here at b3sci, we love chicago and quite right we also love rock and roll, and third we love to get down. so using that scale lets see how the yolks stack up… the yolks are a three piece band from chicago (+1). the yolks play some great fuckin’ rock and roll (+2). and “wandering” is just one of the many tunes on the band’s self-titled LP we can seriously get down to . (+3)
rating: 8.5
Soulive – “Prototype” (Feat. Nigel Hall)
jazz outfit soulive enlist the pipes of portland, maine soul singer nigel hall on this cover of the andre 3000 tune. “prototype” (the song) is well enough that it would be a good look on more or less any competent singer in the genre. but nigel hall’s delivery of dre’s really just flat out gorgeous melody lines really got our attention. props to soulive for seeking out this collaboration.
buy soulive’s “up here” LP
nigel hall on myspace
rating: 7.8
Sergeant – “Counting Down the Days”
Sergeant – “Swiftly Does It”
Sergeant – “K OK”
not that they’re directly changing the face of rock and roll, Sergeant make their subtle impact by simply throwing down on some proper britpop. it’s just brits doing what brits do best. yet when it comes to so many UK guitar bands nowadays, it seems Sergeant take the different path. there’s no bull shit, no fluff, and what everybody else seems to be doing… doesn’t matter. what does matter is what you can hear flowing through their veins… their roots of jangly guitar hooks, melody melody melody and yes… songs. wait, songs?! right.
after their major label conflict a few years back, the lads in Sergeant have since been hard at work on getting new and old material out to the world. “Counting Down the Days” is the new single of several which have been released via various indie’s the past few months. all of which, i can only hope are leading up to an album.. and tour in the states. right? again… eh?
when it comes to new UK artists, i always think about how the britpop explosion in the 90’s happened. for those who haven’t seen it..LIVE FOREVER: The Rise and Fall of Britpop is a brilliant documentary featuring the evolution of britpop from the 80’s to it’s “demise” in the late 90’s. it features priceless commentary on the subject from the gallaghers, jarvis cocker, damon albarn, blahblah soo many more. a great watch! check it below
rating: 8.3
Kev Brown – “Hennessy Rap Pt. 3” (Feat. Kenn Starr, Raheem DeVaughn, Eric Roberson & Wayna)
“hennessy rap, pt. 3” is some smooth shit. kev brown rules …this much we know. but check the features… kenn starr on the rhymes? yeah! (tell us more!) raheem devaughn singing the hook? oh yeah!!! (raheem can blow) wayna AND eric roberson singing back-up? fuck yes!! (we are SOLD! sign us on that dotted line.) kev brown’s “random joints” EP is out now on low budget, get familiar.
rating: 7.7
AFTA-1 – “Love Suite 2 (Sit Still)”
afta-1 is one our favorite new producers. “love suite 2” is some straight up amazing shit. we love how the warm tones of this record just kind of of float in the mix and really just sort of elevate up and off the downbeats/upbeats. right so… if you need us, we’ll be up on that neptunian shit. peace, crackers.
rating: 7.7
Lee Fields & the Expressions – “My World Is Empty Without You”
wow, this absolutely kills. funk journeyman lee fields’s cover of the supremes classic “my world is empty without you” is one the best songs we’ve heard this year. holy shit at the arrangement of this song, the cool backing vocal tones, the simple clean guitar strums, the subtle use of organ, and wow lee fields lead vocal delivery, equal parts bobby womack’s throaty swagger and otis redding’s emotive tailing off the downbeat. lee fields’ “my world” LP is out now on truth & soul records. check it out, the entire record is awesome.
rating: 9.3
Joe Henry – “The Man I Keep Hid”
“The Man I Keep Hid” is new from Blood From The Stars due 8/18 via Anti. Joe’s alt. country, rock, jazz and folk roots add some eclectec tones to the track’s bluesy nature, a theme that is prevalent throughout the record. and while never achieving the same level of popularity that his label and genre partner Tom Waits has, Henry’s artistic consistency has bore him a longevity of career not often accomplished. who cares about popularity when you can continue to inspire? a wise man did once say… “it’s better to burn out than to fade away”. so what burns out for the consistent? i suppose it’s up for discussion..
rating: 8.2
excuse us while we mark out over greg cartwright. this is rock and roll, kids. there is so much spirit in this music. this is music that HAS to be played and HAS to be heard. and, oh man, are we psyched to hear it! catch that holy ghost, holla!
rating: 8.2
“Uprising” will be the first single off of Muse’s fifth studio release The Resistance. much more like them and less like the aforementioned, this track is a stadium stomper. and from what’s been heard of the album thus far, Muse should at least be maintaining their arena/festival headlining credentials for some time to come. yeah – it’s an anthem, “SO C’MON”
rating: 7.2
Omar Souleyman – “Lansob Sherek” (I Will Make a Trap)
look up a defintion of “GOES HARD” in your favorite dictionary.
rating: 8.5
Cornershop – “Who Fingered Rock n Roll”
Cornershop’s new single poetically poses an honest question. and a good one it is, who the fuck did finger rock and roll? somebody had to do it.. was it this guy?? WELL to be honest there were many, but that cat definitely got maximum finger bang. either way, Cornershop’s sixth studio effort Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast dropped this week. the single is a sitar flavored straightforward and soulful rocker – which makes its point at the very least..
Cornershop – “Brimful of Asha”
more as promised: off 1997’s When I Was Born for the 7th Time, “Brimful of Asha” became an international hit with a commercial friendly remix done by Norman Cook. here’s the lesser heard original version with all 5 plus minutes of jangly minimal pop goodness. the track was written as a tribute to the prolific Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle and the Indian music industry. “Candyman” gives some serious Band of Gypsies vibes but with an electro twist. the track regained some love in ’08 for being in a Nike commercial featuring King James. man with Shaq attack in c-town there’s no way the Cavs can lose… AGAIN. Cleveland is way due for a title you know?!
rating: 7.3
a true independent artist that radiates personality. the alter-ego of adam weiner delivers “tell me again” with the soul and conviction of his rockabilly, soul and folk predecessors. all while embracing his unique cabaret motif
rating: 7.8
