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Meek Mill – Middle of Da Summer (Feat. Mel Love)

meekmill

This time of year hip hop blogs are FLOODED with shitty songs with “Summer” in the title. “Summer Jam” this ” etc. Just hustlers trying to get a piece of that summer jam bread. “Middle of Da Summer” by MMG-repper and Philly native Meek Mill is actually good. With a beat that actually feels something approaching worthy that summer jam shine, and a hook that doesn’t put us in a heat-aided lame coma, “Middle Of Da Summer” is a track that might find its way on to your summer playlist.

Meek Mill – Middle of Da Summer (Feat. Mel Love)

Meek Mill pennsylvania (Facebook) (Twitter)

Rating 8.0

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reviewed by
07-22-11

Katy B – Witches Brew

katyb

Your girl Katy’s got a new single. “Witches Brew” got a coveted spin during the front segment of Annie Mac’s Radio 1 show tonight. While it’s maybe not quite “On a Mission”, “Witches Brew” is certainly shoulders above “Easy Please Me” or “Broken Record”. That and we love British accents! Sing it Katy!

Katy B – Witches Brew

Katy B england (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

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reviewed by
07-22-11

The Rapture – Sail Away

the_rapture_grace-of-your-love

Is it? Could it be? Why yes, why yes it is. It’s new RAPTURE. Come and get it.

The Rapture – Sail Away

The Rapture newyork (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
07-22-11

Routines – Young Hearts

routines

We usually run the fuck away (Real McCoy style) from synth-driven plural nondescript noun bands. Cause chances are, they’re either boring, shitty or some sort of combination of both. On “Young Hearts”, Dutch electro outfit Routines rise above their plural noun band peers with the help of a great soulful vocal, well constructed arrangement, and none of that _____wave haze synth-setting shit. Get behind Routines below.

Routines – Young Hearts

Routines netherlands (Soundcloud) (Facebook) (Twitter)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
07-22-11

Gold Panda – Marriage (SUR FER Remix)

goldpanda

SUR FER is a new production duo out of New York. One of the duo, George, is just 17! 17 or not, this is a great mix that get your head bobbing almost instantly. See look there it goes: bob, bob, bob.

Gold Panda – Marriage (SUR FER Remix)

SUR FER newyork (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 7.8

brown71

reviewed by
07-22-11

The Fearless Vampire Killers – Tell Me What You’re Trying To Say

fearlessvampirekillers

Just on the band name alone, The Fearless Vampire Killers had us hooked. They didn’t have to sound fucking awesome. But they do! Give “Tell Me What You’re Trying to Say” a spin below and meet your new favorite band name (and band!).


The Fearless Vampire Killers – Tell Me What You’re Trying To Say

The Fearless Vampire Killers australia (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
07-22-11

Birdy – Shelter (Photek Remix)

birdy

Photek’s remix of Birdy’s rendition of “Shelter” is DRAMATIC. XX dramatic. Like the Middle School cafeteria the afternoon before a school social dramatic. CINEMATIC. Photek tethers Birdy’s lighter-than-air vocal to a gorilla-sized instrumental track. It’s all a menancing synth atmosphere here, a 13 yr captain of the volleyball team there, and a drop as ugly as homemade sin. (Somewhat in that order.) Dance starts at 7:30!

Birdy – Shelter (Photek Remix)

Photek england (Soundcloud) (Twitter)

Rating 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
07-22-11

Kasabian – Days Are Forgotten

kasabian-velociraptor-artwork

“Days Are Forgotten” is rumored to be the next single off Kasabian’s Velociraptor, due 19 Sep. “Days” tends more towards the sound of Kasabian’s first couple records than first single “Switchblade Smiles”. “Days Are Forgotten”, from its punchy tense verse to its anthemic choruses, screams radio single. Kasabian dudes, we need the hook up on those Noel solo record promos. I know you guys can help. Tweet at us.

Kasabian – Days Are Forgotten

Kasabian england (Official) (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.5

brown8

reviewed by
07-21-11

RAVE’S FAVES: The Horrors – I Can See Through You

the-horrors

The Horrors’ “Skying” album just debuted at a lofty #5 on the UK album charts. It drops in the US on August 9. It feels like their “Still Life” single (posted on B3Sci long ago) has a chance to blow up pretty well for these guys. The album has been streaming on various sites, and the uptempo “I Can See Through You” nails it for me. Contributed by Bruce Rave

The Horrors – I Can See Through You

The Horrors england (Official) (Twitter)

Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST

reviewed by
07-21-11

Nero – New Life

nero

Previewed here is a new track from Nero which will be on the deluxe edition of the duo’s upcoming Welcome Reality LP. “New Life” is the sort of thing you’d expect to hear play while waiting in line for Space Mountain. “Welcome to SPACEPORT. Welcome to your new life.” And at the genre’s current rate of explosive growth, a Brostep Disney can’t be too far in the future. Get familiar below.

Nero – New Life

Nero (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
07-21-11

Brandee Younger – So Alive

brandeeyounger

New York harpist Brandee Younger into our mix the other day when we spotted her track for “So Alive” on MOOVMNT. “So Alive” is a jazz-arranged track that features the highly skilled harp playing of Ms. Younger, the beautiful vocals of singer Niia (you may remember her from Wyclef’s “Sweetest Girl” track from a few years back) and a rhythm section of Derzon Douglas (bass) and E.J. Strickland (drums). Despite it being intensely rhythmic, the track plays airily, light. The vocals and harp float on top the mix and breathe out the stunning bossa/lounge-tinged tune.

Brandee Younger – So Alive

Brandee Younger newyork (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
07-21-11

Young Jeezy – Shake Life

jeezy

Jeezy just dropped “Shake Life”, the latest single off Thug Motivation 103 (due this coming Tuesday), on Angie Martinez’s Hot 97 show. We’re feeling this on the first couple listens. That Eric Benet sample is definitely a bit different sound palette for a Snowman single. It’s no “And Then What”. See if you’re into it below. Yeeeeeaaahh

Young Jeezy – Shake Life

Young Jeezy georgia (Twitter) (Myspace)

Rating 7.8

brown71

reviewed by
07-21-11