I can hardly believe it, but there's another set of new reviews posted: [click here]
The winners of the Novoton Records contest are Jason Christie, Jan Pahlstad and Karl Birgersson. I'll get your discs sent out as soon as I can.
Tonight: Cult of Luna at Bottom of the Hill in SF. It's the last show of their US tour, so hopefully there will be shenanigans.
Finnish techno act Symptom has posted an entire live for download from a recent performance at the Mbar in Helsinki: http://www.symptomrecords.com/mp3/SymptomLive-Mbar-200505.mp3
The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is presenting a special show in London on June 3 featuring Denmark's Efterklang and Under Byen. Read more: http://www.ica.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=14189
Swedish Minister of Arts and Culture Leif Pagrotsky sporting a Dark Funeral wristband: http://expressen.se/content/1/c6/29/19/92/09b9edf1.jpg
The Norwegian Eardrums blog interviews Safe As Milk festival coordinator Kristian Kallevik: http://noreardrums.blogspot.com/2005/05/safe-as-milk-festival-interview-with.html
Kite Recordings has announced that the title for the new Tomas Denver Jonsson album will be "Barely touching it". The record features twelve new songs produced by Carl Edlom and features Tomas' regular backing band The September Sunrise alongside guest appearances from Ned Oldham (Anomoanon/Palace Music) and Nina Kinert. Look for it around September.
Budopunch
Enter the dojo
self-released
This demo is kind of old, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth your attention. I bet Budopunch often gets accused of being Hellacopters copycats, but they're quite a bit better than most other bands I hear doing similar stuff. The songwriting is definitely above average and they've got some killer backing vocal harmonies, especially on "Tonite". Nothing life-changing, but still quite nice.
- Avi Roig
The Chrysler
Cold War classic
Flora & Fauna
What's not to love about this album? It got lush melodies, nice vocals, and clever lyrics. An example of this greatness can be found in the song "It was in 1982" when The Chrysler manage to incorporate the chorus of Neil Young's "Only love can break your heart" into the song (how clever!). If I hadn't bought some tea as a present for my mum for mother's day (it's on 29th May in Sweden), I would have given her this cd. That's how good it is (I woulnd't give my mum a shit present, you know).
- Simon Tagestam
Convoj
s/t EP
Chalksounds
Göteborg-based quartet Convoj's self-titled EP is a promising mix of atmospheric rock in the vein of Interpol and fellow Swedes Torpedo with bits and pieces of Fugazi. This release contains five songs that draw in the listener with its dueling guitars and the vocals are a perfect match for the music. For a person who is pretty picky about her music, I was very impressed with this release.
- Navy Keophan
Eskju Divine
Struck by the halo
Imperial Recordings
They probably hate, and I mean hate, the Ben Fold's Five comparisons, with good reasons because they sound nothing like that trio. But how often do you come across a pop trio that has a bass player, a drummer and a pianist? However, in the span of this EP, what Eskju Divine do is win me over which doesn't make much sense since I don't enjoy the band they resembles most (to my ears anyway): Coldplay. They have the same epic and melodic sensibilities, with the difference that Eskju Divine generally rock more. And their singer isn't whining.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Gravy
s/t
PonyRec
Starting this record I thought I was putting on a new, and better soundtrack, for "Van Wilder" (or insert any college-based comedy). As much as Gravy borrows from the Pixies (as Avi as judiciously pointed out last week) they still make every song their own with awesome arrangements, the awesome Doo-Wop backing vocals and xylophone bursting out of nowhere. This is just great, fun music that you cannot help but smile and enjoy.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Martin McFaul
Maybe you and me EP
Imperial Recordings
In the world of twee, I am the baffled outsider looking in and not quite understanding exactly makes a lot of these bands any good. That said, I can appreciate a good song and on this EP, Martin McFaul has two of them. The main problem is when McFaul tries more complex electronic arrangements and fails miserably at integrating them to his songwriting. He should stick to his acoustic guitar, a simple drum beat and a supporting bass, and rely on his songwriting.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Millencolin
Live @ Henry Fonda Theater, Hollywood, CA, 5/21/05 and House of Blues, Anaheim, CA, 5/22/05
It's been two years since Millencolin has been on the West Coast and I, being the requisite fan, was looking forward to seeing them. Something about seeing a band two nights in a row sounds kinda boring but it was nothing but. The bands that opened for Millencolin on their little trek across the West were Roses Are Red, A Thorn For Every Heart and Boys Night Out. I wasn't really impressed with seeing three bands that were all five-pieces and it was really hard to decide if it was a cruel joke of sorts. Oh well, at least some of the kids there were into them.
Then came the headliners.
Millencolin burst onto the stage with energy and the crowd responded accordingly. They played about four songs off of their latest release "Kingwood" and also peppered the a-little-over-an-hour long set both nights with songs from "Same old tunes", "Life on a plate", "For monkeys and "Pennybridge pioneers". In-between song banter between guitarists Erik Ohlsson and Mathias Färm and bassist Nikola Sarcevic were lively and entertaining. I'm not sure how many times my neck became a target for crowd surfers during the Henry Fonda show but it was worth being up close and personal with the band. The crowd for both shows were very different. For some reason, all the idiots that throw stuff at bands during their set decided to show up for the Anaheim show. Whatever. I had fun meeting them on Saturday, having my glasses knocked off and smashed to bits, getting a random drunk guy putting his arm around me after that show and seeing them put up with flying shoes and water bottles on Sunday. Good times all around.
- Navy Keophan