July 31, 2012

"If her daddy's rich take her out for a meal
If her daddy's poor just do what you feel
Speed along the lane
Do a ton or a ton an' twenty-five
When the sun goes down
You can make it, make it good in a lay-by."

July… in many peoples opinion THE summer month. Personally I like August better but that is another story. The story of today is however that I cannot leave the month of July without playing this song.

I guess you know what I mean.

Mungo Jerry – In the summertime is found on the record “Electronically tested” released in 1971.

July 30, 2012

"To chase a dream just one last time around."

Gravenhurst is a small town in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. Gravenhurst is also a village located in the Bedfordshire district, England.

Most important… Gravenhurst is damn good band led by the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nick Talbot.

And as pleasant as Gravenhurst, Canada and Gravenhurst, England may be, I have not visited any of the two; I doubt that I will enjoy them more than the band Gravenhurst.

Gravenhurst – The prize is found on the record ”The ghost in daylight” released in 2012.

July 29, 2012

"All right, I'm ready, the wild sound's gonna take me away
That beat's so steady
Make me fall to my knees, just start crying
No, no, no no no no no no no please no."

Sunday. I would guess that a lot of people return to work tomorrow following a few weeks of vacation. This one is for you, a song that personifies how I normally feel when the vacation ends and it is time to get back to work.

Rocket From The Crypt – On a rope is found on the album “Scream Dracula, scream!” released in 1995.

July 28, 2012

"These are the good years
Ah, the best we'll ever know
These golden light-years."

When I grew up I had a wish that never got fulfilled, to be the proud owner of a walkman. Looking back at it now it may seem like an unlikely wish but that was long before portable CD-players, mp3-players, having tons of music stored in your cell phone or even unlimited connection with Spotify.

Given that background you may realize that the “nostalgia factor” of mine became intense when I started to listen to this band.

The Walkmen – Heartbreaker is found on the record “Heaven” released in 2012.

July 27, 2012

"Nu står jag här och hoppar på Fridhemsplans station, DLK on tour vid Skandinavium
Kommer aldrig Mart nångång, vi sa ju klockan två! Nu kommer vi försent till Skandinavium.
Det kommer fram en jeppe och han säger hej, då går det upp för mig!"

First of all, I will not even try to explain what a “hockeyfrilla” is but I guess that I rough translation would be “mullet”.

Secondly, that is really not important. What is important is that you listen to the song and watch the silly but great music video. This will enlighten your Friday, actually every day of the week. Trust me.

De Lyckliga Kompisarna – Ishockeyfrisyr (Hockeyfrilla) is found on the record “Tomat” released in 2003.

July 26, 2012

"He was a punker
And he lived in the big city
It was Vienna, was Vienna
Where he did everything
He had debts, for he drank
But all the women loved him
And each one shouted:
Come on and rock me Amadeus."

In some ways it feels contemptutous to associate Vienna with this song given the long and productive music history of the town. On the other hand it seems to me that this song is a tribute, though a strange one, to the Vienna music history.

Falco - Rock me Amadeus is found on the record "Falco 3" released in 1985.

July 25, 2012

“All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!)
And (KKKAAAA CHING!)
And take your money.”

For some reason this song has been stuck in my head all day. I mean the pay check arrived today so I received money rather than lost them.

Whatever… There are so many things that I cannot explain…

M.I.A – Paper planes is found on the record “Kala” released in 2007.

July 24, 2012

"Fly up to the heavens, anchored in the clouds
Fly beyond the night, love the blooming sounds
Maize and cries, neon lights pushing and light
Taking flight to raven heights to turn on and shine
And the sun sinks over the big smoke
The sky explodes on the shuttering lake."

There are several things that can make me like a band or an artist. Naturally the music itself is important when discovering a new act.  Another important aspect for me, as you know, is the lyrics that the group or artist write and sing in their songs.

A third reason why something catches my attention is the band name. This may sound ridiculous but when I first heard of a band by the name Great Lake Swimmers I just knew that it was the beginning a new enjoyable experience.

Now, a few years later, I know that I was right. Great Lake Swimmers is a band that I still listen a lot to.

Great Lake Swimmers – New wild everywhere is found on the record “New wild everywhere” released in 2012.

July 23, 2012

"The music is weaving
Haunting notes, pizzicato strings
The rhythm is calling
Alone in the night as the daylight brings
A cool empty silence
The warmth of your hand and a cold grey sky
It fades to the distance."

Off to Vienna today... 

Ultravox - Vienna is found on the record "Vienna" released in 1980.

July 22, 2012

"They're down in the river my love..."

I cannot say that I know a lot about the band Light Asylum. What I do know is that they have released a really good song in “Heart of dust”. That knowledge is good enough for me.

Light Asylum – Heart of dust is found on the record “Light asylum” released in 2012.

