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Pop

Simian Ghost – Wolf Girl

By Chris Gedos

simian-ghost

Is there anything the Swedes can’t do right? Sexy crime fiction, metaphysical art-house flicks, even paid paternity leave from work when the momma has a child! Simian Ghost’s first single off the forthcoming Youth LP, entitled “Wolf Girl”, is an absolute delight and sure to perpetuate Sweden’s post capitalistic superiority. The crisp production values (#lovethefadein) set the stakes, but the arrangement is solid with lyrics considerably more fluent than those coming from some native Anglophone acts. The music video runs with the trippy, baroque-twee vibe and even throws a pillow fight into the mix. The Sebastian Arnström (of Aerials) project is sure to have many in Sweden thinking spring.

Simian Ghost – Wolf Girl

Simian Ghost sweden (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
01-16-12

Rose Elinor Dougall – Hanging Around

roseelinordougall

Rose, where have you been all our lives? This is the sound of January 16th, 2012. “Hanging Around” is excerpted here from Ms. Dougall’s (who is a former member of Brit buzz band The Pipettes) just released “Distractions” EP. The EP’s got an interesting mix of sounds of influences, particularly its blend of classic American pop and more far off shoegaze tones. So we’re definitely listening now, and we’re eager to hear more. To the bandcamp links:

Rose Elinor Dougall england (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

brown8

reviewed by
01-16-12

MNDR – #1 in Heaven

mndr

“#1 in Heaven” is somewhat a monster of a song. It’s near commercial caliber feel gets you moving and will have you singing. To us, it can be as much “We Found Love” as it can be “Love Fool” at moments. On repeat:

MNDR – #1 in Heaven

MNDR newyork (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
01-16-12

Fanfarlo – Shiny Things

fanfarlo

“Shiny Things” is a catchy and up-tempo number previewed from the forthcoming and sophomore LP, Rooms Filled With Light, by UK lads Fanfarlo. Check out the rhythmic gymnastics themed video for the song below and be sure to catch the band on tour as they gig though Spring 2012 with a culminating set at Coachella in Indio, CA.

Fanfarlo- Shiny Things

Fanfarlo england (Facebook) (Pre-Order)

Spring 2012 Dates:

2/22 – Leeds, UK @ The Wardrobe
2/23 – Glasgow, UK @ Stereo
2/24 – Newcastle, UK @ Cluny
2/25 – Liverpool, UK @ Static Gallery
2/27 – Bristole, UK @ Thekla
2/29 – Brighton, UK @ Tiger Club
3/01 – London, UK @ Scala
3/05 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
3/06 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
3/07 – Wahsington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
3/08 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
3/09 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
3/10 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
3/13 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
3/14 – Dallas, TX @ The Loft
3/15-18 – Austion, TX @ South by Southwest
3/19 – St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
3/20 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
3/22 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
3/23 – Ann Arbor, MU @ The Blind Pig
3/24 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
3/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
3/27 – Columbus, OH @ Skully’s
3/28 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
3/29 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
3/31 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre
4/01 – Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
4/03 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird
4/05 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
4/06 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
4/07 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
4/09 – Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore
4/10 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Cafe
4/15 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival
4/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
4/22 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
01-16-12

Fast Years – Young Heart

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“Young Heart” comes from new Brooklyn collective Fast Years. The track goes near polar-throwback in it’s tendencies towards nostalgic Garage and Pop. Especially for those letting a renaissance of bands like The Vaccines still sink in. Fast Years will be opening for Howler in their hometown later this January.

Fast Years – Young Heart

Fast Years newyork (Facebook)

Rating 7.9

brown71

reviewed by
01-15-12

Kid Ink – Time Of Your Life (Prod. by Ned Cameron)

kid-ink

It’s like Kid Ink has already gone and inked in his own Top 40 appeal. On “Time of Your Life” the young MC conducts his pop with the conviction of the rest of ’em, Wiz Khalifa, B.o.B, Drake, Lil’ Wayne? But as prolific? #MMAYBEMUSIC

Kid Ink – Time Of Your Life (Prod. by Ned Cameron)

Kid Ink california (Official) (Twitter)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
01-14-12

SHOW REVIEW: Allison Weiss / Mitten / Lightyear @ Glasslands, Brooklyn 01/06/12

By Erin Routson

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Some music is undeniably written by women. Contend that if you will. Seeing Lightyear (aka Lauren Zettler) open for Mitten and Allison Weiss at Brooklyn’s Glasslands merely hit the idea home. Sometimes there are places that only women can go.

