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Track Reviews

Trailer Trash Tracys – You Wish You Were Red

trailertrashtracys

TTTs do their best version of Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” with “You Wish You Were Red”. Wrapped in layer upon layer of guitar-gaze and cascading choral voicings “Red”s best moments are in its more sullen and solemn choruses, that and the track’s excellent end bit. From about 3:00 on, you’ll hear maybe some of the best use/combination of vocal and instrumental harmonies of any track this year. “Yesterday I Cried.”

Trailer Trash Tracys – You Wish You Were Red

Trailer Trash Tracys england (Facebook)

Rating 7.9

brown71

reviewed by
11-07-11

Mac Miller – My Team (Prod. Clams Casino)

macmiller3

Around b3sci HQ Mac Miller goes by the name “Cotton Candy”. “Did you hear that new Cotton Candy/Primo collab?” “Did you see Donald Trump is down for Cotton Candy?” Shit like that. As coined by b3sci fam Wyatt, Mac’s style of rhyme is “cotton candy rap”. It’s “Soft as fuck. Tastes good. Don’t gotta think about it.” Also, Mr. Cotton Candy can pick pretty dope beats. Here he goes in on a choice Clams production, excerpted here from Blue Slide Park.

Mac Miller – My Team (Prod. Clams Casino)

Mac Miller pennsylvania: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
11-06-11

Drake – Take Care (Feat. Rihanna) / Lord Knows (Feat. Rick Ross) (Prod. Just Blaze)

drake

Fucking mega. Drake via Jamie xx via Gil Scott-Heron. Give Drake a hand for going for something somewhat less predictable at this point in his career. Get this shit on the radio. We need NEW Drake songs. I can only slow headbob that “She Will” shiz so many times.

Drake – Take Care (Feat. Rihanna)

BONUS: Drake – Lord Knows (Feat. Rick Ross) (Prod. Just Blaze)

Drake canada (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
11-06-11

Drake – Crew Love (Feat. The Weeknd)

drake

That OVO that XO. Eyebrows just let loose this new Take Care Weeknd collab on Toronto’s Flow 93.5. Shreds hard.

Drake – Crew Love (Feat. The Weeknd)

Drake canada (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
11-06-11

Spector – Grey Shirt & Tie

spector-credit-sam-seager

Spector drops a very electro beat on their new single, “Grey Shirt & Tie”. Church bells and synth layers create a 2011 wall-of-sound aesthetic. The layering increases throughout the track, which isolates Fred Macpherson’s vocal and makes it shine. Spector is doing radio ready rock (that dying genre) better than just about anyone in the UK right now. Now it’s time to show USA some love with a few tour dates! Contributed by Chris Gedos


Spector england (Facebook)

Rating: 8.24
brown8

reviewed by
11-05-11

nihiti – The Orchids (Psychic TV cover)

nihiti_studio-web

nihiti (purposefully lowercase) is a NYC psych-folk duo, and their cover of “The Orchids” by art rock vanguards Psychic TV is my pick for track of the week. The original version is so lo-fi it’s barely audible, but the cover double tracks the vocal, which almost sounds triple tracked with added echo, to make sure the listener can understand each and every beautiful lyric. “And in the morning and the night, I fall in love with the light.” The cello on top with violin underneath adds even more sweetness to an already tender song. Fans of everything from Califone to Fairport Convention will go bonkers over this truly multi-generational track. Contributed by Chris Gedos

nihiti newyork (Soundcloud)

Rating 9.05

brown93

reviewed by
11-05-11

David Guetta – Titantium (Feat. Sia) (Nicky Romero Remix)

davidguettatitanium

The Dutch DJ does a top shelf rework of the David Guetta smash.

David Guetta – Titantium (Feat. Sia) (Nicky Romero Remix)

Nicky Romero netherlands (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
11-04-11

Sleeping Bags – Shark

shark

“Shark” by Sleeping Bags sort starts off with its least best foot forward (its other foot?), crawling and dragging about for a good two minutes, from there the track opens up into a sprawling, beautiful piece of nu-gaze; shimmering layers of distorted guitars, crashing drums, you get the picture. Don’t sleep on this track (at least til you get to about 3:00).

Sleeping Bags – Shark

Sleeping Bags england (Bandcamp)

Rating 7.8

brown71

reviewed by
11-04-11

Post War Years – All Eyes

postwaryears

“All Eyes” from London UK band Post War Years is a soulful, big beat rock and roll tune with just enough menace to really make things interesting. Look out for the Minus the Bear-esque guitar-taps breakdown at 2:54.

Post War Years – All Eyes

Post War Years england (Official) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
11-04-11

Alesso – Raise Your Head

alesso

Pete Tong let loose this new Alesso track a couple hours ago and we’re sort of on the fence about it. We heard a preview of “Raise Your Head” a few days ago, and sort of collectively did the James Brown 6.0 face as we listened to it. The full version sounds a bit more mean (good) but the track’s still leaving us a bit cold. Give it a spin yourself and see how you’re feeling about it.

Alesso – Raise Your Head

Alesso sweden (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 7.7

brown71

reviewed by
11-04-11

James Blake – At Birth

jamesblake

The James Blake train keeps rolling, after a 2011 that’s included an LP and an EP, J. Blake intends to release a second ’11 EP in December called “Love What Happened Here”. “At Birth”, which is excerpted from the EP, brings some of that James Blake 1-2 back that was missing on the “Enough Thunder” EP. Expect the usual J.B. vocal cuts, piano jabs, and rhythmic multilayers with a touch darker edge.

James Blake – At Birth

James Blake england: (Official) (Label) (Myspace)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
11-04-11

Friendly Fires – Hurting (Tensnake Remix)

hurting

Well, isn’t this just tops? Look for this remix to get its official release on November 25 c/o Permanent Vacation.

Removed at request of label.
Friendly Fires – Hurting (Tensnake Remix)

Tensnake germany (Soundcloud) (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
11-04-11