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Interview with Yuna

This week Yuna released her most anticipated studio album to date, Nocturnal, via Verve Records. B3SCI contributor Tip Jordan recently had the chance to catch up with the acclaimed Malaysian singer/songwriter to discuss her album, song lyrics, Mary Poppins and more. Have a look at their conversation below.

B3SCI: The single, “Rescue” off of your new Nocturnal album was inspired by a friend of yours who you watched go through a rough time. Men and women alike have related to the song because it uplifts and celebrates triumph. What was your friend’s reaction when they heard the song? Do they know the song is about them?

YUNA: I don’t really tell them though, I just think they know, because I talk to them all the time and I always tell them I’m proud of them. So I think, on the low, they know what I was singing about!

B3SCI: How did you come up with titling your album, Nocturnal? Is there a concept or theory prevelant throughout the album?

YUNA: When it was time to name the album, I wanted a name that means something to me. I have this thing where sometimes I stay up late at night doing work, and sometimes that is when I’m tempted to be on the piano, that is when I stumble upon a cool Youtube video and pick up my guitar, or that is when I watch a movie and get inspired by a line in that movie. Or just randomly be thinking about stuff that you wouldn’t normally think about during the day because you get so caught up with daily life. At night is just kinda when I get to sit down, and be by myself, and be creative.

B3SCI: I read somewhere that you describe yourself and music as Mary Poppins & Coldplay. In what ways do you relate the two to yourself & artistry?

YUNA: I’d like to think that my music is very positive and quirky – like Mary Poppins! And Coldplay, well they are just amazing in making songs that would go straight to your heart, and I’m always attracted to the idea of making heartfelt music that’s good for the soul. I don’t know. I guess that was what I was thinking about when I wrote that down on my Myspace Music page 7 years ago.

B3SCI: How did you find your sound? You are not a “typical” artist in that you are pioneering a beautiful and rare genre of pop music.

YUNA: Long years of self-discovery! I went through all these different things in my life. Like since I was very little I went for auditions, sending demos to record labels, constantly failing, constantly trying, sang back ups, sang in a group… I did it all. Eventually when you’re tired of trying to be something, all you have left to do is just to be yourself and then you’ll find out what you really, really like and and you’ll figure out your true strength musically.

B3SCI: What music and artists inspire you? Anything that might come as a surprise to fans?

YUNA: Pop, Hip hop, RnB, rock, alternative, punk.. all of it. I guess the one artist that really inspired me to get up and write songs, and perform was Feist. I love Feist!

B3SCI: What activities do you like to partake in, during your spare time, in between traveling?

YUNA: Working on my clothing store NovemberCulture.com, designing for my new line 14NOV! I love it. I’m just constantly doing something and creating something even in my free time.

B3SCI: Will we ever get to see you with your hair down?

YUNA: Haha! Sorry I’d have to say no to that!

B3SCI: Are there any artists that you’d like to collaborate with that you haven’t already?

YUNA: SBTRKT… Coldplay..

B3SCI: Besides the fact that your voice is sultry and gravitating, your gift for song-writing is praised as well. What is the most powerful/favorite lyrics you believe you have written?

YUNA: ‘I come with a head and a heart, been using it from the start.’ – Mountains

B3SCI: “Falling”, the second single from Nocturnal, has the lyrics’, “I wanna forget, All this burden in my past I want to fall asleep, So I don’t have to remember!”. Is there a specific message you are wishing to convey in the song, that you’d like to share? Is their a story about how “Falling” came to be?

YUNA: Falling is a song about wanting some sleep because you just had enough of the day, or of someone, you know? You’re just like so tired and so disenchanted you just wanna take a break from it all and rest your mind, and hopefully the next day you’ll figure things out.

B3SCI: What can fans, expect from Nocturnal?

YUNA: There’s a lot of different stories in this album. The vibe is picked up and it is amplified on this album from where I left my fans… I think they’ll be surprised.

