August 31, 2012

“How long have you known?

How long has it shown?

Forever?

Forever?

Forever, if ever (at all)?”

Tonight marks the premiere of a new festival in Stockholm, Brooklyn Sweden. The festival consists of bands that are based/origin in Brooklyn, New York. Further on… one of the sponsors of the festival is Brooklyn Brewery so it will be possible to combine Brooklyn music together with Brooklyn beer. Sounds awesome to me!

Of the bands playing live today I am eagerly looking forward to DIIV. I like their record a lot and my gut feeling tell me that they will make quiet an impression live too.

DIIV – Have long have you known is found on the record “Oshin” released in 2012.

August 30, 2012

“Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind
I always get it up, for the touch of the younger kind
My, my, my, aye-aye, whoa!
M-m-m-my Sharona.”

I happened to see the movie “Reality bites” earlier today, a big disappointment in my book. Besides an astonishing Winona Ryder I will have to say that the movie was soooo boring.

Well… One good thing about the movie is that it features this song, such a good song that I have totally forgotten somewhere along the way.

The Knack – My Sharona is found on the record “Get the Knack” released in 1979.

August 29, 2012

“The pain turn to rain
Ain't calming down
will it calm down?”

It has been a rather boring day so I dreamt back to the Way Out West festival and an artist that was not only a new experience to me but also a pleasant surprise.

Anna Von Hausswolff – Mountains crave is found on the record “Ceremony” released in 2012.

August 28, 2012

“Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?”

In my world the abbreviation B.Y.O.B stands for “By Your Own Booze”.

In the world of System Of A Down the abbreviation B.Y.O.B stands for “Bring your own bombs” and it happens to be one of the better anti-war songs ever.

System Of A Down – B.Y.O.B is found on the record “Mezmerize” released in 2005.

August 27, 2012

“Spins the phrases together 'til something starts to make sense
Talk of the future ignoring the present tense.”

Some artists and groups are hard to put in genre; Django Django is one of them. Their music sprawl between different genres, different tempos and different moods, the end result is most often great.

On the other why you would like to put every group and artist in a certain genre is a really good question. I do not have a really good answer, listen to Django Django and you will realise why.

Django Django – Hail bop is found on the record “Django Django” released in 2012.

August 26, 2012

“You're not the sun,
It's just a light,
Waking early Sunday morning,
You're not my church,
It's just the bells,
Ringing sweetly through the house.”

Well I guess the title of this song says it all…

Sneaker Pimps – Wasted early Sunday morning is found on the record “Becoming X” released in 1996.

August 25, 2012

“I got this feeling on the summer day when you were gone.
I crashed my car into the bridge. I watched, I let it burn.
I threw your shit into a bag and pushed it down the stairs.
I crashed my car into the bridge.”

I never bought a ticket to the Popaganda this year mainly because I am heading to another festival next weekend, more about that later.

But if I had a ticket this would have been one of the highlights the second and last day of the festival. I just love the attitude of this Swedish duo.

Icona Pop – I love it is found on the “I love it” single released in 2012.

August 24, 2012

“Hon ser sitt liv på film den kvällen
Ser ängen där hon lekte varje vår
Hon minns den första kyssen
Som om det var igår
Och kvällen blev natt,
Kvällen blev natt så fort...”

A couple of years ago I and a number of friends started a task to make top lists within different musical categories. One of the top lists was Sweden top 25 where the task simply was to make a top list of the 25 best Swedish songs ever.

Simple and simple, it turned out to be a quite difficult task but one thing was simple to pick the best Swedish song ever namely this one.

Tonight Joakim Thåström, singer in the band Imperiet, plays live at the Popaganda festival in Stockholm. I cannot imagine that he will play this song live though which in some ways is a shame. This is indeed a song that he should play live whenever he is on a stage.

Imperiet – Saker som hon gör is found on the record ”Synd” released in 1986.

August 23, 2012

“The ecstasy of battle takes me
 Where the falcons fly
Immortal youth was granted me
I will never die.”

Every now and then I just need a little dose of old fashioned heavy metal…

Manowar – Black wind, fire and steel is found on the record ”Fighting the world” released in 1987.

August 22, 2012

“They were right when they said
We were breathing underwater
Out of place all the time
In a world that wasn't mine to take;
I'll wait.”

I used to work for a company which used “Metrics” as a sort control system on efficiency, productivity and progress. It was something that drove me nuts sometimes, instead of making the next necessary step in order to complete a product it was more important to fulfil the metrics.

Needless to say I prefer this “Metric”.

Metric – Breathing underwater is found on the record “Synthetica” released in 2012.

August 21, 2012

“Now that you meet my day
now let´s take them away
(that´s why I hold you)
Strong as you´ve seen
Old as you behave
(that´s why I hold you)
you will always obey
(that´s why I hold you).”

And speaking of Interpol; I just cannot avoid sharing this phenomenal track.

Interpol – Lights is found on the record “Interpol” released in 2010.

August 20, 2012

“But I got my whole damn life
Caught up in moments entirely of yours
But I'm finding it harder to reason in order to grow
And finding it hard is a feeling that all of you know
Know, know.”

