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The 1975 – Head.Cars​.Bending

the 1975

b3 faves The 1975 come through with possibly their most challenging track to date with “Head.Cars.Bending.”. The R&B influence hinted at in earlier songs like “You” & “Chocolate” is dialed up further here with the band embracing more untraditional song & rhythm structures for indie pop. “Head.Cars.Bending” is quite unlike anything we’re heard before (in the best sort of way) and we’re definitely co-signing this particular lane for the band. The 1975’s s/t EP is due March 3rd on Dirty Hit.

The 1975 (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
02-07-13

Ghost Beach – Been There Before (Shook Remix)

Ghost-Beach-Been-There-Before-Shook-Remix

It’s Ghost Beach, duh! The great Shook takes “Been There Before” on the Caribbean cruise of its dreams; we’re talking co-ed competitive shuffleboard, tours of the captain’s bridge & quarters, waterslides, and all the conga lines to Buster Poindexter’s “Hot Hot Hot” one can handle.

Shook (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

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reviewed by
02-06-13

Banks – Before I Ever Met You

BAnks music artist

L.A.-based Banks does dark pop to perfection on new track “Before I Ever Met You”. (And we mean this in the most complimentary way) If Fiona Apple were 15 years younger and just emerging into music right now, her sound likely wouldn’t be too far from Banks on “Before I Ever Met You”. We are in love.

Banks (Facebook)

Rating 8.6

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reviewed by
02-06-13

Teedra Moses – Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Edition)

Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Edition)

R&B remixer of the moment Kaytranada tries his hand at a restyling the vocals of b3 fave Teedra Moses’ (Dear, Def Jam. Could we please get that MMG album of hers released? Thx!) track for “Be Your Girl”. Much in the same vein as his previous remix work, Kaytranada keeps it 3 A.M., soulful & A+. Get with it below.

Teedra Moses – Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Edition)

Kaytranada (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by
02-06-13

Balthazar – The Man Who Owns The Place

balthazar

Balthazar, a duo out of the UK, make their b3sci debut with the Leonard Cohen meets Dangermouse sound of “The Man Who Owns The Place”. The spaghetti western, heat of summer sweeping textures of the track’s production and arrangements provide a really sharp counterpoint for the Cohen/Gainsbourg/Zimmerman lane stylings of “The Who Owns The Place”s melodies. The band will be supporting Local Natives later this month on their European Tour, and you can sample the particulars (as well as the track) below.

Balthazar – The Man Who Owns The Place

Tour
Friday 8th Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Saturday 9th Edinburgh, Electric Circus
Monday 11th Dublin, Whelan’s
Tuesday 12th Liverpool, Kazimier
Wednesday 13th Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
Thursday 14th London, Scala
Tuesday 19th Copenhagen, Vega
Wednesday 20th Gothenburg, Pustervik
Thursday 21st Oslo, John Dee
Saturday 23rd Stockholm, Debaser Medis

Balthazar (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
02-06-13

Citizen – Worship + Tribute

citizen

London-based Citizen drops off his latest, the soulful 90’s-influenced house of “Worship + Tribute”. Citizen will be releasing his Citizen Trax project on Love Fever Records at the end of the month. You know you want to dance.

Citizen (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
02-06-13

Phil Beaudreau – This Is Why (Feat. Dawaun Parker)

Phill Beaudreau - This Is Why (Feat. Dawaun Parker)

R&B upstart Phil Beaudreau and producer Dawaun Parker convert another track to the gem category (each track’s been a diamond thusfar) with the beautiful conscious-driven “This Is Why”. The production (between the soulful horns and gloomy textured atmospheres) is absolutely lights out; and that dreamy falsetto chorus hook? Heavenly. Get familiar ASAP.

Phill Beaudreau – This Is Why (Feat. Dawaun Parker)

Phil Beaudreau california (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.7

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reviewed by
02-06-13

The Bronx on Virgin Mobile Live

The Bronx on VML

Radio host Abbey Braden recently caught up with Matt Cauthran of The Bronx to chat about the band’s new album IV, roman numeral education, ‘piping hot’ nachos, Disney Land hook-ups and more! It’s pretty hilarious stuff… give it your ears below.

*Tune into Virgin Mobile Live for more interviews and killer jams with Abbey Braden daily on VML.

reviewed by
02-06-13

Rave’s Fave: Tribes – How The Other Half Live

Tribes-2013

Tribes’ second album Wish To Scream won’t drop until May, but the single “How the Other Half Live” has hit the airwaves in the UK since being minted Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record In The World on Radio 1. Tribes is one of the best bands at combining older rock influences with a thoroughly modern feel. The new single not only continues in that tradition, and showcases growth on the pop side. Wish To Scream was recorded at the legendary Sound City in LA and the band stayed at a pad in Malibu with an ocean view. Talk about the best of both worlds, as Sound City of course is the subject of the new Dave Grohl film documentary. The Sound City room is famous for the drum sounds it produces, and you will appreciate that when you hear drummer Miguel Demelo’s driving beats on this track. By Bruce Rave

Tribes – How the Other Half Live (Official)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
02-06-13

Elephant – Skyscraper

Elephant

The breezy soulful “Skyscraper” is the latest from London duo Elephant. The warm winds of California soul-esque instrumentals (the beat/vocal manipulations on “Skyscraper” are next level) frame vocalist Amelia Rivas’ whistful forlorn melody. Memphis Industries will be releasing “Skyscraper” b/w “Spies” on March 26th.

Elephant (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
02-05-13

SKATERS – I Wanna Dance (But I Don’t Know How)

skaters i wanna dance

Check out NYC hype merchants SKATERS and their hotly tipped “I Wanna Dance (But I Don’t Know How)”. The track’s disparate yet complementary parts (new wave-y verse, UK indie chorus, modern indie pop bridge, etc) showcase the interesting amalgam of influences at work within the band. Get yourself a sample of “I Wanna Dance” below.

SKATERS – I Wanna Dance (But I Don’t Know How)

SKATERS newyork (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
02-05-13

Hanni El Khatib – Family

Hanni El Khatib - Family

Hanni El Khatib’s brand of blues/soul-driven rock and roll gets an assist from Akron OH guitar player Dan Auerbach on “Family”, the first single from the L.A.-based Khatib’s forthcoming Head in the Dirt. Auerbach’s hand is strong on “Family”; where the guts of 100 years of blues & soul & old-time R&B focused through the most precise and skillful arrangements Keys sort of sound helps propel Khatib into a palatability & accessbility he’s not yet not realized until now.

Hanni El Khatib – Family

Hanni El Khatib (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
02-05-13