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Mrs. Magician – There Is No God

By Chris Gedos

mrs-magician-strange-heaven1

So Cal four-piece Mrs. Magician is in the midst of a cross-country jaunt with fellow San Diegans, Cults. They’re less influenced by the NYC girl groups, instead taking cues from Don Van Vliet and a whole lot of jangle pop. Fans of irreverent, Rivers Cuomo / Stephin Merritt style songwriting should wake up early this Tuesday, March 6th, and purchase a digital copy of their debut LP, Strange Heaven, out via Swami records. The Prescription Vision 7” was released this past November, but the album version of “There is no God” is an anthem for atheists. Love this shit before a mini-encyclopedia emerges post-SXSW.

Mrs. Magician – There Is No God

Mrs. Magician california (Facebook)

Rating 8.49

brown8

reviewed by
03-03-12

B3SCI TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2011

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Although we’ve come to the end of the road, still Adele we can’t let you go. We’ve reached 2011’s closing hour and now it is time: b3sci presents it’s Top 50 Albums of 2011. No one’s even come close to having the year Adele’s had. The most albums sold in a single year since 2004, two of the biggest singles of the year, etc, a truly international breakthrough both commercially and critically on a level we haven’t seen in a long time. Adele, our girl, the crown is yours. 21 is b3sci’s Album of the year.

So where the fuck is Adele on many of these respected-indie-press-dude best of lists? That period between Nov 2010 when “Rolling in the Deep” first broke and the lead up to the album’s release in late January, Adele ruled the blogosphere, the fold was united. Then “RITD” got overplayed to the point of absurdity, your mom bought the record, probably your grandma bought it too; those bros that listen to Foo Fighters and Deadmau5 started bumping “Someone Like You” out their trunk. Soon, the “wrong people” liked 21 and Adele’s brief moment atop the indiesphere was over. Right.

Thanks for reading this year, y’all. We’ve got some big plans for 2012. Stay tuned. Much love.

adele-211
01. Adele – 21 (Buy It) (Read)

the-weeknd-house-of-balloons
02. The Weeknd – House of Balloons (Buy It) (Read)

drake-take-care
03. Drake – Take Care (Buy It) (Read)

james-blake-james-blake
04. James Blake – James Blake (Buy It) (Read)

kendrick-lamar-section-80
05. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (Buy It) (Read)

gil-scott-heron-and-jamie-xx-were-new-here
06. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – We’re New Here (Buy It) (Read)

wu-lyf-go-tell-fire-to-the-mountain
07. WU LYF – Go Tell Fire on the Mountain (Buy It) (Read)

jay-z-kanye-west-watch-the-throne
08. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne (Buy It) (Read)

the-horrors-skying
09. The Horrors – Skying (Buy It) (Read)

m83-hurry-up-were-dreaming
10. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (Buy It) (Read)

wye-oak-civilian
11. Wye Oak – Civilian (Buy It) (Read)

girls-father-son-holy-ghost
12. Girls – Father Son, Holy Ghost (Buy It) (Read)

real-estate-days
13. Real Estate – Days (Buy It) (Read)

aap-rocky-live-love-aap
14. A$AP Rocky – Live Love A$AP (Buy It) (Read)

sepalcure-sepalcure
15. Sepalcure – Sepalcure (Buy It) (Read)

pj-harvey-let-england-shake
16. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake (Buy It) (Read)

the-war-on-drugs-slave-ambient
17. The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient (Buy It) (Read)

charles-bradley-no-time-for-dreaming
18. Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming (Buy It) (Read)

metronomy-the-english-riviera
19. Metronomy – The English Riviera (Buy It) (Read)

sbtrkt-sbtrkt
20. SBTRKT – SBTRKT (Buy It) (Read)

oneohtrix-point-never-replica
21. Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica (Buy It) (Read)

the-vaccines-what-did-you-expect-from-the-vaccines
22. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From the Vaccines (Buy It) (Read)

destroyer-kaputt
23. Destroyer – Kaputt (Buy It) (Read)

the-antlers-burst-apart
24. The Antlers – Burst Apart (Buy It) (Read)

tune-yards-whokill
25. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l (Buy It) (Read)

beyonce-4
26. Beyonce – 4 (Buy It) (Read)

wild-flag-wild-flag
27. Wild Flag – Wild Flag (Buy It) (Read)

noel-gallaghers-high-flying-birds-noel-gallaghers-high-flying-birds
28. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Buy It) (Read)

big-krit-return-of-4eva
29. Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4eva (Buy It) (Read)

clams-casino-instrumentals
30. Clams Casino – Instrumentals (Buy It) (Read)

gillian-welch-the-harrow-and-the-harvest
31. Gillian Welch – The Harrow and the Harvest (Buy It) (Read)

low-roar-low-roar
32. Low Roar – Low Roar (Buy It) (Read)

araabmuzik-electronic-dream
33. AraabMUZIK – Electronic Dream (Buy It) (Read)

