Our family Zak Waters is back with a new single and video for “Runnin Around”. On the track, Waters earns ample b3 points for “Runnin Around”s immediate hooks and tastefully anthemic chorus. What really knocked out the whole b3 team, though, is “Runnin Around”s awesome (and again tasteful) nods to early 80’s R&B in its instrumentation and feel. Can we really ever get enough lazerblast synth leads.
Zak Waters – Runnin AroundZak Waters 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Oakland artist Summer Occasion gives Flashlights’ “Scarves” a style of makeover much like his nom de producer would suggest he would; selecting for a most smoothed out mid-July sipping-bellinis-on-a-yacht diced pineapples feel for the mix. Ace.
FLASHLIGHTS- Scarves (Summer Occasion Remix)Summer Occasion (Facebook)
Rating: 8.3
“Chocolate” is sweet as its name suggests, a buttery concoction of harmony and pop that’s soulful to its core. The track is the first release from The 1975’s forthcoming Music For Cars EP, the final installment of their EP trilogy, which is set for release March 4th. The band are currently in the studio working on their debut album with producer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Foals, to name a few) and it’s a safe bet that we can expect more great things from these guys in 2013. Preview “Chocolate” below.
The 1975 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Check out the otherworldly as bathed in the sweetest, most syrupy molasses (think a more modern sounding Mazzy Star) of Dresden, Germany act Sea of Love and their track for “My World”.
Sea of Love – My WorldSea Of Love 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
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!
“You’re Gone” is the first preview from Ab-Soul & JMSN’s upcoming collaborative LP, Unit 6. “You’re Gone” is a definite first mark in the dope column for Unit 6 and has Team B3 that much more keyed up for its release. “You’re Gone” is ambitious (like orchestra tones out the ride ambitious), the production is next level, and it sounds nothing like the current rap milieu. Win.
Ab-Soul & JMSN – You’re GoneAb-Soul (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Hard club music is indeed a tricky task. Too much thump can easily get in the way of a track being danceable. You can’t bust a move if the knock overshadows the rhythm. “Ticket To Okinawa” does it just right. SA5H’s intense build up manages to get you jumping like a party-crazed guido. Right when you may think it is too much, a mesmerizing drop ensues. By Teddy Pendergrass
SA5H – Ticket To OkinawaSA5H 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.0
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 – WanderlustCloud Boat (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
b3 favorite Snakehips refashions Bondax’s “Gold” track from late last year into a space bass winner. The hooks are a bit more immediate, the R&B flourishes turned up, and there’s enough invaders-from-the-deepest-reaches-of-the-cosmopolitan-cosomos beeps and bloops to go around to this galaxy and the next.
Bondax – Gold (Snakehips Remix)Snakehips (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
2Cellos (true), the cello pop project of Croatians Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser grab indie it girl Sky Ferreira for a haunting eerie send-up of Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang Bang”.
2Cellos – Bang Bang feat. Sky Ferreira2Cellos 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Two acts who had a monster 2012 have paired up for a new single called “White Noise”. The boys from Disclosure call on AlunaGeorge to make this dance jam that recently premiered on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 show. The fresh sound is telling as the single is blowing up online. Look for AlunaGeorge to be featured on more tracks throughout the year (possibly with Baauer). By Brian Litwin
Disclosure (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
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 – FieldsTiger Waves 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
