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Track Reviews

50 Cent – New Day (Feat. Dr. Dre & Alicia Keys)

Alicia Keys’ latest (complete with those “oh oh oh ohs” that she’s so adept at) becomes the bed for a new 50/Dr. Dre track that is actually knockin’ pretty hard. Can this be Curtis’ comeback single? Our homeboy had a chart hit with that “Down on Me” track w/ Jeremih last summer, so dude is still in the conversation. Is “New Day” enough to get him back to relevance?

50 Cent (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
07-28-12

She Keeps Bees – Counter Charm

We love She Keeps Bees. The Brooklyn-based duo consistently releases really great blues/soul-driven guitar music. New single “Counter Charm” features an especially strong vocal from singer Jessica Larrabee; the way she just wrenches out some of those more intense notes, pulling them up and out of the tape and straight at your guts. By Matt Easton

She Keeps Bees (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

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reviewed by
07-28-12

Rah Rah – Art and a Wife

Prairie indie rock sweethearts Rah Rah have their new album ‘Poet’s Dead’ coming out this October! Here is a one of their new songs. I have said it before and I will say it again, all of the vocalists in Rah Rah have this contrasting yet complimentary quality to their voices. So special. This is one of the most honest songs you will hear all summer. I am pretty sure that Marshall really just wants a life full of art and a wife, I believe it anyways. By Jon Herriot

Rah Rah (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
07-28-12

Antwon – Living Every Dream (Prod. Pictureplane)

We’ve been steady bouncing to this new jam by Bay Area rapper Antwon all weekend. On the track, producer Pictureplane cooks up a sharp 90’s-styled “Tom’s Diner”-sampling heater for Antwon to rock to. Definite summertime jam status. Look out for Antwon’s End of Earth LP due soon.

Antwon (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

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reviewed by
07-28-12

Rick Ross – Maybach Music IV (Feat. Ne-Yo)

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This is what a champagne shower sounds like. The Boss grabs frequent collaborator Ne-Yo (“Super High”, “Think Like a Man” for some seriously expensive sounding shit on “Maybach Music IV”. Ross is, if anything, “going for it” on what we’ve heard thusfar off of GFID. Lengthy uniquely structured and arranged tracks, the cinematic quality that made Teflon Don so good has been pushed into an entirely new sphere on GFID. Tracks like “MMIV” and “Sixteen” are maybe a bit less focused than their TD counterparts but they’re bigger, elastic enough in a way, to shoulder the Atlasian labor to bear the weight of Rozay’s exponentially expanding larger than life persona.

Rick Ross (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
07-26-12

Crystal Castles – Plague

Crystal castles

Electro goth pop wizards Crystal Castles have unleashed “Plague” as the leading vanguard from their third LP and the strength of which suggests more top draw material to follow. Complete with shrieking synths and vocals, consider this is a rubber-stamped summer banger by all accounts. By Nathan Hetherington

Crystal Castles canada (Official)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
07-25-12

Flying Lotus – Between Friends (Feat. Earl Sweatshirt and Captain Murphy)

Yep, you’re gonna like this. Adult Swim delivers again with the latest in its Singles Program connecting Flying Lotus with Sweatshirt guy and Charlie Murphy (probably Tyler the Creator). The neatly tipped jazz ‘n’ vibes are on full offer here as the featured MCs skate on top FlyLo’s superior tones.

Flying Lotus – Between Friends (Feat. Earl Sweatshirt and Captain Murphy)

Flying Lotus (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
07-23-12

The Babies – Moonlight Mile

Brooklyn rock band The Babies knock one down for Woodsist on new bumper “Moonlight Mile”. Expect to hear more “Moonlight Mile” into the late summer and fall, as the track will be featured on an upcoming limited 7″ due August 14th as well The Babies’ new LP Our House On The Hill due in October.

The Babies (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
07-23-12

Sun Airway – Close

Philadelphia band Sun Airway’s “Close” is one of our favorite songs of the year. Get psyched for the duo’s Soft Fall LP due October 2nd.

Sun Airway – Close

Sun Airway (Facebook)

Rating 8.9

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reviewed by
07-22-12

The Kills – Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)

Love “Dreams”. Love Fleetwood Mac. Love The Kills’ Alison Mosshart. Love this.

The Kills – Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)

The Kills (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

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reviewed by
07-22-12

Findlay – Your Sister

Something gritty for you courtesy of new UK based band Findlay, of which offer up some raw power on their debut release (some puns intended). “Your Sister” sees release as limited 7″ in mid August via Manchester label Joyeux Anniversaire.

Findlay (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
07-20-12

RAVE’S FAVE: The Vaccines – Teenage Icon

They promised us a different album this time around. The title of their new album will be Come of Age and you can hear it. The fast drum intro hits you right away, and then comes that signature 50’s riff. Justin sings “I’m no teenage icon, I’m no Frankie Avalon.” The first song we heard from Come of Age was the surprisingly Dylan-esque “No Hope”, and now this killer. I’ve got heaps of hope for what the rest of the album will sound like. By Bruce Rave

The Vaccines – Teenage Icon

The Vaccines (Facebook)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

Rating 9.3

reviewed by
07-20-12