Okay, Laakso didn't officially make my top 10 list or even the honorable mention list, but that's not because it didn't deserve it. It's a serious oversight on my part and I apologize. I only just started to appreciate the album "My gods" in the last few weeks, so I've been hesitant about praising it too much before I've given it enough time to sink in. I don't trust that new-album euphoria when it comes to my year-end list. At first it was just the singles that got my attention, but the more I delve into the album, the more I like about it. The music is extremely catchy and the lyrics are quite witty in their self-depreciation. I discover a clever new line almost every time I listen. And those screeching falsetto backing vocals! More than a novelty, I swear.
Laakso - High drama
Happy holidays everyone. I'm going to take some time this week to take a second look at a couple of the honorable mentions from my top 10 list. First, let's revisit Hello Saferide. My first impression with this record was tainted by hype. It's not that I didn't enjoy "Introducing..." when I first heard it, I was just surprised that so many people were getting excited about a nice girl folksinger. Now that I've had more time to let Annika Norlin's copious charms sink in, I appreciate the album much, much more. It comes down to this: Annika has a lovely voice and is a good songwriter and that's enough. Even further, this is an album that will still sound just as good five or ten years down the road. It doesn't stray from convention because it doesn't need to. The classic formula still works fine.
New top tens today from Leo Jäderberg of Gbg-based indie label Vapen & Godis and Oskar Ekman from Luger. Thanks guys! Check 'em out on the right.
This week's top artists for the It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group:
01. Death Cab for Cutie
02. Sufjan Stevens
03. Håkan Hellström
04. Antony and the Johnsons
05. Bloc Party
06. The Arcade Fire
07. Coldplay
08. Belle and Sebastian
09. Kent
10. Radiohead
Top tracks:
01. Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
02. Wolf Parade - We Built Another World
03. Death Cab for Cutie - Someday You Will Be Loved
04. Wolf Parade - Grounds for Divorce
05. Antony and the Johnsons - You Are My Sister
06. Babyshambles - Fuck Forever
07. Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body
08. Antony and the Johnsons - Fistful of Love
09. Death Cab for Cutie - Different Names For the Same Thing
10. The Strokes - You Only Live Once
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Back with more of a full news update tomorrow.
Happy holidays everyone. I'm going to take some time this week to take a second look at a couple of the honorable mentions from my top 10 list. First, let's revisit Hello Saferide. My first impression with this record was tainted by hype. It's not that I didn't enjoy "Introducing..." when I first heard it, I was just surprised that so many people were getting excited about a nice girl folksinger. Now that I've had more time to let Annika Norlin's copious charms sink in, I appreciate the album much, much more. It comes down to this: Annika has a lovely voice and is a good songwriter and that's enough. Even further, this is an album that will still sound just as good five or ten years down the road. It doesn't stray from convention because it doesn't need to. The classic formula still works fine.
Hello Saferide - Nothing like you
The new Madrugada live album "Live at Trafalmadore" has been a long time coming. The band's long-time reputation as a stellar live act made it inevitable. I've never actually seen them myself, but I've heard enough bootlegs to confirm and today's mp3 post one such example. I'm not sure of the exact source for the recording, but I'm pretty sure it's from a radio broadcast back in 2000 around the time of the first (and still best) album "Industrial silence". This is one of the quieter, more subtle songs from their early catalogue. The band's restraint has always been one of their strong points and I think it's showcased beautifully here, especially with the skeletal, understated guitar work.
From here on out it's gonna be two more top tens every day. Today's picks come from the folks at Popsicle and IAT contributor Simon Tagestam. Thanks guys!
New in the mailorder: Tiger Lou's brilliant new album "The loyal" and the latest from renown Swedish singer/songwriter Christian Kjellvander. I've also got restocks of Kristofer Åström's last couple records. Maybe not quite in time for the holidays, but you're cool with that right? All releases available on both CD and mp3.
ALSO AVAILABLE: Kristofer Åström's "The Thorskogs sessions" as a limited edition paid mp3 download: [click here]
If you missed out on the limited double-disc version of "So much for staying alive", here's your chance to hook it up! Plase note the swank new cover art, too!
The Haunted will tour Japan and Australia in 2006:
02/28 - Big Cat, Osaka (JAP) w/Nile, Exodus
03/01 - Club Quattro, Nagoya (JAP) w/Nile, Exodus
03/02 - O-East, Tokyo (JAP) w/Nile, Exodus
03/05 - Heat, Perth (AU)
03/06 - Hifi Bar, Melbourne (AU)
03/07 - The Forum, Sydney (AU)
03/08 - The Arena, Brisbane (AU)
Check out the video for "Weak life situation" from God Damn Trio: http://www.wennerstrom.info/users/kim/GDT2/site/video-wls.html
Sister Flo frontman Samae Koskinen will release his debut solo album "Vol. 1" in February via KHY Suomen Musiikki.