Los Angeles

05.06.2013

Grizfolk – “Hymnals” + “The Struggle”

we don’t know what we’re waiting for and we don’t know the truth anymore

Does your car stereo remember Griz Adam’s “The Struggle” as much as mine does? That jams has been getting endless play since October and I recently began wondering when we were gonna get a second track. Turns out that the guys changed their name to GrizFolk and have a handful of jams in the pipeline. 1st one out is the rollicking “Hymnals”, riding an unstoppable wave … continue reading

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04.30.2013

[MP3] Leonard Friend – “Holograms”

i want to trend when i die, re-release my greatest hits

Los Angeles’ Leonard Friend topped TBE charts with his party rocker “Middle Of The Night” but now he changes things up with a slower burn groover that wouldn’t have been out of place on Timberlake’s new album. He is just singing it from the heart here and you can taste it. Yes. Get into the rest of his LXLF EP.… continue reading

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04.19.2013

Classixx – “Holding On”

i been… i been, i been…

Classixx are most known to me for remixes but their slow venture into original track territory has been a pleasantly solid one (ahem, RAC…) ”Holding On” is a slippery nu-disco slice of perfection with all kinds of sweet instrumentation shimmying and shaking just under the surface. Horns, drums, synths, a knee-bending bass line, and lyrics that don’t require much brain power. Hello weekend!… continue reading

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04.12.2013

[MP3] Future People – “Justice”

i’m sorry that i let you down, i’m sorry that i lost the faith

Los Angeles representing again with the magical groovy Future People and their slinky jammer “Justice”. I am loving many things about what is going on here. That gold glitter creature is aces and the fact that there are more free jams like this on their Soundcloud is pretty radical too. What I don’t like is that these tracks came out in 2011 and nobody told me … continue reading

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03.19.2013

Oliver – “Mechanical” + Remix of Black Van’s “Inside”

Sorry for the radio silence, SXSW turned into a rowdy beast that required all my efforts to even try and tame. Now that I am back in Los Angeles in pretty much one piece lets celebrate some music coming from this city! L.A.’s production duo of U-Tern and Oligee make up Oliver and their super 80′s throwback grooves are a welcome way to ease my tired body back into the daily grind. Dive into this smooth Black Van remix for … continue reading

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03.13.2013

[MP3] Wanderhouse – “Sugar”

we could be a secret or the real thing

If you’ve been SXSWing it hard like me then you’ll appreciate a bit of a delicate touch on this hump day. Wanderhouse is back with a second slice of haunting ghost pop that hangs like the hangover fog in your head, pulsing through every once in a while to let you know you are still alive.… continue reading

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03.11.2013

[MP3] Wildcat! Wildcat! – “Please and Thank You”

it’s only in your mind

♫ Wildcat! Wildcat! – Please and Thank You

Speaking of “wild“,  the world finally has a recorded version of the TBE hometown faves Wildcat! Wildcat! track I’ve loved live at least 4 times now. In this age of gimmie-now internet life its crazy to ever not be able to have my hands on a song I love. Well, the whiny 6 year old in me is finally satisfied. I sit in the corner, gummi bears in … continue reading

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03.09.2013

Sir Sly – GHOST EP (w/ “Ghost”)

get up, save face, find you’re way back to the grave

If you get down with The Neighbourhood then Sir Sly are the next LA band to whet your appetite for hip-hop influenced ambient indie jams. Things get dark yet danceable on the brief Ghost EP. Moonlit swagger music. My only beef with them is the name because it’s Sisquo’s “Thong Song” that follows these gems in my iTunes. Its always a bit jarring.

I missed these guys at their … continue reading

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02.27.2013

Conway – “Big Talk”

i take it to the heart, i take it to the head

You know when you were a kid and put your arms out and spun in circles until you were dizzy. That’s kinda how “Big Talk” makes me feel. But in a good way. All swirl and swagger with layers of “la la las” and “oohh ooh” keeping it fun and loose. Watch Conway’s self-produced video (below) and you will know what I mean. The girl has spunk. I … continue reading

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02.22.2013

[EP] American Royalty – PRISMATIC (w/ “Hungry”)

when i had my eye, staring at the sun, growing old and wise, but staying young and dumb

We’ve already been massaged by the jittery bongo & guitar shuffle of American Royalty’s mellowed out single “Honey & Queen” and now the LA group has dropped the Prismatic EP which has 4 more tracks of their psyched-out groove rock.”Hungry” follows EP-opener “Honey” and is the real party starter. Gutars shred over whiplash a rhythm section and it makes me want to … continue reading

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