Taking the stage with her band, she launched into a set that ranged from the gentleness of lullabies and near-whisper sung lyrics to the punk vibes of yelping “Oh my god!” and being unable to contain her energy. Her songs are culled from the subject matter that any woman as a diarist would recognize. Love, loss and finding one’s own way all work their way into her lyrics.

It sounds like a complaint, but it isn’t. If all of these ideas are swirling around in our brains, why shouldn’t women sing them? Why shouldn’t all of that creative force be channeled into music? Isn’t the point so that I relate?

While Lightyear’s debut EP All of the Miles is sometimes soaring, sometimes intimate, but always polished, her live show presents a more raw take on the same kind of expansive and constricting sound. This might’ve been partial credit to her under-the-weather slightly croaky voice, but the songs took shape live. “Lose Yourself” and the opener “When You’re Alone” capitalized on the full band rougher sound. They were more human and more powerful. Even the songs that were just her alone onstage with a guitar were bigger than what that idea connotes.

As she closed with “It Beats” Zettler seemed to almost want to climb out of her own body, seeking the “sea change” she sings about. Maybe only a woman could write those lyrics, but it’s also true that maybe only a woman could deliver them and do them justice.

The rest of the show carried through this theme of our innermost thoughts being broadcast backed with guitars, keyboards, or both. Mitten, weaving their way through dance tracks and dreamy vocals, got the crowd moving. By the time Allison Weiss took the stage (with Mitten as her supporting band), she could’ve read her diary out loud and it would’ve been enough. Her earnest and borderline comical delivery made her set charming as she took us back to summer camp, to awkward nights out beyond curfew, to feeling so many feelings.

It was a night to embrace all of those feelings and remember: it isn’t a shame to turn them into a song at all. It’s a gift.

Lightyear newyork (Facebook)
Mitten newyork (Facebook)
Allison Weiss newyork (Facebook)

reviewed by
01-13-12

La Sera – Please Be My Third Eye

By Trevor Meyer

la-sera

La Sera will release her new LP, Sees The Light, March 24th. “Please Be My Third Eye” is a guitar-driven ensemble of punk, fuzz, pop, and garage. Laden with a purposeful melody throughout, “Please Be My Third Eye” stands out among the masses of the surging indie/shoegaze/fuzzpop circus. La Sera is playing at the Echo in LA, Jan 12, so make sure to catch her live.

La Sera – Please Be My Third Eye

La Sera newyork (Facebook) (Hardly Art)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
01-10-12

JMSN – Something

jmsn-priscilla

Today JMSN drops his debut and self-produced LP Priscilla.”Something” is the third single from the 16 track album, and showcases a 2012 R&B-influenced sound with worldly influence and a heart-wringing punch in the drum track. We are into it.

JMSN – Something

JMSN michigan (Purchase) (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
01-10-12

Adaline – The Noise

adaline

Canadian songstress Adaline drops a new vid for her nice synth pop tune “The Noise”. Volume turnt up.

Adaline – The Noise

Adaline canada (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

brown8

reviewed by
01-09-12

Freedom Fry – Tallest Dreams

By Trevor Meyer

freedom-fry

Freedom Fry is a French-American duo hailing from Paris and New York. Their debut EP, Let The Games Begin features “Tallest Dreams” along with four other tracks. This duo has a great feel for rhythmic dynamics. Not only does Freedom Fry have a knack for percussive adeptness, but they also use instrumentation such as the harpsichord, autoharp, and ukulele. Freedom Fry has a distinct musical chemistry that shimmers through “Tallest Dreams.” Make sure to give these guys a listen and pick up their debut EP, Let The Games Begin.

Tallest Dreams – Freedom Fry

Tallest Dreams newyork (Facebook) (Bandcamp)

Rating 8

brown8

reviewed by
01-07-12

Panther & The Supafly – Diamond In The Africa Rough x Chronicles

By Trevor Meyer

panther-party

Vancouver natives, Panther & The Supafly just dropped their debut EP, Nkazi. “Diamond in the Africa Rough” is a sick fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and pop. This track is driven, inspirational, and poised for greatness. Give these guys a spin.

Panther & The Supafly – Diamond In The Africa Rough

Panther & The Supafly – Chronicles

Panther & The Supafly canada (Download at Bandcamp) (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
01-07-12