Interview By Tip Jordan

Yuna (Facebook) (Purchase Nocturnal)

reviewed by b3

10-30-13

Review: Jessie Ware w/ Rochelle Jordan @ The Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco 01/24/13

Live Show Reviews Pop Soul

We LOVE Jessie Ware. Love Love Love Love. That level of love, admiration and Devotion seemed to radiate not just the (infinitely psyched) members of the b3 team at Thursday night’s Rickshaw Stop show but the entirety (and this is not hyperbole) of the sold-out house on hand. So much love. After a somewhat banter-formulaic beginning (shout the city, tell them how good it is to be there, how cool that city is), that love seemed to overwhelm and grab hold of our Ms. Ware not long into her approximately 60 minute set. “(San Francisco) really is our favorite city.”

Jessie Ware, who first emerged in 2010 & 2011 as a featured vocalist on electronic and dubstep tracks by artists like SBTRKT & Joker, received near universal praise for her debut LP Devotion last year. Blending the classic R&B strains of artists like Aaliyah and Sade with more modern arrangements & instrumentations, the album’s (which somewhat ludicrously has not yet seen a physical release in the U.S.) 10 tracks span various and disparate (yet entirely complementary) styles of production and writing and our #5 album of last year.

Jessie Ware’s vocal performance. Just WOW. The quality, texture & conviction of her singing was very very impressive. Captivating without resorting to cheap needless theatrics; commanding while seeming totally accessible; Ware’s on stage persona and performance is one of a star. It seemed odd that Ware would play a venue as tiny as the roughly 200-person capacity Rickshaw Stop and her star was no doubt much larger than the venue size.

Opener & b3 fave Rochelle Jordan’s brief 20 minute set did also impress. The Torontonian soulstress’ spare voice + MPC set included roughly four-five songs and was highlighted by the excellent Kaskade-sampling “Shotgun”.

Thursday night’s performance felt special; it felt starmaking; it felt rare & valuable. We were witness to the emergence of a major star and Ms. Ware’s arrow could not point further northward now. A+.

reviewed by b3

01-27-13

B3SCI’S SXSW PREVIEW 2012

Live Show Reviews

Hey family. It’s that special time of the year again when the glitterati of the music industry descend on ATX to slap each other fives, layer their forearms in VIP wrist bands, and hopefully catch some cool bands. Planning for SXSW can be a daunting ask. The sheer number of bands, shows, parties, etc is ginormous. SXSW planning fatigue is real but b3sci is here to help! We’re setting you up with all our picks for can’t miss sets (our Top 5 for each nighttime hour of the festival) and showcases (our 3 faves for each night). Lego!

TUESDAY

Kendrick Lamar takes the 1100 Warehouse stage at 1 AM on Tuesday.

Showcases where you want to be:
1) Pitchfork @ Mohawk (& Patio): Schoolboy Q, Shlohmo, Star Slinger, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, Tycho
2) Warner Bros. @ La Zona Rosa: Flux Pavilion, Santigold, Theophilus London, Neon Hitch
3) Stone’s Throw @ Swan Dive: The Stepkids, MED, Strong Arm Steady

Can’t miss sets:
8:00-8:59 PM:
1) Shlohmo @ Mohawk (Pitchfork) (8:30)
2) Neon Hitch @ La Zona Rosa (Warner)
3) Boy Friend @ Swan Dive (Yours Truly)

9:00-9:59 PM:
1) Star Slinger @ Mohawk Patio (Pitchfork)
2) Theophilus London @ La Zona Rosa (Warner) (9:30)
3) Capital Cities @ Buffalo Billiards

10:00-10:59 PM:
1) The Stepkids @ Elysium (Stone’s Throw) (10:30)
2) Santigold @ La Zona Rosa (Warner)
3) Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire (Pitchfork)

11:00-11:59 PM:
1) Electric Wire Hustle @ Swan Dive (Yours Truly)
2) Beach Fossils @ Club 606 (Root Music) (11:30)
3) Tycho @ Mohawk (Pitchfork) (11:30)

12:00-12:59 AM:
1) Schoolboy Q @ Mohawk Patio (Pitchfork)
2) Caveman @ Bat Bar (Campfire Trails)
3) Flux Pavilion @ La Zona Rosa (Warner)

1:00-1:59 AM:
1) Kendrick Lamar @ 1100 Warehouse (XXL Mag)
2) Saint Motel @ Treasure Island
3) Built to Spill @ The Belmont (Space Ducks)

WEDNESDAY

NPR’s Wednesday night showcase features a 9 PM performance from Sharon Van Etten.

