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Sade – I Would Have Never Guessed

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“I Would Have Never Guessed” is another of the excellent unreleased tracks that will be included on Sade’s upcoming Ultimate Collection package. “I Would Have Never Guessed” is also a really really good torch ballad. The song is sort of in the same lane as Sia’s “Breathe Me” or DHT’s version of “Listen to Your Heart” except performed by someone with the chops to carry such a spare/vocal intensive sort of song. Sade’s performance is quiet, soothing, all that sort of stuff but it’s also powerful; she’s singing from a real place, a very precise point of emotion. Win to Adu.

Sade – I Would Have Never Guessed

Sade: (Official) (Myspace)

Rating: 8.2

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reviewed by
04-18-11

MED – This Is Your Life (Feat. Blu) (Prod. Exile)

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Two of the best MC’s doing it right now on an Exile beat? Over before it even began. Mint.

MED – This Is Your Life (Feat. Blu) (Prod. Exile)

MED: (Myspace)

Rating: 8.3

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reviewed by
04-18-11

Cage the Elephant – Aberdeen

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Cage the Elephant leads off tonight with a primo cut from their excellent Thank You, Happy Birthday LP. All the sweet shit you loved about 90’s alternative radio (close your eyes and try not to hear Weezer in that intro) is live on “Aberdeen”, heavy up-in-the-mix bass-driven verses, big distorted guitars, and even bigger melodies. It’s enough to make you wanna strap on some vans and start playing pogs. Your torpedo, our slammer.

Cage the Elephant – Aberdeen

Cage the Elephant: (Official) (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.1

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reviewed by
04-18-11

THROWBACK SATURDAYS: Patti Drew – Hard To Handle

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Patti Drew’s timely take on the Otis Redding penned top 50 hit. It somehow makes you feel like this tune still has more to offer.

Patti Drew – Hard To Handle

Buy It: (Amazon)

reviewed by
04-16-11

The Pilots – Question and Answer

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As experimental electro, r&b and smooth jazz continue to cross paths, note “Question & Answer”. Collaborations beckoning.


The Pilots – Question and Answer via YYY

The Pilots: (Info)

Rating: 8.1
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reviewed by
04-15-11

Cults – Abducted

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Just in case you were anticipating something more, Cults are releasing “Abducted” on Record Store Day as a limited edition 7-inch. This is a great record.

Cults – Abducted

Cults: (Bandcamp) (Purchase Info)

Rating: 8.5
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reviewed by
04-15-11

Tribes – We Were Children

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Tribes remind me why I loved music in the mid-90’s, when people in the States actually cared about good guitar bands. Their sound is more reminiscent in music today rather than influential to new bands. Aside, it has a familiarity that all great sounds have. The fact that they are from the UK is even more interesting, boasting a sound that inspired the popularity of brit-pop in the UK and the demise of quality alternative rock around the world. And it still feels genuine. More to come from these guys.


Tribes – We Were Children (Demo)

Tribes: (Myspace) (Facebook) (Twitter)

Rating: 9
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reviewed by
04-15-11

Wilson Pickett – Get Me Back On Time (Danny Massure Edit)

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It ain’t funky enough in here! We need to make it more funky! Sticky Wicket, make it funky. Make it funky, Icky Ticket. Make it funky, I said.


Wilson Pickett – Get Me Back On Time (Danny Massure Edit)

Danny Massure: (Official) (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.2

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reviewed by
04-14-11

RAVE’S FAVES: Skybombers – Lies

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Contributed by Bruce Rave

Skybombers’ 2008 “Take Me to Town” was one of my favorite albums of the last decade, but the punk/garage influenced record came out when people were far more interested in folk and electronic. Some of the swagger is gone from their new “Black Carousel”, but there’s still plenty of energy and melody as this band aces it hard, medium, or soft. Their “Lies” single is a great choice that’s both hard and soft, and it nicely shows the talent of lead singer Hugh Gurney.

Skybombers – Lies

Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST

Skybombers: (Myspace) (Facebook)

Rating: 8.2

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reviewed by
04-14-11

Skream – Where You Should Be (Shy FX Remix)

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Mistajam debuted this Shy FX remix of Skream’s “Where You Should Be” a couple weeks back. The beats, the drum and bass, all that is cool but there’s a definite 90’s urban feel to Shy FX’s mix with the additions of an R&B flavored female vocal and some smoothed out synth stylings. Check it out.

Skream – Where You Should Be (Shy FX Remix)

Shy FX: (Myspace) (Facebook) (Twitter)

Rating: 8.3

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reviewed by
04-14-11

Dom Kennedy – CDC (Feat. Casey Veggies & cARTer)

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Carter does manage to drop a Miss Cleo ref into his 16 bars but, no doubt, Dom went in on this. No contest.

Dom Kennedy – CDC (Feat. Casey Veggies & cARTer)

Dom Kennedy: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)

Rating: 7.8

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reviewed by
04-14-11

Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise

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Contributed by Erin Routson

Let’s be real: I didn’t listen to the last Beastie Boys record. I know what it was called, but I honestly ignored it. To the 5 Boroughs took them too far into a PC/preachy territory that I admire in their award acceptances/interviews but it’s a turn off when it comes out too heavy in their music. Other than that anomaly, I can still rap along with pretty much every record; something I find puzzling because I can’t even remember how to do math most of the time. Before I listened to “Make Some Noise”, I was wary. What if this track suffered the same fate I find Snoop in? (Too old to rap.) Luckily for me, MCA, Ad-Rock and Michael Diamond, it doesn’t. “Make Some Noise” is the Beasties aging without losing the funk and energy that permeated their earlier work. I don’t expect them to stay young forever, but I know they’re all still creative dudes. This delivers on that.

Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise

Beastie Boys: (Official) (Myspace)

Rating: 8.3

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reviewed by
04-13-11