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Track Reviews

Sharkmuffin – The Lake

sharkmuffin

Sharkmuffin, out of Brooklyn, bless b3 with a power pop gem with “The Lake”. The track, although wall to wall packed with great melodies and hooks, has a nice overall dynamic to it; building tension and volume into the track’s awesome visceral finish. Frontwoman Tarra Thiessen, who’s vocal performance on the track is A+, reminds a bit (in a very good way) of Chrissie Hynde. Stay tuned for a 7-inch release of “The Lake” from Sharkmuffin later this month.

Sharkmuffin – The Lake

Sharkmuffin newyork (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
02-08-13

Lucius – Turn It Around (Live)

lucius

The Lucius crew let loose an excellent soulful live version of their “Turn It Around” single. The Brooklyn band found themselves in lights last night as “Turn It Around” got a spin on the open of last night “Grey’s Anatomy” (which somewhat amazingly is still on). Lucius have a U.S. tour upcoming; with a start in Boston on Valentine’s Day (where by then the city’s snowmobile-based economy should be in full motion) and will continue throughout February and into March with multiple shows at SXSW.

Tour:
2/14: Boston, MA @ Great Scott
2/15 Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy *
2/16 Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java *
2/17 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café *
2/18 Toledo, OH @ The Ottawa Tavern
2/20: Mechanicsburg, PA @ Messiah College
2/21: Kingston, NY @BSP Lounge
2/22: Hamden, CT @ The Outer Space
2/23: Williamstown, MA @ The Log
3/13: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/14: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/15: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/16: Austin, TX @ SXSW
3/18: Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom #
3/19: Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theater #
3/20: Nashville, TN @ The High Watt %
4/5: Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory

* co-headlining w/ Hannah Georgas
# supporting The Mowgli’s & Family of the Year
% supporting Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers

Lucius newyork (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
02-08-13

Maribou State – Got Me Down (Bondax Remix)

Bondax

A pair of b3 favorites connect as Bondax exercise their fabulous remix hand to Maribou State’s great “Got Me Down”.

Maribou State – Got Me Down (Bondax Remix)

Bondax (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
02-08-13

PARIS 96 – Afternoon

paris 96

Finally! Longtime friends Theophilus London and Jesse Boykins III make it legal with new PARIS 96 collaborative project. First track “Afternoon” is the perfect mix of JBIII’s sophisticated R&B stylings and T. London’s percussive rhyming playboy thing. Expect an EP from these two in April. Psyched!

PARIS 96 (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
02-08-13

Natural Self – Machine

naturalself

Check out the soulful (& awesome) hip hop-informed space pop of Natural Self a/k/a Brighton-based producer Nathaniel Pearn and his track for “Machine”. The single will be available Feb 18th on Tru Thoughts. Get familiar. (TLOBF)

Natural Self (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
02-07-13

Forte Bowie – Gucci Mane

fortebowie

Forte Bowie, who was recently featured on Trinidad James’ (all gold blah blah blah) “Southside” record, lets loose the first track from his forthcoming Vice Haus EP, “Gucci Mane”. First, “Gucci Mane” (burr burr burr burr) is an incredibly varied (and unexpected) track. The track & Fort adeptly run through gear after gear after gear, from trap-influenced verses, an R&B middle bit, an Ellie Goulding sample to a great 90’s-styled hook. Look out for more from Fort Bowie when Vice Hause drops on the 18th.

Forte Bowie – Gucci Mane

Forte Bowie (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
02-07-13

Johnbear & Bria – Call Me Your Lover

janettupac

Johnbear & Bria out of Leeds UK offer a five-star 90’s house remix of Janet Jackson’s great “Someone to Call My Lover”. Big up.

Johnbear & Bria – Call Me Your Lover

Johnbear & Bria (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
02-07-13

The 1975 – Head.Cars​.Bending

the 1975

b3 faves The 1975 come through with possibly their most challenging track to date with “Head.Cars.Bending.”. The R&B influence hinted at in earlier songs like “You” & “Chocolate” is dialed up further here with the band embracing more untraditional song & rhythm structures for indie pop. “Head.Cars.Bending” is quite unlike anything we’re heard before (in the best sort of way) and we’re definitely co-signing this particular lane for the band. The 1975’s s/t EP is due March 3rd on Dirty Hit.

The 1975 (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
02-07-13

Ghost Beach – Been There Before (Shook Remix)

Ghost-Beach-Been-There-Before-Shook-Remix

It’s Ghost Beach, duh! The great Shook takes “Been There Before” on the Caribbean cruise of its dreams; we’re talking co-ed competitive shuffleboard, tours of the captain’s bridge & quarters, waterslides, and all the conga lines to Buster Poindexter’s “Hot Hot Hot” one can handle.

Shook (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
02-06-13

Banks – Before I Ever Met You

BAnks music artist

L.A.-based Banks does dark pop to perfection on new track “Before I Ever Met You”. (And we mean this in the most complimentary way) If Fiona Apple were 15 years younger and just emerging into music right now, her sound likely wouldn’t be too far from Banks on “Before I Ever Met You”. We are in love.

Banks (Facebook)

Rating 8.6

brown8

reviewed by
02-06-13

Teedra Moses – Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Edition)

Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Edition)

R&B remixer of the moment Kaytranada tries his hand at a restyling the vocals of b3 fave Teedra Moses’ (Dear, Def Jam. Could we please get that MMG album of hers released? Thx!) track for “Be Your Girl”. Much in the same vein as his previous remix work, Kaytranada keeps it 3 A.M., soulful & A+. Get with it below.

Teedra Moses – Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Edition)

Kaytranada (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by
02-06-13

Balthazar – The Man Who Owns The Place

balthazar

Balthazar, a duo out of the UK, make their b3sci debut with the Leonard Cohen meets Dangermouse sound of “The Man Who Owns The Place”. The spaghetti western, heat of summer sweeping textures of the track’s production and arrangements provide a really sharp counterpoint for the Cohen/Gainsbourg/Zimmerman lane stylings of “The Who Owns The Place”s melodies. The band will be supporting Local Natives later this month on their European Tour, and you can sample the particulars (as well as the track) below.

Balthazar – The Man Who Owns The Place

Tour
Friday 8th Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Saturday 9th Edinburgh, Electric Circus
Monday 11th Dublin, Whelan’s
Tuesday 12th Liverpool, Kazimier
Wednesday 13th Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
Thursday 14th London, Scala
Tuesday 19th Copenhagen, Vega
Wednesday 20th Gothenburg, Pustervik
Thursday 21st Oslo, John Dee
Saturday 23rd Stockholm, Debaser Medis

Balthazar (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
02-06-13