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Track Reviews

Fickle Friends – For You

ficklefriends

Current UK scene hotbed Brighton has birthed another nascent great band in Fickle Friends. New one “For You” resides in a similar 80’s pop-inspired but soulful palette of sound as previous singles “Swim” and “Play” while keeping the quality level at a similarly lofty position. “For You” is out September 23rd on Crazy Heart Records in North America and on September 15th (today) on Killing Moon for the UK and the rest of world.

Fickle Friends england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
09-15-14

Rick Ross – Elvis Presley Blvd (Feat. Project Pat)

rickross3

Rick Ross can pick beats. The Bawse proclaimed today his new and appropriately titled Hood Billionaire project today and dropped, with the announcement, the dope af lead single “Elvis Presley Blvd”. Featuring Memphian/Elvis scholar Project Pat, “Elvis Presley Blvd” is that big beat, plodding, soulful Southern-styled hip hop that is currently in a very short supply inside right now’s DJ Mustard-lorded rap world.

Rick Ross (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
09-15-14

Olivver – Not Going Home

olivver2

The piano-driven forward-thinking pop of “Not Going Home” is the latest from Olivver. The former Neighbourhood drummer’s penchant for adeptly blending more artful and stylistically adventurous swerves within the context of A+ constructed pop songwriting, as evidenced on ballad-y “Not Going Home”, is particularly special and sets Olivver up for a potentially breakout 2015. Listen.

Olivver california (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
09-12-14

Vök – Við Vökum

vok2

“Við Vökum” is another impressive entry in the oeuvre of Icelandic R&B band Vök. A sound that approximates similarity to The xx (but with more muscle and a larger visceral quality), “Við Vökum” also succeeds on its diverse instrumentation and arrangement (the insertion of horns and use of counter-rhythms are particularly standout). Vök’s “Tension” EP is due this fall from The MuseBox Records.

Vök iceland (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
09-12-14

Mansionair – Hold Me Down (Maths Time Joy Remix)

mansionair

Mansionair’s “Hold Me Down” is one of indie music’s most streamed songs of 2014 and one of the year’s biggest success stories. Now signed to CHVRCHES’ Goodbye Records, Mansionair enlist B3 favorite Maths Time Joy to remix title track “Hold Me Down” to mark the trio’s October 13th EP release. For the remix, MTJ selects for a jazz ripped from the 25th Century-styled sound replete with tinkling piano chords and neatly arranged low-touch percussion. The remix is a must listen.

Maths Time Joy england (Soundcloud)
Mansionair (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
09-12-14

Zella Day – East of Eden (Samuel Truth Remix)

zelladay

Zella’s “East of Eden” gets a popping fresh new instrumental from New Zealand producer and master collaborator Samuel Truth. Zella Day’s s/t debut EP is out October 21 on our B3SCI Records.

Zella Day arizona (Facebook) (Pre-Order EP Vinyl Here)
Samuel Truth newzealand (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
09-12-14

Premiere: London Grammar – If You Wait (Riva Starr Remix)

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London Grammar are readying their new “If You Wait” single and to mark its forthcoming October 12th release debut today a delectably dark and modern house-leaning remix of the track by UK producer Riva Starr. Enjoy the B3 Premiere of Riva Starr’s remix of “If You Wait” and if you’re in the U.S. look for announcement of new stateside London Grammar tour dates in the very near future.

London Grammar england (Facebook)
Riva Starr england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
09-12-14

Little Dragon – Cat Rider (Poolside Remix)

Little Dragon

Poolside’s remix game is A+. For his latest mix, the L.A.-based duo takes on Little Dragon’s Nabuma Rubberband track “Cat Rider” supplying a soft subtle mix of hushed whirling percussion and far-off and exotic-sounding instrumentation.

Poolside california (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
09-11-14

Rubblebucket – Sound of Erasing (Chrome Sparks Remix)

rubblebucket

Young Chrome Sparks puts a dreamy synth-driven spin on Communion Records artist Rubblebucket’s “Sound of Erasing”. Rubblebucket are on tour now in support of their third full-length Survival Sounds and will be performing live at the following dates and locations.

Rubblebucket dates:

† Body Language supports
‡ Royal Canoe co-headlines
** Landlady supports

9/10 – Providence, RI @ Fete*
9/11 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall*
9/12 – Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theatre*
9/13 – Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt*
9/14 – Albany, NY @ The Hallow*
9/16 – Fairfield, CT @ Stage One†
9/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer†
9/19 – Washington, DC @ U Street†
9/20 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre†
9/21 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theatre†
9/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West†
9/25 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel†
9/26 – Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Festival†
9/27 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Bling Pig†
9/28 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon†
9/30 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street†
10/1 – Iowa City, IA @ Blue Moose Tap Room†
10/3 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird†
10/4 – Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room†
10/6 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux†
10/7 – Bozeman, MT @ The Zebra†
10/8 – Missoula, MT @ Palace Lounge†
10/10 – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey‡
10/11 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club%
10/12 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir‡
10/15 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent‡
10/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre‡
10/17 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah‡
10/18 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah‡
10/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room**
Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad**
10/23 – Austin, TX @ Red 7
10/24 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
10/25 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada**
10/27 – Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar**
10/28 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway**
10/29 – Nashville, TN @ High Watt
10/31 – Chicago, IL @ Metro**
11/1 Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theatre**
11/5 – New York, NY @ Stage 48‡
11/6 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground‡
11/7 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground‡
11/9 – Boston, MA @ Paradise‡

Chrome Sparks newyork (Facebook)

Rubblebucket newyork(Official) (Facebook)

reviewed by
09-10-14

Sage The Gemini – Gas Pedal (ESP’s Average White Guy Remix)

sagethegemini

ESP aka Canadian producer Eric Pearce remixes rap radio staple Sage The Gemini’s “Gas Pedal” to the tune of mid-to-late 70’s disco soul with super cool results. We absolutely adore it.

ESP canada (Soundcloud)

Rating: 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
09-10-14

Mexico City Blondes – Colors

mexicocityblondes

“Colors” is the follow-up to Mexico City Blondes’ break-out track “Fade”. Extracted from a varied DNA of 90’s indie (Mazzy Star, UNKLE are a few sounds we hear) to 60’s girl pop (think Dusty Springfield just found herself in a biker gang), the cinematic and vast “Colors” is another potential hit for the Santa Barbara CA band.

Mexico City Blondes california (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
09-09-14

WATERS – I Feel Everything

waters

“I Feel Everything” is the excellent new single from San Francisco rock band WATERS. Power riffs and immediate hooks without sounding goofy or cliched, “I Feel Everything” is an effective jolt of rock and roll music that your preferred music playing device is likely missing. PLUS WATERS are playing our San Diego Music Thing kick-off show on Thursday with Zella Day. You can find more info on the SD show here. WATERS’ “It Might Be All OK” EP for Vagrant Records is out October 14th.

WATERS california (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
09-09-14