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RAVE’S FAVES: Skybombers – Lies

skybombers

Contributed by Bruce Rave

Skybombers’ 2008 “Take Me to Town” was one of my favorite albums of the last decade, but the punk/garage influenced record came out when people were far more interested in folk and electronic. Some of the swagger is gone from their new “Black Carousel”, but there’s still plenty of energy and melody as this band aces it hard, medium, or soft. Their “Lies” single is a great choice that’s both hard and soft, and it nicely shows the talent of lead singer Hugh Gurney.

Skybombers – Lies

Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST

Skybombers: (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.2

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reviewed by
04-14-11

Skream – Where You Should Be (Shy FX Remix)

skream

Mistajam debuted this Shy FX remix of Skream’s “Where You Should Be” a couple weeks back. The beats, the drum and bass, all that is cool but there’s a definite 90’s urban feel to Shy FX’s mix with the additions of an R&B flavored female vocal and some smoothed out synth stylings. Check it out.

Skream – Where You Should Be (Shy FX Remix)

Shy FX: (Myspace) (Facebook) (Twitter)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
04-14-11

Dom Kennedy – CDC (Feat. Casey Veggies & cARTer)

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Carter does manage to drop a Miss Cleo ref into his 16 bars but, no doubt, Dom went in on this. No contest.

Dom Kennedy – CDC (Feat. Casey Veggies & cARTer)

Dom Kennedy: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)

Rating: 7.8

brown71

reviewed by
04-14-11

Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise

beastieboys

Contributed by Erin Routson

Let’s be real: I didn’t listen to the last Beastie Boys record. I know what it was called, but I honestly ignored it. To the 5 Boroughs took them too far into a PC/preachy territory that I admire in their award acceptances/interviews but it’s a turn off when it comes out too heavy in their music. Other than that anomaly, I can still rap along with pretty much every record; something I find puzzling because I can’t even remember how to do math most of the time. Before I listened to “Make Some Noise”, I was wary. What if this track suffered the same fate I find Snoop in? (Too old to rap.) Luckily for me, MCA, Ad-Rock and Michael Diamond, it doesn’t. “Make Some Noise” is the Beasties aging without losing the funk and energy that permeated their earlier work. I don’t expect them to stay young forever, but I know they’re all still creative dudes. This delivers on that.

Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise

Beastie Boys: (Official) (Myspace)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
04-13-11

Jensen Sportag – Pure Wet

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Jensen Sportag’s “Pure Wet” is killer; such a unique sick mix of diverse yet complementary sounds, from the smooth to the sleepy to the visceral, the track is packed, loaded. Cheers to one of our favorite blogs, Yes Yes Y’all, for the tip on the track.

Jensen Sportag – Pure Wet

Jensen Sportag: (Official) (Myspace)

Rating: 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
04-13-11

Adele – Set Fire to the Rain (Plastic Plates Remix)

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Our girl Adele gets a little funky c/o of LA mixman Plastic Plates. Turn this one way up.


Adele – Set Fire to the Rain (Plastic Plates Remix)

Plastic Plates: (Souncloud) (Facebook) (Twitter)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
04-13-11

Ntjam Rosie – In Need

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Great. “In Need” features great vocals (the falsetto notes she breathes out into are just phenomenal) and great arrangement and instrumentation (the melodic jazz guitar and laid back rhythmic stylings do well to frame and support the song’s melodies). Like serious top of the game type stuff. Ladies of R&B, jazz, and soul (really all singers) take notice “In Need” is how you do it.

Ntjam Rosie – In Need

Ntjam Rosie: (Official) (Myspace)

Rating: 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
04-13-11

JCB – Embracing Solitude (Blackmill Remix)

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Blackmill’s take on Ellie Goulding’s “Your Song” was one of our fav remixes of 2010. #1 on Hypem for what seemed like ages, close to 1,000,000 views on YouTube, tweeted by Ellie Goulding herself, the track’s run punctuated a major moment for both our blog (it was a privilege to first discover the mix) and likely for the artist too, Blackmill. That said, Blackmill’s newest joint is a remix of “Embracing Solitude” by DnB producer JCB. We LOVE it! Blackmill’s feel for melody and its relationship with rhythm and cadence is really tops. Big things are in store for Blackmill, dude’s talent is next level. Stay tuned.

JCB – Embracing Solitude (Blackmill Remix)

Blackmill: (Soundcloud) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
04-13-11

Emancipator – When I Go (Stephan Jacobs Remix) (Feat. Taho Nguyen)

emancipator

Fresh.


Emancipator – When I Go (Stephan Jacobs Remix) (Feat. Taho Nguyen)

Emancipator: (Official) (Myspace)
Stephan Jacobs: (Official) (Myspace)

Rating: 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
04-13-11

Lykke Li – Velvet (The Big Pink Cover)

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Your love keeps lifting us higher. Higher and Higher. Go on, shake a tambourine, throw your hands to the sky and catch a little holy ghost on this recent Lykke cover of The Big Pink.

Lykke Li – Velvet (The Big Pink Cover)

Lykke Li: (Official) (Myspace)

Rating: 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
04-13-11

TOKiMONSTA – Breath On My Contacts

toki

Our girl TOKi dropped this fresh mix of Telepopmusik’s classic early 00’s glamjam “Breathe” for FREE on Soundcloud today. Cheers! TOKi’s mix takes the track to the wee hours, a place where consciousness and unconsciousness start to intersect, where awakeness gives way to adrenaline and somnolence gives way to the possible.

TOKiMONSTA – Breath On My Contacts

TOKiMONSTA: (Official) (Myspace) (Blog)

Rating: 8.7

brown93

reviewed by
04-12-11

The Weeknd – The Party & The After Party (BGS Morning After Remix)

weeknd

Background Sound is a new production duo out of New York. This remix of The Weeknd’s “The Party & The After Party” is some choice shit. Peep the duo’s Soundcloud for an equally sick FaltyDL remix. Get behind these guys.

The Weeknd – The Party & The After Party (BGS Morning After Remix)

Background Sound: (Soundcloud)
The Weeknd: (Official) (Twitter)

Rating: 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
04-11-11