July 21, 2012

"When the rain comes I sit home and pray
Make it all numb
I wish it all away
All I really need is just somewhere to hide away
Kick him when he's down
Here alone I'll put up and fight
Kick him when he's down
Beat me all the way I'll take it all night
Kick him when he's down
Hey, don't worry, I'll get along home alright."

Another band that just released a new album (“Days go by”) is Offspring. In my opinion the band continue their path of releasing fairly uninteresting, sometimes even bad music.

Instead of highlighting the new album I will head back a few years in time to the days when Offspring was a band that I listened to quite a lot.

A kick ass song for a kick ass day.

Offspring – Kick him when he’s down is found on the record “Ignition” released in 1992.

July 20, 2012

"Well I've been here
And I've been there
And I've been every fucking where
So what, so what."

I came across an interview with Anti-Nowhere League earlier today, to my surprise they still exist as a band. To celebrate these good news… this song.

Anti-Nowhere League – So what! is found on the record We are… The League“” released in 1982.

July 19, 2012

"The spiral down, you’re coming back the day
And again, and again and again and again
These friends of ours, they seem pretend
Again and again and again and again and again, yeah."

Liars are a band that has received a lot of good press and good reviews in the past. Until now I have not personally been a huge fan of their music, at least not until now.

I am about to change my mind about Liars though, their new album grow each time I hear it, when it is time to summarize the music year 2012 I would not be surprised if this is a album of the year top 10 candidate.

Liars – No.1 against the rush is found on the record “WIXIW” released in 2012.

July 18, 2012

"Is love really the tragedy the way you
Might describe?
Or would a thousand lovers
Still leave you cold inside?
Make you cry
These tears of pearls."

I have said this before and I am likely going to say it again, “a good song is a f**king good song”.

I try very hard to not like Savage Garden. Most of the time I succeed but there is one exception…

Savage Garden – Tears of pearls is found on the record “Savage Garden” released in 1997.

July 17, 2012

“Je me poursuis moi-même
mes propres coutûmes ayant enuyé le diable
La vitesse d’une pensée glauque s’installe dans ta motricité
Je te regardes
Tu attends.”

Some bands have just been around forever in my life. The first time I heard dEUS was back in the early 90’s when I went to a show not knowing anything about their music. But what a show it was.

Since then dEUS pops up in my life ever so often, they seem to be there when I need them most. When I long for new dEUS material, it exist new dEUS material.

Today has been one of those dEUS days and of course, I am not even surprised anymore, I had the pleasure of digging deep into brand new dEUS material.

dEUS – Quartre mains is found on the record “Following sea” released in 2012.

July 16, 2012

"Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city."

Today, 46 years ago, this song was released as a single. A reason as good as any to play this wonderful summer song.

Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the city is found on the record "Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful“ released in 1966

July 15, 2012

"Motivation a powerful strength
Hesitation was my first instinct
I got an ocean than weakness was
Total devotion it’s okay

Because i will hold back tears
So i can move in the right direction
I have faced my fears
Now i can move in the right direction."

My first impression of Beth Ditto, singer and the brain behind Gossip, was hardly the “usual” portray I have of a rock star.

Seeing Beth Ditto perform make me feel ashamed about my first impression, these days I hardly know anyone in the music business that portray a rock start any better.

Prejudices, we got to fight them…

Gossip - Move in the right direction is found on the record “A joyful noise” released in 2012.

July 14, 2012

“Well I know I make you cry
And I know sometimes you wanna die
But do you really feel alive without me?
If so, be free
If not, leave him for me
Before one of us has accidental babies
For we are in love.”

A couple of weeks ago I spent a day together with one of my oldest and dearest friends; we have known each other for about 30 years now. My friend told me a story about someone we both know that involves falling in love with the right person, in her eyes, but the wrong person in everyone else’s eyes.

To summarize what followed next… Well let me just say it is something that is really sad and something that touched me deeply.

Today, when still thinking about the story I realized that it is something that could have happened to me to. And then, by pure coincidence, this song was randomly selected from my play list.

A strange day…

Damien Rice – Accidental babies is found on the record “9” released in 2006.

July 13, 2012

"Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And the flesh machine
He's gonna do another striptease."

Friday and I am few hours away from starting my summer vacation; I certainly have a lust for life today.

Iggy Pop – Lust for life is found on the record “Lust for life” released in 1977.

July 12, 2012

"In this very room,
we spent the day and looked over antiquities.
Don't you remember?"

Similar to Sleep Party People is the music made by Julia Holter. As Sleep Party People, Julia Holter presents music that is beautiful and fragile sometimes crossing the border to a world that is dark and scary.

Julia Holter – In the same room is found on the record “Ekstasis” released in 2012.

