July 31, 2013

"If you want me to leave, then I'll go
If you want me to stay, let it show
Do you want me to leave, let me know
Just let me know."

I cannot believe I have not crossed paths with this wonderful band before. Especially since they have been releasing records for more than ten years.

Well, well. Every now and then great acts slip under my radar for quite some time.

Camera Obscura - Fifth in line to the throne is found on the record "Desire lines" released in 2013.

July 30, 2013

"What the hell's going on around here?"

At the moment I am out of town otherwise I would have considered heading to a Suicidal Tendencies live show tonight.

Or maybe not. I really do not know.

Suicidal Tendencies – You can’t bring me down is found on the record “Lights… Camera… Revolution!” released in 1990.

July 29, 2013

"Det är lätt att tro på kärleken
när kroppar kommer nära
Spilla öl och trångt och varmt,
folk pekar: dom där är kära."

Stefan Sundström is a Swedish singer/songwriter that has been around since the days before the genre singer/songwriter was even “invented”. Personally I have been listening to him on and off but never been a huge fan.

Nevertheless I would have loved to be in the audience when he plays live close to my home tonight but this time I will have to refrain from attending due to other obligations.

Stefan Sundström – Först när det var slut is found on the record “Nästan som reklam” released in 1995.

July 28, 2013

"Father, father
We don't need to escalate
War is not the answer
Only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today."

I realise that I keep coming back to some subjects when entering texts in this blog. One of them is covers. I have said it before and I am likely to say it again, if you are thinking of releasing a cover it should be:
1, Better than the original version.
2, Different compared to the original version.

Sometimes you succeed fulfilling both criteria, this is a perfect example.

A Perfect Circle – What’s going on? is found on the record “eMOTIVe” released in 2004.The original version was recorded by Marvin Gaye in 1971.

July 27, 2013

"Lift up your skirt and fly."

I am not too aware of the Danish music scene though there a few Danish bands that I like a lot like The Raveonettes, Sleep Party People and Mew.

It makes me glad to discover a new act to add to the “Danish music I like” list, the debut single from PRE-Be-UN sure sounds promising. I am looking forward listen to the forthcoming full-length album.

PRE-Be-UN – Mysteriously in love is found on the forthcoming record “Clear spasms” scheduled to be released in 2013.

July 26, 2013

"Vacation, all I ever wanted
Vacation, had to get away
Vacation, meant to be spent alone."

My summer vacation starts today and to celebrate, probably the best “vacation” song ever.

I just have to listen to this song today despite the fact that I at the moment cannot relate to the song lyrics at all.

The Go-Go’s – Vacation is found on the record “Vacation” released in 1982.

July 25, 2013

"Cradle for a cat, Wolfe looks back,
How many angels can you fit upon a match?
I want to know why Hemmingway cracked
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction."

Sometimes the truth is indeed stranger than fiction. Like the fact that Bad Religion play live at an amusement park tonight…

Bad Religon – Stranger than fiction is found on the record “Stranger than fiction” in 1994.

July 24, 2013

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often."

I learned a new word today, a word that I cannot recall seeing before namely “Vicissitude”. According to the dictionary this word means “a change or variation” which slightly worried me since it the name of the brand new Maps record.

In my opinion the two albums released by maps so far are close to perfection hence I am in no need of a change or a variation. But when listening to the new Maps single I soon realise that I do not have to worry, it may be a little happier than before but it is still Maps and it is still very good.

Highly recommended!

Maps – A.M.A is found on the record “Vicissitude” released in 2013.The quote above is taken from the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

July 23, 2013

"And in the after birth
On the quiet earth
Let the stains remind you
You thought you made a man
You better think again
Before my role defines you."

Time for the weekly dose of American alternative rock… My choice is Audioslave!

Audioslave – Shove me how to live is found on the record “Audioslave” released in 2002.

July 22, 2013

"Walked in the corner of the room
A junk yard fool with eyes of gloom
I asked him time again
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain the rain
The rain the rain the rain now."

And when mentioning Steve Mason the natural continuation is of course The Beta Band. By the way, do you recognise this song?

A hint… The movie “High fidelity” when John Cusack drops the line “I will now sell five copies of The Three E.P.'s by The Beta Band”.

This is the song featured in that very scene.

The Beta Band – Dry the rain is found on the EP “Champion versions” released in 1997.

July 21, 2013

"Just a man collecting all he knows.
For the future one if the wind don't blow.
I had it happen in another life,
You put your arm around but you feel the night."

