November 30, 2013

"I’ll brick up the sun if you want; I’ll chain up the breeze.
I’ll still the tides tugging at your heels."

I am going to tell you a secret now, this is in my opinion the best kept secret in the music world. The band is called Songdog, they are unbelievably good in my opinion.

A few weeks ago they released their sixth album. Check it out. And all the other ones too. It is really, really good.

Songdog – St. Lucy’s Day is found on the record “Last orders at Harry’s bar” released in 2013.

November 29, 2013

"You see me wearin' baggy jeans
And my fat ten stays on my feet
I never smile when someone's around
I'm low key stayin hardcore
I'm never listening to anything else
But the hiphop which y'all can't feel."

It time for some Friday lunacy. It is time to for sure kick off the weekend with help of this one.

Tomas Rusiak – Hiphopper is found on the record “Magic villa” released in 2000.

November 28, 2013

"I need you baby
like cold hands need a glove.
Slice me nice - slice me nice."

 

A colleague reminded me of this one a few days ago, now I cannot get it out of my mind.

I just wish it was a good and not an annoying song…

Fancy – Slice me nice is found on the record “Get your kicks” released in 1985.

November 27, 2013

"It's OK, it's not obvious
Cause what you say will make my day
Rid of consequence
It's so real, but it's so clear."

And the shows go on. Tonight one of my favorite new discoveries of 2013; I cannot resist this wonderful band in any way.

Swim Deep – She changes the weather is found on the record “Where the heaven are we” released in 2013.

November 26, 2013

"I destroy everyone I love
I destroy everything I touch."

I would not have expected that the Primal Scream concert happening tonight would sell out in no time; it is a band that was on top of their career quite some time ago.

So instead a Primal Scream concert I will play my favorite Primal Scream record on repeat tonight. Loud! Very loud!

Primal Scream – Detroit is found on the record “Evil heat” released in 2002.

November 25, 2013

"There are so many tools that are made from my hands
But the tide smashes all my best-laid plans to sand
And there's always someone to say it's easy for me
But I revenge myself all over myself
There's nothing you can say to me."

I guess I should head to the Neko Case concert happening tonight; I do like her latest record a lot. But I am not. As a number of times before lately I am forced to make a decision between two shows and tonight the winner is Blouse.

But I will at least listen to Neko Case a few times today.

Neko Case – Night still comes is found on the record “The worse things get, the harder I fight, the harder I fight, the more I love you” released in 2013.

November 24, 2013

"I can only disappoint you cause I always let you down
I can only disappoint you, always."

Without being able to say why; I feel an urgent need to listen to this song today.

Maybe it is as simple as I have not heard this one in quite a while.

Mansun - I can only disappoint U is found on the record "Little kix" released in 2000. 

November 23, 2013

"This is the worst part, hailing what we fear
Is this is the last of, gun walk with a peal
This is the worst part, hailing what we fear
Is this is the last breath, that we’re waiting for."

The Mary Onettes. What can I say about The Mary Onettes. I do find a lot of their material as something that I have a hard time to relate to. But then again, there are grains of gold in their portfolio as well.

Somehow I feel that this is a band that will be so much better live so maybe I should give them a chance to convince me tonight. Or…?

The Mary Onettes – Evil coast is found on the record “Hit the waves” released in 2013.

November 22, 2013

"Come along baby
We better make a start
You better make it soon
Before you break my heart."

I really do not know how many years I have been enjoying this song without knowing it was Fleetwood Mac that was behind it.

I have learned something today...

Fleetwood Mac – Everywhere is found on the record “Tango in the night” released in 1987.

November 21, 2013

"Hate
Is a parasite
Yes hate,
Will eat us alive,
If we let it,
No we won't let it."

Someone described Deap Valley as “rock’n’roll, crochet and blues”, that is certainly enough to catch my attention. The members of Deap Valley apparently met at a handicraft education and soon discovered a common interest in rock’n’roll and blues.

The end result? Well I guess I will find out tonight when they play live…

Deap Vally – End of the world is found on the record “Sistrionix” released in 2013.

November 20, 2013

"Well I thought about the army,
Dad said, son you're fuckin high."

This is a song that in my opinion is complete; there is really nothing in it that is missing. This is an example of a powerful, “driving” song in combination with some wonderful lyrics.

