S/O to all our family “South Coasting” it right now. Tout route.
Skylab 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Picked this sharp little tune up while on holiday in Ireland last week (we back!). For our fellow Americans, Alexandra Burke won the UK X Factor back in ’08 and was a judge on the show last year. The neat dance pop (we are surely suckers for it) of “Let It Go” is the second single from Burke’s upcoming “Heartbreak On Hold” LP due in June. This sound is played out to the Nth right now; but “Let It Go” has a great melodic quality and energy to it that definitely will warrant your attention.
Alexandra Burke 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Previewed from his forthcoming release There’s No Leaving Now, The Tallest Man On Earth continues a streak of great songs titled “1904”. The track debuted today at Rolling Stone as a free download. It’s a celebratory track that ponders life and death, check it out!
The Tallest Man On Earth 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
Jake Bugg tells us all story with “Country Song”. And does so, as he best puts it, “from the heart”.
Jake Bugg (Facebook)
Rating 8.5
By Chris Gedos
“The Front Steps”, by Mrs. Magician singer / songwriter Jacob Turnbloom, displays a startling versatility on the part of the San Diego, CA native. The song, part of Jacob Turnbloom’s Death Tapes, a limited release of various bedroom recordings, is properly rooted in the reverb-core / slacker tradition. Gripping from the first chord and with a wonderful, building arrangement, the abstruse delivery is a complete 180° from the Mrs. Magician LP released earlier this spring. While that album is perfect summer hipster BBQ music, “The Front Steps” is private, intimate, to be cherished.
Jacob Turnbloom 
(Label)
Rating 8.34
We won’t front, the last month or so has been a bit hella crazy at B3SCI HQ. It’s the good crazy though, like growing pains or maybe some sort of music blog puberty (or something like that). And just because there’s been so much music on the plate, here’s a collection of tracks (new and from the vault) finding some steady play through our speakers as of late.
“Ice Palace” is the latest offering from the up and coming Portland artist, Onuinu, who’s fresh perspective on experimental electro pop is engaging to say the least. Check it out.
Onuinu 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Come celebrate the life and music of the late Levon Helm this Tuesday at The Mint in Los Angeles. The night will begin with a dinner and rare screening of the Levon Documentary: Ain’t In It for My Health which has been making it’s tour around recent film festival circuits. Per the Los Angeles Film Festival:
Starting with the image of a tour bus warming its engine in the stillness of an empty lot, this haunting, personal portrait of music legend Levon Helm evokes the mood of a lifetime spent on the road. Jacob Hatley’s extraordinarily intimate documentary finds Helm, a founding member of The Band, at home in Woodstock in the midst of creating his first studio album in 25 years. The ultimate survivor, he’s overcome drugs, bankruptcy, the bitter breakup of The Band and a bout of throat cancer -but then, as the rueful title indicates, he wasn’t in it for his health.
Following the documentary The Dead Ships, The Dustbowl Revival, The Muddy Reds, John Wayne Bro, The Driftwood Singers and some special guests will be collaborating and jamming out some of Levon Helm’s best known songs. This is an opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the life and work of Levon Helm that you can’t see anywhere else.
All proceeds from the night’s event go to Rocking Out Cancer.
The Mint (Event Info) (21 & over)
Opening the evening and armed with only his six-string, Benjamin Francis Leftwich brought a sold out crowd to a stand-still at the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood on Friday night. The York based singer-songwriter and recent Vagrant signee held the captive audience for his brief 35 minute set.
Fans sang along to Leftwich’s inquisitive lyrics and distinctive voice. I’ll admit, I was interested to hear the hushness and subtle rasps of his vocals in a live setting. Could someone actually sing like that? They can and Leftwich serves an example. Perhaps the smokes help, as Ben asked the audience to ‘crash’ a cigarette between one song. The banter was casual as the atmosphere and songs were dedicated to executives that were, as he put it, “half man and half dragon”, and tales of getting approached by hookers while on tour in NY. Ben sang his way through a short set material including “Maps”, “Is That You On That Plane”, and closed things with “Atlas Hands” leaving on lookers with an invitation come catch him at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood this coming Wednesday night.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich (Facebook)
Next on the stage were Imagine Dragons who performed with the tightness and showmanship of a summer festival band. They have the sort of energetic sound medly that has become synonymous with the modern rock charts over the last twelve (or so) years. Frontman and singer Dan Reynolds wailed on a variety of percussion intermittently throughout the set, including one seriously gigantic mounted kick drum, some floor-toms, shakers, etc. His extra percussion role seemed to border the space between what constitutes things that make for added-depth or gimmick in any band. Either way, the role fills out the fullness of a big sound that many fans become familiar with on record. I’ve seen bands able to swing both ways on this sort of element. Recent single “Radioactive” especially drove home to the capacity filled Troubadour. Imagine Dragons rounded out a lengthy set with an appropriate shout out to local radio for all of their recent love.
Imagine Dragons 
(Official)
The Jezabels are a band that give off a nostalgic wash somewhere in the midst of their atmosphere of delay guitar driven, synth fueled dance rock. Singer Hayley Mary has a charisma, it’s a bit of a star quality that’s not without its own critique, she also has an impressive vocal range that can maneuver with the best of them. The reference list could go from Stevie Nicks, to Benatar, and Hynde to even contemporaries like Karen O and (dare we say) Hayley Williams (add a little Chris Martin like diction). Combine it all with her confident and free-spirited stage presence, and we have the one and only Hayley Mary. As for the band members, the guitar work particularly weaves well throughout the layerings of keyboards courtesy of Heather Shannon. If you like your guitar pop bands served with a lush side of uptempo and well-informed indie rock, then catch Jezabels live and spin a few tracks off of their new debut Prisoner LP.
The Jezabels 
(Facebook)
By Erin Shay
Kodak to Graph works the middle and elevates it with a slow burner and serious compliment to “Work the Middle” by Andrea. It’s soulful and smooth around all-the-right-edges and has the gradual harmonic clarity and the fancy of an old style cartoon. Kodak to Graph takes you on a subtle atmospheric trip as resolute and refreshing as a full system reset. Turn it up!
Kodak to Graph 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
By Bruce Rave
Silversun Pickups return with their long-awited album number three It’s a fairly relaxed affair with a few tracks that will rock you, including “Dots and Dashes”. Nikki Monninger’s base line hooked me right out of the box, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this track become a single after “Bloody Mary” has had its hit run.
Silversun Pickups (Facebook)
Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 8-10 pm Pacific, 11-1 am Eastern Fridays, 4-6 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.
