Aussie exports Them Swoops connect the stellar melodic dots with second single “Too Fast For Love”. The order for the track is choice indie rock melody, choice indie rock melody, and more choice indie rock melody, as the Oz band fires tuneful salvo after tuneful salvo on “Too Fast For Love”. If you’re in Australia (or just visiting!), look out for the band to be touring the country later this month.
Them Swoops 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Sharkmuffin, out of Brooklyn, bless b3 with a power pop gem with “The Lake”. The track, although wall to wall packed with great melodies and hooks, has a nice overall dynamic to it; building tension and volume into the track’s awesome visceral finish. Frontwoman Tarra Thiessen, who’s vocal performance on the track is A+, reminds a bit (in a very good way) of Chrissie Hynde. Stay tuned for a 7-inch release of “The Lake” from Sharkmuffin later this month.
Sharkmuffin – The LakeSharkmuffin 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
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.
“Pinecone” is new from Bay Area soulstress Kacey Johansing. Melodically styled more in the lane of torch song jazz or even classic Southern soul, Ms. Johansing on “Pinecone” takes her time with the tune; let each note breathe up and out into the mix. Arranged with some beautifully atmsopheric harmonies and an instrumental that we’ll make you feel as if you’re floating somewhere just off the Golden Gate, “Pinecone” winds and ebbs, sways and flows like any great story (or Sunday afternoon in The Bay). (KKS)
Kacey Johansing 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Get psyched on some next level melodic rock and roll via Aussie budstep band Dune Rats and get their b3sci rec’d “Sexy Beach” EP while they’re hot. (R&G)
Dune Rats – RatbagsDune Rats (Facebook)
Rating 8.0
I recently caught Brooklyn-based, and punk-influenced, Parquet Courts as they stopped by The Echo in Los Angeles last Tuesday night. The band were on the west coast leg of their first national tour in support of their debut album Light Up Gold. That night PC exuded a noteworthy and raw energy, fitting nicely with the likes of Cloud Nothings and Metz. While the set began somewhat on the ragged side with an instrumental jam, things kicked-in full force by the time the band launched into their single “Borrowed Time”. From that point on the show was tight and the musicianship stellar as Parquet Courts blasted through their set of short, well-crafted tunes. Set finale, “Yr No Stoner” surprised me with its approximately 10-minute bluesy jam which showed off another side of the band. These guys can definitely play. Parquet Courts’ onstage vibe is southern in an earthy way.
Highly unassuming, the guys didn’t interact much with each other or with the crowd. They didn’t come off as aloof. It was more like a bunch of guys with integrity who might work at Whole Foods or Google. Guitarist-vocalist Andrew Savage commented that the crowd was very still and he was right. The half-capacity throng was quiet, but this band held their attention and the after-show assessments tended to be very positive. By Bruce Rave
* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!
Parquet Courts – Borrowed TimeParquet Courts (Official)
If this were an random choice for a cover of The Call, it would be awesome enough. Not only does Black Rebel Motorcycle Club totally nail this version of “Let The Day Begin”, but leader Robert Bean was the son of Michael Bean, who fronted The Call in the 80’s. Father Michael was on the road with BRMC in Europe, doing sound for the band, when he suddenly passed away in his early 50’s. Specter At The Feast is the new album from BRMC that drops in March, and this is the first single. What a great choice! For my ears, my fave BRMC tunes are always the more uptempo tracks that rock. By Bruce Rave
BRMC – Let The Day Begin
(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!
b3 fave Giraffage takes the whole dreamscape R&B/hip hop beats thing that’s become so popular in the last 6-12 months next level. Stay tuned for Giraffage’s “Needs” mixtape (from which “Thinking About You” is excerpted) up in your area February 12th.
Giraffage (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
The West Coast team of Johaz (rhymes) & Exile (beats) a/k/a Dag Savage get some soulful support in the form of Aloe Blacc’s buttery tones. Dag Savage’s “Salvation” EP is out today, so catch a little holy ghost, and get at your neighborhood iTunes ASAP.
