Here comes an ass kicking all the way from Oslo, Norway. It’s the headringing female-fronted grunge punk of Scandinavians Dark Times. This is “Distrust”.
Dark Times 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Here comes an ass kicking all the way from Oslo, Norway. It’s the headringing female-fronted grunge punk of Scandinavians Dark Times. This is “Distrust”.
Dark Times (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Here’s a fresh bit of A+ synth pop from Berlin artist Thomas Azier. Somewhere between Phoenix, Passion Pit & a billion other bands Azier’s “Metropolitan Tribe” wins on melody. It’s one head-nodder after another, verse to chorus to verse.
Thomas Azier – Metropolitan TribeThomas Azier 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Lo-fi warrior Viking Moses a/k/a Brendon Massei returns with new LP The Conquest Night. A simple, sincere song about loving the one you’re not necessarily with, “Follow Foreign Love” examples a uniqueness and vitality that sets Massei’s songs apart from others in its well-worn genre.
Viking Moses – Follow Foreign LoveViking Moses 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.0
You know b3sci reps its city. It’s 216 ’til our dying day. We know our Cleveland rap. We also know our good Cleveland rap. Familiarize yourself with CLE rapper SIR and his $$$ heater track “Like a Player”, produced by Tone-P.
SIR – Like a Player (Prod. Tone-P)SIR 
(Twitter)
Rating 8.2
PG dropped new track “Hood” today as part of the ramp up to the 20 Feb. release of his Put Your Back N 2 It (his spelling not ours) LP. The pensive, short, piano-driven “Hood” is another “nice song” win for the balladeer. Give it your attention below.
Perfume Genius – HoodPerfume Genius 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Say what you want about Wyclef Jean. (He’s an opportunist, he’s a liar, he’s a thief, etc) But the dude has always has a nice touch with production. Wyclef’s ability to wring out soul & groove (and that islands vibe!) from even the most soul-less of artists (Hello “Hips Don’t Lie”. Sorry Shakira! Still <3 you.) Here Wyclef lays down a bit of that classic sound (finger picked vaguely Spanish-sounding guitars & a minimalist two-step) for 18 yo and Pharrell co-signed artist Cris Cab. “Put In Work”.
Cris Cab – Put In Work (Prod. Wyclef & Sedeck)Cris Cab 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.0
Malaysian singer Yuna’s “Live Your Life” is one of the best tracks of 2012. (We know it’s early but just spin the record, you will see (hear) what we mean.) Remember where you heard it first.
Yuna – Live Your LifeYuna 
(Facebook)
Rating 9.0
Now this is some real Southern shit. Memphis vets 8Ball & MJG hook up with K.R.I.T. for a laid back smokers only track.
8Ball & MJG – We Buy Gold (Feat. Big K.R.I.T.)8Ball & MJG 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.7
By Bruce Rave
It might be awhile before we get a new Hot Chip album, but The 2 Bears might not be a bad way to hold on. This is a collaboration between Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and M. Rafi of Metronomy. A couple of listens, and I’m hooked on the hooks. Trusted sources are telling me the entire album is really good, and I wanna hear it!
The 2 Bears – WorkThe 2 Bears 
(Facebook)
Check out Bruce’s “Go Deep” show on Fridays 1-3 pm Pacific, 4-6 pm Eastern, 9-11pm GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.
Jhameel clearly isn’t afraid to tread in any ‘sacred’ territory of Pop music. His cover of Sir Paul’s “Blackbird” is a breathy and soulful adaptation that seems to share the same type of appreciation for The Beatles catalog as say, perhaps, a young MJ may have. Preview the song and watch his performance of it below.
Jhameel – Blackbird (Beatles Cover)Jhameel 
(Facebook)
The Beatles 
( iTunes)
Rating 8.2
Spector breathes new life into the single off of Florence and the Machine’s latest Ceremonials. Proving not only that “No Light, No Light” will enjoy the prosperous life that so many other great Flo tracks do, but also that the world has a new A-list producer to keep atop their radars.
Florence & The Machine – No Light No Light (Spector Ryan Gosling Mix)Spector (Facebook)
Florence & The Machine (Official and Purchase)
Rating: 9.2
By Trevor Meyer
Wirral’s finest, The Coral put a lovely spin on a Byrds classic. Somewhere in the Irish Sea, with his sail cascading in the wind, ship captain, seafarer, and musical savant, David Crosby is channeling the voice of James Skelly and drawing inspiration for his next nomadic tale (well, maybe not). The Coral are always at their best, and their rendition of “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” is right on cue.
The Coral – I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better (Byrds Cover)The Coral (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
