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Rock

Trails and Ways – Nunca

trails-and-ways

Trails and Ways are back with the next single from their forthcoming Trilingual release. “Nunca” embraces some upbeat and seriously summer vibes that were inspired by a hot day in South America. It’s got our bodies moving along. Check it out below.

TRAILS AND WAYS california (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
05-26-12

PS I Love You – Death Dreams [LP]

By Erin Shay

Canadian rock duo PS I Love You have a clamor that’s a force-to-be-reckoned-with. The Kingston based twosome, also known as Benjamin Nelson and Paul Saulnier, released their latest album Death Dreams earlier this month and it is resoundingly excellent. PS I Love You know how to get rowdy with a proper 90’s indie style. Death Dreams is an album that strikes the balance between brooding sentimentality and soulful uproar while its experimental color-outside-the-lines energetic makes it one of the top indie rock albums thus far in 2012.

Death Dreams is inspired by Paul Saulnier’s vivid dreams while on tour during the band’s first album Meet Me at The Muster Station, and is a remarkably spirited exploration into the duality of existence and hidden beauty of discord. Paul’s ferocious lead vocals, full-on extended guitar solos and gratuitous distortion bring bleed-out a certain vulnerability that you might expect from a guy with big dreams. PS I Love You artfully illustrates that life-imitates-art as much as art-imitates-life with an intense yet playful irony that is definitely worth reflecting on.

While “Don’t Go”, “How Do You”, and “First Contact” stand out for their booming and unrefined execution, the tracks “Sentimental Dishes” and “Princess Towers” are exceedingly bright and catchy and are just resonant enough to steal the show.

PS I Love You – Princess Towers

PS I Love You canada (Facebook) (Purchase Link)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
05-25-12

Little Comets – Jennifer

“Jennifer” has summer jam status written all over it. Basically, you can close your eyes and have a 2:45 sunny vacay getaway (if you’re like us and you need more than 2:45 then we highly recommended the replay button). Little Comets release “Jennifer” on June 11th via Dirty Hit Records. Grab yourself a copy and catch this band on tour through the UK later this year if you can. You can also sample their ace live performance of “Jennifer” below.

Little Comets (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
05-25-12

Dark Horses – Radio

You may have been lucky enough to catch Dark Horses opening up for Kasabian and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on recent tours. Their sound has an identifiable adeptness towards experimental and progressive psych-rock. Fronted by Swedish native Lisa Elle, Dark Horses mystique sparks its intrigue with blues latent raucousness and a gargantuan wall of guitars all balanced by Elle’s haunting hymn. The track “Radio” even manages to pay homage to the art of the wah-pedal which is something that’s slipped through the repertoire of today’s budding guitar bands. Preview the track below.

Dark Horses (Official)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
05-25-12

Savages – Husbands

By Nathan Hetherington

A dark and twisted panic oozes from “Husbands”, the first recorded sounds from the Anglo-French Post Punk band Savages. Picture a more violent, sexual Joy Division as Jenny Beth Hisses and sheiks through a fierce performance that equals the buzz surrounding their recent live shows in London. Flying To Berlin/Husbands will be available on Pop Noire 5/28.

Savages – Husbands

Savages (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
05-23-12

RAVE’S FAVE! The Royalty — Bartender

By Bruce Rave

The Royalty are a new El Paso band that combine rock freshness with a retro feel. I met them at a SXSW party. They were really nice people, and I’ve been keeping fingers crossed that I’d like at least some of their songs. It turns out their Lovers album is pretty damn good. “Bartender” has a big sound and compelling melody behind Nicole Boudreau’s strong vocals.

The Royalty — Bartender

The Royalty texas (Bandcamp)

Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 8-10 pm Pacific, 11-1 am Eastern Fridays, 4-6 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
05-20-12

Saint Motel – 1997

“1997” is the latest track to see release from Saint Motel’s forthcoming Voyeur LP expected on July 10th. The LA based four-piece showcase bright personality throughout their album of aptly crafted indie, power pop tinged rock songs, a concept emphasized in the whimsically nostalgic atmosphere of “1997”. Voyeur also displays lush and textured elements of big band (some contributions via the horn section of Fitz & the Tantrums), tropical, and even Latin musical influence. It’s a great record, mark it on your list.

Saint Motel california (Facebook) (Pre-sale)

Rating 8.331

brown8

reviewed by
05-19-12

TIX GIVEAWAY! Plants and Animals @ The Satellite in Los Angeles this Saturday!

Canadian rockers Plants and Animals are coming through Los Angeles this weekend in support of their new full-length release The End of That. The power-trio will hit the stage at The Satellite on Saturday (5/19) with support from Warships, Kasey Anderson and more!