Sometimes when I discover something that is new experience to me it turns out that it is an artist or a group that has been releasing music for years. In some ways this annoys me, the fact that I have not been aware of the group or artist sooner. In other ways I am glad that I have finally discovered the artist of the group.

This is an example of such a case. When I first heard Steve Mason a couple of weeks ago I honestly thought it was one of those up and coming new artists. The reality turned out to be that he, as a member of The Beta Band, had released albums since 1997…

Steve Mason – A lot of love is found on the record “Monkey minds in the devil’s time” released in 2013.

July 20, 2013

"Fire fire she's all in my veins
Takes me higher higher, I'm in love she's cocaine
Fire fire, fire you good
She loves having fun
But she's got me on the run."

Staying at the “summer songs” theme for another day this captivating tune was my summer song of 2004 or maybe 2005. I cannot really recall which year it was; I do remember playing it all the time.

Infinite Mass – Fire, fire is found on the record “1991” released in 2004.

July 19, 2013

"I'm a man
That's what you raised me to be
I'm not your identity crisis
This was planned."

No summer without a summer song, this summer it may very well be this one. A song that I have been spinning over and over and over again the last few weeks.

Neko Case – Man is found on the forthcoming album “The worse things get, the harder I fight, the harder I fight, the more I love you” scheduled to be released in 2013.

July 18, 2013

"Lying down in sense and grief
inventiveness
like buying something sweet."

When David Eugene Edwards of 16 Horsepower started to release music under the name “Woven Hand” during a temporary hiatus of 16 Horsepower, the other two members, Pascal Humbert and Jean-Yves Tola, decided to start a musical project together as well.

The result was released under the name “Lilium”, a band that has its up and downs. Some songs are almost impossible to listen to while others, like this one, is so beautiful and touching that it is hair-raising.

Lilium – Sense and grief is found on the record “Short stories” released in 2003.

July 17, 2013

"Just as sure as that dog's gonna whine
In my heart no longer will I pine."

Lately I have rediscovered the band 16 Horsepower and David Eugene Edwards’s powerful and dark lyrics dealing with “difficult” subjects such as conflict and guilt.

The timing is strange, I feel great, it is a beautiful, warm summer and I enjoy so many great things in life at the moment.

But I guess it is easy to explain after all. The better I feel the darker music I listen to. Music is the balance so to speak.

16 Horsepower – Coal black horses is found on the EP “16 Horsepower” released in 1995.

July 16, 2013

"Darling darling darling can't you see
Darling darling what you mean to me
Forgive me for that stupid man I've been
Ooh darling darling darling stay with me"

To be honest I have never been a big fan of Hellacopters but this song is a tune that I am most fond of.

Hellacopters – Darling, darling is found on the record “Head off” released in 2008.

July 15, 2013

"It’s a black pool, bright light
Brighter than the light in your home
Well, you want to be loved
But nobody else seems to know
We could love, we could love you
If you need somebody to love you
While you’re looking for somebody to love"

Franz Ferdinand is band that, at least to me, has been there in the “background” for a good amount of years now. I enjoy hearing a Franz Ferdinand on radio or on TV but I hardly ever listen to a full length album and I doubt that I would buy myself a ticket to a Franz Ferdinand show.

This may however change from now on; it is something about their latest release that sounds more interesting to me than before. I am looking forward to hear the forthcoming full album.

Franz Ferdinand – Love illumination is found on the forthcoming record “Right thoughts, right words, right actions” scheduled to be released in 2013.

July 14, 2013

"Movin' to the country,
Gonna eat a lot of peaches."

Ever so often it is nice to leave the city to instead enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the countryside.

So here I am, spending a wonderful day far from the buzz of a big city together with family and friends. Filled by impressions of everything the countryside has to offer there even was a moment when I thought of moving here permanently.

Seconds later I realized that I without any doubt am a city person after all though a city person who certainly enjoy the “getaway” moments in life.

The Presidents Of The United States Of America – Peaches is found on the record “The Presidents of the United States of America” record released in 1995.

July 13, 2013

"Going back before I break.

Going back before it's too late.

I'm going back to strange."

”Don’t you ever get tired of this” was the comment I received when I played this song to my brother.

My answer…”No I do not ever get tired of this”. I am aware, as so many times before in my case, that this is yet another dark, gloomy, sad, crispy and beautiful song. But it is also something I like more than I can simply find words for.

(Needless to say my brother was not quite as enthusiastic about this song that I am.)

Still Corners – Going back to strange is found on the record “Strange pleasures” released in 2013.

July 12, 2013

"On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again."

The past few weeks I have done a lot of traveling and today am no exception. It is time to head north it is time to hit the road again.

