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Song Reviews

People Eating People: All The Hospitals [Track]

people_eating_people

Here’s a name we (or, at least, I) haven’t heard in a while: Nouela Johnston. The former front-woman of Mon Frere gives us her self-titled solo debut under the moniker People Eating People this week and it includes the joyous pop romp “All The Hospitals”. The track finds People Eating People dishing out precocious percussion, hints of bouncy jazz piano, and vocals slightly reminiscent of something between Regina Spektor, and… err… a better version Regina Spektor. And yeah, there’s probably hints of Annie Clark (St. Vincent) in there as well; after all Clark is known for throwing in elements of jazz, and “All The Hospitals” definitely has that. It’s entirely upbeat, something you wouldn’t expect from a song whose lyrics include All the hospitals are closed tonight, but it works and does so quite well. Read More »People Eating People: All The Hospitals [Track]

Round Mountain: Don’t Lie Down [Song Review]

Round Mountain

At first, Round Mountain displayed what appeared to be a mid-western folk, fit for porches that overlook the flat country with its unbearable heat and plentiful fields of crops. Or maybe the backwoods covering the Appalachians. But as opening track “Don’t Lie Down” continues, something else happens – it begins to stray from the origins of folk to include a barrage of instrumentation quite unique. It maintains much of folk’s sensibilities, that authentic dusty grassroots simplicity, but at the same time it’s complex and genre-defying. Read More »Round Mountain: Don’t Lie Down [Song Review]

The Sweet Serenades: On My Way [Track Review]

The Sweet Serenades

The demeanor of these two Swedish gents is a bit misleading, in their rugged jeans and flannel shirts. The facial hair and lumberjack tools don’t help their case. Contrary to the cover of Balcony Cigarettes, by The Sweet Serenades, the music is a clash of Swedish power pop and new wave indie pop. “On My Way” masterfully features pointed guitar riffs and plenty of cowbell. The quivery vocals have a minute glam vibe to them, which merely heightens the song’s greatness. The Sweet Serenades are definitely among Sweden’s top ten bands to keep an eye on! Read More »The Sweet Serenades: On My Way [Track Review]

Chimes & Bells: Into Pieces Of Wood [Track Review]

Chimes & Bells

If you listen closely, you’ll hear it. You may need to turn up the volume a trite, though. Throughout “Into Pieces Of Wood”, Danish solo project of Caecilie Trier (Choir Of Young Believers), Chimes & Bells is poised to explode. The tension is grating; it pulls at the soul. At the halfway point, the song begins its true build, and that’s where you hear it: a hint of experimental pop. It’s subtle, draped behind the epic powerful notes that are the basis of the song’s emotional anxiety, but it’s there. Read More »Chimes & Bells: Into Pieces Of Wood [Track Review]

Headlights: Get Going [Track Review]

Headlights

While nothing new, it’s still a bit odd to hear a Headlights song without Erin Fein at the vocal helm, as found on the group’s new single “Get Going”. Even as early as The Enemies EP from 2005, the group dabbled in giving Fein’s male counterpart, Tristan Wraight, a vocal lead. But her dominating vocal presence on some of the greatest tunes from their two LPs, Kill Them With Kindness and last year’s Some Racing, Some Stopping all but removed the memory that others occasionally snagged that role. Read More »Headlights: Get Going [Track Review]

El Perro Del Mar: Change Of Heart [Track Review]

El Perro Del Mar

Sarah Assbring’s albums under the guise El Perro Del Mar have always been pretty great, from the repetitive one-word-titled tracks off her self-titled LP to the slightly more orchestrated ones off From The Valley To The Stars. But, they often seemed almost too minimal. Well El Perro Del Mar is back with a new LP, Love Is Not Pop, and the first single off it is “Change Of Heart”, a song that defies Assbring’s minimal days and orchestrated days combined for something a bit more electric. Read More »El Perro Del Mar: Change Of Heart [Track Review]

Tigercity: Fake Gold [Track Review]

Tigercity

Vintage synths conjure thoughts of wild hype bands and pop creativity. Tigercity utilizes such instruments but they defy expectations in songs like “Fake Gold”, which drops in a laid-back tempo despite a sound and lyric that could easily warrant the contrary. But don’t get me wrong, laid back tunes can certainly be worthy; in that, “Fake Gold” is no exception. Seriously, with lyrics like Baby I just want you to know / That I’m wearing fake gold, how can you go wrong? Read More »Tigercity: Fake Gold [Track Review]

Fredrik: Locked In The Basement [Track Review]

fredrik2

When a new track or upcoming release is announced noting the master duo Fredrik and Lindefelt, be it their original project The LK (or known earlier as The Lovekevins) or the full group simply named Fredrik, the question is not whether they will deliver, it’s how much. Na Na Ni, to prove a point, was my #1 album of 2008. They return now with the upcoming sophomore release, Trilogi, once again to be released on The Kora Records. Read More »Fredrik: Locked In The Basement [Track Review]

Jon and Roy: Another Noon [Track Review]

Jon And Roy

Jon and Roy are a couple of charismatic Canadian cats. Anyone can see this. Their less than threatening folk style represents their entire persona as freelance artists quite well. And “Another Noon” sounds like what Eddie Vedder was trying to do a couple years ago. But, Jon and Roy don’t sound like Count Chocula trying to do a lullaby for foster kids. These guys are much sweeter. This is a song that is sure to captivate audiences with their spontaneous picturesque love affair with a picturesque life. Read More »Jon and Roy: Another Noon [Track Review]

Stricken City: Pull The House Down [Track Review]

Stricken City

Stricken City‘s “Pull The House Down”, off their upcoming October 12 release Songs About People I Know, is poised to be one of fall’s hype tracks. With clever guitar riffs, enough cowbell to make Bruce Dickinson proud, and hefty synth lines, this London-based, female-fronted pop group is set to explode into international greatness. Read More »Stricken City: Pull The House Down [Track Review]

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