If there’s a band that can successfully invoke the spirit of 90’s alt-rock, Mansions can do it. Combining the perfect amount of melody with the right level of attitude and a production value that makes indie music fans a little weak in the knees, “The Economist” would easily find a way into music collections right alongside Pavement and Toadies. Reviewed by Desiree Autobee
Mansions 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
MD-based duo abhi//dijon announce the release of their debut (coming Winter 2014) with drop of two fresh tracks including the after hours neo-D’Angelo-sounding new one “They”.
abhi//dijon 
(Soundscloud)
Rating 8.4
We’re loving this new stylistically-varied but seamlessly blended edit of The Neighbourhood’s current “Afraid” single by new producer out of Denver StéLouse. Very well done.
StéLouse 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
We love (x3) Kat Dahlia. The Miami-based artist’s potent, refreshing cross-genre mix of R&B, Hip Hop & Latin music (Dahlia’s the daughter of Cuban-born parents) is delivered vocally on tracks like “Gangsta” and “Clocks” with the power, conviction and (most importantly) killer instinct of a real and singular star. The level and quality to which Kat’s able to reach out and pull at both her empirical and emotional experiences and then so effectively translate them out into her vocal is really quite unique and special. When Kat Dahlia sings, it’s really real. We’re very pleased to present below the B3 Premiere of Kat Dahlia’s new mixtape “Seeds” and new single “Happy And I Know It”. Do not sleep.
Kat Dahlia 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
The consistent Flight Facilities branch it a bit from their recent run of (great) nu disco tracks w/ the new more minimalist synth-focused but still excellent “Stand Still” featuring Parisian singer Micky Green.
Flight Facilities
(Facebook)
Rating 8.6
The Record Company are professionals, hence their band name, and they can put on quite a show. A 21st-century nod to timeless blues, mixed with sour gospel melodies – shaken, not stirred. They have played with all the Blues giants (BB King, Buddy Guy, Robert Randolph, Black Joe Lewis) and drawn large audiences from their native Los Angeles to Montreal.
Their newest five song set, the Feels So Good EP sounds something like a Black Keys’esque homage to the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack. Highlights include the tom heavy “Roll Bones” and the kick-drum funk of “Baby I’m Broken”. The trio plays a true kind of blues and it’s a welcomed respite from a majority of over-produced mainstream pop music. Vox’s warm, whiskey soaked yelp leisurely commands the resilient rhythm section of The Record Company, making for a feel good listen, even if they are ‘just’ playing the blues.
Having recently clenched some serious song syncs with national trailers (Last Vegas) and placements in ABC, CBS and more, something tells me I’m probably not the only one digging this. I was made aware of these boys last year when Turntable Kitchen posted “This Crooked City”/”Tallahassee Lassie” vinyl 7″ which I have now securely added to my record collection. Their steady progression is commendable and they have a great new EP to show for it. Review by Mike Olinger
The Record Company 
(Facebook) (Official)
Rating 8.7
Ah yes, soul. The wonderfully soulful melodies and warm instrumentals (comfortable horns, soothing jazz-inflected guitar, riight you get the picture) of Gayngs affiliate Howard Ivans “Pillows” are next level. “Pillows” is the b-side to Howard Ivans “Red Boy” single which is out today on Spacebomb Records.
Howard Ivans 
(Purchase)
Rating 8.4
The intricately constructed style of The Beach Boys baroque pop of “Winter Snow” succeeds on its inventive, nearly cinema-like, use of melodic tension and dynamic mood. Part of a Double A-side release (w/ “Elephant”), Beard to Beast’s “Winter Snow” will see a release on January 13th via MUK Records.
Bird to Beast 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.1
Megatron Gibbs and his ESGN teammates G-Wiz and G.I. Fleezy remix 3X Krazy’s “Keep It On The Real” with a numerous nods to 1997 track’s Bay Area origins. Gibbs’ “Anybody Killa” mixtape is on the way.
Freddie Gibbs 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.9
The instrumentally spare but melodically quite accomplished “Petrified”, a new demo from London-based Misty Miller, is a track with its actual genesis in the songwriter’s early teens. Miller recalled recently re-discovering the song, “”I wrote this song when I was 15, but never recorded it and rarely played it live. In the past year I found it became relevant to my life again. So I worked on it, and what was once simply a song about a 15 year old girl afraid to meet up with a guy has now matured into complexity.” Misty Miller’s currently at work on an album which will be out sometime next year.
Misty Miller (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.1
The grimy “Black Pancakes” is the latest release from Irish rapper Reijie Snow. The follow-up track to Snow’s recent Rejovich mixtape, “Black Pancakes” school of Madlib instrumental does well to complement and support the Dublin rapper’s menacing but also oddly anodyne soothing flow and diction.
Rejjie Snow 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 9.0
The Rihanna-sampling “Pour It Up (Free Honey)” is new from L.A. producer GDNA. The genre of molasses-dripped late night R&B remixes is quite the saturated one, “Pour It Up” is, from little subtle instrumental flourishes to the track’s unique broader texture, refreshingly inventive and interesting. Well done.
GDNA (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
