Racetrack Babies - "Love Sick" (Musikministeriet)
Here we got us some alternative rock stuff that's pretty decent, just a tad above mediocre. The songs and performances are all good and solid, but I kept wanting them to rock out a bit more and be a bit edgier. The path they're walking is already well-worn, so I think that bands like them need to be a touch bolder and take more chances if they are to set themselves apart from the masses. When I hear stuff like this, I also can't help to think that with a good producer behind them and a decent recording budget, they'd sound a lot better. Anyhow, the female backing vocals from bassist Cecile Ravik are a very nice touch, as are the keyboard overdubs here and there. I can totally see these guys being a hometown favorite, but since they're not local to me I don't feel too strongly inclined to get behind them. But yeah, they do have potential.
José González - "Veneer" (Imperial Recordings)
Of course, the first question is "does it live up to the hype?" Well, it's a damn fine record, but I'm not sure I'm ready to throw my Nick Drake CDs out the window. I was kinda bummed to find they included so much previously released material on here from José's previous EPs, but what can you do? It's all A-quality stuff, I just worry he only has a finite amount of songs in him. I also think I'd like to hear a drier, more close-mic'd recording from him in the future, but that's just my personal taste. In this world of 60+ minute albums, some folk may feel cheated by "Veener"'s 30-minute runtime, but I think it suits the music perfectly. Any more would be overkill. I'm not ready to declare this a classic, but it's still a strong contender for my year-end list.
Isolation Years - "Inland Traveller" (Galaxy Gramophone)
One of 2001's best albums finally got a US release this month on the Illinois-based Galaxy Gramophone. Don't be a fool and let this CD pass you by! IY play indierock that's mixed with a strong dose of both psychedelic and country along with a touch of folk. Listening to them evokes thoughts of pine forests, snow and Nordic landscapes. This is the sort of stuff that made so interested in Scandinavian rock in the first place, ya dig? It has singing saw for crissakes! Can't go wrong here.
A new mp3 on the right and a ton of new sites added to the links page. Reviews coming this weekend, too.
What's with Pitchfork posting reviews later in the day recently? Anyhow, they cover the latest album from Denmark's The Raveonettes today and actually give it the thumbs up.
Here's a couple songtitles for the brand new songs that Starmarket has laid down for their new album: "Ship of Sorrow", "Antichrist" and "The Vanishing Gates". As mentioned before, guitarist Fredrik is filling for Pelle of Fireside on their upcoming BRMC support gigs, as he's busy in the studio with The Hives. Starmarket plans to finish recording when Fredrik returns and hopefully have it all wrapped up sometime before Christmas. Still no word yet on what label will release the finished product.
Artwork and samples for the new "Handy-Man" single from The Knife: http://www.rabidrecords.com/theknife/images/rabid016_pop/rabid016_pop_01.html
Nicolai Dunger has recorded a cover of the song "Sometimes a man has to go to the crossroads to find himself" for the Swedish TV program Musikbyrån, to be broadcast on December 3 in conjunction with a documentary about the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
New release from free, online label Commie: "Attack of the Mutant Mirages" from Finnish electronic artist Desertplanet, giving homage to a classic Commodore 64 game. Download here. Commie also has a 3xCD length comp of all their releases available for download and/or streaming. Links are here: http://commie.dogma00.org/
Norweigan eclectic/experimental label Smalltown Supersound will celebrate their 10-year anniversary with three dates at Blå in Oslo, Norway on Febuary 19-21. Confirmed artists scheduled to appear: Jaga Jazzist, Kim Hiorthøy, The Thing, Mental Overdrive, Jazzkammer/Sir Dupermann, Martin Horntveth, Alexander Rishaug, Per Martinsen (DJ), Rune Danielsen (DJ), Paal Nilssen-Love/Mats Gustafsson and Joakim Haugland (DJ). More details soon.
Tiger Lou reports that he's finished recording his new album, to be named "Is My Head Still On". Ten brand new tracks that Rasmus says "sound like everything I've ever done and nothing like it at all. Go figure." He'll mix it when he returns from the upcoming US tour which begins next week. For up-to-date show details, go to tourmate Rachel Jacobs' website.
Go here to check out some live video footage of Tiger playing live with his band at Mono in Stockholm.
The new album "Let There Be Morning" from The Perishers will finally be released on December 29. The first single "Sway" has already been out for awhile and the new one for the title track will be coming soon along with a brand new video.