B-SIDES: The Better Side?

B-SIDES! According to the Urban Dictionary, "a B-side was originally known as the song on the flipside of a 12" or 7" vinyl single that backed the A-side, but wasn't the song promoted or received the radio play". Sometimes B-sides are eventually added to full length productions, and sometimes they're a throwaway album cut. B-sides generally have a rep for absolute crap quality, and made it easier to persuade radio stations/DJs to play the correct side. This isn't the case for the tracks I selected for today's post, these B-sides are more than worthy.

ENJOY!

The Kills - "BLUE MOON"

The B-Side to The Kills' second single "Future Starts Slow" which was released last year. I'm such a sucker for anything that this duo touches. If you ever have the time to look up more b-sides & unreleased tracks from The Kills THEN DO IT. Gems on gems on gems.

The xx - "DO YOU MIND?"

The B-side to "Islands" from 2009. Another B-side I love from The xx is "Insects". Check it out if you haven't already! 

St. Vincent - "GROT"

I'm not the biggest St. Vincent fan, but when I watched her set at last year's Treasure Island Music Festival-I was impressed with how amazing she sounded live. For this year's Record Store Day St. Vincent released a red vinyl 7" with "KROKODIL" as the A-side & "GROT" (the track above) as the B-side. I dig it. 

Little Dragon - "STRANGER"

Little Dragon can do no wrong, except for not including this track on their 2009 full-length Machine Dreams. The A-side "Feather" was included on the full-length, and is one of my favorites by them. 

Two Door Cinema Club - "COSTUME PARTY"

The B-side for "I Can Talk". Call me crazy, but this track should have been on their  2010 debut album Tourist History. Luckily they perform "Costume Party" live, and I will be seeing them in Philadelphia this September. :D

The Civil Wars - "SOUR TIMES"

This is actually a Portishead cover, but this particular recording was used by The Civil Wars as the B-Side for their Billie Jean release on Record Store Day. 

Florence and the Machine - "SWIMMING"

Nearly 2 years after releasing her debut album Lungs, Florence and the Machine released Lungs: The B-Sides, 11 tracks including two special covers & a few other gems. This is the opening track on the album, and the lyrics are probably some of my favorite from Flo overall.