Showcases where you want to be:
1) NPR @ Stubb’s: Sharon Van Etten, Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes
2) Last Call w/ Carson Daly @ Red 7 Patio: Cults, Tennis, Lee Fields & The Expressions
3) Innovative Leisure @ 512: Hanni El Khatib, Nick Waterhouse, Allah-Las

Can’t miss sets:
7:00-7:59 PM:
1) Fiona Apple @ Stubb’s (NPR)
2) CFCF @ Barbarella (Dummy XO)

8:00-8:59 PM:
1) Fidlar @ The Main (Vans)
2) Mux Mool @ Club de Ville (Ghostly)
3) Anoraak @ Mohawk Patio (The Agency)

9:00-9:59 PM:
1) Sharon Van Etten @ Stubb’s (NPR)
2) Big K.R.I.T. @ Antone’s (Pandora)
3) Tristen @ Central Presbyterian
4) Ed Sheeran @ La Zona Rosa (Warner) (9:30)
5) Mansions on the Moon @ Velveeta Room

10:00-10:59 PM
1) Miguel @ The Belmont (SOB)
2) Kimbra @ La Zona Rosa (Warner)
3) Tennis @ Red 7 Patio (Carson Daly)
4) The Wedding Present @ Swan Dive (Suicide Squeeze)
5) Mannie Fresh @ Hotel Vegas Patio (10:30)

11:00-11:59 PM:
1) Alabama Shakes @ Stubb’s (NPR)
2) Lee Fields & The Expressions @ Red 7 Patio (Carson Daly)
3) Juvenile @ Hotel Vegas Patio
4) xxxy @ Barcelona (Halo Cyan)
5) Bahamas @ St. David’s Bethell Hall (Brushfire) (11:30)

12:00-12:59 AM:
1) Miike Snow @ Hype Hotel (Hype Machine)
2) Gary Clark Jr. @ La Zona Rosa (Warner) (12:30)
3) 2 Chainz @ The Belmont (SOB)
4) Nick Waterhouse @ 512 (Innovative Leisure)
5) The Pierces @ The Studio (HGTV)

1:00-1:59 AM:
1) Kasabian @ 1100 Warehouse (101x)
2) Purity Ring @ Chevrolet Sound Garage
3) We Were Promised Jetpacks @ Easy Tiger Patio (Scottish)
4) The Drums @ Stage on Sixth (Frenchkiss)
5) Hanni El Khatib @ 512 (Innovative Leisure)

THURSDAY

The newly reunited Jesus and Mary Chain play The Belmont at midnight Thursday.

Showcases where you want to be:
1) Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar/Dead Oceans @ Mohawk (& Patio): Sharon Van Etten, The War on Drugs, Nite Jewel, Gardens & Villa, Bear in Heaven, Gauntlet Hair
2) Music Matters @ Stage on Sixth (& Patio): Nneka, Miguel, Marsha Ambrosius, Big Sean, Stalley, Kendrick Lamar, Machine Gun Kelly, Smoke DZA, Big K.R.I.T.
3) Pitchfork @ Central Presbyterian: Nicolas Jaar, Grimes, Purity Ring, Charli XCX, Fiona Apple

Can’t miss sets:
8:00-8:59 PM:
1) Body Language @ The Madison (Bond)
2) Shigeto @ Barcelona (Surefire)
3) Stalley @ Stage on Sixth Patio (Music Matters) (8:30)
4) Family of the Year @ Maggie Mae’s Rooftop (Chop Shop)
5) The Chevin @ Latitude 30 (The Agency)
Prev. Mentioned: Electric Wire Hustle @ Driskll Victorian Room (StyleX), Fiona Apple @ Central Presbyterian (Pitchfork)