When I first this song a days ago I was convinced that Interpol had released a new single. To my surprise this was not Interpol, it was not even an American but Australian band.

No matter what… Boy And Bear is a pleasant surprise I am looking forward to dig deeper in their material.

Boy And Bear – Feeding line is found on the record “Moonfire” released in 2011.

August 19, 2012

“Now I got you
Now you care
Now you have me and
Now I'm there.”

Well I cannot leave Belgium without listening to my favourite Belgian band, a band that symbolizes the Belgian music I listened to when growing up but also a band that personalize the mood of Belgium itself.

Dark, hard, rough and industrial but at the same time a country and filled with rhythm and life. Belgian music at its best.

Front 242 – Until death us do part is found on the record “Front by front” released in 1988.

August 18, 2012

“Did I ever think of you
As my enemy
Did you ever think of me
I'm complaining.”

A once upon a time girlfriend of mine went to Belgium years ago to work as an au-pair. I remember that she described Belgium as a country with no green areas, when you reached the boundaries of one town, the next one started so to speak.

Belgium may lack of “Edens” but I still found the country fascinating especially after a spending a wonderful day together with wonderful company in Leuven.

Hooverphonic – Eden is found on the record “Blue wonder power milk” released in 1998.

August 17, 2012

“Bring it all down, bring all down, bring it all down to a kiss of fury.”

Off to Brussels today, my first time there.

I am looking forward to discover a new town and I am looking forward to visiting Belgium, a country that produced the majority of the music I listened to when I grew up.

This is one of many great examples of the music I listened to when I was a teenager.

A Split Second – Kiss of fury is found on the record “Kiss of fury” released in 1990.

August 16, 2012

“I stayed away from trouble
I stayed away from trouble
I stayed away from trouble
From time to time.”

From time to time I have referred to Mark Lanegan as being one of the most productive artists in the music business. Looking at Sweden I will have to mention Jocke Åhlund who in his career so far has been a member of Caesars (Palace), Teddybears STHLM and Les Big Byrd.

His latest project is Smile where he team up with Björn Yttling from Peter, Bjorn and John. And needless to say it is music that in my opinion is something that is worth listening more often than from time to time.

Smile – From time to time is found on the record “A flash in the night” released in 2012.

August 15, 2012

“And don’t ask why, ask why
When the lilies die.”

One of my latest discoveries is IO Echo, and as so many times before it is “harmonic noise” combined with a hauntingly beautiful female voice.

I love it. Of course I love it.

IO Echo – When the lilies die is found on the forthcoming album “Ministry of love” scheduled to be released in 2012.

August 14, 2012

“Yes, I’m gonna be OK 

I guess, I’m gonna be alright 

With my family here beside me 

My family is here to guide me.”

A cousin of mine celebrates her birthday today; we are as close as brothers and sisters. This is a song which I will always associate with my cousin; she used to listen to this song all the time some 30 years ago.

And further on… this is one of songs that awoke my musical interest.

Steve Kekana – Raising my family is found on the record “Raising my family” released in 1981.

August 13, 2012

“I wanna run wanna go

Gotta make an escape

To the edge of the world

See the furthest place

I wanna fallow in

And just be be be

Close my eyes and tie them

Waiting for a surprise

There's a breeze and 

I'm feelin' sunsight in my eyes

Are you ready all came out

You and me me, me.”

Even though we are getting close to mid-August I define this time of the year as summer. Hence this song which to me is a summer song bubbling with sunshine and the feeling of a warm day at the beach.

Catcall – The world is ours is found on the record “The warmest place” released in 2012.

August 12, 2012

“So please don't make more promises to me
And please don't take everything from me
And I will breathe in every word you mean
If you could please promise them to me.”

I made a promise late last night, a promise that I of course intend to keep.

It will not be easy to keep this promise and I may hurt someone close to me if I do. But in the end, by keeping this promise, things will turn out fine for the people involved including myself though getting there will be a bit rocky…

One of these days I will let you know all about it.

Andain – Promises is found on the EP “Promises” released in 2011.

August 11, 2012

“Tschernobyl, Harrisburgh Sellafield, Hiroshima
Tschernobyl, Harrisburgh Sellafield, Hiroshima

Stop radioactivity
Is in the air for you and me
Stop radioactivity
Discovered by Madame Curie.”

Oh my, oh my I will actually catch Kraftwerk live tonight, something that I never expected to happen. An almost life-long dream will be fulfilled with me attending this show.

I. Will. Actually. Catch. Kraftwerk. Live. Tonight.

Kraftwerk – Radioactivity is found on the record “Radioaktivität” released in 1975. This version is found on the record “The mix” released in 1991.

August 10, 2012

“Across the town a young girl plays guitar
"Do you remember me?"
She sings to a lover she worships from afar
Roll some bones and catch a fire, evil minds they will expire
The moon to shine a light upon us all tonight.”

Friday in Gothenburg and I assume that the festival will peak when Blur play one of their last (well I guess we will have to see about that) shows ever.

