03-13

K H U S H I – Magpie

“Magpie” by London band Khushi can only really start to be described as indie pop of the supremest vintage and composed of that perfect nexus of great melodic writing, beautiful instrumentals, and phenomenal harmonies that assure Khushi are band we will be hearing much more of (we hope!) in 2013. (ATG)

Khushi (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
12-19-12

Walk off the Earth – Reckoning Song (One Day) (Asaf Avidan Cover)

Canadian band Walk Off the Earth turn out a vibrant indie cover of Asaf Avidan’s “Reckoning Song” complete with a soaring vocal harmony and jivey folk vibe. The five member group (best known for their snappy well-played covers, use of eclectic instruments and clever low-budget videos) went viral this year with a brilliantly understated video for their cover of Gotye’s “Somebody I Used To Know”. The video which features the entire band playing one guitar is one of this years most notable vids. WOTE rounds out a reasonably good 2012 with the release of their R.E.V.O. EP and the recent premiere of their latest video for the EP’s uplifting original track “Gang of Rhythm”. Good stuff. We look forward to hearing more from this multi-talented and refreshingly playful group of rising stars. By Erin Feathers

Walk off the Earth – Reckoning Song (One Day) (Asaf Avidan Cover)

WOTE (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
12-19-12