2006-11-27 00:51:00
Video Premiere: Alphabeat - Fascination
The second video version of this song (one of my favorite debut songs from a band all year) trumps the earlier, extremely low-budget one by miles. Although the clip is still obviously low-budget, it shows off this delightful band and the pure pop energy of the song perfectly. I just can't wait for the album! Definitely one to watch in 2007.
2006-11-27 00:16:00
THE ZAX - FOOL US BY CLAPPING
"Pretend again, fool us by clapping"
Well, the snow's barreling down here in the Pacific Northwest (very odd for this early in the year, but festive nonetheless), and I'm about to post a real summery song. The Zax are an odd New York City band whose sound combines elements of pop, hip hop, electro and pretty much everything else. To sum it up, their genre is clearly "other." They have created some extremely catchy, under-three-minute pop songs, though. Fool Us By Clapping completely lives up to its clever title, with a fantastic old-school beat and some stabbing synth work that really makes this track stand out. I had trouble deciding which song by this duo to post, as all of their stuff is equally amazing. Recommended especially to fans of Sweden's Lo-Fi-Fnk.
Listen & Download: The Zax - Fool Us By Clapping
Download: The Zax - Fool Us By Clapping
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the art
2006-11-27 00:02:00
Symphonic Death Metal does Abba
Listen & Download: Therion - Summer Night City
Download: Therion - Summer Night City
To end this bizarre Abba week, I've decided to post a track by a decidedly un-Abba band. That being said, this cover is strangely addictive, not completely unlike Evanescence deciding to try their hand at a disco-pop classic (and going way over the top).
2006-11-26 04:03:00
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix Trailer
Not exactly music related, but how cool does this look? I'm a bit confused about the ocean liners and what appears to be the New York City skyline, but the whole thing seems fittingly epic. I am officially excited.
2006-11-26 00:14:00
BROLLE JR - THE SOUND OF A DRUM"I have to believe when the feeling hits me like the sound of a drum"Today's post is a bit of an older song, but still completely worthy of joining the #1 Hits ranks. When I was in Stockholm this spring, I bought Brolle Jr's album in the clearance area, based pretty much on the strength of this song. Brolle Jr (if somebody could explain the origin of the name, I'd be eternally grateful) has got an amazing voice that can do pop, rock, country, classical... pretty much whatever. It lends all of his songs a sweeping, mature quality that is different from most artists. Above all, though, The Sound Of A Drum is a fantastic pop song. Also check for more of his promo images. His hair is at times absolutely insane!Listen & Download: Brolle Jr - The Sound Of A DrumDownload: Brolle Jr - The Sound Of A Drum(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)
2006-11-26 00:05:00
Synth Pop does Abba
Listen & Download: Erasure - Take A Chance On Me
Download: Erasure - Take A Chance On Me
The most well-known of the tracks that I'll be posting this week, Take A Chance On Me was actually a single from Erasure's Abba-esque e.p. in the early nineties. For good reason, too, as it vamps up the original to tremendous effect.
2006-11-25 01:07:00
THE SUNSHINE - SABOTAGE "You're a toy and we're the battery"Like fellow Swedes The Hives, The Sunshine's sound is primarily garage based, though unlike some bands of this genre, there's a strong pop influence as well. Sabotage is a blistering introduction to the band, all swagger and… well, sunshine. From the very first verse, the song completely infiltrates your brain. Other tracks from The Sunshine are a little more pop and reveal the Beatles as a big influence, as well as new wave groups like Duran Duran (there's even a fantastic song titled Simon le Bon).Listen & Download: The Sunshine - SabotageDownload: The Sunshine - Sabotage(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)
2006-11-25 01:05:00
Euro Dance does Abba
Listen & Download: Sylver - Lay All Your Love On Me
Download: Sylver - Lay All Your Love On Me
Well, I guess one could argue that Abba pretty much is euro-dance, so this cover's more of an update than a brand new spin. Still, it's one of the group's best songs and has been glistened up especially for the clubs.
2006-11-24 01:13:00
THE TENDER BOX - MISTER SISTER "Hey sister, I can see your soul runs free"I am not the first blogger to write about The Tender Box, and I probably won't be the last either. Mister Sister is an utterly sparkling slice of indie pop/rock, with an ebullient chorus that becomes an anthem even though it really doesn't have any words (other than lots of "oohs"). One of the most promising synth-rock bands in the States right now, The Tender Box actually sound very British. This is a good thing, because even though they fit neatly into the Killers/Franz Ferdinand/etc category, they do have their own, recognizable sound. Listen & Download: The Tender Box - Mister SisterDownload: The Tender Box - Mister Sister(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)
2006-11-24 01:03:00
German Cabaret/Polka/? does Abba
Listen & Download: Palast Orchester - Super Trouper
Download: Palast Orchester - Super Trouper
Perhaps the strangest selection this week, I can guarantee that you have never heard Super Trouper like this before. It's also the only cover this week that sounds like it actually predates the original song. I can't imagine anybody listening to this without a smile on their face.
