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Avid Dancer – Under the Covers

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Refresh your vintage music memory bank with the recently released Under The Covers compilation; which is chock full of some very amazing classic covers from B3 fave singer-songwriter talent Avid Dancer (a.k.a. Jacob Summers). This is an epically good compilation and one of the best indie cover albums we have heard in years! We are impressed by HONNE’s terrific selection of classic tunes; from his sublimely-sunny nicely-understated hip and current sensitive-guy cover of Doors classic “Light My Fire”; to his rock solid vintage-vibe take on Kinks tune “Tired of Waiting”; to his subtle melodic-guitar-infused folk-vibe acoustic Elliot Smith wonder “Angel In the Snow”. Throw on top of that a far-out spacey, screechy electric-guitar-riffing indie-dance instrumental rip of 80’s-vintage Wang Chung hit “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” (which has an excellent quietly-electrifying slow-burner build-up to the epic chorus that we dig). We also really like the duo’s warpy-psychedelic bongo-infused cover of Curtis Mayfield classic “Move On Up” and his hazy reverb-y Queens of the Stone Age cover of “Make it Wit’ Chu”. In addition (last but not least) we also totally love Summers’s near perfect true-to-form cover of Tears For Fears’ 80’s epic “Mad World” (he slows down the original tempo and turns it from a broody vintage new-wave ballad into something quite amazing and even a bit Neil Young). The very catchy “Mad World” is our pic for the best of the bunch for its awesome sing-along qualities. We are enamored with the LA-based Alaskan’s outstanding production vision and versatile on-point vocals on the album and fully recommend Under The Covers. Dynamite album. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Reviewed by

Erin Shay

Avid Dancer
alaska(Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-04-15

HONNE – Gone Are The Days

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At this point in the year we are on the final countdown to our year-end lists (Best Album/Best Track/Artist-to-Watch (2015!)) and (dare we say) UK dynamo duo HONNE are a shoe in for a pick at (or near) the top (on possibly all three lists). The singer-songwriter pair hit #1 on our list of 2014’s Best Tracks with their totally fresh sultry-hazy vocals-led blusey-folk-pop sound on “Warm On A Cold Night” (which is a superbly transcendent track). We adore HONNE even more (is that possible) after hearing their excellent new mild-mannered piano-led up-tempo rhythm-infused year-end treasure “Gone Are The Days” which we think broaches a new sleeker, effortless (radio ready) sound for the duo that we hope carries into next year (the vocals are especially smooth). Also after having one of the best albums of the year under their belts (Over Lover), the guys seem to posses a seasoned artistic confidence which we think comes through beautifully in the song . HONNE are incredibly talented gents and we can’t wait to see how it all unfolds for them at year end (and into 2016). Stay tuned!
Reviewed by

Erin Shay

HONNE
england (Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
12-03-15

Foreign Air – Free Animal

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Prepare yourself for a positively dynamic first impression from new-to-B3 artist Foreign Air (US-based), a mysterious new act who we like for their slick and tremendously catchy memorable-hooked radio-ready career debut tune “Free Animal” which is a cross between some pretty solid classic nineties alt-rock vibes and a more modern Alt-J-esque sound. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Foreign Air (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
12-02-15

Mothica – No One

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For about a year we have followed (and been enchanted by) the ethereal vocal musings of talented NY-based songstress-producer Mothica, a new artist who has collaborated with some big names in 2015 (check out her wonderful joint collab “Know You Well” with Beshken and Mayo). We also like her anthemic-pop-vibe new one “No One”, a brilliantly simple beat-driven melody-infused vocals-led tune which (as you could judge from the title) sports a bit of a bad attitude towards love and possession (as evidenced in the sublimely-subtle cooly-delivered adamantly stand-offish lyrics). “No One” is Mothica’s first (solo) Soundcloud single and we think it makes a flawless debut. We love it. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Mothica (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
12-01-15

Taylor Bennett – Broad Shoulders (Feat. Chance the Rapper)

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For those of you who don’t know, Chance the Rapper’s brother is also an artist. His name is Taylor Bennett and he’ll be putting out an album of his own soon. The upcoming release’s title track “Broad Shoulders” features his older brother over a smooth piano beat and heartfelt verses from both brothers. Upon entering fatherhood, Chance’s lyrics have become increasingly introspective as he battles with the realities of having a child. Reviewed by Jake Goldstein.