9:00-9:59 PM
1) Benjamin Francis Leftwich @ Latitude 30 (The Agency)
2) Gardens & Villa @ Mohawk Patio (Secretly Canadian) (9:30)
3) Charli XCX @ Central Presbyterian (Pitchfork) (9:30)
4) White Arrows @ Stubb’s (Spinner) (9:30)
5) Penguin Prison @ Lustre Pearl (Dickies)
Prev. Mentioned: Kendrick Lamar @ Stage on Sixth Patio (Music Matters)

10:00-10:59 PM:
1) Nneka @ Stage on Sixth (Music Matters)
2) Howler @ Bar 96 (Converse)
3) Girls @ Stubb’s (Spinner)
4) Robert Glasper @ Elephant Room
5) Curren$y @ La Zona Rosa (Warner)
Prev. Mentioned: Lee Fields @ ND (Windish), Purity Ring @ Central Presbyterian (Pitchfork) (10:30), Saint Motel @ Stubb’s (Spinner) (10:30)

11:00-11:59 PM:
1) The War on Drugs @ Mohawk Patio (Secretly Canadian) (11:30)
2) Meek Mill, Stalley & Wale @ La Zona Rosa (Warner)
3) Colleen Green @ Hotel Vegas (Hardly Art)
4) Class Actress @ 512 Rooftop (Carpark)
5) Grimes @ Central Presbyterian (Pitchfork) (11:30)
Prev. Mentioned: Big K.R.I.T. @ Stage on Sixth Patio (Music Matters), CFCF @ The Madison (Bond), Miguel @ Stage on Sixth (Music Matters), Mux Mool @ Barcelona (Surefire), Nick Waterhouse @ ND (Windish), Schoolboy Q @ Clive Bar (S.O. Terik), Tennis @ Club de Ville (Paradigm)

12:00-12:59 AM:
1) The Jesus and Mary Chain @ The Belmont
2) Nicolas Jaar @ Central Presbyterian (Pitchfork) (12:30)
3) The Temper Trap @ Stubb’s (Spinner)
4) Dev @ Chevrolet Sound Garage (12:30)
5) Seapony @ Hotel Vegas (Hardly Art)
Prev. Mentioned: Hanni El Khatib @ ND (Windish), Miike Snow @ Lustre Pearl (Dickies), Sharon Van Etten @ Mohawk Patio (Secretly Canadian) (12:30)

1:00-1:59 AM:
1) T.I. @ La Zona Rosa (Warner)
2) The Peach Kings @ Club 606 (The Roxy)
3) Oneohtrix Point Never @ Red 7 (Mexican Summer)
4) Niki & The Dove @ Driskill Victorian Room (StyleX)
5) Nite Jewel @ Mohawk (Secretly Canadian)

FRIDAY

Michael Kiwanuka will perform a set at St. David’s Sanctuary at Midnight on Friday night.

Showcases where you want to be:
1) KCRW @ The Parish: The Temper Trap, Crystal Fighters, Clock Opera, Alice Russell & Quantic
2) NME @ Latitude 30: Howler, Big Deal, Kindness, Chad Valley, Tashaki Miyaki
3) Biz 3 @ 1100 Warehouse: Skrillex, El-P, Hanni El Khatib, Nick Waterhouse

Can’t miss sets:
8:00-8:59 PM:
1) Alice Russell & Quantic @ The Parish (KCRW) (8:30)
2) 1,2,3 @ ND (Windish)
3) Tashaki Miyaki @ Latitude 30 (NME)
Prev. Mentioned: Ed Sheeran @ Stubb’s (Time Out), Nick Waterhouse @ 1100 Warehouse (Biz 3) (8:30), Tycho @ Clive Bar (S.O. Terik) (8:30)

9:00-9:59 PM:
1) AraabMUZIK @ Mohawk Patio (AM Only)
2) JMSN @ Club 606 (IAMSOUND)
3) Clock Opera @ The Parish (KCRW)
4) D/R/U/G/S @ The Madison
5) The Mynabirds @ Lamberts (Saddle Creek)
Prev. Mentioned: Hanni El Khatib @ 1100 Warehouse (Biz 3)

