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Track Reviews

Jimmy Tait – Eyes

jimmy tait

Jimmy Tait (not one dude, but five Aussies out of Melbourne) remind a bit of PJ Harvey on the visceral minor-keyed stomper “Eyes”. Sampled from Jimmy Tait’s Golden LP, “Eyes” ticks all the right impactful you need to listen to this right now rock and roll boxes (to start: a terrific, gets you in the gut vocal; tuneful, memorable but still challenging melodies; and an instrumental suited up w/ all manner of interesting extra textures – tinny organ, great harmonic guitar leads, etc). Listen now.

Jimmy Taitaustralia (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
10-10-13

Naomi Pilgrim – No Gun

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The bimodal “No Gun” with its sunny pop chorus but broody gritty verses reflects in a way songstress Naomi Pilgrim’s geography (she’s Swedish via Barbados).

Naomi Pilgrim sweden (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

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reviewed by
10-10-13

Memory Cards – Designated

memorycards

We’re digging the new Chain of Memories EP, from L.A.-based electronic musician Memory Cards. Spin below, the lights down melancholic space-trap of “Designated”, our pick from the six song set.

Memory Cards california (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.2

reviewed by
10-09-13

Fé – She Came

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“West London women have no passion. Sadness to them is just another word.” In the manner of Morrissey’s many dimensional croon/provocation comes newcomers Fé’s excellent Strangeways lyrical wryness meets 2013 UK indie latest “She Came”. That historical context aside, “She Came” itself is very soulful. It’s narrative is compelling. It feels real. “She Came” is a rarity in 2013.

Fé england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.5

reviewed by
10-09-13

Supreme Cuts – Gone (Feat. Mahaut Mondino)

supremecuts

Supreme Cuts shod a beautiful R&B-inflected tableau of synth atmospheres, orchestration & piano for new track “Gone” featuring teenage French chanteuse Mahaut Mondino. Wrested melodically from somewhere deep deep inside the mid 90’s R&B/house, the genre jumping vocal stylings of Ms. Mondino create a cool dynamic against the more contemporary R&B of SC’s production. “Gone” is sampled here from Supreme Cuts’ upcoming Divine Ecstasy LP.

Supreme Cuts (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
10-09-13

GEMS – Medusa

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D.C.’s GEMS (& ATG/B3/TMD’s CMJ (enough acronyms?) Hit Parade act) let loose the dramatic & soulful boy-girl synth pop of their upcoming EP’s title track “Medusa”. Forty fathoms deep in reverb and Lean-esque in its cinematic quality, “Medusa” for its instrumental ornamentation is really quite visceral melodically (hit us straight in the gut) and we really really like that. Hit Parade.

GEMS (Official)

Rating 8.4

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reviewed by
10-08-13

Gold Panda – Brazil (Slow Magic Remix)

gold panda slow magic

No bio electronic producer (& a favorite of b3) Slow Magic lends his complex, varied, exotic production style to tourmate Gold Panda’s “Brazil”. Quiet at the start and slow to build, the mix’s big payoff in its fourth minute (when the oceansized mid 80’s synth introduce into the track) is quite special. Get with it below.

Slow Magic (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
10-08-13

Lorine Chia – Eve’s Perspective

Lorine-Chia

Lorine Chia out of our home hood of CLE impresses again with the minor-keyed slow burn of new track “Eve’s Perspective”. Lorine will be releasing her new “Naked Truths” EP next week.

Lorine Chia ohio (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-08-13

Termanology – Take My Turn (feat. Action Bronson & Jared Evan)

termanology

Termanology links up with the always affable Bronsolini and the definitely dope Jared Evan for the jazz-hop stylings of “Take My Turn”, excerpted here from the Mass. emcee’s out today Goya project. Ice cold.

Termanology massachusetts (Facebook)

Rating: 8.2

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reviewed by
10-08-13

Tennis – Mean Streets

tennis

Tennis, the Denver-based duo signed to Communion Records, catches a bit of that Holy Ghost w/ the 60’s soul-informed new track “Mean Streets”. Playing out from the record at a pace and quality that’s suggestive it could just be the very only track in the world (the song takes it time), “Mean Streets” leisurely meandering pocket ebbs about Tennis singer Alana Moore’s equally nonplussed but melodically right on vocal. Tennis’ “Small Sound” EP is due November 5.

Tour Dates

11/3 Brooklyn, NY @ School Night Brooklyn Bowl
11/5 New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall+
11/6 Washington, DC @ Black Cat+
11/7 Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts+
11/9 Montreal, QC @ II Motore*
11/10 Toronto, ON @ The Garrison^
11/12 Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird Nightclub+
11/13 Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar +
11/14 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge+
11/16 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall^
11/17 St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway^
11/19 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater+
11/20 Madison, WI @ The Frequency+
11/21 Maquoketa, IA @ Daytrotter+

+ Communion Presents w/ ON AN ON, Night Sweats, Savoir Adore & more
* Support from ON AN ON

Tennis colorado (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-07-13

R. Kelly – Cookie

R_-Kelly

The R wraps up best Oreo reference on a hook for 2013 w/ the illustratively titled new one “Cookie”. Cookie, Cookie, Cookie, Cookie, Robert Kelly’s got melodic lines for days, in fact he probably wrote this one standing on his head, left handed, while lying back in the hot tub (if anybody could pull this maneuver off it’s R. Kelly btw) while writing the next “Go Getta” “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Ignition” all at the same (damn) time. Witness.

R. Kelly (Twitter)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-07-13

COIN – Time Machine

COIN TIME-MACHINE ARTWORK

“Time Machine” is new from Nashville party rockers COIN. Long on super strong hooks, easy accessibility and that indie 1-2 that is irresistible to keep still to, “Time Machine” is the latest pop crusher from the Tennessee-based trio. Also, COIN are playing the fabulous CMJ HIT PARADE showcase showcase we’re throwing w/ All Things Go on October 16th. All of which can be yours for the low low price of a few clicks of the mouse, a bit of geographic availability (NYC) and a “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” attitude starting below.

COIN (Official)

Performing @ The CMJ Hit Parade @ Brooklyn Bowl (Official Event Info) (Purchase Tickets)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
10-07-13