August 31, 2013

"Come and dance beside me, let you go
Try and stop me telling all these lies
Trouble with the only thing I know
I can see the games are lost in your eyes
Now you've got me messed up, please believe me
Looks like thats done, you win. I'll be leaving now
You make me happy, uh
I'm in trouble now"

Håkan Hellström may be the artist headlining Popaganda tonight. What I am looking forward to the most though is Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

I have to my best knowledge never heard the band before but I have heard a lot of good things about them. I do hope that quite a surprise is awaiting me tonight.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Trouble is found on the record “Trouble” released in 2012.

August 30, 2013

“I always thought it was a shame
That we have to play these games
It felt like you really knew me
Now it feels like you see through me.”

It is time to visit the last festival of the summer. It feels kind of sad to write those exact words but my festival season of 2013 is yet not finished, more about that later… Like in October.

But first things first, today I am heading to the Popaganda festival for the first time in a few years’ time.  The main reason that I am heading there is the main act of tonight namely The XX.

The XX – Sunset is found on the record “Coexist” released in 2012.

August 29, 2013

"I'm still breathing"

This summer has got to be the most gorgeous summer in years and what is most pleasant is that it continuous to be a very sunny, warm and most beautiful summer.

Hence it feels appropriate to reveal yet another of my “summer songs” of 2013 though we are at the end of August. This is song that I have listening to many times this summer, as sunny and warm as the summer itself.

L'obscurité - In silence is found on the single "In silence" released in 2013.

August 28, 2013

“This confusion is my illusion
Nowhere to look but nowhere to find ya
All these things I'm sick about I'm sick about
Always come unglued ”

In the music world the abbreviation STP has equalled the band Stone Temple Pilots. Someone once told me the initially the STP abbreviation was meant to be read “Shirley Temple’s Pussy”.

This is a good story, perhaps an urban hymn, and I can for sure see why the band gave up the original idea after all you would like to get some airplay.

No matter how you read the abbreviation STP one must say that this is a song that certainly deserves some airplay.

Stone Temple Pilots – Unglued is found on the record “Purple” released in 1994.

August 27, 2013

“Building it up

Just to bring it down."

Did I hear anyone say “rockabilly”? I believe I did. Rockabilly it is.

Fatboy – Cold, cold war is found on the record “Love creole” released in 2012.

August 26, 2013

"High on diesel and gasoline psycho for drum machine
shaking their bits to the hits
Drag acts drug acts suicides in your dad's suits you hide
staining his name again
Cracked up stacked up 22 psycho for sex and glue
lost it to Bostik yeah "

Suede is a band that I never really listened to a lot mainly because I have a hard time listening to vocalist Brett Anderson’s “whining” voice for a longer period.

But there moments, of there are for sure moments, when I certainly do enjoy Suede, like in this song.

Suede – Beautiful ones is found on the record “Coming up” released in 1996.

August 25, 2013

"And I don't even know
Back down to get together
Who wants to surprise
Make up, we need another one!"

One very good way to start a Sunday is to find out that Telekinesis is back with new material. The Sunday immediately a lot better.

Telekinesis - Ghosts and creatures is found on the record "Dormarion" released in 2013.

August 24, 2013

"Somebody broke in, but all that was missing were the polaroids"

…and I guess it would have been interesting to catch the legendary Lydia Lunch live as well but no. Not this time at least.

Instead Lydia Lunch on the stereo when drinking beer and eating food that pairs perfectly with the beer.

Lydia Lunch – Hangover hotel is found on the record “Hangover hotel” released in 2001.

August 23, 2013

"My life in Brooklyn was in constant danger because of my bad health."

Last year Brooklyn Sweden was a fresh and innovative addition to the festival scene in Stockholm where bands from Brooklyn (duh!) were filling the stage for two days. Added to the music a lot of focus was put on the beer (guess what brand) and the food which of course were possible to pair with the beer.

This year, in my humble opinion, Brooklyn Sweden is not nearly as good as last year. Sure the great selection of beer is still there. The food seems to be even better but that does not really help when the selection of bands performing live on stage is not nearly as good as last year. Hence I am not heading to the festival this year.

Thought I got to admit, it would have been a lot of fun to be there in the audience when Designer Drugs performs…

Designer Drugs – Drop down is found on the record “Hardcore/Softcore” released in 2010. The quote above is taken from the American illustrator and writer Maurice Sendak.

August 22, 2013

"One too much, I think I'm done
My head is spinning, my lips are numb
How about one more, it's just for fun
But I can't stand and I feel dumb."

I do believe it is time to return to the category “new discoveries of 2013” again. And, sounding like a broken record repeating the same chord over and over again, this is a band that I certainly is looking forward to hear more from.