2006-11-23 00:00:00
Track of the WeekIn a close race, Tally Hall's Good Day and Loto's Cuckoo Plan (ft. Peter Hook) tied for last week's honor with four votes each. There was a lot of love for all the artists, though, and more votes were cast last week than ever before. Here's this week's poll. Make sure to support your favorite!Track Of The Week: (Nov. 12th - Nov. 18th)PARKER - WHAM BAM BAMREVL9N - WALKING MACHINEVIOLA - SAD EYED DISCO DANCERSTHE FINE ARTS SHOWCASE - CHEMICAL GIRLNARCOTOURIST - TOUCH METAHITI 80 - CHINATOWNGLOVEBOX - IN THE END Free polls from Pollhost.com
2006-11-22 23:38:00
POMPADIL - YOU NEED A MAN "You need a man who understands"New Swedish duo Pompadil (that would be Jake and Petrus) have created a shimmering house anthem along the lines of fellow swedes The Attic's work. You Need A Man is absolutely irresistable, with some of the most smooth, catchy verses I've heard from this genre in a good long time. It's one of those songs that gets better and better with each listen. The duo are just starting out, which makes the success of their songs even that much more impressive. Best of all, each song that they've made available for preview is just as good as the last. When these guys make it big, remember that you heard it first here!Listen & Download: Pompadil - You Need A ManDownload: Pompadil - You Need A Man(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! No album yet, but hear more here.)
2006-11-22 23:31:00
Goth Metal does Abba
Listen & Download: Beseech - Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)
Download: Beseech - Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)
I absolutely adore the song choice by this dark, silly group. I don't know what possessed the bellowing singer of Beseech to perform Abba's campiest single so earnestly. Whatever it was, I'm glad that this was recorded, if only because it's so incredibly odd.
2006-12-08 04:29:00
Pop Lovers, It's Time To Represent!
The brilliant Adem over at
I'm Always Right
has stumbled upon the equally brilliant idea to compile a list of top 20 pop albums of all time. I'm not going to try to explain it better than him, so here's the information straight from his blog...
"What is YOUR favourite POP album of all time? Do you have 10 of them? If you answered yes to that final question, then you're going to come in very handy for what IAR, and the writers/editors of QUITE A FEW OTHER BRILLIANT/ACE/FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC POP BLOGS have got heating up in the oven in time for the New Year.
What's going to happen is this: I want to know what your top 10 favourite albums are of all time. List your albums from 1 to 10, or, if you cannot decide your order of preference but DO have a list of ten, email them through to
myfavouritepoprecord@gmail.com
... The plan is to have voting close by Friday, January the 26th 2007. Then, within the first two weeks of February, once the t
2006-12-08 04:03:00
Track of the Week (a day late...)With a bit of internet forum help (though they probably didn't even need it), Lucky Soul's Lips Are Unhappy won by a large margin. Hey, I'm just happy that people are voting... doesn't matter where they come from!Track Of The Week: (Nov. 26th - Dec. 2nd)THE ZAX - FOOL US BY CLAPPINGDE NOVO DAHL - SHOUTIRIS - APPETITEPAPERPLANE - GROW YOUNG (VOGEL REMIX)SONIQUE - SLEEZYSMALL FERAL TOKEN - A GIRL'S BEST FRIENDMARVEL - GODDESS ON THE LOOSE Free polls from Pollhost.com
2006-12-08 02:51:00
THE RINSE - NAUGHTY
"Me, messing around with you"
Another great dance-rock group for you today. I'm continually amazed. Just as this genre should be getting old, I find another band that brings something new to the music. Naughty will draw comparisons to Maroon 5 and The Feeling with an added electro edge. In other words, it is unstoppably good. Frontman Will Bates has lived in both the UK and America, and the dual influence is felt in the band's music. If you like this song, which you will, I encourage you to stop by their website and download the rest of them they have up for free. They're all just as good. In fact, if I had known a bit more about this band before I compiled my top ten bands to watch out for in 2007, they'd have easily made the list.