Taylor Bennett (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-24-15

Joey Purp – Run It Up

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Chicago’s own Joey Purp is poised to drop his new album soon. In anticipation, he streams a new track titled “Run It Up” produced by Dimeji Faluyi. One of the more interestingly produced tracks I’ve heard of late, the beat switches up more than three times while Joey alternates flows and throws some auto-tune singing in there also. Reviewed by Jake Goldstein.

Joey Purp (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-24-15

Flamingosis – Getting Close To You

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Tremendously talented B3 go-to producer Flamingosis, who was most recently covered here for his wildly-cinematic lounge-y fantastical funk-centric jazzy-horn-entwined Chicago-street-vibe-imbued tune “Riding the L”, captures the essence of some sweet vintage-70’s vibes on his latest bright-summery snazzy-ebullient dreamy-drowsy drum-accented dance-inspired (stroke of greatness) instrumental original “Close to You”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Flamingosis (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-24-15

Lastlings – Chills

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Tune into the whispery-spritely pause-tempered seductive-sensitive vibrant-haunting female vocals on “Chills” the new excellent tone-drenched melodic beauty from B3-fave Australian brother-sister electro-pop duo Joshua and Amy Dowdle who are also known as Lastlings. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Lastlings (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-24-15

Hanna Jarver – Anekdoter

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Although we’re not entirely sure the meaning of most of the words she sings so sweetly in her native Scandinavian tongue, we adore the very pretty brightly-animated vocals of Stockholm-based artist Hanna Järver on her technicolor synth-struck Euro-pop dance tune “Anekdoter” which is out now via Cosmos Music. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Hanna Jarver (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-24-15

Krs – Faking It (Feat. Mars Today, Khary, Maurice Moore & Bnjmn)

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After enjoying a number of style-setting dance-oriented dynamics-loaded dancehall-heavy bootlegs from Toronto-based producer and Film Noir: Sound founder Krs, we are thrilled to discuss the launch of his long-awaited debut album S.I.W.A.H. (no clue what the name stands for or how to pronounce). The man Krs. sets off his own debut’s momentum like a charm with a potent first single called “Fakin” which is flawlessly produced by Krs. along with his pals SF-bred LA-based vocalist/producer Mars Today and Toronto producer Bnjmn.. New one “Fakin” features an artfully juxtaposed line-up of radiant-sublime odd-match songwriting chemistry and a clever-opposite combo of smash-hit vocals (from Mars Today, Canadian r&b songwriter/vocalist/producer Maurice Moore and Providence-based hip-hop artist Khary). We particularly recommend “Fakin” for its fine-tuned meld of impeccably catchy and hypnotic knockout-seductive (c’est la vie-vibe) catchy-refrain-driven vocals from Mars Today, Maurice Moore’s superbly sexy-sensitive songwriter swoon and Khary’s contrasting on-point quiet calamity of poetic-romantic hip-hop vocals (which have a slightly-gritty love-lamenting perspective that we can appreciate). Great collaboration! Reviewed by Erin Shay.

reviewed by
11-20-15

Rick Ross – Amazing Grace

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Get into the classically-excellent wise-cracking catchy-flow Rick Ross magic on new track “Amazing Grace”, the prolific trend bender’s sublimely chill production which has us all wondering when the man is going to do a full album of tunes stylistically just like this (mafioso beats, cold paced flows, etc). Call us Ross, we’ll produce it; you’ve got our number. Awesome track. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Rick Ross (Twitter)

reviewed by
11-17-15

Vanessa Elisha – Out of Time

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Tune in to the voluptuously emotive heart-spun vocals of B3 featured rising-star songstress Vanessa Elisha on her smooth new track “Out Of Time” which features the deep-sultry beat-textured modern r&b production artistry of bright-talent LA wiz-kid producer XXYYXX (featured a number of times here on the blog). Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Vanessa Elisha (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-17-15