Potty Mouth – The spins is found on the record “Hell bent” scheduled to be released in 2013.

August 21, 2013

"Shadows are fallin' and I'm runnin' out of breath
Keep me in your heart for a while
If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for a while."

One of few TV series I have really been following in recent years is the twisted but wonderful “Californication”. I just love pretty much everything about this TV series, the main characters, the plot and the temporary characters like the great Lew Ashby that shows up in season 2.

Earlier this week I finished watching season 2 (again) and in the last episode of season two I rediscovered this tune, as wonderful as the TV series itself.

Warren Zevon – Keep me in your heart for a while is found on the record “The wind” released in 2003.

August 20, 2013

"Friends say it's fine, my friends say it's good
Ev'rybody says it's just like Rock and Roll
Fly like a plane, drive like a car
Ball like a hound, babe I wanna be your man - oh
Well it's plain to see you were meant for me, yeah
I'm your toy, your 20th century boy."

Don’t you think it is time to make a trip in the music time machine today going back forty years in time to, in dual aspects, another century?

By the way, this must one of the more famous rock songs that were never featured on an original studio recording?

Do you know other songs in this category, i.e. famous songs that was only released as singles?

T.Rex – 20th century boy is found on the single “20th century boy” released in 1973.

August 19, 2013

"Never seen such good things go so wrong
and everywhere we turn they're playing our song
Should have known someone so much like me
would give me hell and send me to my knees ."

Sometimes I just know. I just know that I will like a song a lot even before listening to it. In this case it is the title of the song, how can I possible resist this title given the fact that my favourite subjects when it comes to lyrics is about love no more and broken hearts.

And I was right. Of course I like this song a lot.

Devendra Banhart – Never seen such good things is found on the record “Mala” released in 2013.

August 18, 2013

"Nothing ever changes people stay the same
If you want to leave don’t come back again
Nothing ever changes It was all a game
I could never trust you and that’s a shame."

Some songs are there to stay in my mind. Ever so often I find myself humming the chorus of this song.

Why? Well I wish someone could tell me. It is neither a song that I find great nor a song that I listen to each and every day, still a song that refuses to leave my mind.

This Perfect Day – It’s a shame is found on the record “Don’t smile” released in 1995.

August 17, 2013

"I'm a sun king, baby
Let me take you by the hand
Sun king, honey
We can rule across the land."

From Cults to The Cult. I just had to, didn’t I?

The Cult –Sun king is found on the record “Sonic temple” released in 1989.

August 16, 2013

"But I know you're not the one and the only
But we both know what it's like to be lonely
Well, these fantasies, they left us lonely
Boy, just bring all your love back to me
I guess it's how it could be."

A band and a record that I listened to a couple of years ago was the self-entitled debut record from Cults. Their sometimes twisted indie rock was something that I simply enjoyed a lot.

It makes me glad to hear new material from Cults, new material that certainly sounds promising.

Cults – I can hardly make you mine is found on the forthcoming record “Static” scheduled to be released in 2013.

August 15, 2013

"I saw a boy's t-shirt today 

It said, 'One of us is dead' 

He just looked me in the eyes

And cried. 

I saw a newspaper today 

It read, one of us is dead 

And old man looked me in the eyes 

And smiled."

Well I found another, since long forgotten, treasure on the same compilation CD, namely this one.

I need to refresh my memory with respect to The Earlies, this is a great song that was constantly on repeat on my CD player (hey do you guys remember those). But what happened then to The Earlies? I have no idea.

The Earlies - One of us is dead is found on the record "These were The Earlies" released in 2005.

August 14, 2013

"Well, the drugs just ain't enough
Though I like the way they made us crazy
But love's the only drug
Tunrs the ugly into beautiful."

Time to take a trip down the memory lane. Today I dug up a song that I listened to a lot when it was released about ten years ago but forgot all about.

But sometimes it is a good thing playing some homemade CD compilations. Apparently.

The Real Tuesday Weld - The ugly and the beautiful is found on the record "I, Lucifer" released in 2003.

August 13, 2013

"They keep saying:
Don’t stop, no one’s ever enough
I’ll never look back, never give up
And if it gets rough, it’s time to get rough
But now I'm falling."

Looking back at Way Out West 2013 I will have to mention this band. I am eagerly waiting for their full-length debut. In the the meantime, "Falling" yet one more time.

Haim - Falling is found on the forthcoming record "Days are gone" scheduled to be released in 2013.

August 12, 2013

"Back to life, back to reality,
back to life, back to reality,
back to life, back to reality,
back to the here and now yeah."

Back to life. Back to reality. Back to working for the man instead of enjoying the beauty of vacation.

Well I guess that the anxiety I feel right now will be replaced by a feeling of "it-is-nice-to-back" in a few hours.

Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) is found on the record "Club Classics Vol. One" released in 1989.

August 11, 2013

"It ends with a kiss
It ends with a tear
It ends with the lights out
Bathed in our fears."

It was not until just recently I became aware that Editors has released a new album and a really good one too. Especially this amazing song that I listen to about 10 times a day right now.

Editors - The phone book is found on the record "The weight of your love" released in 2013.

August 10, 2013

"What are we doing?
We’re sitting on a ruin
What are we doing?
We’re sitting on a ruin."

Way Out West in Gothenburg day 3. Oh I have heard so many good things about Charlyn Marie Marshall a.k.a Cat Power.

Cat Power - Ruin is found on the record "Sun" released in 2012.

August 9, 2013

"It takes minute detail
it takes a holy life
it takes emotions
it takes dedication
it takes dedication
it takes a death
and only God can allow it"

Way Out West in Gothenburg day 2. It will for sure be very interesting to catch Godspeed You! Black Emperor live.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Hung Over as the Queen in the Maida Vale was recorded for a John Peel Session in 1998.

August 8, 2013

"I am just a dreamer,
but you are just a dream,
You could have been
anyone to me.
Before that moment
you touched my lips
That perfect feeling
when time just slips
Away between us
on our foggy trip."

Way Out West in Gothenburg day 1. The highlight of the day is without any doubt Neil Young.

Neil Young - Like a hurricane is found on the record "American stars 'n bars" released in 1977.

August 7, 2013

"The sky is turning red
Return to power draws near
Fall into me, the sky's crimson tears
Abolish the rules made of stone."

Two weeks ago I was surprised and puzzled about the fact that Bad Religon played live at an amusement park in Stockholm. What can I then possibly say about the fact that Slayer plays live at that very same stage tonight.

Oh dear! The parents and children heading to the amusement park tonight are sure up for a huge surprise.

Slayer – Raining blood is found on the record “Reign in blood” released in 1986.

August 6, 2013

"Ships in the harbor and birds on the bluff
don't move an inch when their anchor goes up.
And the difference with me is I'm falling in love.
Stockholm, let me go home.
Let me go.
Let me go home."

And speaking about new discoveries, this is yet another bright star shining in my musical sky right now. But then again how can I possibly resist a song about my home town?

Jason Isbell - Stockholm is found on the record "Southeastern" released in 2013.

August 5, 2013

"Things I've done before..."

It is time to once again reveal one of my latter discoveries. Lately I have been listening to this band. A lot!

And the more I listen the more I like what I hear. Great stuff!

Blouse – Roses is found on the record “Blouse” released in 2011.

August 4, 2013

"Holding a gun to my head
So send me an angel
Or bury me deeply instead
With demons to lean on."

The first time I heard Wavves I honestly thought that someone was pulling a joke on me. The music played to me was in my opinion horrible.

Since then I have not paid a lot of attention to Wavves but some weeks ago a friend encourage me to give the latest Wavves single a spin or two. I followed this advice and to my surprise I must say that it was a positive experience, this is actually pretty good.

I may even have to give their back catalogue another chance.

Wavves – Demon to lean on is found on the record “Afraid of heights” released in 2013.

August 3, 2013

"Will you take this girl as wife
make her happy all your life
share her fun and troubles
always by her side."

The last few years a lot of my friends have tied the knot; I have been invited to at least one wedding every summer for the last eight years or so.

2013 is no exception, today is the day to once again witness one very happy couple.

Hep Stars – Wedding is found on the record “The Hep Stars” released in 1966.

August 2, 2013

"Something passing by our shore
The only one you can tell it to
Is the only one that will know
As one rock was made to go through my window
Here is something so strange and something louder than before
You’re living with no light or direction but damn precise
And now you know
That believing is hard but you go now
And you feel what you drag across the floor."

A few days ago The Tallest Man On Earth was described to me as “one of the best groups you have not heard”.

This may be so I have indeed not listened to The Tallest Man On Earth. Tonight I will get a chance though when heading to TTMOE concert. And I will of course, at a later point in time, let you know my opinions about TTMOE.

The Tallest Man On Earth – 1904 is found on the record “There’s no leaving now” released in 2012.

August 1, 2013

"And it's a shame
That you're so afraid
Just a worker waiting
In the pouring rain
Putting back the pieces
Of a broken dream
Putting back the pieces
Of a broken dream."

Ever so often I take a trip down the music memory lane, last night was such a moment when I spent a few hours refreshing the synth pop years of my life. It was a quite good time actually; I felt good to hear a few songs I have not listened to for a very long time.

One of the songs that were included last night was this wonderful little tune from Erasure which for sure was nice to rediscover.

Erasure – The circus is found on the record “The circus” released in 1987.