It is only on rare occasions that music gets better than this.

Ben Folds Five – Army is found on the record “The unauthorized biography of Reinhold Messner ” released in 1999.

November 19, 2013

"Sometimes I think of how nice it would be
To pop out the womb again
To be fresh and white again
Sometimes I think of how nice it would be
To take a nap
Without feeling I wasted my day again."

The concerts keep coming one by one, day by day. Tonight live on stage, Braids.

Braids – In kind is found on the record “Flourish//Perish” released in 2013.

November 18, 2013

"When your lost in the deep and darkest place around
May my words walk you home safe and sound."

When it comes to music there are certain things that I never get tired of. Like the opening guitar riff of this one.

I guess I would be able to hear live tonight if I had remembered to buy tickets…

Glasvegas – Geraldine is found on the record “Glasvegas” released in 2008.

November 17, 2013

"After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows--you're wondering
If I'm OK
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time."

I heard this one on the radio the other day and it felt surprisingly good to rediscover this song. Don’t get me wrong it is a song that I like a lot but a song that back in the days were played so many times on the radio that I finally got tired of it.

Hence I am glad to discover that I once again enjoy hearing it.

Cyndi Lauper – Time after time is found on the record “She’s so unusual” released in 1983.

November 16, 2013

"Got me a movie I want you to know
Slicing up eyeballs I want you to know
Girlie so groovy I want you to know
Don't know about you
But I am un chien andalusia
I am un chien andalusia
I am un chien andalusia
I am un chien andalusia
Wanna grow up to be
Be a debaser."

And besides Crystal Stilts another tempting concert though with a band that I probably should have seen live some twenty years ago. Well a small dose of nostalgia every now and then works pretty well after all.

The Pixies – Debaser is found on the record “Doolittle” released in 1989.

November 15, 2013

"You’re settle your arms
Let ‘em stays on that sit
Like a shadow of our love
That was so deep."

From Fuck Buttons yesterday to a band that did one spectacular show at the Brooklyn Sweden festival last year, namely Crystal Stilts.

With a new record in their portfolio I for sure am looking forward to their show tonight.

Crystal Stilts – Star crawl is found on the record “Nature noir” released in 2013.

November 14, 2013

"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."
"And he has Brain."
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything."

November 2012 must have been the best concert month ever in Stockholm; there were so many great bands and great shows happening. More or less every day I did have the option to catch a band that I had listened to or knew about.

November 2013 did have a somewhat slow start but the second half of the month is amazing when it comes to the live scene. It starts tonight with a difficult choice, Yo La Tengo or Fuck Buttons.

And the winner is… Fuck Buttons. The reason why? Well I have had the opportunity to catch Yo La Tengo live before while I have never been to a Fuck Buttons concert.

Fuck Buttons – Brainfreeze is found on the record “Slow focus” released in 2013. The quote above is taken from the British author A.A. Milne.

November 13, 2013

"You say one thing but I just can't see your vision
Not seem right but the impression that you're giving
Sometimes I wish that night could show me what I'm missing
And tell me just not I want."

There is something about Au Revoir Simone making them irresistible in my ears. Maybe it is the fact that I grew up listening almost only to electronic music.

Or… Maybe it is because they keep releasing brilliant little tunes.

Au Revoir Simone – Somebody who is found on the record “Move in spectrums” released in 2013.

November 12, 2013

"It's a long time to be gone
Time just rolls on and on
When you need a shoulder to cry on
When you get so sick of trying
Just hold tight to your dream."

It is really hard for me to explain why I like some of the songs that I like. This is one example that I will not even for a second will try to explain.

E.L.O - Hold on tight is found on the record "Time" released in 1981.

November 11, 2013

"In the park, she's giving out some photographs
on which she's giving out some photos of what she hands around
they videoed a ghost tonite,
she said before i turned it off
it rode an orange paper bike
and left without a sound."

Does anybody remember Alphaville? Once upon a time I was a huge fan of this band, a band that time has been rough on. When listening to them today I see very few charming things about their music.

There are some exceptions though like this beautiful little ballad that I just have to play every now and then.

Alphaville – Lassie come home is found on the record ”Afternoons in Utopia” released in 1986.

November 10, 2013

"Our life is over
It's all been left behind
So many choices
Separate us now."

