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Rock

Saint Motel – At Least I Have Nothing

saint-motel

So we’re fans of LA collective Saint Motel, but we never saw a track like this coming. “At Least I Have Nothing” is the band’s new self-released single expected November 28. With a memorable chorus hook that draws you in and gets you moving, you’ve likely just found a new jam for your next mix. (Rolling Stone)

Saint Motel – At Least I Have Nothing

Saint Motel california (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
11-18-11

TRAILS AND WAYS – No Wisdom

Contributed by Chris Gedos

trails-and-ways

Oakland’s Trails And Ways seems like a fusion band which hasn’t fully fused yet, but there’s so much talent here they get a free pass for any genre-picking they may be guilty of. Their new EP, Temporal, has some of the grooviest album art I’ve seen in a while— a true homage to art deco with the abstract lettering and Mayan color palette. “Chills” descends into muzak for a few seconds, but they more than make up for it with the Joao Gilberto inspired “One Note” and a lushly produced cover of M83’s “Midnight City”. However, “No Wisdom” is the star of this EP, featuring one of the most thoughtful arrangments I’ve heard in awhile. And the syncopated vocal is totally boss. A little more time in the kiln and these cats will be a band to watch for in 2k12.

TRAILS AND WAYS – No Wisdom

TRAILS AND WAYS california (Bandcamp)

Rating 7.9

brown71

reviewed by
11-17-11

RAVE’S FAVES: Goldsboro – Great White Buffalo

Contributed by Bruce Rave

goldsboro

Here’s what Wolfmother’s second album should have sounded like. Goldsboro is an LA 3-piece, and this smoker was brought onto my Moheak Radio Music Meeting show by bassist Scott Ford of the Twilight Singers. It got a unanimous thumbs-up. We loved the energy, and you can never go wrong with killer guitar hooks.

Goldsboro – Great White Buffalo

Goldsboro california (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.

reviewed by
11-17-11

Red Kites – Montreal

redkites

Red Kites are a four piece rock band from Guildford, Surrey UK and their sharply melodic single for “Montreal” is really really good. Trust us. Don’t sleep on this one.

Red Kites – Montreal

Red Kites england (Facebook) (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
11-16-11

Troumaca – Sanctify

Contributed by Trevor Meyer

troumaca

Birmingham natives, Troumaca have just released their ep The Gems. Sanctify has a nice blend of tropical and soul. The first verse should hook you right into the song.

Troumaca england (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
11-16-11

Damien Jurado – Nothing is the News

jane.11183

The awesome “Nothing is the News” is new from Damien Jurado’s upcoming Maraqopa LP. Produced by Richard Swift, the record promises to be a sprawling, melodic expanse of the best sort of desert-infused blues. Do not miss.

Damien Jurado – Nothing is the News

Damien Jurado washington(Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
11-16-11

The Maccabees – Pelican

themaccabees

Oh hi. So The Maccabees, owners of b3sci’s #4 track of 2009 returned today with “Pelican”. For starters, “Pelican” is noticeably more upbeat, uptempo, lighter, than much of the material on The Maccabees last LP Wall of Arms. Is “Pelican” is a sign of what’s to come on LP #3? We like the darker Maccabees; but if the quality on a potentially more “keyed up” new LP is at a level with “Pelican” consider us, at the very least, interested to hear more.

The Maccabees – Pelican

The Maccabees england (Official) (Myspace)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
11-15-11

Dan Sartain – Fuck Friday

dan-sartain

“Fuck Friday” lives on for Dan Sartain’s forthcoming Too Tough to Live LP. With 13 tracks delivered in less than 19 minutes don’t blink or you might miss a feature by Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s. Go!

Dan Sartain – Fuck Friday

Dan Sartain alabama (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

too-tough-to-live

reviewed by
11-14-11

NO CEREMONY /// – DELIVERUS

noceremonydeliverus

NO CEREMONY/// bring us their latest with “DELIVERUS”. The track tries on a singer-songwriter feel proving that underneath all of those washy layers and groove based arrangements, and of course hype, there must be an internal consensus for quality writing. Pick up the track below and be on the lookout for more to come from NO CEREMONY///.

NO CEREMONY/// – DELIVERUS

NO CEREMONY/// england? (Official)

Rating 8.6

brown8

reviewed by
11-13-11

GRMLN – Relax Yourself (Dolphin Cry)

grmln

GRMLN, a project by an Orange County college student named Yoodoo, is the perfect music to pass that interminable afternoon in the library or cubicle. These sunny melodies will be most assuredly stuck in your head at the end of a brief listening session. The breathy vocals are more atmospheric than anything, but I do hear a catchy line or two steal the music’s soft thunder. It would be cool to have some elaborate beats counter the melodies- it’s really the only thing keeping me from going gaga. But fans of Seapony through Beach House now have a new love for the weekend. Contributed by Chris Gedos

GRMLN – Relax Yourself (Dolphin Cry)

GRMLN california (Bandcamp)

RATING: 7.88

brown71

reviewed by
11-11-11

Crushed Beaks – Close-Ups

crushedbeaks

Crushed Beaks are a sharp duo out of London that play noisy melodic rock and roll. They’ve got a single for “Close-Ups” out next week on Too Pure. Visceral, urgent, raw in all the best ways “Close-Ups” is an exciting jam that’s rhythmic and kinetic enough that it might even make you move a little bit.

Crushed Beaks – Close-Ups

Crushed Beaks england (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
11-10-11

The Milk – B Roads

themilk

The Milk have all the ingredients to be the next great UK guitar band. A “back to basics” yet still modern referencing sound, great songs, a great frontman, the support of UK radio (including spins from Zane Lowe, and an evening playlist slot on XFM). “B Roads”, the band’s latest single, is the sort good time/feel good shit that the indie rock and roll genre seems sorely short on in the year 2011. Catch a little good time below.

The Milk – B Roads

The Milk england (Official)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
11-10-11