10:00-10:59 PM:
1) El-P @ 1100 Warehouse (Biz 3) (10:30)
2) Crystal Fighters @ The Parish (KCRW) (10:30)
3) Kindness @ Latitude 30 (NME)
4) The Big Pink @ Lustre Pearl (Dickies)
5) Karen Elson @ Stage on Sixth (Third Man)
Prev. Mentioned: Caveman @ Hype Hotel (IGIF), Nite Jewel @ Barbarella Patio (Wax Poetics), Star Slinger @ MACC (Pan Americana)

11:00-11:59 PM:
1) Thundercat @ Beauty Bar Backyard (Madison House)
2) St. Lucia @ Karma Lounge (Neon Gold)
3) Jack White @ Stage on Sixth (Third Man) (11:30)
4) Talib Kweli @ La Zona Rosa (Blacksmith) (11:30)
5) White Rabbits @ Hype Hotel (IGIF)
Prev Mentioned: Saint Motel @ Empire Automotive, Grimes @ Clive Bar (S.O. Terik)

12:00-12:59 AM:
1) Michael Kiwanuka @ St. David’s Sanctuary (Communion) (12:30)
2) Sepalcure @ The Madison
3) Cults @ ND (Windish)
4) YACHT @ Clive Bar (S.O. Terik) (12:30)
5) Daedelus @ Barbarella (Ninja Tune)
Prev Mentioned: Alabama Shakes @ Easy Tiger Patio (Girls Rock Camp), The Drums @ Stubb’s (Time Out), Howler @ Latitude 30 (NME), The Temper Trap @ The Parish (KCRW), The Pierces @ Stubb’s (Time Out)

1:00-1:59 AM:
1) Skrillex @ 1100 Warehouse (Biz 3)
2) Cloud Nothings @ ND (Windish)
3) PAPA @ Club 606 (IAMSOUND)
4) Girl in a Coma @ Easy Tiger Patio (Girls Rock Camp)
5) Laidback Luke @ Mohawk Patio (AM Only)
Prev. Mentioned: Alice Russell & Quantic @ Barbarella Patio (Wax Poetics), Dev @ Haven (Moodswing 360), xxxy @ Barcelona (Surefire)

SATURDAY

UK producer SBTRKT closes out the SBTURKS showcase at the Madison at 1 AM on Saturday night.

Showcases where you want to be:
1) Flowerbooking & FatCat @ Red 7 (& Patio): The Velvet Teen, Odonis Odonis, Ceremony, Breton, The Twilight Sad, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Star Slinger
2) Warp Records & Brainfeeder @ Empire Automotive & Club 606: Starkey, TOKiMONSTA, Daedelus, Hudson Mohawke & Lunice (TNGHT)
3) Huw Stephens @ Latitude 30: Toddla T, Slow Club, Maverick Sabre, Django Django, Clock Opera

Can’t miss sets:
8:00 PM – 8:59 PM:
1) Ceremony @ Red 7 Patio (FatCat)
2) Odonis Odonis @ Red 7 (FatCat) (8:30)
3) Savoir Adore @ Swan Dive (Red Ryder)
Prev Mentioned: Michael Kiwanuka @ Stubb’s

9:00-9:59 PM:
1) A$AP Rocky @ The Madison (SBTURKS)
2) The Velvet Teen @ Red 7 (FatCat) (9:30)
3) Blouse @ Frank (The Great Escape)
4) Charlene Soraia @ Frank (The Great Escape)
5) Madi Diaz @ St. David’s Bethell Hall (Hotel Cafe) (9:30)
Prev. Mentioned: Alice Russel & Quantic @ Stage on Sixth Patio (Nat Geo), Clock Opera @ Latitude 30 (Huw Stephens)

10:00-10:59 PM:
1) Breton @ Red 7 (FatCat)
2) Fanfarlo @ Hype Hotel (Hype Machine)
3) The Belle Brigade @ Clive Bar
4) Blackbird Blackbird @ Malverde (Bond)
5) Starkey @ Empire Automotive (Brainfeeder)

11:00-11:59 PM:
1) Maverick Sabre @ Latitude 30 (Huw Stephens)
2) TOKiMONSTA @ Empire Automotive (Brainfeeder)
3) Best Coast @ Hype Hotel (Hype Machine)
4) White Denim @ Jacked Stage (Doritos)
5) Gemini @ Beauty Bar (UKF) (11:30)
Prev. Mentioned: Nneka @ Stage on Sixth (Nat Geo)

