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Mini Mansions – Monk

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So as I started writing this blurb for Mini Mansions’ (a band I had heard of in passing but not really digged into yet) track for “Monk”, I was thinking… “UK band Mini Mansions sound like Supergrass” (or something like that.) So I go to look up what town English town these Mansions blokes are from and lo and behold, suprise surprise, they’re actually from L.A. AND is fronted by Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman. That’s a pretty nice pedigree. “Monk” is a great tune, somewhere between the dusty blues-inspired sounds of 60’s bands like The Zombies or The Hollies or the dusty blues-inspired sounds of 90’s-00’s bands like, yes, Supergrass.

Mini Mansions – Monk

Mini Mansions: (Myspace) (Official)

Rating: 8.5

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reviewed by
05-17-11

Neon Hitch – Silly Girl (Remix) (Feat. Wale)

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This is the remix. That’s Neon Hitch and this is WALE! This official remix to the British trapeze artist/singer’s big single “Silly Girl” sways as much as it pops. Trying to listen and not tapping your toes or humming the melody back is next to impossible. Exhibit A: We tried like 20 times this morning as we had the tune on repeat rotation at b3sci HQ.

Neon Hitch – Silly Girl (Remix) (Feat. Wale)

Neon Hitch: (Myspace) (Official) ()

Rating: 8.1

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reviewed by
05-11-11

Lady Gaga – The Edge of Glory

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CDQ of the new Gaga single “The Edge of Glory” just dropped to the interwebs within the last few minutes. Definitely feeling this more than the first couple singles. The tune’s last bits even seep into 80’s Springsteen territory a bit complete with fat sax and uplifting vibes. Clarence Clemmons. Tip to our friends at Hard Candy Music

Lady Gaga – The Edge of Glory

Lady Gaga: (Official) (Twitter)

Rating: 7.8

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reviewed by
05-09-11

Ed Sheeran – Lately (Feat. Devlin)

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UK singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s been on the b3sci radar for a minute now. He’s been blowing up as of late all over England; including frequent rotation on Radio 1. “Lately”, co-produced by Sheeran, is included as part of his “No. 5 Collaborations” EP, which finds the tunesmith on a more electro/beats-driven tip. Not that we’re complaining, “Lately” is excellent. 1) Check it out below, 2) love it, 3) ???, 4) then buy that shit!

Ed Sheeran – Lately (Feat. Devlin)

Ed Sheeran: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)

Rating: 8.1

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reviewed by
05-02-11

Low – Witches

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“Witches” finds the Minnesota-based band at one of its best moments. A a slow-driving, slow-burning base of guitar and rhythm form the the underbelly of a tune that really soars on its powerful, vaguely spiritual, sometimes almost Dylanesque melody. A great song from a great band.

Low – Witches

Low: (Myspace)

Rating: 8.2

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reviewed by
05-02-11

RAVE’S FAVES: The Airborne Toxic Event – Welcome to Your Wedding Day

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Contributed by Bruce Rave

The Airborne Toxic Event just conducted a clinic on how to avoid a sophomore slump. They’ve evolved, but not so much that they sacrificed their base. This album sounds bigger and they’re already had airplay success with their “Changing” song. The band decided to explore deeper topics this time around, after band members lost loved ones and had sick parents. “Welcome to Your Wedding Day” has nothing to do with the big day in the UK. It’s a killer tune that condemns drone bombing.

The Airborne Toxic Event – Welcome to Your Wedding Day

The Airborne Toxic Event: (Official) (Myspace)

Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST

Rating: 8.1

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reviewed by
04-28-11

Belle Brigade – Where Not to Look for Freedom

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“Where Not to Look for Freedom”, the title track on Belle Brigade’s recently dropped debut LP, is easily our fav song from the record. The tune, which features a killer lights-out-awesome chorus, sonically falls somewhere between Born to Run-era Boss and Thin Lizzy; if those geezers had come up from somewhere filled with a bit more sunshine. Get into it by pushing play below.

