October's Music Box

October has been a month of many many releases, of which some aren't that good actually. Well at least at the moment those particular tunes haven't grown on me yet or the videos are just bad, but as they're coming from bands that I adore(d), they need to be included here.

Bloc Party - Kettling

Probably the best song of their latest album, though the video doesn't impress that much, but I get why they did it if I understood the lyrics correctly.




Feed Me & Crystal Fighters - Love Is All I Got

Crystal Fighters are a pretty decent British band, a great live band as well. I've also been in one of their music videos, unfortunately though not in this super hero London party clip.



The xx - Chained

Indie wonder kids are back. Some think the song and video are boring, but naah at least it's beautifully shot. Slow motion always does the trick.



Bon Iver - Beth/Rest

This could be probably the awful song and awful video. But the tune is actually quite good when you get into it despite the 80s love movie vibe. The video on the other hand..UGH. Just stick with the music Justin...



Franco and the Dreadnought - Platt Fields

There's nothing wrong with promoting the artist I work with, especially when Platt Fields is my favorite tune from him, and everything for a good cause.



M83 - Steve McQueen

I was surprisedd M83 released a new video from his album released a year ago. But yeah it's only been a year and Rihanna for example released like almost every track from her albums. Steve McQueen is a great great song.



Paul Banks - Young Again

It's always a joy to hear Paul's voice and the video is so sympathetic!



fun. - Carry On

Completely fell in love with the band at their Helsinki gig and this is the song they started the show with. Inspiring lyrics!



Crystal Castles - Affection

I end this month's music list with a last minute addition. I end it with the best of the month. All you CC fans were probably like *?* when you heard this, no doubt it sounds like electro r n b, so not them, but still so amazing, which is them.




Which were your favorite songs and videos of the month?

Friday Feature: And the Giraffe

There are bands, which follow people on Twitter in the hope of getting their music heard and perhaps new fans and a follow-back. This tactic hasn't worked that well on me, due to reasons such as:

1) No one has all the time in the world to listen to everything new, eventhough I wish I had.
2) I don't have time to listen to bands, because they don't allow me to by unfollowing too soon.
3) A lot of music isn't that good.

However, an exception to all of those would be the Gainesville/Nashville- based And the Giraffe. If you're a fan of Iron & Wine and/or Bon Iver, oh boy you're in for a treat. This dreamy folk duo made up of best friends Nick Roberts and Josh Morris craft their songs in a way that it penetrates straight deep into, not your heart or soul, but very existence. Many categorize themselves as folk, but only few are able to transmit atmosphere. The type of atmosphere, which you can literally feel.

The band will be releasing new material in November, but until then you can listen/buy their first album for the price you want below.





ps. the whole twitter intro was to let the band know that the tactic is working, though without the great music...

Top 11 Videos of 2011

Last week I presented you my Top 11 Songs of 2011, here's now my top videos;

11. Tellison - Edith
If you don't pay attention, you'll be surprised of the 'twist' in the end like I was. Somehow I can picture the ending to be my sister's future.



10. Radiohead - Lotus Flower
There's an anti-Radiohead rule at our office, which made me almost forget this mesmerizing video. Anyone who knows our dear Finnish friend Janne, would think that he would dance like that if he was on drugs. Janne's response to that comment was; 'I don't need drugs to do that'.



9. Crystal Fighters - Champion Sound
Of course I have to have the video, in which I am myself! The band just posted today on Facebook and Twitter that it has already over 200 000 views! And I'm the second last person to be seen in it. ;)
(Read here about the video shooting experience, here my feature on the band and here my gig review from last May)



8. Austra - Lose It
My face screams without any motion. Raise your hand if you've ever felt like that before. This is what my friend had to say about the video; 'It's just way too weird for me to watch it now'.
(Read here my gig review from last September)



7. The National - Conversation 16
Seems that I've forgotten the definitions of all sorts of terms. How would you describe this video? Satire? Anyways, great great great acting!
(Read here my gig review from last February)



6. Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Here you have an example of why you should have your top music of a year done after the year has ended. Arcade Fire released this video in mid-December, and they've done it again. With the interactivity in their videos I mean. In 2010 they released a video, which requires Google Chrome to work, click here to see the brilliance of it and dive into your childhood. This time the interactive video requires a web cam and some hand muscles, click here for that.

Those who prefer traditional music videos, see below and be amazed of Régine's and others' dancing.



5. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Stamp
This video is just way too funny and accurate. Don't tell me that you've never had any of those thoughts during a gig. And I love the cheeky marketing.



4. Bon Iver - Holocene
Who doesn't love a video, which wants you to travel to the place in which it was filmed? In this case it's Iceland.
(Read here my video review and here my album review)



3. Summer Camp - Down
Such a loony video. Top points to the girl with the Usher's 'Yeah' move in 1:50!



2. Friends - I'm His Girl
You'd have to be sitting next to me, so I could explain every single amazing detail of this video.
(Read here my feature on the band)



And after so many amazing moving images, ladies and gentlemen I present you my favorite video of 2011 and probably of all time.. Does this actually come as a surprise to anyone anymore?