12:00-12:59 AM:
1) The Heavy @ Stage on Sixth (Nat Geo) (12:30)
2) Dom Kennedy @ Scoot Inn (Thrasher) (12:30)
3) Jacques Greene @ Barcelona (XLR8R) (12:30)
4) Jimmy Cliff @ Stage on Sixth (Nat Geo) (12:30)
5) Hatcham Social @ 512 Rooftop
Prev. Mentioned: Anoraak @ Malverde (Bond), Daedelus @ Empire Automotive (Brainfeeder), We Were Promised Jetpacks @ Red 7 (FatCat)

1:00-1:59 AM:
1) SBTRKT @ The Madison (SBTURKS)
2) Slim Thug @ Barbarella Patio (Texas Showdown) (1:30)
3) Braid @ Dirty Dog
4) Hudson Mohawke & Lunice @ Empire Automotive (Brainfeeder)
5) XV @ Hype Hotel (Hype Machine)
Prev. Mentioned: Beach Fossils @ The Parish (Captured Tracks), Star Slinger @ Red 7 (FatCat)

reviewed by b3

03-10-12

B3SCI TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2011

B3Sci Mixtapes blahblahblahscience Electronic

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.

01. Adele – 21 (Buy It) (Read)

02. The Weeknd – House of Balloons (Buy It) (Read)

03. Drake – Take Care (Buy It) (Read)

04. James Blake – James Blake (Buy It) (Read)

05. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (Buy It) (Read)

06. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – We’re New Here (Buy It) (Read)

07. WU LYF – Go Tell Fire on the Mountain (Buy It) (Read)

08. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne (Buy It) (Read)

09. The Horrors – Skying (Buy It) (Read)

10. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (Buy It) (Read)

11. Wye Oak – Civilian (Buy It) (Read)

12. Girls – Father Son, Holy Ghost (Buy It) (Read)

13. Real Estate – Days (Buy It) (Read)

14. A$AP Rocky – Live Love A$AP (Buy It) (Read)

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

16. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake (Buy It) (Read)

17. The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient (Buy It) (Read)

18. Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming (Buy It) (Read)

19. Metronomy – The English Riviera (Buy It) (Read)

20. SBTRKT – SBTRKT (Buy It) (Read)

21. Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica (Buy It) (Read)

22. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From the Vaccines (Buy It) (Read)

23. Destroyer – Kaputt (Buy It) (Read)

24. The Antlers – Burst Apart (Buy It) (Read)

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

26. Beyonce – 4 (Buy It) (Read)

27. Wild Flag – Wild Flag (Buy It) (Read)

28. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Buy It) (Read)

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

30. Clams Casino – Instrumentals (Buy It) (Read)

31. Gillian Welch – The Harrow and the Harvest (Buy It) (Read)

32. Low Roar – Low Roar (Buy It) (Read)

33. AraabMUZIK – Electronic Dream (Buy It) (Read)

34. Active Child – You Are All I See (Buy It) (Read)

35. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues (Buy It) (Read)

36. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’ (Buy It) (Read)

37. Cults – Cults (Buy It) (Read)

38. Radiohead – The King of Limbs (Buy It) (Read)

39. Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials (Buy It) (Read)

40. Alex Clare – The Lateness of the Hour (Buy It) (Read)

41. Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise (Buy It) (Read)

42. Jhene Aiko – Sailing Soul(s) (Buy It) (Read)

43. The Stepkids – The Stepkids (Buy It) (Read)

44. Freddie Gibbs – Cold Day in Hell (Buy It) (Read)

45. Gardens & Villa – Gardens & Villa (Buy It) (Read)

46. Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know (Buy It) (Read)

47. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo (Buy It) (Read)

48. Foster the People – Torches (Buy It) (Read)

49. Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (Buy It) (Read)

50. Friendly Fires – Pala (Buy It) (Read)

reviewed by b3

12-27-11

B3SCI STAFF PICKS: Top 10 Albums of 2011

blahblahblahscience In the Mix

2011, it’s been real! To kick off our b3sci 2011 year end coverage, we start with Top 10 albums lists from each of b3science’s seven contributors. (We’ll detail our overall site picks in the next few days). 2011.