Belle Brigade – Where Not to Look for Freedom

Belle Brigade: (Official) (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.0

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reviewed by
04-27-11

BOAT – Classically Trained

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BOAT’s “Classically Trained”, new off their recently released fourth LP Dress Like Your Idols, is a proper guitar tune with GREAT melodies. From verse to chorus, prechorus to bridge, vocal harmony and guitar layering abound, building the song’s excellent dynamics. Sounds good, right? You know what to do! Get into it below.

BOAT – Classically Trained

BOAT: (Official) (Myspace)

Rating: 8.3

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reviewed by
04-20-11

THROWBACK SATURDAYS: Patti Drew – Hard To Handle

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Patti Drew’s timely take on the Otis Redding penned top 50 hit. It somehow makes you feel like this tune still has more to offer.

Patti Drew – Hard To Handle

Buy It: (Amazon)

reviewed by
04-16-11

JCB – Embracing Solitude (Blackmill Remix)

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Blackmill’s take on Ellie Goulding’s “Your Song” was one of our fav remixes of 2010. #1 on Hypem for what seemed like ages, close to 1,000,000 views on YouTube, tweeted by Ellie Goulding herself, the track’s run punctuated a major moment for both our blog (it was a privilege to first discover the mix) and likely for the artist too, Blackmill. That said, Blackmill’s newest joint is a remix of “Embracing Solitude” by DnB producer JCB. We LOVE it! Blackmill’s feel for melody and its relationship with rhythm and cadence is really tops. Big things are in store for Blackmill, dude’s talent is next level. Stay tuned.

JCB – Embracing Solitude (Blackmill Remix)

Blackmill: (Soundcloud) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.7

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reviewed by
04-13-11

Smiler – Big Spender

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Hottest Record in the World on Zane Lowe today. Big tune. With the right push (which seems now to be set in motion) it could be a massive track.

Smiler – Big Spender

Smiler: (Myspace)

Rating: 8.1

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reviewed by
04-06-11

The Raveonettes, Live @ Paradise, Boston 03/31/11

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The Raveonettes rolled into Boston’s Paradise rock club this past Thursday blowing out an approximately 70 minute set that featured heavily tunes from the band’s new Raven in the Grave LP. The Raveonettes are loud. Really loud. Maybe it was the venue, the soundman, the soundsystem, or some combination but the band came of extraordinarly loud, at times a bit to the detriment of the material. We heard guitars, we heard distortion pedals, we heard noise and feedback, but, some of the time, we couldn’t hear the voices, we couldn’t hear the songs.

Sune and Sharin were backed up this time by two side men who alternated between drums (both live and electronic) and guitars and bass. The beefed up rhythm section aided in giving the better songs a strong rhythmic punch.

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What we’ve heard from Raven in the Grave we love. This slightly darker, slightly shoegazier sound from The Raves plays brilliantly on record. Recharge & Revolt, War in Heaven, Evil Seeds all draw from and synthesize on the best influences and sounds in The Raveonettes universe (MBV, Ride, etc).

Second song “Evil Seeds” was particularly jarring. The bass in the beat just rips into you. The atmospheres of guitar distortion pull at you further. That intersection of emotive interaction (to the music) and an intense physical reaction (to the actual sounds), it was really powerful.

Sharin would give wry smile to Sune or Sune would sort of shake his arms otherwise there was sort of stoicism from the band, a kind of blankness but it sort of worked. You felt pulverized in sort of systematic way, a sort of monolith of sound. It fit.

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“Heart of Stone”, from 2009’s excellent In and Out of Control, was a highlight. The song bounced, jittered, and shook. Sune’s tuneful picking in lockstep to Sharin’s kinetic bass.

We love The Raveonettes. We love Raven in the Grave. The performance… conceptually, it worked. If a concert experience were solely transacted in ideas, this would have been a great show. Technically (venue acoustics, soundman, mixing, levels, etc) it left something to be desired.

The Raveonettes: (Myspace) (Official) (Twitter)

The Raveonettes – Evil Seeds

The Raveonettes – Heart of Stone

reviewed by
04-05-11