As much as I look forward to Blur I must admit that getting a chance to see The Afghan Whigs live on stage is my personal peak of the day, this may very well be candidate to the live performance of the year.

The Afghan Whigs - Citi Soleil is found on the record “1965” released in 1998.

August 9, 2012

“You live your life, you go in shadow
You'll come upon and you'll go black
Some kind of night into your darkness
Close your eyes with what's not there.”

Off to the Way Out West festival in Gothenburg today and besides a number of (hopefully) great shows at the main festival area I will head to a late night show in a church!

On stage… Mazzy Star.

Mazzy Star – Fade into you is found on the record “So tonight that I might see” released in 1993.

August 8, 2012

“Better things come to those who wait
Then appearness left for all too late
Greatness achieved, and darkness defeated.”

The autumn of 2012 seems to be one autumn to remember seen from a music perspective, new albums from Bloc Party, The Killers and The XX is in the pipe.

But it gets even better, the next addition to the music scene of the 2012 autumn is new material from Band Of Horses.

Band Of Horses – Knock, knock is found on the forthcoming record “Mirage rock” scheduled to be released in 2012.

August 7, 2012

“From the pale lips of a youth who lay
I'm sleeping my day away
And when the night comes to the city I say:
I'm sleeping my day away
Yeah! With my pale lips in the pillow I say:
I'm sleeping my day away
After dark is the game I play
I'm sleeping my day away I'm sleeping my day away.”

I overslept this morning and still felt like sleeping for a few hours more when I woke up.

But reality is different; the reality means getting up and go to work.

DAD – Sleeping my day away is found on the record “No fuel left for the pilgrims” released in 1989.

August 6, 2012

“And with words unspoken
A silent devotion
I know you know what I mean
And the end is unknown
But I think I'm ready
As long as you're with me.”

“Adoration” is the one word that I think of when I listen to the new single from The XX. Caring about someone more than they care of you I guess.

Amazing. Simply amazing.

The XX – Angels is found on the forthcoming album “Coexist” scheduled to be released in 2012.

August 5, 2012

“So hold me, hold me close right now
Take me in your arms
But not too close
Not too close.”

There are not that many artists of groups that I would like to see live that I have not already seen live anymore. Some of the artists and groups are out of question, this include among others Johnny Cash and The Ramones.

Other rarely visits Sweden so I may have to do some travelling to see them. I do not mind travelling but it has to work with the real life too.

The latter one is applicable when it comes to Cassandra Complex. To my best knowledge Cassandra Complex still exist as a band so maybe I will get a chance to attend one of their concerts in the future.

Cassandra Complex – One millionth happy customer is found on the record “Theomania” released in 1988. This version is found on the compilation “This is electronic body music” released in 1988.

August 4, 2012



"I'm eighteen
I get confused every day
I'm eighteen
I just don't know what to say
I'm eighteen
I gotta get away
Well I gotta get out of this place
I'll go runnin' in outer space, yeah."

My niece turns 18 today, an important day in Sweden since that allows you to finalize your efforts of getting a driving license. Further on your parents are no longer obliged to be responsible for you and your acts.

Another important aspect, please keep in mind that Sweden is a part of the infamous vodka belt, from the age of 18 you are from now on allowed to buy beer, wine or drinks at bars and pubs.

If Alice Cooper would have lived in Sweden I wonder what would have been the greatest thing in his mind about turning 18.

Alice Cooper – I’m eighteen is found on the record “Love it to death” released in 1971.

August 3, 2012

"We got engaged on a Friday night
I swore on the head of our unborn child that I could take care of the three of us
But I got the tendency to slip when the nights get wild.
It's in my blood
She says she might just runaway somewhere else, some place good
We can't wait 'til tomorrow
You gotta know that this is real, baby why you wanna fight it?
It's the one thing you can choose."

I have never been a huge fan of The Killers but that may change now because this is a song that has been stuck in my mind the last few days.

Hmm... Maybe I am about to change my mind about The Killers following quite some time when I have seen them as a lighweight musical trifle.

The Killers – Runaways is found on the forthcoming record “Battle born” scheduled to be released in 2012.

August 2, 2012

"We've already said "Goodbye"
Since you gotta go, oh you'd better
Go now go now, go now (Go now)
Before you see me cry."

I am not old enough to have experienced the ‘60s but I have for sure listened a lot to music made in the ‘60s. One thing that have struck me is that it seem to have been a difficult time, many songs contain lyrics about death, accidents and my favourite subjects broken hearts and love no more.

This song catches the latter two subjects in a ‘60s nutshell. One of those songs that always bring a tear to my eye.

The Moody Blues – Go now is found on the record “The magnificent moodies” released in 1965.

August 1, 2012

"Bubbling bubbling cheap champagne
Leyendecker hole wrecker feel no pain
Lying face down when I swing your way
And what?
What's my name what's my name?."

It is sometimes worth waiting for something. It is always worth waiting for new Bloc Party material.

Bloc Party – Octopus is found on the forthcoming album “Four” scheduled to be released in 2012.