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Leisure – Plastic Soul [LP]

After too many to count active passes through Leisure’s new album Plastic Soul it’s evident that the young Cambridge, Ma collective stand out from the crowd. The bands north-european rock appreciation is clearly there. Singer Jed Rouhana gracefully takes vocal cues from some of the post-punk greats while in his wake follows a witty and buoyant mix of classic British post-rock. The title and closing track “Plastic Soul” is a 6+ minute opus with a melting sax line. Another standout for your repeat button is the ballad “Goodnight Cairo” which manages some worthy U2 caliber weight. Kick back for this one.

Leisure – Goodnight Cairo

Leisure – Plastic Soul

Leisure massachusetts (Facebook) (Purchase LP)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
06-20-12

VAULT: Futurebirds – Ski Chalet (Live)

Georgia natives, Futurebirds are a reverb-heavy alt-country act that I’ve been spending time lots of time with. How can you not immediately fell in love with this song and live performance? Ski Chalet offers up a masterful introduction that primes the listener for five minutes of good ole rock & roll. The melodic transitions in this song are truly something else. Futurebirds have released one album Hampton’s Lullaby and two EP’s, Futurebirds and Via Flamina. Pick up one of their discs asap. By Trevor Meyer

Futurebirds georgia (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
06-20-12

Band of Skulls – Sweet Sour (UNKLE Remix)

This new UNKLE remix of the title track off of Band of Skulls latest LP of the same name (Sweet Sour) is the product of a recent Hong Kong art exhibit collaboration between the two groups. The track fades in with a Sgt. Peppers feel before flowing into what UNKLE do best with loud and psychedelic structure rock.

UNKLE england (Facebook)
Band of Skulls england (Official)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
06-20-12

treasureseason – Secrets

treasureseason have just dropped this sparkle of a dreampop track. “Secrets”‘ trance holds steady on the backbone of one pretty wicked bass line. Peep it below.

treasureseason – Secrets

treasureseason california (Facebook)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
06-20-12

Benjamin Francis Leftwich – With A Little Help From My Friends

Recorded mid-tour in a Boston hotel room, BFL covers a familiar tune in a familiar stripped-down fashion for this month’s MOJO magazine’s “Yellow Submarine Resurfaces” CD. His unique vocals and delicate guitar make for a great alternative take on the Beatles’ classic, of which is available for free download here. B3SCI readers in the UK should also check out this competition running alongside his busy summer festival season, whilst all else can sit tight until the first full-band EP lands later this year… By Nathan Hetherington

Benjamin Francis Leftwich england (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
06-20-12

J. Cole – Werk Out (OVERWERK Remix)

Decksman by way of Ca. flips the 2011 J. Cole fave. Get ready to werk that moomba out down low. Like seriously down low.

OVERWERK canada (Facebook)

Rating 8.39835

reviewed by
06-20-12

Milano Sun – Vertigo

Here’s something fresh for your next glass-table disco induced bash.

Milano Sun – Vertigo

Milano Sun (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
06-20-12

Paypa – Time Zones (Feat. French Montana)

Chi rapper Paypa drops off “Time Zones”, the lead single from his debut record Feel Good Music. Yeah, so far good, as “Time Zones” delivers that feel good pound your chest type good shit on pretty much every bar and hook. Win.

Paypa – Time Zones (Feat. French Montana)

Paypa (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
06-19-12

Archive – Wiped Out (Man Without Country Remix)

Ace atmospheres and a champagne shower of visceral quality headline this new Archive mix from Welsh artists Man Without Country.

Archive – Wiped Out (Man Without Country Remix)

Man Without Country (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

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reviewed by
06-19-12

Big Wave – Blissed Out

Put your mind at ease and get blissed with a dreamy trip to the quiet side compliments of Devonshire band Big Wave. -By Erin Feathers

Big Wave – Blissed Out

Big Wave (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
06-19-12

Cat Power – Ruin

We need more Cat Power in our lives. New track “Ruin”, Chan’s first bit of new material in over six years, is A+. Look out for Sun in September.

Cat Power – Ruin

Cat Power (Facebook)

Rating 8.8

brown8

reviewed by
06-18-12

Rudi Zygadlo – Melpomene

Finally something in our inbox to take us by surprise. Seriously, guys, if we get another instagram-filtered press-still that features 3-4 mop-topped youths backed by a band name like Beavers or Arms or Hugs playing (as described in the press release as) “hazy synth pop” we’re putting all y’all on block. OK, so our friend Rudi Zygadlo. The track on offer here “Melpomene” is not that. It’s atmospheric, but in a way that is dramatic and focused, all attention pulled to the center. But the construction, the way the tune is structured is neat too. “Melpomene” almost reminds in a way of Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time in its dynamism-on-top-of-a-pinpoint that purveys that tension between the piano (power) and supportive atmosphere/vocals (release).

Rudi Zygadlo (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
06-18-12