Willie Nelson – On the road again is found on the record “Honeysuckle rose” released in 1980.

July 11, 2013

"Inside I'm feeling dirty,

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

Inside I'm feeling dirty,

It's only 'cos I'm hurting."

A guy that I knew once upon a time became a father when he was fifteen years old. It may be mean but I cannot listen to this group without thinking of him and the fact that he for sure was a young father too.

(This guy also became grandfather at the age of thirty-six but that is a story I will save for some other time).

Young Fathers – I heard is found on the record “Tape two” released in 2013.

July 10, 2013

"I tried to make it go away
And I have tried the best I can
It's been around for nights and days
They say it's only in my head
Now it's just to late to wrap a smile around my face."

A rather slow day at work meant that I had time to daydream for a few minutes. My thoughts went back to last weekend and a splendid time in Norway.

Moving on in the daydreaming from out of nowhere this song crossed my mind; Norwegian music at its best.

Briskeby – Propaganda is found on the record “Jeans for Onassis” released in 2000.

July 9, 2013

"Life lies a slow suicide
Orthodox dreams and symbolic myths
From feudal serf to spender
This wonderful world of purchase power."

I am in great need of some cool guitars today so why not turn one of my favourite guitar songs ever. This is one of those songs that I never get tired of even though I have heard this song hundreds of times before.

Manic Street Preachers – Motorcycle emptiness is found on the record “Generation terrorists” released in 1992.

July 8, 2013

"So kiss me before you go..."

Like Postiljonen this is one of my latest discoveries. A band that I really do not know anything at all about but I do intend to get that knowledge when digging deeper into their musical releases.

Lighting Dust – Reckless and wild is found on the record “Fantasy” released in 2013.

July 7, 2013

 "All my dreams were lies
All my dreams were lies
Nightmares in disguise
All my dreams were lies."

To me it is not possible to spend a weekend in Oslo without, sooner or later, humming a Turbonegro tune. One may say many things about this Norwegian band but at the end of the day there are many of their songs that I simply cannot resist.

Turbonegro – All my friends are dead is found on the record “Party animals” released in 2005.

July 6, 2013

"We are what we are
Hopelessly in love
The stars in our sky
Never to unfold."

My latest Norwegian (well with a shade of Sweden) discovery is Postiljonen. Their dreamy electronic music, reminding me of shoegazing era of the early nineties, is of course something that immediately was appealing to me.

I would love to catch this band live, somehow I cannot believe it would be anything but stunning.

Postiljonen – Supreme is found on the record “Skyer” released in 2013.

July 5, 2013

"I reached inside myself and found
Nothing there to ease the
Pressure of my ever worrying mind
All my powers waste away
I fear the crazed and lonely
Looks the mirror's sending me these days."

At the moment I feel like the number one enemy of the environment. For the fifth time in as many weeks I will be traveling by air…

Off to Oslo today a weekend in Norwegian capital. Off course I do hope for a lot of sunshine not only on TV…

A-Ha – The sun always shine on TV is found on the record “Hunting high and low” released in 1985.

July 4, 2013

"Until the end of time..."

I hardly care about the Swedish National Day but I enjoy celebrating the National Day of US of A.

I guess the simple explanation is that it gives me an excuse to down a few American beers and a burger or two...

And when given the chance to catch a really good American band live the very same night I have yet another reason to celebrate.

The Fresh & Onlys - Until the end of time is found on the record "Play it strange" released in 2010.

July 3, 2013

"There is always the sound,
Are you hearing it too
How it's weird living inside the town.
Empty days without you."

Just the other day I heard this one for the first time. Time stood still, I had a hard time breathing.

Some songs have way to much influence on me...

Girls In Hawaii - Misses is found on the EP "Misses" released in 2013.

July 2, 2013

"Sick in the head, I think it's a game
But if it was, I wouldn't feel this way."

Some ten years ago my brother interviewed a band that were thrilled to have made a stop in the Swedish town "Bore-ass" (correct spelling in Swedish is "Borås").

The band... Well it was Sebadoh.

Today I am heading to "Bore-ass" to meet some of my colleagues. Maybe I should tell them this story. Maybe not...

Sebadoh - It's all you is found on the record "The Sebadoh" released in 1999.

July 1, 2013

"Right about now
The funk soul brother
Check it out now
The funk soul brother."

This is the song that has been on my mind today. I cannot explain why on the other hand I really do not care because this song has helped me fighting the sleepiness and lack of energy this Monday.

Fatboy Slim - Rockafeller skank is found on the record "You've come a long way, baby" released in 1998.