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Track Reviews

Krewella – Strobelights [kthx Remix]

krewella

kthx flips the next big track on the horizon from Krewella. Banger.

Krewella illinois (Facebook)
kthx (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
11-02-11

Kings of the City – Let Me Go (Maverick Sabre)

kingsofthecity

London genre-benders Kings of the City have just released an excellent new “Covers” EP (which you can sample for free here). Have to hand it to the blokes in song selection department, Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”, Wretch32’s “Don’t Go”, the classic(!) Sonique track “Feels So Good”. Well done, chaps. KotC’s frenetic take on “Let Me Go” by Maverick Sabre is our choice track from the set. Give this heatrock a spin below.

Kings of the City – Let Me Go (Maverick Sabre)

Kings of the City england (Facebook) (Bandcamp)

Rating 7.9

brown8

reviewed by
11-01-11

Chairlift – Sidewalk Safari (Sampha Remix)

chairlift

UK bro Sampha picks up the indomitable Chairlift for a space garage remix of their latest single for “Sidewalk Safari”.

Chairlift – Sidewalk Safari (Sampha Remix)

Chairlift newyork (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
11-01-11

REVIEW: Harrison Hudson – American Thunder

harrison-hudson

American Thunder, the new album from Harrison Hudson, is an unexpected treat from the Nashville outfit. Lo-fi production fuses with ambitious sing-alongs to create an unassailable combination. It’s been a while since I’ve heard songs so tightly structured around linear-sequential, narrative storytelling. “Bookstore Girl” could become a winter semester anthem in Cambridge, Madison and Ann Arbor. “Cherish The One You Got” takes a twee sensibility and ages it like a fine wine, like a post-pubescent b-side from Who Will Cut Our Hair When We Are Gone. The single, “Every Girl”, is lovely enough but one of the safer songs on the album. However, that’s the mark of a great LP, when the deep cuts are indistinguishable from the singles. The pedigree is apparent: Big Star, Guided By Voices, Magnetic Fields. (Also listed on their Facebook page is Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Ricky Nelson.) But then you hear The Crystals-esque backing vocals on “Run My Way” and all comparisons go out the window. I want to put this review in a time capsule for three months, because when the songs are there, the replay value is a given. Bravo, Harrison Hudson! American Thunder is my favorite album of Q4 2011. Contributed by Chris Gedos

Harrison Hudson – Every Girl

Harrison Hudson – Bookstore Girl

INFO: tennessee (Official)

Rating 8.7

brown8

reviewed by
11-01-11

Blouse – White

blouse

Yeah we love this Blouse shit. “White” sports a neat 1-2 step and some dope synth flourishes and sounds like it was recorded inside a closet. Show us the play button.

Blouse – White

Blouse oregon (Bandcamp) (Facebook)

Rating 7.9

brown71

reviewed by
11-01-11

Analog Rebellion – Holy Atmosphere

analogrebellion

Analog Rebellion deliver a powerful, soulful, guitar-driven sound on “Holy Atmosphere”. The band may remind a bit of Cold War Kids or The White Stripes but altogether the Analog Rebellion sound cooks into something not only really exciting but all unique for its genre. AR are a great new band for your radar. Check it out.

Analog Rebellion – Holy Atmosphere

Analog Rebellion texas (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
11-01-11

SoKo – I Thought I Was An Alien

soko2

The French born songstress SoKo has released her latest dreamy creation “I Thought I Was An Alien”, in tow with a new Spike Jonze filmed video. SoKo you’re not alone – we always feel like aliens!

SoKo – I Thought I Was An Alien

SoKo california (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
11-01-11

Drake – The Motto (Feat. Lil’ Wayne) (CDQ)

drake2

Eyebrows Noir put down this bomb (read: bonus track from Take Care) during his Power 106 takeover last night. Track’s got a minimalist 808esque beat and an OK to mediocre Tunechi feature. Mr. Graham does go in though. Give it a spin. Thanks to MJF for the CDQ.

Drake – The Motto (CDQ)

Drake canada (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
11-01-11

FKi – Toxic (Feat. Yael Naim) (Prod. FKi & Mayhem)

fki

It doesn’t get much heavier. On the track, FKi flips a cover that seems to have an unlimited shelf-life (Yael Naim’s run at “Toxic”) into a syrupy Robotussin jam. Look out for Diplo, Mayhem & Heroes & Villains’ upcoming Transformers in the Hood mixtape.

FKi – Toxic (Feat. Yael Naim) (Prod. FKi & Mayhem)

FKi georgia (Twitter) (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
10-31-11

Homage – Roy Ayers (Mixed by Anthony Valadez)

royayers

The impact of the legendary Roy Ayers on soul, jazz, hip hop, (music in general) is immeasurable. The awesome KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez put this mix of some of Roy’s best tracks as well as some of the best tracks he inspired (It’s a seriously impressive list). And that’s not all! The Homage music series is bringing Roy Ayers together with Pete Rock(!) and a live band to Exchange: Los Angeles Nov. 17. This is a show you absolutely do not want to miss. Seriously! We couldn’t be more psyched!

reviewed by
10-31-11

Miles Bonny – Jesus Children of America (Stevie Wonder)

milesbonny

One of the coolest bros on the planet, Miles Bonny, covers one of the coolest songs of ALL TIME Stevie’s “Jesus Children of America”. Result.

Miles Bonny – Jesus Children of America (Stevie Wonder)

Miles Bonny missouri (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-31-11

Fractures – Nicotine

fractures

Fractures are the 90’s MTV buzzband you wish had existed back then. Picture it now, the smooth Dan Cortese dropping Fractures in between fresh buzzcuts from Harvey Danger and Jawbox. Yeah sounds pretty rad, right? Follow that up with a four-hour block of Singled Out (the Jenny McCarthy-era) and a “brand new episdode” of “Daria” and life is ripping pretty hard. “Nicotine” is great and will be in your head no less than 30 seconds into the track. Get it.

Fractures – Nicotine

Fractures england (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
10-31-11