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Track Reviews

Paper Lions – Philadelphia

Paper Lions

“Summery” “summer sound” “summer song” are all words and phrases that get quite a bit of play in the music blogging hustle. Well, this post is about to use all those words and more a lot, so get locked in. Paper Lions’ ode to B3 contributor Teddy P’s hometown “Philadelphia”, ably combines the heaviness and singable melodies of 90’s era alt-rock and the more carefully conceived melodic and harmonic structures of 60’s pop acts like The Beach Boys and The Byrds. If that’s up yr alley (it’s up ours), than spin “Philadelphia” below and get psyched for My Friends, Paper Lions’ sophomore LP due August 20th.

Paper Lions – Philadelphia

Paper Lions (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
05-22-13

Sheen – Lovelust

sheen

Oh right, of course we’re into Sheen. Recalling (to us at least) b3 fave from the 00’s The Velvet Teen, both melodically and instrumentally, “Lovelust” is the sort of breezy hook-heavy UK indie that b3sci dreams are made of. Out of our dreams and into our blog, it’s Sheen.

Sheen – Lovelust

Sheen england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
05-22-13

WALLA – Nature

Walla image

WALLA are to be massive. The L.A. expats (all five members of the band are international) have (at just the right levels and distribution) all the ingredients and rudiments of a breakout band. Not the least of which is WALLA’s impressive knack for creating sparkling pop melodies and fitting them to rock and instrumentals that select from and recall the greatest bits of the genre’s history. There’s great melodies, there’s impeccably crafted hooks, there’s an excellent infusion of familiarity that will instantly engage the listener. We might as well go forth and marry this band right now. WALLA, will you be our lawfully wedded?

Walla california (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown93

reviewed by
05-22-13

Wale Ft. Tiara Thomas – Bad (Yarin Lidor Remix)

yarin lidor

True story: when “Bad” from MMG f.b. Wale comes on the radio Immma usually changing the station as quickly as possible. Tel Aviv DJ Yarin Lidor manages not only to make that original “Bad” source material listenable but completely transforms the composition into something that not only you can bounce to but is also unique, interesting & engaging. Give it up for Y. Lidor.


Soundcloud

Rating: 8.3

brown93

reviewed by
05-22-13

Deebs – Lady Killer (Feat. Mars)

DEebs

Toronto producer Deebs links up with soulful songstress Mars for new track “Lady Killer”. R&B focused through a post-modern mechanical haze, the sound and feel of “Lady Killer” especially succeeds on the strength of Mars’ great melodic lines. Grab a sample below.

Deebs (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
05-22-13

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Better Days

ed sharpe

Today we’ve got some new folk rock from everyones favorite contemporary bohemian songwriting collective Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Expect to hear “Better Days” a lot more throughout the summer, and be sure to check out the group’s self-titled third studio album out July 23rd. Full track listing for the album is below.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros tracklisting:
1. Better Days
2. Let’s Get High
3. Two
4. Please!
5. Life is Hard
6. If I Were Free
7. In The Lion
8. Country Calling
9. They Were Wrong
10. In The Summer
11. Remember To Remember
12. This Life

Ed Sharpe california (Official)

Rating 8.5

brown93

reviewed by
05-22-13

Premiere: N.A.S.A. – Hide (Feat. Aynzli Jones) [A.SKILLZ REMIX]

NASA A SKILLZ Hide Remix Cover Final

B3 fave A.Skillz gets tapped for the official remix to N.A.S.A.’s brand new track “Hide”. If that weren’t wild enough, the track will be part of N.A.S.A.’s new documentary film for their 2009 album The Spirit of Apollo, which chronicles the making of the landmark release, and is also available today. Beam yourself up by hitting play below.

N.A.S.A. (Soundcloud) (Spirit of Apollo DVD link)
A.Skillz england (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
05-21-13

The 1975 – So Far (It’s Alright)

1975 iv

The 1975 crew showcase some of their appreciation for R&B on “So Far (It’s Alright)”. Add the bands seducing knack for ethereal pop and you have yourself one fantastic tune. Check out the new song, “So Far (It’s Alright)” previewed from the bands forthcoming debut album, and grab the band’s new IV EP release available now.

The 1975 england (Official)(Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
05-21-13

Gangsta Boo – Bad Times (Feat. Big K.R.I.T. & K-So)

gangstaboo

90’s Three 6 Mafia member Gangsta Boo hooks up with Krizzle and K-So for this soulful ride-out jam from her new It’s Game Involved mixtape. We’re headnoddin.

Gangsta Boo (Twitter)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
05-20-13

Snakehips – On & On (Snakehips Edit)

snakehips

A remix so nice Snakehips named it twice. The fast-on-the-rise UK producer revisits his smash track for “On & On” with this brand new space funkified VIP.

Snakehips (Facebook)

Rating 8.2123

brown8

reviewed by
05-20-13

WAAN – 1992

WAAN

Sounding more like 2392 than ’92, “1992” the new track from collaborators Nekochan & Hubwar a/k/a WAAN, walks a neat line of jazzy tones (piano & chord structures) and glitchy complex rhythms all outfitted with an exotic-sounding female vocal. WAAN’s debut “BIRTH” LP is out electronically next Tuesday May 28.

WAAN (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8jah one

reviewed by
05-20-13

Case Studies – Everything

case studies

Great songwriting. Case Studies a/k/a Jesse Lortz formerly of The Dutchess and The Duke’s “Everything” is a tremendous song. Soulful, thoughtful, expressed with purpose; “Everything” marries the sound of traditional American folk with it’s Southern Soul branches. I can picture crossing the bridge into Memphis with those guitar leads in the last bit sort of gliding with each shimmer of the sun on the Mississippi. “Everything” is excerpted from Case Studies’ sophomore LP This Is Another Life due June 11th on Sacred Bones.

Case Studies (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
05-20-13