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Rock

Rave’s Fave: BRMC – Let The Day Begin (Single)

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!

reviewed by
01-22-13

Cloud Boat – Wanderlust

Cloud Boat’s “Wanderlust” is beautiful. The track is being released in March as a double A-side with “Drean”. The unpredictability of “Wanderlust” is what initially drew us to it. The opening minute or so is about as gorgeously executed downtempo guitar music gets. At that minute mark, “Wanderlust” grabs tighter; it twists into an absolutely stunning vocal-led set of melody and from that point forward doesn’t let go.

Cloud Boat – Wanderlust

Cloud Boat (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
01-22-13

Painted Palms – Carousel

“Carousel” is a new 7-inch forthcoming from Bay Area duo Painted Palms. The 7-incher’s lead title track skillfully walks that often difficult to traverse indie tightrope of good intentions that is soulful low-fi pop and sees the band off on the best forward for their upcoming album.

Painted Palms – Carousel

Painted Palmscalifornia (Facebook)

Rating: 8.3

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reviewed by
01-22-13

Tiger Waves – Fields

Check out the end-of-summer melancholy of ATX indie pop upstarts Tiger Waves on “Fields”; the first single off the band’s upcoming still untitled second LP.

Tiger Waves – Fields

Tiger Waves (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
01-19-13

Rave’s Fave: Palma Violets – Step Up For the Cool Cats

Here’s a “fave follow-up” on Palma Violets. The UK band, whose “Best of Friends” single topped tracks lists for 2012 and radars to watch for 2013, have just dropped a new single in their home country. Gotta love that organ in the intro and that ____ melody. Palma Violets will be playing in New York next week and at SXSW in March. Needless to say, lots of UK-philes will be very keen to check them out, including the team at B3Sci. By Bruce Rave

Palma Violets — Best of Friends england (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!

reviewed by
01-19-13

Nervous Nellie – Gloves

“Gloves” come’s to us from Stockholm indie act Nervous Nellie are previewed here from the band’s forthcoming Gloves EP. The track offers a bit different look from NN, the more poppy “Gloves” is anthemic (incl. a chorus that is among 2013’s best so far). Nervous Nellie are definitely a lot of Swedes you’re going to want to keep an eye on in 2013. A+.

Nervous Nellie sweden (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
01-17-13

Calvin Love – Missions

Somewhere in the early 90’s The Jesus and Mary Chain and Stone Roses mated, fast forward to 2013 and that psychedelic monkey man love child has come of age. Mr. Reid, Mr. Brown, meet Calvin Love and his crazy good track, “Missions”.

Calvin Love – Missions

Calvin Love (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by
01-17-13

F Y F E – Solace

“Solace” is new from London artist Fyfe. Details are scarce about the 23 year old other than his point of origin and age. For certain though, “Solace” is an accomplished dark pop song written by a very serious talent, unknown or otherwise.

F Y F E – Solace

FYFE england (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

reviewed by
01-17-13

Young Boys – Love Hits

Grimey NYC post-punks Young Boys prescribe an enticing dose of new wave inspired synth rock with their latest, “Love Hits”. The band’s aticipated debut LP, New York Sun drops February 26th via Holloweyed Records. Here’s one for your radar.

Young Boys – Love Hits

Young Boys (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
01-17-13

Dinosaur Jr. – Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know (Radio Edit)

Team b3’s favorite crust merchants Dinosaur Jr. are hitting the road in the UK later this month. Along with the tour announcement, the band are releasing a further single from last year’s very nice I Bet on Sky LP, “Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know”. The new single stays relatively tight to the typical D Jr. lane with maybe a bit more reliance on tighter song structures and syncopations.

Dinosaur Jr. UK Tour Dates: (If you’re not in Manchester or Leeds, sucks.)

Jan 30 Glasgow – Arches SOLD OUT
Jan 31 Leeds – Leeds University Stylus
Feb 1 Manchester – Ritz
Feb 2 Brighton – Concorde SOLD OUT
Feb 3 Bristol – Fiddlers Club SOLD OUT
Feb 4 London Electric Ballroom (NME Awards show) SOLD OUT

Dinosaur Jr. – Don’t Pretend You Didn’t Know (Radio Edit)

Dinosaur Jr. massachusetts (Official)

Rating 8.104

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reviewed by
01-16-13

Foxes in Fiction + Benoît Pioulard – Ground Glass

Moodgadget labelmates Foxes in Fiction and Benoit Pioulard connect on the sweeping “Ground Glass”. The track, part of a limited 7″ being released by Wool Recordings, combines the two principal’s love for blending traditional pop song structures and field recorded sounds. The results of the collaboration, as evident here by the dreamy otherworldly warmth of “Ground Glass” are next level. “Ground Glass” is some of the most beautiful music we’ve heard thusfar this year.

Foxes in Fiction + Benoît Pioulard – Ground Glass

Foxes In Fiction (Facebook)
Benoît Pioulard (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
01-16-13

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – So Good At Being In Trouble

“So Good At Being In Trouble”, from the band’s forthcoming II LP due in February, is a pleasant R&B-informed reminder of what made the b3 squad fall in love UMO in the first place. The song is pleasant, yeah, like you could probably put this track on for your daughter, your mom, and your grandmother but there’s both a visceral clarity and a bit of a melancholic quality that underlie it. That sort pleasant/somber juxtaposition certainly isn’t a new trick but on “So Good At Being In Trouble”, it feels so perfectly pulled off.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra newzealand (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

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reviewed by
01-15-13