Listen: The Rinse - Naughty
Download: The Rinse - Naughty
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! No album yet, but download more for free here.)
2006-12-08 02:41:00
4. Lamont (Sweden)
Kudos to Lamont for releasing all of their music for free download this year. It's a great way to spread the word, and I think that the gamble could pay off. With heavy influences from fellow Swedes (and my favorite band) The Ark, there's really no way these guys can fail. Their awesome new video for Rather Do It only proves how fantastic they are.
Best Song: Rather Do It
Myspace
3. Lucky Soul (UK)
Upon hearing Lips Are Unhappy for the first time, I knew that this band was one to watch for 2007. It's the kind of song that's impossible to dislike, and with a voice like Ali Howard's, there's no way this band can fail. Their sound is completely different and refreshing and should win them fan after fan next year. I foresee them becoming absolutely massive.
Best Song: Lips Are Unhappy
Myspace
2006-12-09 02:35:00
THE KOO KOOS - BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
"You're not listening to me"
Like fellow Swedes Sahara Hotnights and (to a lesser extent) The Sounds, The Koo Koos make dancefloor oriented punk-pop. They call their sound disco rock, though most of their songs that I've heard highlight the rock end a bit more. Before It Is Too Late is the exception. The synthesizers are kicked up to the front and create the backbone for the entire song. It's not the glossiest, most produced thing you'll ever hear, but it's a catchy track. And, you can't argue with the promo pic (or the band name, for that matter).
Listen: The Koo Koos - Before It Is Too Late
Download: The Koo Koos - Before It Is Too Late
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! No album yet, but hear more here.)
2006-12-09 02:18:00
2. Alphabeat (Denmark)
Alphabeat's debut song, Fascination, may be the most joyful piece of music I've heard all year. From its incredible success so far in Denmark, it's pretty much a given that these guys will be huge when their full-length is released. A second song, 10,000 Nights Of Thunder, proves that they've got ample material to follow up Fascination. If they can keep this going, their success will spread outside Scandinavia with ease. Definitely one of my most anticipated albums of 2007.
Best Track: Fascination
Myspace
1. Mika (UK)
No other artist on this list is quite as exciting as Mika. I seriously believe that he could become the biggest star the world has seen for quite sometime. All seven of the songs I've heard so far are of equal greatness. The guy just oozes with charisma and that impossible-to-describe x-factor. Judging from the Mika hype around the web, he'll have no problem garnering a vast army of fans. Honestly, I'll wish t
2006-12-10 03:32:00
Video Premiere: The Sounds - Painted By Numbers
This video's been out for a short while now, but I just saw it for the first time yesterday. Of all the Sounds' promos so far, this new one is definitely their most glamorous. And, for a band with as much style as these guys have, it's a perfect opportunity to showcase them at their best. Doesn't hurt that the song's amazing, too.
2006-12-10 01:26:00
PLUG-IN CITY - BROKE ON A WHEEL
"It doesn't matter what you want, it matters that you get what you want"
Beginning with a blippy synthetic intro, Broke On A Wheel doesn't initially sound like much. That is, until you get into the gorgeous verses. Plug-In City are a new band from Australia that plays lovely pop/rock with a nice glossy-yet-still-organic sound, where the electronic influences support the music rather than take it over. Kind of like Eskimo Joe with a bit more bite, Plug-In City is yet another promising young band coming out of Australia.
Listen: Plug-In City - Broke On A Wheel
Download: Plug-In City - Broke On A Wheel
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! No album yet, but hear more here.)
2006-12-10 01:23:00
5. Superheroes
This Danish band broke up this year after three new-wave inspired pop releases. They were getting better and better, and were one of the more fashionable bands out there. Sad to see them go.
4. Le Sport
Rather shortly after they released their excellent Pet Shop Boys inspired debut album, this Swedish duo called it quits. I wonder how much my autographed copy of their cd is worth now??
3. Elkland
After releasing one of the finest synth-pop records of the last ten years, America's Elkland disbanded. The blow is somewhat dampened by the fact that lead singer Jon formed a new duo (Goat Explosion) with quite a similar sound. Now if they'd only get an album out...
2. Protocol
What makes this UK band's break-up even more depressing is that we never got an album from them! After teasing the record-buying public with three fantastic rock/pop single releases, the band all but disappeared. And, recently word came out that they've broken up. I for one hope thei
2006-12-11 03:32:00
THE CALLAHAN - BABY I MISS YOU
"I'm gonna miss you too much"
For those readers who haven't been with me since the very beginning, I want to reintroduce a Swedish band that I'm a very big fan of. Crafting one of the best songs of the decade (that would be Melody That Counts, posted waaaaaay back in the first weeks of the blog), the Callahan create a fantastic genre of "hardpop," synth-driven, poppy glam that's really addicting. if you haven't bought the band's debut already, I strongly urge you to do so. There are so many more great tracks like this one!
