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Track Reviews

Crash & The ‘Coots – John Coles Park [EP]

Epitomising the DIY ethic with catchy lo-fi pop music constructed out of clap-happy drum loops, xylophones and circuit bending waggishness, Crash & The Coots present their first EP John Coles Park. Deciding to release a limited run of cassettes (via Heart Throb Records) and by taking their name from a computer animated fox from the 90’s, you would be forgiven for thinking they had just woken from a 15 year long coma, however this promising debut suggests otherwise, fusing unconventional pop sounds and structures with all the funk and punk of an LCD Soundsystem record. You may be pleased to hear that it will also be released in the slightly more convenient digital format on October 29 (via Once Upon A Time) and in the meantime you can help yourself to a free download of “Brian Fury Wins! (Alternative Version)” from the band’s soundcloud below. By Nathan Hetherington

John Coles Park [EP] Track Listing:

1. Emily (hehe)
2. Don’t Have Any Legs
3. Brian Fury Wins!

Crash & The ‘Coots (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-10-12

RAVE’S FAVE: Citizens! – (I’m In Love With Your) Girlfriend

This new UK band just emerged from the studio with Alex Kopranos of Franz Ferdinand. Their Here We Are album will be out in the US this coming week. This fun tune is retro, dancy, and hooky. The title alone got me. Haven’t we all really wanted to be with the significant other of a good friend? By Bruce Rave

Citizens! – (I’m In Love With Your) Girlfriend

Citizens! (Facebook)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Also, for the benefit of you Europeans the show will now be replayed Wednesday mornings 2-4a Pacific/5 -7a Eastern, so they too can hear it at a civilized time. Listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
10-10-12

Sol Cat – Fishin’ With John

Turn this one up and you can almost already hear the afternoon summer festival masses singing along. “Fishin’ With John” is the new single from Tennessee rock collective Sol Cat. The song is apparently inspired from the early 90’s MTV series “Fishing with John” which featured John Lurie taking celebrities fishing all over the world. Pretty sweet stuff. Expect a new album from these Sol Cat(s) coming 2013.

Sol Cat – Fishin’ With John

Sol Cat (Facebook)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
10-10-12

TV Torso – Clear Lake Strangler

A-level rock and roll via Austin, Texas from Matt Oliver’s TV Torso. Get involved.

TV Torso – Clear Lake Strangler

TV Torso (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-09-12

Peter and Kerry – Lay Me Down

London UK act Peter and Kerry deliver a pop tune of the finest quality in “Lay Me Down”. The song’s sweet & breezy dual-sung melodies (both of them sing! and sing well!) are a really nice complement to the more complicated (awesome) business afoot in the rhythm tracks. Give “Lay Me Down” your attention below.

Peter and Kerry (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-09-12

The Decoders – Walk On By (Feat. Noelle Scaggs)

L.A.’s The Decoders do an excellent lovers’ rock send-up of the Bacharach/David classic. Fitz and the Tantrums’ Noelle Scaggs styles Burt’s great melody sweetly, preserving the smooth saccharine coo of Dionne Warwick’s original vocal tone while adding her own full-bodied muscle to it.

The Decoders – Walk On By (Feat. Noelle Scaggs)

The Decoders (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-09-12

Rochelle Jordan – Shotgun

The beautiful 4 AM house-sampling “Shotgun” is the lead single from Toronto songstress Rochelle Jordan’s Pressure LP.

Rochelle Jordan – Shotgun

Rochelle Jordan (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
10-09-12

Benjamin Francis Leftwich – In the Open

Benny Leftwich has just let loose on his latest serenade. And while it may be true that he could probably sing us the menue at McDonalds, and we’d sit captive, “In The Open” is a breathing composition that showcases the York based songwriter at his very best. The minimal string arrangement and tremolo guitar lick are the perfect touch to the emotive shuffle of this tidy pop song. “In the Open” is previewed here from his forthcoming EP of the same name, expected November 19th. Those in the States be sure to catch Ben on tour this winter (tour dates below).

Benjamin Francis Leftwich england (Facebook)

TOUR DATES:

11/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
11/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar
11/10 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
11/12 – Eugene, OR @ Cozmic
11/13 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
11/15 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
11/16 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
11/17 – Kelowna, BC @ The Habitat
11/18 – Canmore, AB @The Communitea
11/21 – Calgary, AB @ Palomino
11/22 – Edmonton, AB @ Brixx
11/23 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange
11/24 – Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre
11/26 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
11/28 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
11/29 – Indianapolis, IN @ (venue TBD)
11/30 – Louisville, KY @ Uncle Slaytons
12/02 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd n Linsly
12/03 – Columbus, OH @ The Rumba Café
12/05 – Lansing, MI @ Mac Bar
12/06 – Toronto, ON @ Rivoli
12/07 – Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus
12/08 – Albany, NY @ Jacks Place
12/09 – Boston, MA @ Club 939 Berkeley
12/12 – New York, NY @ Studio @ Webster hall
12/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
12/14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
12/15 – Washington, DC @ BlackCat
12/16 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
12/18 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House
12/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-09-12

Catching Flies – The Stars

London UK producer Catching Flies new 4-song “The Stars” EP is excellent. We’ve had it nonstop rotation the last couple days. Our favorite right now is the easy vibes of the Coldplay-sampling title track, which you can sample below.

Catching Flies – The Stars

Catching Flies (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
10-08-12

Torches – Someone Needs a Ritual

London band Torches bring the doom, the menace & the hooks on latest track “Someone Needs a Ritual”. Built on a driving rhythm track wall and angular guitar and melody, the song is gloomy & broody (all that stuff) but it’s also immensely catchy. See what you think below.

Torches – Someone Needs a Ritual

Torches (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-08-12

Husky Beats – You Don’t Wanna

Detroit producer Husky Beats gives one of our Mariah favorites a 2012-styled makeover.

Husky Beats – You Don’t Wanna

Husky Beats (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-08-12

Rah Digga – Add Another One (Feat. Rapsody)

14kt is a great producer. (Digga’s a great MC too but you already knew that.) 14’s Nowalataz LP from ’09 is still revered around b3sci parts as a classic. Here, Digga’s fire at the one emphatic flow fits 14kt’s punchy production style to a T. “Add Another One” is one you don’t want to miss.

Rah Digga – Add Another One (Feat. Rapsody)

Rah Digga (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-08-12