Too many things to do and not nearly enough time to do 'em all, so today's mp3 post belongs to Simon Tagestam:
Even though I love Säkert! to pieces, there's a minuscule bit of it that I find hard to stomach, namely the jolly chirpiness that seeps through on some of the songs (it's even more evident on Annika Norlin's other band/alter ego Hello Saferide's material). Frequent Norlin collaborator Maia Hirasawa has taken this one step further, hence I'm not a big fan of her music - it's way too pop, polished and happy-go-lucky for me. Now comes Vincent Vicious from Sweden and take this much despised chirpiness to a new level (they almost reach Eurovision levels) and it makes me sick to the bones. It sounds a lot like Raymond & Maria, who after one song become totally unbearable. I tried hard to like it since they're from my hometown and I can't think of a single good band that have come out of my hometown ... ever (although when I was about 7 years old I did indeed like Roxette). At least Vincent Vicious have got a lot of energy and are probably a riot live if you're into the kind of songs they play (ie. super cheese), and who knows, they might start a amazing band who will sing in Swedish at some point in the future!
Vincent Vicious - Vi lämnar allt
6
When "Strawberry weed" is played in my iPod, the first association that comes to my mind is: Coldplay. This might be outlandish, but it's true. If we throw in some Beach Boys, Beatles and Rolling Stones, then we have a recognizable sound, describing Caesars' new album. I expected to hear something more rebellious and edgy, going more back to their hit "Jerk it out", but didn't. This isn't something you want to scream from the top of your lungs to at festivals, this is something more mature, and something you might want to listen to at a sunny day at the beach. The album consists of 24 songs, it's a double album and frankly, I ain't praising that, even if Ebbot Lundberg deserves admiration, doing a fine job producing this. My 'too much feeling' means that Caesars is that kind of band that can bore you, therefore one good, crammed CD could have been enough. However, in this case, "Strawberry weed", "Fools parade", "You nailed me" and "Boo boo goo goo", does it for me; they are catchy and, should we say, MTV material. But I still wonder why you want to throw in something such as "Solina": a 2:59 long, acoustic song, without César Vidal's easily broken but beautiful voice? It's a small pause in the middle of it all that gives me the feeling of a computer game. To the positive parts, the overall impression is that it makes me darn pleased that the band gives us something new, these dudes knows how to do it despite my words above, and let's face it, Caesars are Caesars and as in a salad, you will always get that little extra parmigiana that gives you a tasty experience and some energetic fuel in the end. "Boo boo goo goo" is a perfect example of that. In the end, after hours of listening somehow this poppy, indie sound gives me almost the same feeling as the beach boys, and it makes me say; Strawberry Field... you nailed me!
- Therese Buxfäldt
Check out a video of Swedish-born/New Orleans-based artist Theresa Andersson performing the song "Na na na" live with an array of loop pedals: http://theresaandersson.com/video/mov.html
Her Tobias Fröberg-produced album "Hummingbird, go!" will be out September 2 via Basin Street Records.
Danish hardcore act Last Mile (ex-Hatesphere, As We Fight) has signed with German label Demons Run Amok. The band is currently recording their debut album, but in the meantime, check out a live clip: http://www.lastmilehardcore.com/video.php
Asha Ali is now managed by La Firme.
Imperial Recordings will release the new singles "How low" by José González and "Snakes and lions" by Melpo Mene on June 18.
The video for new Kick single "Fest hos mig!" is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQupkRJio_Y
This year's sommarplåga?
Finnish indiepop band Captain Cougar has now posted half of their album "Chapters" for streaming on myspace and will follow up with the 2nd half in another week or so: http://www.myspace.com/captaincougar
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Morten Harket - Letter From Egypt
02. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
03. Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong
04. Malin - Pang
05. Gatas parlament - Kidsa Har Alltid Rett
06. Harald Heide Steen jr. - Musikalske Minner
07. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart
08. Vassendgutane - Xo
09. Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen - Sound Your Horn
10. Madrugada - Madrugada
11. Nullskattesnylterne - Skrot
12. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
13. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
14. Disciplines - Smoking Kills
15. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: Matte Marit
16. The National Bank - Come On Over To The Other Side
17. Secret Garden - Inside I'm singing
18. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
19. Valkyrien Allstars - Valkyrien Allstars
20. Roy Lønhøiden - Når dagen demrer blått
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Lasse Stefanz - Rallarsväng
02. Sabaton - The art of war
03. Ola - Good enough - The feelgood edition
04. Amanda Jenssen - Killing my darlings
05. E.M.D. - A state of mind
06. Rongedal - Rongedal
07. Kleerup - Kleerup
08. Sten & Stanley - Det känns när det svänger
09. Stefan Andersson - No. 90 kleist
10. Sanna Nielsen - Stronger
11. Caroline Larsson - In the moment
12. Takida - Bury the lies
13. Charlotte Perrelli - Hero
14. Nordman - Djävul eller gud
15. Christer Sjögren - Jubileum 40 år med Christer Sjögren
16. Brolle - Ett hjärta som glöder som en gång brann
17. Håkan Hellström - För sent för Edelweiss
18. Amy Diamond - Music in motion/Gold edition
19. Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm just me (new edition)
20. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
Hell yes! Live video footage of the new Umeå hardcore band AC4 featuring ex-Final Exit/Refused members Dennis Lyxzén and David Sandström: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqA8VKySe_0
Copenhagen Records will be releasing a new compilation of Danish electro titled, appropriately enough, "The sound Of Copenhagen". It comes out June 23 and here's the tracklist:
01. The Copenhagen Experience - Copenhagen
02. Alphabeat - Fantastic 6 (Muzzle Flash Remix)
03. Aura - You Are The Reason (DJ Disse Raiser Remix)
04. When Saints Go Machine - You Should Be Someone Else
05. The Floor Is Made of Lava - Ho (Tomboy Remix)
06. Simon Brenting - Fake Money
07. Booty Cologne - Shake Wut Ya Mama Gave Ya (Don't Feed The Monkey Remix)
08. Wong Boys feat. Anna - Wurld Peace
09. Klovn - I Want You
10. Trentemøller - Weit (Andi Müller Fuck Up)
11. As in Rebeka Maria - She Lion (Kasper Bjørkes Blush Remix)
12. Fagget Fairys - Uzela
13. Figurines - Silver Ponds (Ben Watt Remix)
14. SuperTroels MishMash af Suspekt & Mikael Simpson - Jeg sidder Kinky Faster
Gaffa reports that Danish "death-indie" act Mimas is finalizing negotiations with a Brittish label for the release of a full-length album this fall: http://gaffa.dk/nyheder/view.php/news_id=22234
The band has previously done a split 7" with UK-based label Worst Case Scenario Records and has also contributed a song to a comp released by Big Scary Monsters Records.
Caesars