Don’t miss out on all the 2011 “BEST OF” lists!

Songs Vol. 1  / Vol. 2  |  Remixes Vol. 1 / Vol. 2  |  Albums  |  EPs    Music Videos  |  Cover Songs  |  Party Songs

[MP3] Rebeka – “Stars”

by Brandon on May 11, 2012

what will you do with the songs you will make?

♫ Rebeka – Stars

  • Who: Iwona & Bartosz
  • What: Crisp electro soul, like Cookies, Saint Etienne
  • Where: Poznan, Poland + Facebook
  • When: Nothing concrete but they are signed to Discotexas.
  • Why: My connection to Poland runs deep as I have family there, started this website there, and lived there for 4 years, but I regular TBE readers will know that I didn’t find too many Polish bands to write about. Then Rebeka came a long a few weeks before I left and “Fail” let me know I may not have been looking hard enough. Their blend of diva soul and delicate electronic dance is the kind of blend that would have paired perfectly with a Warsaw summer night. Well whether I get to enjoy it in person or not, I’m just proud its happening in Poland.

{ 0 comments }

[EXCLUSIVE] Aiden Grimshaw – Is This Love (II Figures Remix)

by Joel on May 10, 2012

As a brutally honest person, I won’t lie for one second… I’m not a fan of any of these reality music series.  The worst are the American versions- producing nothing but boring formula music year after year.  Personally, I think one of the best moments in this genre of television was the famous Calvin Harris pineapple joke.  

So, it should come as no surprise that before today, I had no idea who this Aiden Grimshaw fellow was.  That is until a peek through my inbox brought me to another II Figures remix.  If you follow TBE, you know that I’m a huge sucker for remixes and this track was no exception.  In fact, I’ve had this chune on repeat- just jamming my face off the last few days.  To top it all off, I gave the original a listen, and I must admit that I do enjoy it.  Turns out Grimshaw is a pretty big star across the Atlantic.  

The release date for ‘Is This Love’ is 3 June.  Get the exclusive II Figures remix download here.

[click for more!]

{ 6 comments }

[EP] Haim – FOREVER (w/ “Forever”)

by Brandon on May 10, 2012

go get out of my memory, no not tonight i dont have the energy

♫ Haim – Forever

  • Who: The Haim sisters Danielle, Alana, and Este. Plus a guy suspiciously named Dash Hutton.
  • What: Rhythm-and-folk pop, like Jenny Owens Young, Regina Spektor
  • Where: Los Angeles, CA + Facebook
  • When: The 3 song Forever EP is free now.
  • Why: Is it folk? Is it funk? Wait, is she rapping? Damn I just dont even know anymore. As if it wasn’t hard enough looking at 3 of the same person in that album art I have to explain what makes Haim’s blend of folk rock so irresistibly catchy that I’ve had Forever on repeat all week. I think this bio from Last.fm says it best: Haim are three sisters from Los Angeles. They play rock music. They play it well.

{ 3 comments }

[MP3] Purity Ring – “Obedear”

by Brandon on May 10, 2012

all my dreams come back to me, all my wrinkles build on me

♫ Purity Ring – Obedear

  • Who: Corin (from Gobble Gobble) and Megan
  • What: Freaky groove waves, like The xx, Grimes, Evian Christ
  • Where: Edmonton, Canada + Facebook
  • When: Something is happening on 7/24/12.
  • Why: Just cause all their songs are one word doesn’t mean that the music is simple (or even that the “word” is). It’s been over a year since Purity Ring whispered promises in our ear as “Ungirthed.” This is only the 3rd song since then to come out but it continues pushing the envelope of their sound. “Obedear” gets darker with it’s hip-hop borrowed plink beat and pulsating wall of moans. It pretty weird but I could also see it in a prepping for battle montage scene in a major action movie. It’s got that slow tension. Lets hope they release it all on July 24th.

{ 3 comments }

[MP3/VIDEO] BIGkids – “Drum In Your Chest” & “Superhero”

by Brandon on May 9, 2012

sometimes you’re crawling on the ceiling, sometimes you’re flying on the ground

♫ BIGkids – Drum In Your Chest

  • Who: Sometime Kanye associate Mr. Hudson & Rosie Oddie.
  • What: Shameless dance pop, like a The Ting Tings, Dragonette, Kitten Berry Crunch.
  • Where: London, UK + Facebook
  • When: These two singles so far.
  • Why: Mr. Hudson’s previous solo efforts never quite got me paying attention but with his new duo he is firing on all cylinders. Much like the raging kids in the video for “Superhero” (and the kid in that album art) these guys are partying how they want and don’t give a french fry what you think. “Drum In Your Chest” is a vacuum packed dance party just waiting to be unwrapped (see video for proof). All kinds of tropical rhythms battle it out under breathless vocals that pump the beat harder. And the video for “Superhero” is just awesome. In a messed up kind of way.