July 11, 2012

"Look at it this way,

Even in situations where nothing goes how you want,
Everything ends exactly as it should."

There are some countries in the world where new bands and artists seem to pop up every week. There are other countries in the world where new bands and artists are rare, at least in my music world.

Sweden is country where new music is always around the corner while I, strangely enough, seldom discover new acts from our southern neighbours Denmark.

Exceptions exist though. My latest Danish discovery is the band Sleep Party People. Their dreamy or even nightmarish music is one of the most frequently spinned discs at the moment.

Sleep Party People – Everything has an end is found on the record “Sleep party people” released in 2010. The quote above is taken from the American entrepreneur Jamie Timbre.

July 10, 2012

"Loneliness is not a phase
Field of pain is where I graze
Serenity is far away."

To me music is like yin and yang, the balance so to speak. When I am in a really good mood, which I normally am, I listen to dark, sad and mellow music.

When I am sad or angry or annoyed about something I listen to hard, fast and aggressive music.

Today I have experienced some mixed emotions. I am in a good mood but something really annoyed me. That may be the reason why I have been listening to this song, hard and aggressive yet a fairly dark and slow song.

Alice In Chains – Angry chair is found on the record “Dirt” released in 1992.

July 9, 2012

"And I cry, and I cry."

This has got to be the best cover version of a song in 2012 so far. Les Big Byrd is taking on Paper’s Ideal Plane. The original version is not bad at all but I just love this cover version.

Les Big Byrd – Ideal plane is found on the “Ideal plane” single released in 2012.

July 8, 2012

“And to this day
I nurse the fever
That spoiled my poor heart
And I've mastered the art of dealing
Slipping away without falling apart
So when this summer, you call-maybe
And ask how
I've been
I can be honest and answer plainly
'Since November, it's been raining.’”

This is a song that has been a frequent companion ever since the first time I heard it. The theme of the song is so dark, so sad and so desperately seeking for some kind of hope.

But there is no hope. Just rain…

Azure Ray – Raining in Athens is found on the record “Burn and shiver” released in 2002.

July 7, 2012

"So you think you're in the middle of the ocean?
Stranded on an island of your own."

This morning I boarded a boat and headed out in the archipelago. A simply wonderful day, one of those days that one wishes it would never end. Of course the day eventually did end but the memories remain. The peak of the summer so far.

Sebadoh – Ocean is found on the record “Harmacy” released in 1996.

July 6, 2012

"Two wrongs can make it right but not this time."

Yesterday I met a couple of friends I have not seen in a very long time. We did some catching up, had a beer or two, talked a lot, laughed a lot, in short a great evening. Needless to say I went to bed late, hence I need a little rough wake-up today; maybe you need it too...

The Nomads is a band that has been around for a very long time doing their thing. But they do it consistent; they do it good and sometimes they even do it great.

And at the end of the day, there is no such thing as straight-forward rock’n’roll after all.

The Nomads – Miles away is found on the record Solna released in 2012.

July 5, 2012

"Just when you think you're in control
Just when you think you've got a hold
Just when you get on a roll."

And speaking of damn cool videos, this has got to be one of the best music videos ever. As simple as a couple of guys having fun with treadmills. The rest is history.

Oh yeah, by the way, the song is not bad either.

OK Go – Here it goes again is found on the record “Oh no” released in 2005.

July 4, 2012

"Do you ever feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in."

One may say many things about Katy Perry but I will have to admit one thing, this is a damn cool video.

And as I will sort of celebrate the US of A National Day tonight it seems like good idea to view this music video a few more times even though the video itself is recorded in Budapest.

Katy Perry – Firework is found on the record “Teenage dream” released in 2010.

July 3, 2012

""There's no time to lose", I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind
Ain't life unkind?"

Tell me why there are so many great Tuesday songs out there? Could it be that Tuesdays are a rather “anonymous” day? The memories of last weekend are beginning to bleach but you are still pretty far away from the next weekend.

If you ask me this is the best Tuesday song ever. But ask me another Tuesday and I may come up with a different answer.

Rolling Stones – Ruby Tuesday is found on the record “Between the buttons” released in 1967.

July 2, 2012

"So one, two, three, take my hand and come with me
Because you look so fine
That I really wanna make you mine."

Sometimes it does not have to be that complicated. Write a few lines, and then add the one thing that you want to know right now.

A short, rocking and rough song with a short but important question…

Jet – Are you gonna be my girl is found on the record “Get born” released in 2003.

July 1, 2012

"Is there a target on my back?"

Well following that nice and mellow lullaby yesterday something completely different today.

Again a song that fit perfectly in the category “summer/sunshine songs”, when listening to this song it leaves a warm feeling in my body just like the sun on a clear July day.

The Mommyheads – Skinny white uptight is found on the record “Vulnerable boy” released in 2012.