Dag Savage – When It Rains Ft. Aloe BlaccDag Savagem (Official)
Rating 8.3
Of course we love this. Still, everytime we hear the 50 year old man component of this track rap about make-up sex, it’s a little weird. Welcome back, JT.
Justin Timberlake – Suit & TieJustin Timberlake 
(Official)
Rating 8.4
Renowned producer on the rise – Cyril Hahn flips the forthcoming single from hottly tipped songstress Gabrielle Aplin. Stay tuned for more to come from both artists in 2013. Also, be sure to check out Cyril on his debut European tour.
TOUR DATES:
22/02/2013 – Hoetell (Oslo, NORWAY)
23/02/2013 – Club 55 (Warsaw, POLAND)
26/02/2013 – Fiftyone27 (Bristol, UNITED KINGDOM)
27/02/2013 – Le Lieu (Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM)
28/02/2013 – Heat&Defeat (Vienna, Austria)
1/03/2013 – Riot @ Simons (Copenhagen, DENMARK)
2/03/2013 – 7 years of FORMA.T (Liege, BELGIUM)
4/03/2013 – NQ Live – (Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM)
5/03/2013 – Killer Kitsch (Glasgow, UNITED KINGDOM)
6/03/2013 – The Button Factory (Dublin, IRELAND)
7/03/2013 – Social Club (Paris, FRANCE)
8/03/2013 – Sidings Warehouse (London, UNITED KINGDOM)
8/03/2013 – Audio (Brighton, UNITED KINGDOM)
9/03/2013 – SVMK Festival (Stockholm, SWEDEN)
Cyril Hahn 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Jessie Ware took to the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday evening 12/13/12 for the first west coast leg of her debut US tour. The venue that night was packed with fans who had been patient (to say the least) in the months leading up to the show. The performance had originally been scheduled to take place at the venue’s smaller stage and Bar section, yet due to an overwhelming demand, extra tickets were raffled off in a ‘try your luck’ type fashion, leaving many crossing their fingers for the chance to see the rising star. ‘Luck’ actually proved to be a good de-script for anybody who got the chance to see the recent Mercury Prize nominee perform that night, as Ware gleefully showcased tracks off her stellar debut LP Devotion for the first time ever in Los Angeles… and second time ever in the States.
In tow with stripped down and minimal three-piece band, Jessie Ware opened the evening’s set with the title track from her album. The crowd response seemed overwhelming to the singer as the mid-tempo R&B, AC vibes of “Devotion” set an exciting tone for the rest of the night. Between performing tracks, a talkative Ware wrapped a captive audience into her world with the personal touch of conversation, chatting up fans about her recent misquote in Pitchfork about Big Pun (“I love Big Pun” she clarified), how the venue reminded her of the place she had her prom, and even enquiring where she would go about finding some valley girls and even Larry David during her stay in the city. When Jessie wasn’t conversing with fans, her dynamic voice told story through the power of song. Leading her steady band of drums, 4-string bass, guitar, and the occasional synth (performed by her), Ware delivered on her unique style of sultry and no frills soul-pop and R&B, that’s equally smooth and chill as it is forward thinking. There were moments during the set that you could hear a pin drop. Her performance of “Wildest Moments” was a standout of the evening. The ballad, with it’s several recent primetime TV placements, displays some compelling Top 40 potential. It could very well be that next big, slow dance prom caliber tune. The crowd grooved along with the singer as they joined her to sing along to each and every song. Ware ended her set on a high with a strong performance of her ‘best tracks of 2012’ worthy jam, “Running”.
It has no doubt been a big year for Jessie Ware. And her performance that Thursday night only helped to assure any premonitions that with some more great records, and a chart topping hit or two under her belt, this young UK songstress is in the running as something like a Sade-caliber artist for the next generation. Only time will tell, but for now it seems that much is in store for the prospering young star.
Jessie Ware (Facebook)
