Blahblahblah Science

Trails and Ways – Sure Thing (Miguel Cover) x Animal (Miike Snow)

The awesome Oakland crew Trails and Ways drop off this Marxist-restyled (seriously, check those lyrics) cover of one of our favorite R&B tracks of the last couple years Miguel’s “Sure Thing”. The T and W team select for a decidedly ’90’s Erykah Badu feel for the track, fully engaging the smoky/smooth guitars and rhythms. Grab a free download over at bandcamp and you’ll also score this stripped down version of Miike Snow’s “Animal” along with their take on M83’s smash “Midnight City”.

Trails and Ways – Sure Thing (Miguel Cover)

Trails and Ways – Animal (Miike Snow)

TRAILS AND WAYS (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by b3

09-07-12

ODESZA – Above the Middle

Electronic Track Reviews

Check out Washington state production duo ODESZA’s beautiful Yeah Yeah Yeahs-sampling track “Above the Middle”, previewed here from their awesome (and just dropped) Summer’s Gone LP. We are into it.

ODESZA (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by b3

09-06-12

Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean – Clique (Prod. Hit Boy)

Hip Hop Track Reviews

So yeah, THIS just dropped. First, the good: Hit Boy’s beat here is bananas, maybe one of his best productions to date. …And the bad: MEDIUM SEAN. Sean’s verse, which occupies the track’s leadoff slot is capital-A Atrocious. Like they couldn’t have put Pusha there? or 2 Chainz? OJ Da Juiceman? anyone? Get like b3sci and #fastforwardto1:52.

Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean – Clique (Prod. Hit Boy)

Kanye West (Official)

Rating 8.5

reviewed by b3

09-06-12

PREMIERE: Turtle Giant – Germany (Part II)

Rock Track Reviews

For those of you scouring the interwebs this week for the epic conclusion to “Germany” Part I by Brazilian trio Turtle Giant… then “X” marks the spot as b3sci invites you to indulge in this saga’s conclusion. The 7:35 (in it’s full form) rock opus leads off the band’s much talked about and forthcoming All Hidden Places EP. On this second half, Turtle Giant crank their surf rock beyond the reef, weaving the melodic vocal textures for an ever so apocalyptic and psychedelic ending to an incredible beginning… of their EP. Catch Part 1 of the track, which debuted earlier this week at Turntable Kitchen and grab a copy of the band’s All Hidden Places EP on September 18th.

UPDATE new stream with both Parts I and II below:

Turtle Giant (Facebook) (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by b3

09-06-12

Native Roses – Shadows

Rock Songwriter Track Reviews

“Shadows”, the latest single from UK act Native Roses, hits right in the b3sci “soulful acoustic jam” sweet spot. Produced by Guy Fletcher (of Roxy Music) and John Illsley (of Dire Straits), “Shadows” has a definite 70’s feel underneath it (a time when many titans of pop-rock were exploring more soulful elements into their music), Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits, Ace’s “How Long”. The harmonies and melodic diction on offer here are of the highest order. Do not miss “Shadows” in anticipation to Native Roses debut LP expected early 2013.

Native Roses – Shadows

Native Roses (Official)

Rating 8.5

reviewed by b3

09-06-12

G R E A T W A V E S – Into the Blue

Rock Track Reviews

Manchester duo G R E A T W A V E S (yes, that many spaces) rip free the pneumatic seal holding firm the great void. Dialing up a sound that in sheer scope and breadth can only begin to be described as oceanic or solar systemic, etc (and beyond), “Into the Blue” blows away just about any sort of peer track we’ve heard of late in the band’s comparative genre. Great track.

G R E A T W A V E S (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by b3

09-05-12

Curt@!n$ – Ruthless (Feat. Schoolboy Q)

Hip Hop Track Reviews

BK rapper Curt@!n$ grabs a Biggie sample and Schoolboy Q for his return to the hip hop blogosphere on new track “Ruthless”. Squarely in the “old school feel” category ,”Ruthless” rumbles & grinds to a relatively strong listen for much of its four minutes ten duration. We’ll be on the lookout for more new material from Curt@!n$ as a new mixtape announcement can’t be too far behind this new track.

Curt@!n$ – Ruthless (Feat. Schoolboy Q)

Curt@!n$ (Twitter)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by b3

09-05-12

You’ll Never Get to Heaven – Drowning Out

Rock Track Reviews

The sound on “Drowning Out” by Canadian duo You’ll Never Get to Heaven totally took us by surprise, if for anything because of it’s uniqueness. The record really stood out. There are a lot of genre touchstones on “Drowning Out”, there’s a jazz-informed piano loop, & cool droning synths that add distance and texture, as well as a really interesting selection for a dub’d out rhythm track, that and whistling. A simple whistled melody serves as the track’s hook. Check out and sample below and see if you’re as enamored with “Drowning Out” as we are.

You’ll Never Get to Heaven – Drowning Out

You’ll Never Get to Heaven

Rating 8.4

reviewed by b3

09-05-12

Daley – Remember Me (Feat. Jessie J)

Soul Track Reviews

Mancunian soulboy Daley fires his debut single the Blue Boy-sampling (yes, that Blue Boy from the 90’s) “Remember Me”. As evidenced by his linking up with the inimitable Ms. Cornish (we certainly like her much better in this lane than “Do It Like Dude”), Our Man in Manchester seems primed and poised for a significant push. “Remember Me” sounds like late 90’s pop, specifically that transitional late 90’s period when R&B’s hold on the charts was giving way to TRL-driven pop. In fact (and we mean this in the most complimentary way), “Remember Me” could be a lost demo for “Backstreet’s Back” or “Larger Than Life” and we’d be none more the wiser. Listen.

Daley – Remember Me (Feat. Jessie J)

Daley (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by b3

09-05-12

PREMIERE! Pale Seas – Bodies (Tropics Remix)

Electronic Track Reviews Videos!

Pale Seas link up with fellow Southamptonites, Tropics for a pleasant and cloudy seashore flip to their forthcoming single “Bodies”. It’s a melodic/musical wallow best spent like a vacation with eyes closed and relaxation top of mind. Check out b3sci’s premiere of this etherial experience below and take note that Pale Seas’ new double A-side single Bodies/My Own Mind drops on 7-inch via Communion Records on September 17th.

Pale Seas (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by b3

09-05-12

RAVE’S FAVE! The Presets – Ghosts

In the Mix Rave's Faves Rock

Australia’s Presets will soon embark on a US tour. This is an awesome live band that always creates a party. “Ghosts” is lower key than some of their dancier songs, and but it’s got a great melody that sticks in my head. The song has sort of an English pub feel to it. Check it out and if you’re in the US, hope it’s a great holiday weekend for you.

The Presets – Ghosts

The Presets (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.