There are so many great songs that pop up right now. This is yet another of my recent discoveries. This is yet another song that I do happen to like a lot.

Washed Out – Don’t give up is found on the record “Paracosm” released in 2013.

November 9, 2013

"Checkpoint Charlie's social climb
Mind the tripwires, watch the mines
On the Alexanderplatz there's a party goin' on
Harry Palmer glasses are required

We're dancing on the Berlin Wall."

This very day back in 1989 the Berlin Wall opened up for the first time since it was built back in 1961. Something well worth celebrating, at least in my opinion.

Rational Youth – Dancing on the Berlin Wall is found on the record “Cold war night life” released in 1982.

November 8, 2013

"I'm passed out on the floor
I wish you would
Stop the room from spinning round
Your eyes are burning and there's noting I can do about it."

But the good thing about a cancelled Vampire Weekend show is that I got a chance to catch Metz live instead.

Whenever I have had a chance to catch Metz playing live in my neighborhood they have played live when some other really interesting artist or band is playing live the same night.

Yesterday it was about to happen again, but the cancelled Vampire Weekend concert opened up for the Metz alternative. Nice!
Metz – Wet blanket is found on the record “Metz” released in 2012.

November 7, 2013

"No one cares when you are wrong
But I've been at this far too long
To act like that when we should be
In perfect harmony."

About two and a half years ago I made a last minute decision to head to a Vampire Weekend concert. It was one of the warmest days that summer; the concert took place in an arena with hardly any ventilation at all.

I was exhausted and dehydrated even before the concert started; I cannot even describe the state I was in following the end of the concert and the deliverance of an hour and a half of pure musical joy. It was such a good concert.

Hence I did have high hopes about the Vampire Weekend show that was supposed to happen tonight but due to unknown reasons the show has been cancelled. Bummer!

Vampire Weekend – I stand corrected is found on the record “Vampire Weekend” released in 2008.

November 6, 2013

"So much for the street lights
They're never gonna guide you home
No they're never gonna guide you home."

Big Sur is the name of a beautiful small town in California. Big Sur is also the name of this little beautiful tune.

The Thrills – Big Sur is found on the record “So much for the city” released in 2003.

November 5, 2013

"Afterlife, oh my God, what an awful word
After all the breath and the pill and the fires that burn
And after all this time, and after all the ambulances go
And after all the hangers-on are done hanging on to the dead lights
Of the afterglow."

Arcade Fire is back with new material. Enough said.

Arcade Fire – Afterlife is found on record “Reflektor” released in 2013.

November 4, 2013

"What goes on in your mind?
I think that I am falling down.
What goes on in your mind?
I think that I am upside down.
Baby, be good, do what you should, you know it will work alright.
Baby, be good, do what you should, you know it will be alright."

And if I have to choose one Lou Reed song from the era when he was a member of The Velvet Underground I would have to pick (the live version) of this one.

Velvet Underground – What goes on is found on the record “The Velvet Underground” released in 1969.

November 3, 2013

  

"Just a perfect day
You made me forget myself
I thought I was
Someone else, someone good."

Lou Reed passed a few days ago. This is THE Loud Reed song in my opinion.

I have played it oh some many times in my life…

Lou Reed – Perfect day is found on the record “Transformer” released in 1972.

November 2, 2013

"I never knew what it was to be alone, no
'Cause you were always there for me
You were always home waiting
But now I come home
And it's not the same, no
It feels empty and alone
I can't believe you're gone."

Today is All Saints’ Day, a day that I will spend together with my family. Our tradition is to move ourselves to a churchyard and find a place where we lit candles in memory of our lost loved ones. A day of remembrance…

If I listen to only one song today it will for sure be this one.

Alter Bridge – In loving memory is found on the record ”One day remains” released in 2004.

November 1, 2013

"As they speed through the finish, the flags go down
The fans get up and they get out of town
The arena is empty except for one man
Still driving and striving as fast as he can
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up
And long ago somebody left with the cup
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns."

For some reason I have always considered this one to be a Friday song. It may be because of a radio show broadcasted on Fridays that I used to listen to each and every Friday.

It may be because this is a song that simply fills me with energy when the weekend is about to kickoff following a long, hard working week.

Cake – The distance is found on the record ”Fashion nugget” released in 1996.