Troy:

01. Drake – Take Care
02. The Weeknd – House of Balloons
03. M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
04. Metronomy – The English Riviera
05. A$AP Rocky – Live Love A$AP
06. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
07. James Blake – James Blake
08. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80
09. SBTRKT – SBTRKT
10. Active Child – You Are All I See

Mike:

01. WU LYF – Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
02. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From…
03. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne
04. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
05. Low Roar – Low Roar
06. The Weeknd – House of Balloons
07. Wye Oak – Civilian
08. Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
09. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
10. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’

Chris:

01. WU LYF – Go Tell Fire To The Mountain
02. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
03. Giraffage – Comfort
04. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From..
05. Washed Out – Within and Without
06. James Blake – James Blake
07. The War On Drugs – Slave Ambient
08. The Postelles – The Postelles
09. Harrison Hudson – American Thunder
10. Caveman – CoCo Beware

Trevor:

01. James Blake – James Blake
02. A$AP Rocky – Live Love A$AP
03. Wale – Ambition
04. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’
05. Harrison Hudson – American Thunder
06. Fiore – Fiore
07. Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm
08. M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
09. Mike Higbee – Secret Life
10. Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves – Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves

Erin:

Let’s be honest. I probably didn’t listen to ten complete LPs this year that I would somehow deem “best” – it just isn’t in me anymore, maybe. I did, however, have enough musical bests paired with actual full records I loved to complete a top ten. Let’s review my 2011 faves: there are ten, they are not ranked.

tUnE – yArDs, W H O K I L L (4AD)
If someone forced me to name my best record of the year, I’d bet this would be it. While I’ll never get over the late 90s stylization of her musical pseudonym, Merrill Garbus made songs that said things I wanted to hear couched in melodies and harmonies that push me from Africa to doo-wop to “America.” There is true joy in the music she makes, even if she’s talking about eating disorders or inner-city violence. High up on the “things I danced to alone in my room” list of this year.

turntable.fm/Spotify
While I’d consider turntable.fm mostly dead in my day to day life, it ruled my world for a few weeks over the summer. I heard more great stuff I know I would’ve never come upon on my own, but I guarantee you it wasn’t in dubstep rooms. I spent time chatting and playing jams with friends I wouldn’t see for months. Turntable gave me all of the plus factors of a 1996 chatroom backed with a way better soundtrack than I would’ve had then. Spotify swooped in a few weeks later, and now I find myself listening to nearly anything I want at any time while creating playlists with friends throughout the day. Not as immediate as turntable, but somehow less of a time suck. I don’t love the ads, but I know I can get rid of them if I want.

PJ Harvey, Let England Shake (Island/Vagrant)
Overwrought concept albums can be a drag. (Confessional: I am a long-time PJ Harvey fan, guilty of knowing all of the words to “Rid of Me” by heart at a very young age.) If someone had told me a concept album by Harvey about England, bloodshed and warfare would be one of my favorite releases this year, I might have been a bit perplexed. The melodies, language, and instrumentation around this record, however, do more to transport listeners rather than alienate them. “Inaccessible” is a word often used to describe records, and I could see how some of Harvey’s records may be that way. This, however, works magic.

Jay-Z & Kanye West, “Why I Love You” (Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation/Def Jam)
I know this record is on everyone else’s list, and that’s fine, but only one of its tracks got repeat plays with me. The production on Watch The Throne is amazing, I can’t deny it, but nearly nothing about that record sticks for me. I revisited it months after it leaked and I still couldn’t get into it as a whole. Jay-Z and Kanye West are two of my all-time favorites and I thought this record would be my dream. It wasn’t. “Why I Love You”, though, is a jam. Great sample, great chorus, okay-enough rapping.

Iceage, New Brigade (What’s Your Rupture?)
There will never be a time in life that I don’t like channeling my inner teenage dude. I know he’s there, just waiting for me to listen to the Stooges for another few hours or cackle while watching episodes of Beavis & Butt-head. 24-ish minutes of gothy punk energy (the longest track at 3:08), Iceage are my Ramones for 2011.

