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Khruangbin

Khruangbin | Mordechai | 3hive.com
Khruangbin | Mordechai | 3hive.com

Khruangbin are back with Mordechai, their first proper album since their smash 2018 release Con Todo El Mundo. This new album has all the funk, groove and soul you’ve come to expect from a Khruangbin release, with the addition of vocals on most the tracks – which act more like an additional instrument rather than being at the forefront of the tracks – it’s a nice touch.

Mordechai is solid from beginning to end and perfect for those late night “stay home, stay safe” solo dance parties.

We have Mordechai on delicious transparent pink vinyl at the 3hive Record Lounge. It’s also available via Dead Oceans Records. Enjoy.

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Sam’s Faves of 2018

It’s time for my annual blog post…

Without further ado, my favorite albums of 2018:

Khruangbin Con Todo El Mundo (Dead Oceans)
Durand Jones & the Indications self-titled (Dead Oceans)
Bodega Endless Scroll (What’s Your Rupture?)
Jean Grae & Quelle Chris Everything’s Fine (Mello Music Group)
Janelle Monae Dirty Computer (Bad Boy)
Altin Gun On (Bongo Joe)
Smokescreens Used to Yesterday (Slumberland)
Idles Joy As an Act of Resistance (Partisan)
Low Double Negative (Sub Pop)
Cut Chemist Die Cut (A Stable Sound)

I encourage you to enjoy these on vinyl (link will go here as soon as I get off my butt and update the online store).

And because 2018 offered so much more music than can fit neatly in a Top 10 list, here are my 23 favorite songs of the past year…

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Durand Jones & The Indications

Durand Jones & The Indications | 3hive.com

Durand Jones & The Indications | 3hive.com

Shout out to Sam for getting the debut Durand Jones & The Indications’ record up on our Co-op Shop. Sam’s on point description: “Pure, timeless soul — rugged and raw enough to help ease the pain of losing Charles Bradley last year.” was all it took to get me to check this out.

Durand Jones & The Indications is an outstanding soul record that’s 100% percent worth your time. Although it’s only 8 tracks deep, the amount of groove packed into this bad boy is huge. Give “Groovy Babe” and “Tuck ‘N’ Roll” a spin (below) to see for yourself.

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Khruangbin

Khruangbin | Con Todo El Mundo | 3hive.com

Khruangbin | Con Todo El Mundo | 3hive.com

Houston, Texas trio Khruangbin (for the phonetically challenged like me, it’s pronounced KRUNG-BIN) came together from a common love of ’60s, ’70s and ’80s Thai funk and soul music (you can listen to their “Essential Thai Funk Mixtape” here). Their new album Con Todo El Mundo is a smoking hot, groove-filled slab of funk, psych and soul. Give “Maria También” a spin below for a sample – you will not be sorry. Con Todo El Mundo is out now via Dead Oceans and I can not recommend it enough. Enjoy.

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Slowdive

Slowdive | Slowdive | 3hive.com

Slowdive | Slowdive | 3hive.com
The title of Slowdive’s first album in 24 years is surprising insightful. The self-titled Slowdive is perhaps the most Slowdive-ish album of them all. It could pulled out of today and slotted into their discography and at any point in between their past releases.
The haunting, soaring guitars still take center stage – either doling out delicate melodies a la “Catch the Breeze” or wall-of-sound as they did on Blue Day. No more toying with electronics, this is the core Slowdive.

Given the way Slowdive fell apart at the crashing end of shoegaze, there is comforting assurance from knowing that when these five musicians get together, this is the music they make. Neil and Rachel’s voices still slot seamlessly together, with subtle undercurrents throughout the songs that demonstrate the maturity gained from more time on this planet. While Pygmalion has its fans, today’s new album is the one Slowdive should have released instead.

[Buy a copy of Slowdive on limited edition silver vinyl in the 3hive Co-op Shop. While supplies last.]

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Best of 2016 (Todd’s List)

20. Thee Oh Sees – An Odd Entrances [castle face]

19. Thee Oh Sees – A Weird Exits [castle face]

18. Rocket Reducers – S/T [dead beat]

17. Kate Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos [lex]

16. ORB – Birth [castle face]

15. OHIOAN – EMPTY / EVERY MT [gold robot]

14. A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service [epic]

13. Nap Eyes – Thought Rock Fish Scale [paradise of bachelors]

12. Natural Child – Okey Dokey [natural child records]

11. Kevin Morby – Singing Saw [dead oceans]

10. Newstalgia – The Formula [producers i know]

9. Ultimate Painting – Dusk [trouble in mind]

8. Omni – Deluxe [trouble in mind]

7. King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity [ato]

6. RUMTUM – Mora Tuga [wax thématique]

5. Monster Rally – Mystery Cove [gold robot]

4. David Bowie – Blackstar [columbia]

3. Doug Tuttle – It Calls On Me [trouble in mind]

2. Woods – City Sun Eater In The River of Light [woodsist]

1. Conveyor – Ready Not Ready [gold robot]

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Bishop Allen

Bishop Allen really shouldn’t need an introduction on this site. In fact, they have been mentioned a few times in previous posts. Needless to say, we are big fans of Bishop Allen’s infectious brand of pop music.

Five years removed from their killer release, Grrr…, Bishop Allen are set to unleash their fouth LP, Lights Out, to the masses on Tuesday (August 19). Lights Out picks up right were Grrr… left off, delivering 12 more solid pieces of indie-pop ear candy. Check out tracks “Start Again” and “Why I Had To Go” from Lights Out below, then get yourself over to Dead Oceans site and snag yourself a copy. Enjoy.

Bishop Allen – Start Again from Lights Out (2014)

Bishop Allen – Why I Had To Go from Lights Out (2014)

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Dub Thompson

Matt Pulos and Evan Laffer (both 19 years old) make up the super-duo known as Dub Thompson. Their music is best described as a groovy, hook-driven, crunchy rock and roll adventure. They recently released their debut album, 9 Songs, with Dead Oceans. Have a listen to their excellent single “Dograces” below. Enjoy.

Dub Thompson – Dograces from 9 Songs (2014)

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Bishop Allen

Bishop Allen may very well be the first band that’s been reviewed by three of us. Yeah, we’re pretty geeked about them. Take a look at the artwork for their new album Grrr… Do you like what you see? Do you appreciate its colorful, simple whimsicality? Then you’ll love the new tracks; the music marches hand-in-hand with the visual. Notice the clean white space. The music has that same crisp, airy feeling. I quickly donned headphones, wanting to squeeze my brain in between the bright melodies, the bouncy bass, snappy guitars, and the lyrics’ ‘ancient commonsense’ poetics. The question is, will the songs last the replays while I wait another month for the other eleven songs? I’m highly suspicious the answer is yes. Songs like these remind me why 3hive exists: must…tell…others… The new album and tour begins March 10th. But a pre-order ensures you get the goods a week in advance.

Dimmer [MP3, 4.1MB, 192kbps]
The Ancient Commonsense of Things [MP3, 4.7MB, 192kbps]

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