The Dog Is Dead kids recently dropped this new single for “River Jordan”. Big sound. Big fills-the-room sort of sound. We’re feeling the variety of ideas and influences on the record. This sucker is jam packed and chock full. We hear everything from modern indie rock (Fleet Foxes) to classic rock (Queen) to gospel (check those huge harmonies). Psyched to hear what’s next.
Dog Is Dead – River JordanRating: 7.6
One of our favorite singers in the world (Jesse Boykins III) takes one of the hottest records in the world (“Limit to Your Love”) and completely blows it out. Love Love Love Love Love.
Jesse Boykins III – Limit to Your Love (Feist Cover) via SOULBOUNCERating: 8.5
Sky is the limit for this guy and “F.I.F.A.” is g.r.e.a.t. XV may not end up being the most talked about emcee of 2011, but 2012….
XV – F.I.F.A.Rating: 8.2
“Lifeline”, the title track off Manchester UK band The Answering Machine’s sophomore LP starts well enough, heavily syncopated drums working lockstep with jagged bass stabs. The jam status takes hold @ 1:06, when the song’s most excellent chorus sequence drops, rad bits of melody, killer guitar leads, pretty hype shit.
The Answering Machine – LifelineRating: 8.2
Shad keeps bringing the heat on “Keep Shining” the latest off his excellent TSOL LP. Catch a little holy ghost.
Shad – Keep ShiningRating: 8.2
Swiss mix man Cee-Roo flips Talib & Saadiq in the mix on this excerpted track from his new “Beatz N’ Rhymes #5” Mixtape. Cee-Roo tips a nice groove on “Make Me Feel Good” twisting up Saadiq’s golden tenor to Talib’s rapid fire rhymes.
Cee-Roo – Make Me Feel Good (Feat. Raphael Saadiq & Talib Kweli)Rating: 8.0
One half of your favorite blogger’s favorite Danish R&B duo Quadron, Coco O. appears solo here on the track for “Sleep”. Coco’s got some of the best, most emotive pipes in the business; just the texture and feeling she’s able infuse into each note. Do the opposite of what the song says. Don’t sleep. Get into it!
Coco O. – SleepRating: 8.5
Fenech-Soler are coming to America! Oh yeah! At least a new four-song EP titled “Demons” is. Seriously, dudes, we need U.S. dates. As well as the title track, the “Demons” EP packs b3sci’s #7 track of 2009 “Lies”, new tune “Stone Bridge”, and this vibed out smooth rendition of “Demons”. Featuring spare electronic percussion, subtle synths, and the supremely toned Fender Rhodes, the track floats the full-length of its 3 minutes+ duration.
Removed by label request
Fenech-Soler – Demons (White Version)
Rating: 8.2
Just when you thought “You’ve Got the Love” was done, that it couldn’t possibly be remixed again…. Enter this heater by 19-yr old Leeds UK producer Jaggz. We’re into it. Jaggz flips the mix souping it up with monstrous colossal synths and pulsing floor-filling beats. p.s. Most definitely check out Jaggz’ Soundcloud, wall-to-wall bangers.
Florence & the Machine – You’ve Got the Love (Jaggz Ibiza House Bootleg)Rating: 8.1
“Reasons”, premiered here from Saint Saviour’s new Anatomy EP, is the sort of full stop, the sort of punctuation you’d place at the pauses and spaces in between full segments of life or the smallest succession of moments. The tune carried by Saint Saviour’s powerhouse vocal comes in like a rush, resolves through the most beautiful chorus melody, breathes out a final flourish in the song’s haunting uplifting close. “Reasons” feels incorporeal, like somewhere else, like time stopped, like those most temporary, most lucid moments.
Catch the former Groove Armada frontwoman on tour this month with electrorock act Hurts and at her co-headline date with another b3sci fav Clare Maguire at London’s Borderline this Friday. You most certainly won’t be disappointed.
Reasons by SaintSaviour
Saint Saviour – BirdsongSaint Saviour official website
Saint Saviour on Myspace
rating: 8.6
