Early consensus on the new Concretes album "In colour" seems to be as follows: if you liked the first album, you probably won't like the new one as much, but if you didn't like it, you'll think the new one is better. I think both responses are for the same reason, too. The naive, childlike qualities that endeared fans of twee music to the debut are largely absent from the follow-up and for people like me who tend to associate those qualities with an inate inability to perform (or, in other words: sucking), the new record is a step in the right direction. "In colour" is much more confident, more produced. I'm still not close to falling in love with the band, but I see it as a huge improvement. More importantly, they let Maria Eriksson sing lead on a song instead of regular frontwoman Victoria Bergman. I'm sorry, but I simply cannot hang with Victoria's droll, nasal voice. Maria however, sings beautifully - something she proved long ago with her work in Heikki. Today's mp3 is the song she sings lead on: "Grey days". That's my pick for the album's highlight.
The Sounds on tour in the US with Morningwood and Action Action:
03/22 - Henry Fonda Theater Los Angeles, CA
03/23 - Glasshouse Ponoma, CA
03/24 - House Of Blues San Diego, CA
03/25 - Ventura Theater Ventura, CA
03/27 - Clubhouse Phoeniz, AZ
03/28 - Launchpad Albuquerque, NM
03/29 - Jakes Lubbock, TX
03/31 - Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK
04/01 - Lizard Lounge Dallas, TX
04/02 - Emos Austin, TX
04/03 - Warehouse Houston, TX
04/05 - State Theater Tampa, FL
04/06 - Culture Room Miami, FL
04/07 - House Of Blues Orlando, FL
04/08 - Masquarade Atlanta, GA
04/10 - 9:30 Club Washington, DC
04/11 - The Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
04/12 - Irving Plaza New York, NY
04/14 - Avalon Boston, MA
04/15 - Spectrum Montreal
04/16 - Opera House Toronto
04/18 - St. Andrews Detroit, MI
04/19 - House Of Blues Cleveland, OH
04/20 - The Metro Chicago, IL
04/21 - Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
04/22 - The Rave @ Eagle Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
04/25 - Mississippi Nights St. Louis, MO
04/26 - Granada Theater Lawrence, KS
04/28 - Ogden Theater Denver, CO
04/29 - In The Venue Salt Lake City, UT
05/01 - TBD San Francisco, CA
05/03 - Hard Rock Mexico City
05/04 - Hard Rock Mexico City
05/06 - Seattle, El Carazon, WA
The video for "Chemical girl" from The Fine Arts Showcase (see yesterday's mp3 post) is now online: http://www.thefineartsshowcase.se/radiola/chemicalgirl.mov
Sofi Hellborg has posted a couple mp3s from her new album "To give is to get": http://www.sofihellborg.com/Newspage.html
Check out the song "Mountain", the first track from On Trial's upcoming album "Forever": http://www.ontrial.dk/OnTrial-Mountain.mp3
It comes out May 8.
Labrador recording artists Irene have announced that their debut full-length will be called "Apple Bay". Look for a new EP in June with the record to follow around August/September.
The Fonal Records jukebox is now updated with two new tracks from TV-Resistori: http://fonal.com/jukebox/jb.php?track=100&volume=sata
The new album "Serkut rakastaa paremmin" comes out in Finland on March 15, worldwide April 19.
Bodies Without Organs will release their new album "Halcyon days" on April 19. The first single "Temple of love" comes out March 15.
Swedish post-rockers Ef have announced that their new album will be called "Give me beauty... or give me death". Just a little dramatic, eh? See them live:
03/10 - Hugos, Norrköping (SWE) w/Kristian Anttila
04/26 - Sticky Fingers, Gothenburg (SWE)
05/20 - ViRi Festival, Eindhoven (NL)
05/22 - Carlo Levi, Liege (BEL)
05/23 - Club Keller, Frankfurt (GER)
05/24 - Az Conni, Dresden (GER) w/Mobile
05/25 - Béi Chéz Heinz, Hannover (GER) w/Delbo and Klez_e
05/26 - Asta Stube, Hamburg (GER)
05/27 - 1000fryd, Aalborg (DK) w/Mimas
08/07 - Formanova Festival, Fredricia (DK)
09/21 - The Grapes, Sheffield (UK) w/Alex Kid
09/22 - Catch 22, London (UK) w/UpCandDownC
09/23 - Tap N Tin, Chatham (UK) w/UpCandDownC
The Dead Frog website is updated with even more new demo reviews: http://www.deadfrogrecords.com/demos-reviews/
Cold Meat Industry's updated release schedule:
cmi.157 Raison d'être - Metamorphyses CD (April)
cmi.155 Medusa's Spell - s/t CD (April)
cmi.16 In Slaughter Natives - Sacrosancts Bleed CD (April)
cmi.141 Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio - Apocalips CD (May)
cmi.156 No Festival of Neither Light, Order, Roses Nor Equilibrium LP (May)
cmi.158 MZ.412 - Infernal Affairs CD (06/06/06)
Bad Taste has just released a brand new version of Logh's brilliant album "The raging sun": http://www.badtasterecords.se/shop.asp?id=169&artistid=0&typeid=0
Go here to listen to Baby Woodrose's new album "Love comes down": http://www.musicbay.se/buy/index.asp?movie_id=1243&company_id=39
Read about each individual track here: http://www.babywoodrose.com/lyrics/lovefacts.htm