Drake, Take Care (Young Money/Cash Money)
I can’t stop playing this record. Merrill Garbus and Drake might have to duke it out. I thought Thank Me Later was lackluster – too much bravado and cameo, not enough actual persona. With Take Care, though, I feel like Drake is getting back to a place where he’s comfortable: an introspective, lonely look in the mirror at fame and alienation from where he thought he was a few years ago to now. On hip-hop records I’m usually disappointed if they’re not full of bangers but this one tempers enough production with the same amount of restraint.

Willie Mae Rock Camp & Kelly Clarkson, “Since U Been Gone” (RCA)
Over the summer, I volunteered for the first time at Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls in Brooklyn. I spent an exhausting and fulfilling week making sure a bunch of 8 & 9 year olds made it to their instrument class, ate their lunches, and sort-of listened during workshops about the blues, gender, and other topics regarding women in music. Every counselor had her musical kryptonite and everyone very quickly found out Kelly’s jam was mine. I danced & sang to it all week when it played during various end-of-day dance parties, and one of the campers and I shared it as our best memory of the week from songwriting class. At the showcase wrapping up camp, the volunteer band played it as their song for soundcheck. I belted it just as I had every other day.

Party of Helicopters at Death By Audio, Williamsburg, February 13, 2011
I got my knees slammed into the stage all night long at this show, with terrible bruises to show the next day, but it was well worth it. They are my favorite band from my most formative years, the one whose album art my body will carry to my grave; every opportunity to relive that time while seeing them live is worth it. Even though they’ll never play “A New Kind of Power” for me no matter how many times I request it, I don’t care. I love them. Forever.

Björk, Biophilia (One Little Indian/Polydor)
There was a time growing up that I spent most hours lying on the floor in my room listening to records. Bjork was always a part of this ritual, and listening to this record sends me back to that time in my life (I am full of memories this year). “Crystalline” is a perfect hybrid of Telegram-style remixes and Vespertine vocals. “Cosmogony” hearkens back to the antics of Medulla. Everything is nostalgic, but everything is new. The David Attenborough-narrated companion iPhone app is an excellent companion if you can’t make up your own visuals in your mind.

Sharon Van Etten, “Serpents” (Jagjaguwar)
Seeing her play this live last Tuesday only further got me stoked for her record next year. Her voice is the most haunting to me, and this is that quality at its finest. Percussion and expansion of her sound into what it is on this track alone (I hear you, Aaron Dessner) bode well for the rest of Tramp. Can’t wait.

Bruce:

01. The Kills – Blood Pressures
02. Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys
03. The Airborne Toxic Event – All At Once
04. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect…
05. Foster The People – Torches
06. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
07. The Black Keys – El Camino
08. Sleeper Agent – Celabrasion
09. The Rapture – In The Grace Of Your Love
10. The Wombats – This Modern Glitch

11. Honorable mention to My Morning Jacket and Teddybears

Elliott:

01. Alex Clare – The Lateness of the Hour
02. Nero – Welcome Reality
03. Thievery Corporation – Culture of Fear
04. SBTRKT – SBTRKT
05. Tyler, the Creator – Goblin
06. Bassnectar – Divergent Spectrum
07. Dave Nada – Blow Your Head Presents: Moombahton
08. James Blake – James Blake
09. M83 – Hurry up, We’re Dreaming
10. Crookers – Dr. Gonzo

reviewed by b3

12-21-11

Jessie Ware – Strangest Feeling

Pop Track Reviews

You may have heard the syrupy tones of Jessie Ware before on records by SBTRKT or Joker but we’re not gonna talk about that we’re gonna talk about her voice. And what a voice it is. Ms. Ware’s ability to evoke precise emotion and feeling and still maintain expert phrasing and vocal rhythm is at a level that is truly exceptional. Get (re)familiar below.

Jessie Ware – Strangest Feeling

Jessie Ware (Facebook) (Twitter)

Rating 8.2

reviewed by b3

11-03-11

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