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Johnny Stimson – Obsession

johnnystimson

“Obsession” is the latest bit of inventive (and excellent) synth-tinged new-funk from rising Dallas, TX genre-hopper Johnny Stimson.

Johnny Stimson (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
09-17-14

Street Joy – Wrong Cloud

streetjoy

L.A. band Street Joy debut new single “Wrong Cloud”. Distorted and chaotic and melodically unpredictable in engaging ways, “Wrong Cloud” as a tune and in terms of broader palpability is held together by it’s infectious writing.

Street Joy california (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
09-16-14

Karen Harding – Say Something (Zac Samuel Remix)

karenharding

Zac Samuel, who’s remix of Kiesza’s “Hideaway” is off the chain, applies his piano-driven house-flavored sound to new Capitol-signee and X-Factor-alum Karen Harding’s current “Say Something” single.

Zac Samuel england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
09-16-14

Leisure Suite – Ease Away

leisuresuite

The slow burning “Ease Away” is new from Melbourne AU band Leisure Suite. Hypnotic and visceral in that far off way that Sade has perfected, “Ease Away” exists in the context of a similar “Cherish the Day”-type DNA both in sound and content. Leisure Suite is Mitchell Wood, Su Zechen, and vocalist Bridgette Le.

Leisure Suite australia (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.8

brown8

reviewed by
09-16-14

Laurasia – Rainmaker

laurasia

Laurasia are Australia’s latest minimalist R&B-inspired exports. Led by vocalist Jessica Wigglesworth’s Ellie Goulding-esque melodic phrasing, “Rainmaker”, while certainly relevant to current trends, does well to carve out a unique path sound-wise (which is what drew us to the band in the first place).

Laurasia australia (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.8

brown8

reviewed by
09-16-14

Moods – Flashback

michaeljacksonrememberthetime

Majestic Cas-genre beatsman Moods is back today with 2014 take on Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time” that is fantastic. Bolstered by subtle Kool & The Gang/Zero 7 synths and half-time counter-rhythms, “Flashback” plays as an excellent vibe-y update to the MJ classic.

Moods netherlands (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.49389

brown8

reviewed by
09-15-14

Run the Jewels – Oh My Darling Don’t Cry

runthejewels

EL-P and Killer Mike’s announced today their second LP run today (the follow-up to their very acclaimed s/t first record) as Run the Jewels. RTJ2‘s first single “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry” again wrests the best out of one rap’s best beatmakers (and emcees) EL-P — “Oh My’s” booming backbeat is top notch; and one of hip hop’s greatest living rappers Killer Mike — Bigga’s bars are EXCELLENT. RTJ2 is out October 27th for FREE c/o Mass Appeal.

Run the Jewels (Official)

reviewed by
09-15-14

The Other Tribe – I Can Give You Anything

theothertribe

The Other Tribe a newish band out of Bristol UK signed to Relentless Records (Bondax, Chris Malinchak) succeed on the soulful house/R&B-inspired and quite infectious pop of “I Can Give You Anything”. The band is currently in the studio at work on their debut LP. Don’t sleep.

The Other Tribe england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
09-15-14

Fickle Friends – For You

ficklefriends

Current UK scene hotbed Brighton has birthed another nascent great band in Fickle Friends. New one “For You” resides in a similar 80’s pop-inspired but soulful palette of sound as previous singles “Swim” and “Play” while keeping the quality level at a similarly lofty position. “For You” is out September 23rd on Crazy Heart Records in North America and on September 15th (today) on Killing Moon for the UK and the rest of world.

Fickle Friends england (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
09-15-14

Rick Ross – Elvis Presley Blvd (Feat. Project Pat)

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Rick Ross can pick beats. The Bawse proclaimed today his new and appropriately titled Hood Billionaire project today and dropped, with the announcement, the dope af lead single “Elvis Presley Blvd”. Featuring Memphian/Elvis scholar Project Pat, “Elvis Presley Blvd” is that big beat, plodding, soulful Southern-styled hip hop that is currently in a very short supply inside right now’s DJ Mustard-lorded rap world.

Rick Ross (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
09-15-14