Presenting: The Great Waste of Time
Stockholm-based hardcore act The Great Waste of Time (ex-Ashram/Trapdoor Fucking Exit) have a couple brand new tracks on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/greatwasteoftime
If you dig TFE, you'll dig this. I do.
Annie
Don't stop
Smalltown Supersound
With this, her much delayed and publicized second record, the hyped indie-pop queen has had four years to work on her sound. Working with her base of producers Xenomania and Richard X, Annie has become more confident on this record and it shows in theory, but not in practice. Tracks such as "My love is better" and "I don't like your band" focus on the more vapid details of pop culture, but instead of being a snide critique, it comes off as hubristic elitism. Conversely, on "When the night" and "Heaven and hell", it all works as best as it possibly could, as Annie's lethargic vocal takes almost exist symbiotically. If anything, working with her is a producer's dream, because the lack of carry in her trademark half-whispered vocals will always be overshadowed by the music. Sadly, this will always stop her from reaching the pop echelon to which the music press compares her. My only advice is: Godammit woman sing from deep down, don't be afraid to get loud! I know you have it in you -- we all do.
- Matt Giordano
Pixie Carnation selected for KEXP song of the day
IAT favorites Pixie Carnation were selected for respected indie radio station KEXP's song of the day today: http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2009/11/02/song-of-the-day-pixie-carnation-when-did-the-lights-go-out/
Masquer - Stark naked
Swedish duo Masquer (feat. members from Idoru and Lowood) have a couple new tracks up on their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/masquerstockholm
TLOBF interviews First Aid Kid
The Line of Best Fit interviews Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit: http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2009/11/tlobf-interview-first-aid-kit/
Casiokids prep new single, album
Norwegian act Casiokids will be releasing the new digital single "En vill hest" b/w "Min siste dag" in Norway on November 9, their final release before the compilation album of their various Moshi Moshi singles comes out on January 1, 2010.
Agent Side Grinder - Pulse
Swedish industrial act Agent Side Grinder have added yet another new track to their myspace profile, this one being "Pulse": http://www.myspace.com/agentsidegrinder
As I've said before, I recommend them highly.
Kalligrammofon + Structures Sonores = KSS Radio
The good folks behind Swedish experimental/progressive pop labels Kalligrammofon and Structures Sonores have started a podcast and the first episode is up now: http://kssradio.tumblr.com/
The content is in Swedish for now, but they say that episodes in the future might be in English. And the music speaks for itself.
Brothers of End - Why (acoustic/live video)
Check out a video of Brothers of End playing their excellent single "Why" acoustically live in the studio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6VS1-g8tTg
Lowcut reviews Marvins Revolt
Lowcut has good things to say about the new Marvins Revolt album "Patrolling the heights": http://www.lowcut.dk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=945:marvins-revolt--patrolling-the-heights&catid=29:album-reviews&Itemid=54
Katatonia video interview
Diskant has posted an extensive video interview with two of the guys from Swedish melodic doom-metal heavyweights Katatonia: http://www.diskant.dk/artikler/interviews/katatonia-video-interview.htm
MP3: The Gentle Act Incident - This city doesn't know me
Two of my biggest weaknesses: 1) well-played emo-pop and 2) songs that recall a certain (time and) place. "This city doesn't know me" could be about anywhere -- it's not specific at all -- but I find comfort in thinking that it's about The Gentle Act Incident's hometown of Göteborg. It's an age-old story, being lost in the urban wasteland, and one that I know well. I left, I'm much happier for it, but I do miss it. Spending last weekend in NYC for CMJ made me feel like a relapsed junkie. As for the emo-pop side of this, I hold all comers up to Jimmy Eat World's "Bleed American", a perfect example of emotional hardcore/pop music, and The Gentle Act Incident definitely swims in similar waters. The shadow of Sunny Day Real Estate is immediately apparently and further perusing of their influence list yields acts such as Last Days of April and Texas is the Reason; that seals the deal. There's no shame though, despite what you may think when you hear that 3-letter word, at least not in my world. I hear a bit of The Book of Daniel too, but that could also be geographical proximity rearing its head. Anyway, if you like hooky indierock, it all came from more or less the same place way back when. Draw lines, keep score, you'll figure it out. Besides, as I like to say, good music is good music and this is good music. Catchy melodies come in all sorts of packaging.
The Gentle Act Incident - This city doesn't know me
Downstairs - All you can eat (video)
Here's the new video for "All you can eat" from Finnish act Downstairs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otfqAubdFmA