Image

Track Reviews

Rave’s Fave: Irontom – What Will Happen To All the Indie Stars

irontom

Reviewed By Bruce Rave

This young band LA played It’s A School Night at Bardot in Hollywood last Monday and offered up a strong representation of their new Nitro EP. Irontom have a familiar hard rock edge yet blend an artistic integrity rarely heard among newer artists of this genre. Alain Johannes (Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures) is their producer. In this song, fine-voiced singer Harry Hayes ponders, “all things even the great oh they eventually go away, what will happen to all the Indie Stars”? As the question beckons… it’s up to the listener to determine. Or as Harry sings, “it is not something you’ll only hear once”. This up and coming band is one that I will be keeping an eye and ear on.

Irontom (Facebook)

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

reviewed by
09-19-13

PAWS – Needle in the Hay (Elliot Smith Cover)

PAWS

Is covering an Elliot Smith song sacrilege? The debates can rain but one thing for sure is that it takes balls for any artist to even consider. Scotland’s Phillip Taylor of PAWS’ recent cover of “Needle In The Hay” falls well within that vein of the most-tasteful. Most importantly showcasing PAWS’ (always important for any true artist) appreciation for quality songsmanship.

PAWS scotland (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
09-19-13

Arthur Beatrice – Grand Union

arthur beatrice

“Grand Union” is primed to ‘double-take’, complete with a bridge worthy of The Bends era Radiohead and a melodic rock mix that’s as at home in 2013 as it would be in 2001. “Grand Union” is the new single from UK four piece Arthur Beatrice’s debut album expected 11/4 via OAR/Polydor Records. Get familiar.

Arthur Beatrice england (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
09-19-13

Johnny Stimson – Daddy’s Money (Follow Me Remix)

Johnny Stimson - Daddy's Money (Follow Me Remix)

Follow Me services “Daddy’s Money” by Johnny Stimson the sort of dance all summer 80’s pop-inspired remix treatment that rich girls (and of course everyone else) won’t be able to resist. Hit the dance floors, hit the shopping malls, hit the play button… “Daddy’s Money” it’s on now!

Johnny Stimson (Facebook)
Follow Me (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
09-18-13

Marian Hill – Lovit

marian hill - love it

Their debut single “Whisky” made the blogosphere tipsy with it’s brilliantly simple shot of R&B laced pop. Now Philly duo Marian Hill return with “Lovit” from their debut EP that’s expected later this fall. As sultry as their debut, “Lovit” offers much to love by way of muted trumpet and swanky swing step to set a vocal hook whose throwback nod holds it’s own with most any pop melody around.

Marian Hillpennsylvania: (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
09-18-13

Jungle – The Heat

Jungle-The-Heat

“The Heat” is a perfect summer’s end cocktail of space beats and soul and an ever-so subtle dash of psychedelia-pop. B3SCI Records recently announced its debut release from this new London collective known as Jungle whose beat-driven modern pop of “The Heat” has got the blogosphere and tastemakers alike talking (and more importantly…grooving). The Heat becomes available as a four track EP on 10-inch clear vinyl (as well as digitally) via B3SCI Records in North America on October 21, and will also be available as a new AA-side 7-inch on Chess Club Records in the UK at that same date. Pre-order here. Also, be sure to check out Jungle on tour at their first ever live dates, listed below.

JUNGLE TOUR DATES

10/10 Manchester, UK – The Roundhouse
10/17 Brighton, UK – Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar
10/24 Leeds, UK – Belgrave Music Hall
10/31 Sheffield, UK The Harley

Jungle england (Pre-Order)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
09-17-13

K H U S H I – Magpie

khushi2

The stunning “Magpie” is the debut single from London-based KHUSHI. The latest UK low on identity or googleability/big on great songs entity to emerge into the music blog milieu, the remarkable anthemic layered indie pop of “Magpie” is at the least indicative of a quite skilled very serious talent. “Magpie” is out October 7th on Laissez Faire Club Records.

KHUSHI england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
09-13-13

Digital Farm Animals – Bad Idea (Feat. Holly Partridge & MNEK)

mnek

UK dance act Digital Farm Animals dial up guest vocals from songstress Holly Partridge & Rudimental collaborator MNEK outfitting them with shimmery 80’s R&B-leaning synths and a limitless spread of end of summer beach vibes. “Bugged Out” is the new EP from Digitial Farm Animals.

Digital Farm Animals england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
09-13-13

Heavenly Beat – Honest

heavenlybeat

The brilliant Captured Tracks delivers another gem w/ Heavenly Beat and their track for “Honest”. The song, which is the second single from Heavenly Beat a/k/a John Pena’s (ex-Beach Fossils) October 15-due LP Prominence, builds its sound palette from everywhere to tropical to early 90’s Kangol hat-wearing Britpop. The mix is put on quite well and coherently with nary a tone or genre or location of influence out of place or seeming forced. Well done.

Heavenly Beat (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
09-12-13

Real Lies – World Peace

reallies

London’s Real Lies channel the best of 90’s late night house music through the lens of more current trends in the genre. Transportive in the best way; it’s hard, for us at least, not to imagine winding through Soho streets past 3 AM near the close of another charismatic evening. “World Peace” is part of double-A single release (w/ “Deeper”) from Real Lies that’s out November 4th on Sweet Exile.

Real Lies england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
09-12-13

Phantogram – Black Out Days

phantogram

Phantogram are back with the gloomy bounce of new single “Black Out Days”. Still long on hip hop influence (the track’s main whirring/sinister vocal loop is quite clever) as well as Sarah Barthel’s all-go singing, “Black Out Days” subtly and adeptly modernizes Phantogram’s sound while maintaining the quality of writing and arrangement that the NY-based duo has earned their dough on thusfar.

Phantogram (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
09-12-13

Neon Hitch – We Can’t Stop (Miley Cyrus Cover)

neonhitch2

Songstress Neon Hitch returns with a dope as f, ska horns-driven must listen cover of Mike Will Made It’s “We Can’t Stop”. Tfw… la da di da di we like to party.

Neon Hitch england (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown93

reviewed by
09-11-13