The sometime Kanye associate Mr. Hudson never quite sold me on his solo stuff but now that he is part of the dynamic dup of BIGkids I am certainly listening.

{ 2 comments }

[MP3] Daughn Gibson – “In the Beginning”

by Brandon on May 9, 2012

and i promised mom not to treat myself this way

♫ Daughn Gibson – In the Beginning

  • Who: Just him.
  • What: Tripped out country soul, like a hairier James Blake.
  • Where: Carlisle, PA + Facebook
  • When: LP All Hell is out now.
  • Why: The first handful of times I heard “In The Beginning” I don’t think I even noticed how chopped and looped the production is. I just heard Gibson’s smoked whiskey voice and felt the ambling cadence of the rhythm. Opening my ears now I hear that guitar line dance and that piano keep the beat and that “tikk – tikk” move it all slowly along. Each layer building on the next like clockwork and each listen revealing a new gear.

{ 0 comments }

[QUICKIE] Mona – MONA (w/ “Lean Into The Fall”)

by Brandon on May 9, 2012

is it sex or is it love, hoping you don’t call my bluff

♫ Mona – Lean Into The Fall (Piano Version)

Listen to “Lean Into The Fall” “Shooting The Moon” or “Listen To Your Love” & you know there is heart. And rock. And roll. Underrated magic.

[Quickies are mini-reviews that can fit into a 140 character tweet. They are of albums that people already know of but perhaps are curious about our take on it. What did you think of the disc?]

Mona on Facebook

{ 4 comments }

[CONTEST/VIDEO] Electric Guest prize pack: T-Shirt, Vinyl & CD!

by Brandon on May 8, 2012

♫ Electric Guest – American Daydream

No matter what your dad told you, you CAN win! To celebrate their Danger Mouse produced debut LP Mondo and their EPIC video for “This Head I Hold” (below) I’ve got a pack of Electric Guest goodies to give away.

Winner gets a T-Shirt, Vinyl, & CD!

I’m gonna go shameless self promotion on this one so all you have to do is post about how much you love The Burning Ear on Facebook!

4 easy steps!

1. “Like” The Burning Ear on Facebook.

2. See my “Sample Contest Post”

3. Write something funnier. (Not too hard)

4. Make sure you tag The Burning Ear & Electric Guest. (type “@the burning ear” and it will pop up. Same with “@electric guest”)

The post with the most “Likes” on Friday night at midnight PST wins!

There is nothing quite like that nagging feeling coming back out of nowhere to haunt you.

{ 2 comments }

[MP3] Sphynx – “Orbs”

by Brandon on May 8, 2012

could we stay this way forever, for eternity

♫ Sphynx – Orbs

  • Who: Cory, Aaron & Todd
  • What: Genre, like early Passion Pit (ha), Miami Horror, Kitten Berry Crunch
  • Where: Austin, TX + Facebook
  • When: Their 2011 EP Human Beast is out now at name-your-price.
  • Why: I don’t know why but Cory, Aaron, & Todd just seem like the names of 3 dudes who would get into the funked out party vibes. It’s only appropriate that they do that on the regular as Sphynx. It’s throwback. It’s futuristic. It’s happening right now and you should be dancing. You should also be doubling your pleasure with their other equally sexy and free new single “Sha Dynasty.”

{ 0 comments }

[STREAM] The Gaslight Anthem – “45″

by Brandon on May 8, 2012

and all my friends say, turn the record over, see you on the flip side

  • Who: Brian, Ben, Alex & Alex
  • What: Raspy rock n roll, like Bruce Springsteen, Steel Train.
  • Where: New Brunswick, NJ + Facebook
  • When: “45″ is out today. New LP Handwritten is out July 24th.
  • Why: Even though The Gaslight Anthem’s The ’59 Sound was one of my top albums of 2008, it took me a while to warm up to 2010′s American Slang. There will be none of that foot dragging this time. The boys from New Jersey have blasted out of the gate with guitars blazing on “45.” The fast parts, the slow parts, the singing parts, its all just about perfect rock n’ roll. I can not wait until July 24th when summer will arrive in all it’s convertible-loving glory with Handwritten.

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →