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Track Reviews

Dems – Down On You

dems

Dems, a London UK-based 3-piece, have a coldly emotive, slightly r&b-ish influenced, fiercely melodic sound they may remind of The xx or other like bands. On tour now with the rising UK star Azealia Banks, Dems are set to release a new EP called “House” next week. We can’t wait to hear what else will feature on the EP, as what we’ve heard so far, “Down On You” and the track it’s paired with as a single “House”, have us really really excited. Tip (DoML)

Dems – Down On You

Dems england (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
11-07-11

Dev – Kiss My Lips (Feat. Fabolous)

dev

Our (pregnant) girl Dev has been busily in the studio putting down new tracks as she polishes up her oft-delayed The Night The Sun Camp Up LP for release. Her latest of these freshly recorded tracks is the Loso-featuring “Kiss My Lips”. The song’s got that steady midtempo pop-electro groove that Dev seems so well adept in. Give our girl a listen.

Dev – Kiss My Lips (Feat. Fabolous)

Dev california (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
11-07-11

Part Company – Babar

partcompany

Part Company are a French band from Nice that do some super soulful indie pop. “Babar” is a great track and if it were by an Anglophone band with a PR team, it would likely be all over your favorite blogger’s favorite blogs. Give this soul jam your attention below.

Part Company – Babar

Part Company france (Myspace)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
11-07-11

Trailer Trash Tracys – You Wish You Were Red

trailertrashtracys

TTTs do their best version of Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” with “You Wish You Were Red”. Wrapped in layer upon layer of guitar-gaze and cascading choral voicings “Red”s best moments are in its more sullen and solemn choruses, that and the track’s excellent end bit. From about 3:00 on, you’ll hear maybe some of the best use/combination of vocal and instrumental harmonies of any track this year. “Yesterday I Cried.”

Trailer Trash Tracys – You Wish You Were Red

Trailer Trash Tracys england (Facebook)

Rating 7.9

brown71

reviewed by
11-07-11

Mac Miller – My Team (Prod. Clams Casino)

macmiller3

Around b3sci HQ Mac Miller goes by the name “Cotton Candy”. “Did you hear that new Cotton Candy/Primo collab?” “Did you see Donald Trump is down for Cotton Candy?” Shit like that. As coined by b3sci fam Wyatt, Mac’s style of rhyme is “cotton candy rap”. It’s “Soft as fuck. Tastes good. Don’t gotta think about it.” Also, Mr. Cotton Candy can pick pretty dope beats. Here he goes in on a choice Clams production, excerpted here from Blue Slide Park.

Mac Miller – My Team (Prod. Clams Casino)

Mac Miller pennsylvania: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
11-06-11

Drake – Take Care (Feat. Rihanna) / Lord Knows (Feat. Rick Ross) (Prod. Just Blaze)

drake

Fucking mega. Drake via Jamie xx via Gil Scott-Heron. Give Drake a hand for going for something somewhat less predictable at this point in his career. Get this shit on the radio. We need NEW Drake songs. I can only slow headbob that “She Will” shiz so many times.

Drake – Take Care (Feat. Rihanna)

BONUS: Drake – Lord Knows (Feat. Rick Ross) (Prod. Just Blaze)

Drake canada (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
11-06-11

Drake – Crew Love (Feat. The Weeknd)

drake

That OVO that XO. Eyebrows just let loose this new Take Care Weeknd collab on Toronto’s Flow 93.5. Shreds hard.

Drake – Crew Love (Feat. The Weeknd)

Drake canada (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
11-06-11

Spector – Grey Shirt & Tie

spector-credit-sam-seager

Spector drops a very electro beat on their new single, “Grey Shirt & Tie”. Church bells and synth layers create a 2011 wall-of-sound aesthetic. The layering increases throughout the track, which isolates Fred Macpherson’s vocal and makes it shine. Spector is doing radio ready rock (that dying genre) better than just about anyone in the UK right now. Now it’s time to show USA some love with a few tour dates! Contributed by Chris Gedos


Spector england (Facebook)

Rating: 8.24
brown8

reviewed by
11-05-11

nihiti – The Orchids (Psychic TV cover)

nihiti_studio-web

nihiti (purposefully lowercase) is a NYC psych-folk duo, and their cover of “The Orchids” by art rock vanguards Psychic TV is my pick for track of the week. The original version is so lo-fi it’s barely audible, but the cover double tracks the vocal, which almost sounds triple tracked with added echo, to make sure the listener can understand each and every beautiful lyric. “And in the morning and the night, I fall in love with the light.” The cello on top with violin underneath adds even more sweetness to an already tender song. Fans of everything from Califone to Fairport Convention will go bonkers over this truly multi-generational track. Contributed by Chris Gedos

nihiti newyork (Soundcloud)

Rating 9.05

brown93

reviewed by
11-05-11

David Guetta – Titantium (Feat. Sia) (Nicky Romero Remix)

davidguettatitanium

The Dutch DJ does a top shelf rework of the David Guetta smash.

David Guetta – Titantium (Feat. Sia) (Nicky Romero Remix)

Nicky Romero netherlands (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
11-04-11

Sleeping Bags – Shark

shark

“Shark” by Sleeping Bags sort starts off with its least best foot forward (its other foot?), crawling and dragging about for a good two minutes, from there the track opens up into a sprawling, beautiful piece of nu-gaze; shimmering layers of distorted guitars, crashing drums, you get the picture. Don’t sleep on this track (at least til you get to about 3:00).

Sleeping Bags – Shark

Sleeping Bags england (Bandcamp)

Rating 7.8

brown71

reviewed by
11-04-11

Post War Years – All Eyes

postwaryears

“All Eyes” from London UK band Post War Years is a soulful, big beat rock and roll tune with just enough menace to really make things interesting. Look out for the Minus the Bear-esque guitar-taps breakdown at 2:54.

Post War Years – All Eyes

Post War Years england (Official) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
11-04-11