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Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Look at Miss Ohio (Gillian Welch)

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Ben Leftwich gives his own unique and quiescing treatment to the Gillian Welch classic, “Look at Miss Ohio”. His delivery is soothing as a summer night in the midwest heartland (something that Miss Welch surely also appreciates). Grab a free copy of Ben’s cover at his Soundcloud. Also be sure to catch Ben on tour in the Americas this spring along with The Jezabels. Full dates are here and this show is a don’t miss!

Benjamin Francis Leftwich england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
03-21-12

Twin Terrace – Our Friend The Atom

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“Our Friend The Atom” has just the right amount of tune, riff-age and crunch, to make for a solid crossover rock track. Twin Terrace is the solo project of Gavin Redmond, from former indie rock band Vodkopter. TT will release its debut LP Plural this April.

Twin Terrace ireland (Facebook)

Rating 8.23

brown8

reviewed by
03-21-12

Ferals – Drifter

By Jon Herriot

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New track out of Vancouver from a dreampop group called Ferals. Anyone who likes Teen Daze won’t be disappointed. Maddi DeWalt sings on their music, and she has the voice for this genre for sure. The vocals are what separates this from some other chillwave stuff out there. They have a really nice EP on their bandcamp also, make sure to check it out if you dig this.

Ferals canada (Facebook)

Rating 7.9

brown71

reviewed by
03-21-12

China Rats – To Be Like I

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Haha, try doing a google image search for “China Rats”. We dare you! WARNING: There is some gnarly shit in store for you if you do. Liverpool’s China Rats debut single “To Be Like I” has decades worth of nostalgic jangle pop compressed into a single sticky-sweet 2 minute long garage session. We’re into it. Get familiar with China Rats below.

China Rats england (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
03-20-12

K’naan – Nothing To Lose (Will.i.am Remix)

By Stephen Dobrinich

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K’naan’s track ‘Nothing to Lose’ gets a whole new feel here, courtesy of Will.I.Am, and it’s hard to overstate the transformation. In the original, the quality delivered flow of both Nas and K’naan is all but wasted because of the choices in production. Between the exaggerated hook, contrived inspirational tone, and that fucking annoying dinging noise it’s enough to turn this listener off. Meanwhile, Will.I.Am’s mix rides a soulful sample that brings the cool cool heat.

K’naan canada (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
03-20-12

Big K.R.I.T. – I Got This (Prod. Big K.R.I.T.)

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Too nice. K.R.I.T. absolutely smashes this. New track “I Got This” is fire. Go and get it.

Big K.R.I.T. mississippi (Facebook)

Rating 8.6

brown8

reviewed by
03-20-12

Keep Shelly in Athens – DIY (The New Division Remix)

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LA-based band The New Division remix Keep Shelly in Athens’ “DIY” track from last year. We’re loving the wide open big beat feel TND have selected for on this mix. Listen.

The New Division california (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
03-20-12

B3SCI WANTS YOU TO GET ON OUR TEAM

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B3sci’ers! As we expand in 2k12 we’re looking for people like us who live/breathe/sleep/eat (good) music! Writing featured content (track reviews, album reviews, concert reviews), collaborating on new audio/video projects, or even help with marketing and promotions are just a few of the possible ways you can get involved. If you’re interested in getting on our team, hit our inbox with a link to something you’re listening to right now, your location, interest in the site and any reference links to your work that you may have. Talk soon!

reviewed by
03-19-12

YG – I’m a Thug (Feat. Meek Mill)

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Compton native YG grabs MMG soldier (and one of the hottest in the game right now) Meek Mill for new track “I’m a Thug”. DJ Mustard, who produced “Rack City” is on the beat here, crafting an instrumental that is like its predecessor very repetitive but also insanely catchy. “I’m a Thug” is a bit of a throwback to the great ignant rap shit of c. ’06-’07 (the peak for ignorant rap in the mainstream) with its minimalist-styled arpeggiated beeps and dirty south-esque bass. Look out for YG’s 400 Hunnid Degreez mixtape due March 26.

YG california (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
03-19-12

THROWBACK: The Lemon Pipers – Green Tambourine

By Chris Gedos

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The indisputable psych-bubblegum paragon, “Green Tambourine” was the first Buddha Records #1 when it reached the Billboard pinnacle in February, 1968. (Lou Christie, a Buddha alum, reached #1 with “Lightning Strikes” the year before, while he was still with MGM.) For some unknown reason, “Green Tambourine” and much of the best bubblegum from the Summer of Love era has been brushed under the soundboard by OBG radio (thinking of Strawberry Alarm Clock and 1910 Fruitgum Company). The Lemon Pipers’ follow-up, “Rice is Nice”, fizzled out at #46, but it’s a solid ditty in the Village Green / Odyssey and Oracle vein. The Lemon Pipers’ influence on both their contemporaries and subsequent acts like Super Furry Animals and The Flaming Lips is incredible. Not bad for a one hit wonder from Ohio.

Rating 9.31

brown93

reviewed by
03-19-12

Francis – Birds Down South

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Swedish band Francis’ new single “Birds Down South” is awesome. There is definitely some great songwriting knowhow at work on the track. We don’t really know that much else about the band but we’re psyched to hear more! Get familiar (with us) below.

Francis sweden (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
03-19-12

Lana Del Rey – Diet Mtn Dew (Urban Noize Remix)

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We (still) love “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans”. We’ll stand behind LDR on those tracks through for better and for worse; but the original “Diet Mtn Dew” track sucks. Despite that, Lana’s rhythmic ghostly hooky vocal line on the song is seemingly too much for remixers from all corners of the planet to resist messing with. The tract of “DMD” remixes is lengthy. Urban Noize’s mix, which interpolates rhymes from Jay-Z, just might be the best (that we’ve heard at least). Taking the unlistenable shitbrick that is the original and turning it into the fresh hip hop-influenced urban pop song the track’s creators probably first envisioned it being. Don’t miss this one.

Urban Noize florida (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
03-19-12