active-child-you-are-all-that-i-see
34. Active Child – You Are All I See (Buy It) (Read)

fleet-foxes-helplessness-blues
35. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues (Buy It) (Read)

raphael-saadiq-stone-rollin
36. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’ (Buy It) (Read)

cults-cults
37. Cults – Cults (Buy It) (Read)

radiohead-the-king-of-limbs
38. Radiohead – The King of Limbs (Buy It) (Read)

florence-the-machine-ceremonials
39. Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials (Buy It) (Read)

alex-clare-the-lateness-of-the-hour
40. Alex Clare – The Lateness of the Hour (Buy It) (Read)

nicolas-jaar-space-is-only-noise
41. Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise (Buy It) (Read)

jhene-aiko-sailing-souls
42. Jhene Aiko – Sailing Soul(s) (Buy It) (Read)

the-stepkids-the-stepkids
43. The Stepkids – The Stepkids (Buy It) (Read)

freddie-gibbs-cold-day-in-hell
44. Freddie Gibbs – Cold Day in Hell (Buy It) (Read)

gardens-villa-gardens-villa
45. Gardens & Villa – Gardens & Villa (Buy It) (Read)

laura-marling-a-creature-i-dont-know
46. Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know (Buy It) (Read)

kurt-vile-smoke-ring-for-my-halo
47. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo (Buy It) (Read)

foster-the-people-torches1
48. Foster the People – Torches (Buy It) (Read)

explosions-in-the-sky-take-care-take-care-take-care
49. Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (Buy It) (Read)

friendly-fires-pala
50. Friendly Fires – Pala (Buy It) (Read)

reviewed by
12-27-11

B3SCI TOP 50 SONGS OF 2011

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2011. What wasn’t to love? The rise of weirdo R&B, the fall of chillwave, the end of R.E.M. We started the construction of this list over a month ago. One truly epic and extensive Google spreadsheet later, we arrived at this Top 50. We sorted and sorted and sorted, listened through a TON OF STUFF, “traded jabs” on whether James Blake or Jamie Woon put on the tougher persona, etc. Thanks for reading and we hope y’all enjoy the list!

james-blake-the-wilhelm-scream
01. James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream (Buy It) (Read)

the-weend-the-morning
02. The Weeknd – The Morning (Buy It) (Read)

lana-del-rey-video-games
03. Lana Del Rey – Video Games (Buy It) (Read)

gotye-somebody-that-i-used-to-know
04. Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (Feat. Kimbra) (Buy It) (Read)

britney-spears-till-the-world-ends
05. Britney Spears – ‘Till the World Ends (Buy It) (Read)

maverick-sabre-i-need
06. Maverick Sabre – I Need (Buy It) (Read)

drake-marvins-room
07. Drake – Marvin’s Room (Buy It) (Read)

beyonce-party
08. Beyonce – Party (Feat. Kanye West & Andre 3000) (Buy It) (Read)

jamie-woon-lady-luck
09. Jamie Woon – Lady Luck (Buy It) (Read)

michael-kiwanuka-i-need-you-by-my-side
10. Michael Kiwanuka – I Need You By My Side (Buy It) (Read)

kendrick-lamar-adhd
11. Kendrick Lamar – ADHD (Buy It) (Read)

the-alabama-shakes-i-found-you
12. The Alabama Shakes (formerly The Shakes) – I Found You (Buy It) (Read)

nneka-my-home
13. Nneka – My Home (Buy It) (Read)

rihanna-we-found-love
14. Rihanna – We Found Love (Feat. Calvin Harris) (Buy It) (Read)

dj-khaled-im-on-one
15. DJ Khaled – I’m On One (Feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil’ Wayne) (Buy It) (Read)

adele-rumour-has-it
16. Adele – Rumour Has It (Buy It) (Read)

labrinth-earthquake
17. Labrinth – Earthquake (Feat. Tinie Tempah) (Buy It) (Read)

jay-z-kanye-west-otis
18. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Otis (Buy It) (Read)

flo-rida-good-feeling
19. Flo Rida – Good Feeling (Buy It) (Read)

bon-iver-towers
20. Bon Iver – Towers (Buy It) (Read)

azealia-banks-212
21. Azealia Banks – 212 (Buy It) (Read)

big-black-delta-huggin-kissin
22. Big Black Delta – Huggin’ & Kissin’ (Buy It) (Read)

florence-the-machine-what-the-water-gave-me
23. Florence + The Machine – What the Water Gave Me (Buy It) (Read)

flight-facilities-foreign-language
24. Flight Facilities – Foreign Language (Feat. Jess) (Buy It) (Read)

cults-abducted
25. Cults – Abducted (Buy It) (Read)

raphael-saadiq-good-man
26. Raphael Saadiq – Good Man (Buy It) (Read)

spector-never-fade-away
27. Spector – Never Fade Away (Buy It) (Read)

marina-and-the-diamonds-radioactive
28. Marina & the Diamonds – Radioactive (Buy It) (Read)

