Image

Rock

Rave’s Fave: The Last Shadow Puppets – Bad Habits

lastshadowpuppets

When the Coachella lineup was announced, a major highlight for me was that The Last Shadow Puppets would be part of the lineup. This of course is the collaboration of Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane. You aren’t onto Miles? The UK knows him real well from his solo and group work, and he’s under-appreciated here in the US. If you’ve heard the 2008 album The Age of the Understatement from these guys, “Bad Habits” will surprise you. It’s got a quirky groove, horns, and vocals not so much in the familiar style of either Alex or Miles. They were crushing it live last time they toured the US, so expect the same this time around. Their new full-length album is recorded and is expected to drop this spring. Reviewed by Bruce Rave.

Check out Bruce’s weekly “Go Deep” radio show; air dates and times for “Go Deep” as well archived past shows can be found on Bruce’sblog. Don’t forget to follow Bruce on Twitter too!

Last Shadow Puppets (Youtube)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
01-19-16

Beach Baby – Sleeperhead

beachbaby3

B3SCI Records alums Beach Baby knock out another very strong single, “Sleeperhead”. Constructed instrumentally on what’s become sort of the band’s calling card; phased guitars, dynamic and slightly swerve-y harmonies and big-sounding drums/rhythm track “Sleeperhead” follows the also very good “Limousine” from the Fall. BB will playing dates in the UK in February and March with Sundara Karma which you can peruse below.

Jan 16th Leeds Superfriends, Headrow House
Jan 19th London Old Blue Last
Feb 23rd Bristol Thekla
Feb 24th Paris La Maroniquinerie (FRWRKS Festival)
Feb 25th Southampton Talking Heads
Feb 26th Bath Moles Club
Feb 27th Brighton Patterns
Feb 28th Cambridge The Portland Arms
Feb 29th Glasgow King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
March 1st Edinburgh Sneaky Pete’s
March 2nd Newcastle Think Tank
March 4th Manchester Manchester Gorilla
March 5th Sheffield The Leadmill
March 6th Leeds The Wardrobe
March 7th Nottingham Rescue Rooms
March 8th Birmingham Rainbow Venues
March 9th Norwich Waterfront
March 10th London Dingwalls
March 11th Reading Sub89
May 19-21 Brighton The Great Escape Festival

Beach Baby (Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
01-15-16

Lionlimb – Domino

lionlimb2

Lionlimb will release their debut LP Shoo for Bayonet Records on March 4th. Great new track “Domino” dips a touch into the melodic well of Elliott Smith while showing off a new beefed up and varied sound (electric organs, horn arrangements, etC) from the band that we like. Get into “Domino” below.

Lionlimb (Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
01-15-16

Sandals – Dust Bowl

sandals

We’re into the jangly beachside bedroom pop of Kingston ON musician Ben Morin a/k/a Sandals. Reminding a bit of bands like Hibou and even Real Estate, the very good “Dust Bowl” neatly balances great melody and with cool mood and atmosphere. We love it.

Sandals (Bandcamp)

Track Reviews
reviewed by
01-15-16

RAT BOY – Move

ratboy

Groove out with Essex artist Rat Boy on his scratchy, sublimely intricate, instrumentals packed, rock influenced (Beastie Boys Hot Sauce Committee-styled) hip-hop masterpiece “Move”. Very cool vibes. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Hero (Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
01-14-16

TRUDY – Baby I’m Blue

trudy

New band out of Liverpool TRUDY impress with melodically sound and accessible guitar track “Baby I’m Blue”. A bit of a tempest in a tea cup instrumentally (chaotic clean guitars, weave in/out the tune’s dosed with whimsy vocal melody), “Baby I’m Blue” excels on its base of very strong pop writing. TRUDY are definitely a new band to keep your tabs on.

TRUDY (Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
01-11-16

RestWater – So Lovely Is Your Soul

restwater

We like the catchy hook and indie rock fundamentals of “Lovely Is Your Soul” from Philly band RestWater who we’re particularly digging with for their soothing low-key vocal vibes and dynamic-muted elemental instrumentals. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

RestWater (Soundcloud)
Track Reviews
reviewed by
01-06-16

Your Friend – Heathering

yourfriend

Your Friend, aka Domino Records artist Taryn Miller, will release her debut full-length Gumption in January. The melancholic melodic whirl of “Heathering” is the LP’s beautiful first track. Slow motion reverb, down-in-the-mix percussion and an expansive frame of scintillating (in the twinkling sense) electronics and bobs of circling guitar taps mark “Heathering”s cinematic sound. Spin the top track below.

Your Friend (Facebook)

reviewed by
11-23-15

[B3SCI Records] Rare Monk EP

Rare Monk 8

Portland band Rare Monk are back today with their second release for our B3SCI Records in the form of self-titled EP. The EP features the Spotify New Music Friday-featured “Warning Pulse” lauded by Pigeons and Planes for its “instant coolness” and new single “California” which has been praised by Best Fit and The Burning Ear. We’re stoked to announce today EP release which is available both digitally and as a limited edition CD at B3SCI Records.

Rare Monk (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
11-20-15