B3SCI has got a pair of tickets for one lucky reader to this rad show! Just email us today and say that you want to check out Plants and Animals. Simple. We will be picking our winner at random at the end of the day. You can get more info on the show here. Good luck!

Plants and Animals canada (Facebook)
The Satellite california (Info)

reviewed by
05-18-12

Jacob Turnbloom – The Front Steps

By Chris Gedos

“The Front Steps”, by Mrs. Magician singer / songwriter Jacob Turnbloom, displays a startling versatility on the part of the San Diego, CA native. The song, part of Jacob Turnbloom’s Death Tapes, a limited release of various bedroom recordings, is properly rooted in the reverb-core / slacker tradition. Gripping from the first chord and with a wonderful, building arrangement, the abstruse delivery is a complete 180° from the Mrs. Magician LP released earlier this spring. While that album is perfect summer hipster BBQ music, “The Front Steps” is private, intimate, to be cherished.

Jacob Turnbloom california (Label)

Rating 8.34

brown8

reviewed by
05-14-12

Benjamin Francis Leftwich with Imagine Dragons, and The Jezabels LIVE at The Troubadour in LA, 5/11/2012

Opening the evening and armed with only his six-string, Benjamin Francis Leftwich brought a sold out crowd to a stand-still at the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood on Friday night. The York based singer-songwriter and recent Vagrant signee held the captive audience for his brief 35 minute set.

Fans sang along to Leftwich’s inquisitive lyrics and distinctive voice. I’ll admit, I was interested to hear the hushness and subtle rasps of his vocals in a live setting. Could someone actually sing like that? They can and Leftwich serves an example. Perhaps the smokes help, as Ben asked the audience to ‘crash’ a cigarette between one song. The banter was casual as the atmosphere and songs were dedicated to executives that were, as he put it, “half man and half dragon”, and tales of getting approached by hookers while on tour in NY. Ben sang his way through a short set material including “Maps”, “Is That You On That Plane”, and closed things with “Atlas Hands” leaving on lookers with an invitation come catch him at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood this coming Wednesday night.

Benjamin Francis Leftwich england (Facebook)

Next on the stage were Imagine Dragons who performed with the tightness and showmanship of a summer festival band. They have the sort of energetic sound medly that has become synonymous with the modern rock charts over the last twelve (or so) years. Frontman and singer Dan Reynolds wailed on a variety of percussion intermittently throughout the set, including one seriously gigantic mounted kick drum, some floor-toms, shakers, etc. His extra percussion role seemed to border the space between what constitutes things that make for added-depth or gimmick in any band. Either way, the role fills out the fullness of a big sound that many fans become familiar with on record. I’ve seen bands able to swing both ways on this sort of element. Recent single “Radioactive” especially drove home to the capacity filled Troubadour. Imagine Dragons rounded out a lengthy set with an appropriate shout out to local radio for all of their recent love.

Imagine Dragons nevada (Official)

The Jezabels are a band that give off a nostalgic wash somewhere in the midst of their atmosphere of delay guitar driven, synth fueled dance rock. Singer Hayley Mary has a charisma, it’s a bit of a star quality that’s not without its own critique, she also has an impressive vocal range that can maneuver with the best of them. The reference list could go from Stevie Nicks, to Benatar, and Hynde to even contemporaries like Karen O and (dare we say) Hayley Williams (add a little Chris Martin like diction). Combine it all with her confident and free-spirited stage presence, and we have the one and only Hayley Mary. As for the band members, the guitar work particularly weaves well throughout the layerings of keyboards courtesy of Heather Shannon. If you like your guitar pop bands served with a lush side of uptempo and well-informed indie rock, then catch Jezabels live and spin a few tracks off of their new debut Prisoner LP.

The Jezabels australia (Facebook)

reviewed by
05-13-12

RAVE’S FAVE! Silversun Pickups — Dots and Dashes (Enough Already)

By Bruce Rave

Silversun Pickups return with their long-awited album number three It’s a fairly relaxed affair with a few tracks that will rock you, including “Dots and Dashes”. Nikki Monninger’s base line hooked me right out of the box, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this track become a single after “Bloody Mary” has had its hit run.

Silversun Pickups california (Facebook)

Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 8-10 pm Pacific, 11-1 am Eastern Fridays, 4-6 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
05-12-12

Tango In The Attic – Mona Lisa Overdrive

Contributed By Nathan Hetherington

“Mona Lisa Overdrive” is Tango in the Attic’s second single from their forthcoming album, Sellotape, and comes with an accompanying video featuring footage from their time at SXSW this year. What we’ve heard so far from the new album points towards an altogether nosier, garage sound than the debut Blank Place Locomotive Society whilst hanging on firmly to their energetic pop qualities. Sellotape will be out on May 28th.

Tango In The Attic england (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
05-10-12