Listen: The Callahan - Baby I Miss You
Download: The Callahan - Baby I Miss You
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)
2006-12-11 22:30:00
THE KBC - STEVEN GET EVEN"Hey Steven, get even"The KBC are a funky-as-all-get-out three piece from England. They've been sporadically releasing EPs and singles with an album prepped for early next year, and this song is the flipside of their newest release, Test The Water, but I think it's completely deserving of being a single as well. It begins with insanely addictive verses punctuated by a
2006-12-11 22:05:00
B-sides are still an important part of an artists' catalog. Oftentimes a chance to release something more experimental and/or not suited to a proper album, they can turn out to be real undiscovered diamonds. All this week I'll be counting down my favorite ten b-sides from 2006, starting with these fine selections...
10. The Upper Room - Up In Smoke (b-side to All Over This Town)
A classic
2006-12-12 19:09:00
HOLY HAIL - COUNTY FAIR (PART TWO) "I'll still bleed with the fading winds"Sounding a bit like Scissor Sisters' piano-riffed Laura sped-up to a frantic pace, New York's Holy Hail create a kaliedoscopic pop sound mixing elements of rock, dance, country and hip-hop. County Fair (Part Two) is an extremely strange pop song, with boy/girl vocals (barely) fitting together to deliver the hip-pop verses. Best though, is the instrumental break-down that forms a sort of chorus in between the singing. It really all shouldn't work when put together, but it does... and brilliantly so.Listen: Holy Hail - County Fair (Part Two)Download: Holy Hail - County Fair (Part Two)(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the single here.)
2006-12-12 18:56:00
8. Razorlight - Black Jeans (B-side to In The Morning)
A gently lilting ballad, this one took a while to sink in as it's almost so slight that it threatens to fade away as soon as it's over. However, a few listens later and something amazing happens... the song lingers with you like the ghost of some long lost Beatles strum-along.
7. The Feeling - Sun Is Shining (B-side to Sewn)
This was the first song that proved that The Feeling was more than the typical British rock group. A polar opposite of the single it was attached to, Sun Is Shining is a jaunty little number whose bright, bounding melody is offset by some pretty dark lyrics.
2006-12-14 02:27:00
Track of the WeekIn a close race (though voting was down), Iris' Appetite was the eventual winner. Good job, all... it's a great track! Now, on to this week's poll, which should also be a pretty close race.Track of the Week (Dec. 3rd - 9th)VANILLA NINJA - COOL VIBESBC CAMPLIGHT - BLOOD AND PEANUT BUTTERHOT LITTLE HANDS - DYNAMITE IN BLACK & WHITEBLACK BOX RECORDER - THESE ARE THE THINGSTHE RINSE - NAUGHTYTHE KOO KOOS - BEFORE IT IS TOO LATEPLUG-IN CITY - BROKE ON A WHEEL Free polls from Pollhost.com
2006-12-14 02:08:00
PERFORMANCE - IT'S BAD AND IT'S JUST BEGUN
"Have I been sleep talking?"
Performance are a ridiculously fun guy/girl group from England. They're very new, and their influences are evident (think a synthpop Franz Ferdinand with some chirpy female vocals popping up sporadically - or an even better Matinee Club). This is not their single (that'd be the equally excellent Short Sharp Shock), but it's a standout of their work so far. Opening with a sprinkling of synth that's quickly joined by a shimmering dance beat, the song easily retains its momentum through its nearly four minutes, the best part being when the female backing comes in. Remember where you heard it first.... this band could be huge.
Listen: Performance - It's Bad And It's Just Begun
Download: Performance - It's Bad And It's Just Begun
(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the EP here.)
2006-12-14 02:00:00
6. Pet Shop Boys - The Resurrectionist (B-Side to I'm With Stupid)
The rare case of a b-side that's actually better than the single it's attached to, The Resurrectionist is classic PSB, and god only knows why it wasn't on the album. Actually, of all of the artists on this countdown, these guys probably have the most distinguished list of 2006 b-sides.
5. Delays - Broken Pylons (B-Side to Hideaway)
A gorgeous compliment to Delays' second single from You See Colours, this gentle ballad lulls along until it hits an astoundingly beautiful chorus. If a track can sound like a beach at sunset, this'd be it.
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