ANNA CALVI - SUZANNE AND I

Like I described the song, I'm going to describe the video; Bju-ti-ful.
(Read here my review of the video and here my gig review from last April)



What were your favorite videos of 2011?

When I find myself by the sea,

14.1.2012

in another's company, by the sea.

Just seeing the sea yesterday in Brighton I could not help thinking of those lyrics above.


The atmosphere, which the song has is the best way to describe how the atmosphere by the sea in Brighton was. Calm, relaxed..

Play the song again and check out these photos. Then you might know what I mean.

The complete opposite of London, in other words it was nice for once not to be surrounded by stressed, yelling, annoying, miserable people. In Brighton they were actually smiling.

It was a great feeling to just listen to the waves and have the sun shining on your face. The coast reminded me of The Hague in Holland. I guess Brighton is a mix of The Hague, Nice and Verona.

And the shopping street reminded me of Camden. Loads of record stores in a tiny street, from which I got some Bon Iver, Explosions In The Sky and Elliot Smith.

Lovely.

Pics by l.lundberg excl. panorama and pics of her.

Top 11 Songs of 2011

Many music sites and bloggers list their top whatever of the year usually during December. But what if something good shows up during the last days of the year? That's why I'm posting my own lists this month, because in a matter of fact December did hit me up with a special treat, but more of that next week.

Now I present you my top 11 songs of 2011:

11. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Touch The Sky
This is the feel good factor song. Well no wonder, since they keep on singing 'I feel good, You feel good'.
(Read here my gig review from last November)



10. Zola Jesus - In Your Nature
One of my 2011 music crushes. Here's my favorite song of her latest album 'Conatus'.



9. Crystal Fighters - Plage
When I worked at a CD factory this song was on the radio every single day..Just to make my work days merrier.
(Read here my feature on them and here my gig review from last May)



8. Austra - Beat And The Pulse
I just simply love the dark and wonderfully numbing beats of this song.
(Read here my gig review from last September)



7. The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
Isn't it great to have them back after five years? And their comeback song doesn't suck, which is something you're usually afraid of.



6. Wild Beasts - Reach A Bit Further
Their latest album 'Smother' isn't the easiest to listen to, even this song's beauty I've started to understand only after hearing it live. But you can't deny the fact that it has brilliant lyrics and killer vocals from both Hayden and Tom as always. Best duet so far.



5. Explosions In The Sky - Postcard From 1952
2011 was the year when I got to know the band, fall in love with them and have their latest album 'Take Care, Take Care, Take Care' playing many days at the office, many times. Here's my favorite song (or instrumental as we learned at law class) of the album from my 'dose of happy melancholia'.
(Read here my gig review from last May)



4. The Kills - Future Starts Slow
You can blow what's left of my right mind. Just hearing the first seconds of the opening track of their 'Blood Pressures' album did just that and already I was sure that the rest of the album is great.
(Read here my gig review from last March)



3. Bon Iver - Calgary
In my opinion the most anticipated song/album of the year. When hearing that Bon Iver's style would change a bit with the new songs, I was worried. Though in vain.
(Read here my Bon Iver, Bon Iver album review)



2. Friends - I'm His Girl
All I can say that this song gives hope to the music scene (and relationships).
(Read here my feature on the band)



And after listening to many kick ass songs, ladies and gentlemen I present you my number 1 song of 2011:

Anna Calvi - Suzanne And I
I have one word to describe this masterpiece; BJU-TI-FUL.
(Read here my review of the video and here my gig review from last April)



What were your top songs of 2011?

Personal Treatment

It should be kind of obvious to most of you that listening to music and discovering the new and old is something that I can't live without. Friends come and go, family far away, but music it stays.

It's my personal treatment, the non-irritant Dr. Phil. And it's about time to share more audio/visual treats for you all.

Let's start with a few of my favorite artists, who have released something new in August.

I've mentioned already many times how I adore Anna Calvi and the way she plays the guitar. Well in 'Baby It's You', B-side single to 'Suzanne and I' (my favorite song of her debut album), her talented playing just pierces straight to my brain.

Baby It's You by Anna Calvi

Florence + The Machine. pff. I can *pff* either in good or bad. And pff my oh my. I've been waiting for a long time now for her to release new music, and what happens is that I don't even listen to the song 'What The Water Gave Me', because I concentrate too much on the video. The video isn't that special, just footage in the studio and some bits of her outside. But the way it was filmed, showing all the emotions Florence is able to transmit from the song in front of the camera. The song has a dark start, but after halfway through the song starts to build up into something I would listen to preparing for a sports match or whatever challenge.

And yes now I have the song often on repeat, it grew on me, or actually it still grows. I also really hope to see her before I leave London.



Of course I'm going to leave the most melancholic song for the end. But this time it's the video, which I ask you to pay close attention too. It bursts of 'happy melancholia'. It screams 'freedom'.

I give you the second single 'Holocene' from Bon Iver's second album.



Now who wants to go to Iceland with me?