afrojack-lionheart
29. Afrojack – Lionheart (Buy It) (Read)

noel-gallagher-if-i-had-a-gun
30. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – If I Had a Gun… (Buy It) (Read)

active-child-playing-house
31. Active Child – Playing House (Feat. How to Dress Well) (Buy It) (Read)

m83-midnight-city
32. M83 – Midnight City (Buy It) (Read)

radiohead-lotus-flower
33. Radiohead – Lotus Flower (Buy It) (Read)

madlib-freddie-gibbs-thuggin1
34. Madlib & Freddie Gibbs – Thuggin’ (Buy It) (Read)

the-rapture-how-deep-is-your-love
35. The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love (Buy It) (Read)

no-ceremony-hurtlove
36. NO CEREMONY/// – Hurtlove (Buy It) (Read)

ifan-dafydd-no-good
37. Ifan Dafydd – No Good (Buy It) (Read)

bombay-bicycle-club-shuffle
38. Bombay Bicycle Club – Shuffle (Buy It) (Read)

tokimonsta-little-pleasures
39. TOKiMONSTA – Little Pleasures (Feat. Gavin Turek) (Buy It) (Read)

colleen-green-cujo
40. Colleen Green – Cujo (Buy It) (Read)

foxes-youth
41. Foxes – Youth (Buy It) (Read)

jacques-greene-another-girl1
42. Jacques Greene – Another Girl (Buy It) (Read)

grouplove-gold-coast1
43. Grouplove – Gold Coast (Buy It) (Read)

family-of-the-year-st-croix
44. Family of the Year – St. Croix (Buy It) (Read)

lucy-rose-middle-of-the-bed
45. Lucy Rose – Middle of the Bed (Buy It) (Read)

lips-everything-to-me
46. LIPS – Everything to Me (Buy It) (Read)

trophy-wife-wolf
47. Trophy Wife – Wolf (Buy It) (Read)

dev-in-the-dark
48. Dev – In the Dark (Buy It) (Read)

john-west-lovely
49. John West – Lovely (Feat. Pusha T) (Buy It) (Read)

anchorsong-ghost-touch
50. Anchorsong – Ghost Touch (Buy It) (Read)

reviewed by
12-26-11

REVIEW: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Tape Club

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How many great songs does SSLYBY have to release before they become a regular part of that Best American Bands of The 2000’s conversation? Tape Club is a triumph. By deliberating staying away from their most popular tracks, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin has released a compilation equally representative of their talents, proving that their B and even C-sides are of great merit. The first half of the collection (through the Cobain meets bubblegum “Not Worth Fighting”) will be very familiar to fans of the group, mainly consisting of cuts from their first two pre-Broom EPs, Gwyn and Grace and Someone Still Loves You Michael Holt. “Let’s Get Tired” and “Song W & Song L” reside among their best work. “Lower The Gas Prices Howard Johnson”, an angsty yet innocent love song, could most easily have been inserted onto Broom. The Wilmington Demo of “Dead Right” is probably better than the original Pershing version on account of the warmer production and harmonies. “Cardinal Rules”, about the Springfield, MO minor league baseball team, and “We Can Win Missouri” explore the same issues of autochthony and personality of place as on “Yellow Missing Signs”. It would’ve been cool to see a live cut (they’ve been known to cover “Mr. Wendal”) or something from Daytrotter at least, but fortunately the collection has much of interest for even the most avid devotee. As for the SSLYBY neophyte, new bands will form on both sides of the Mississippi after listening to the 26 choice gems which comprise Tape Club. Contributed by Chris Gedos


Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Dead Right (Wilmington Demo)


Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Cardinal Rules

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin missouri (Official) (Bandcamp)

RATING: 8.8

brown8

reviewed by
10-05-11

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Yellow Missing Signs

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Rolling Stone unveiled on Wednesday a new track from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s fourth full-length, Tape Club, set for release on October 18th via Polyvinyl. The promo trailer bills the LP as a double album of rarities and unreleased tracks, including “Let’s Get Tired” and “Song W and Song L”, eternal bangers originally released on the 2004 Gwyn and Grace EP.

“Yellow Missing Signs” is both a great introduction to the band’s sound and a reminder of synchronicity to their most zealous supporters. This is SSLYBY at their best, a return to Broom’s mastery, autochthonous music married to its place of creation, Springfield, MO. The opening lyric “somebody in this town knows where you’ve been,” captures so perfectly what it means to be young and disaffected and from the Midwest. There is a pathos that was somewhat missing on Let It Sway, as “Yellow Missing Signs” has that ‘proper purgation of emotion’ highlighted by Aristotle as essential to any great art. It reminds me of how much I idolized them when I first saw them play in front of 20 other people at Detroit’s Lager House in February, 2006. – Chris Gedos

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Yellow Missing Signs

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin missouri (Official) (Bandcamp)

RATING: 8.35

brown8

reviewed by
08-20-11