French Films @Lutakko, Jyväskylä

I've said it many times that French Films are for me the best Finnish band. They're also great live. I was stoked to go see them play at the legendary Lutakko venue, but... I think it was the most disappointing show I've ever been to. Hate to say it, but it's only my opinion. Well, not really. My friend who saw them for the first time, thought so too. "It can't get lamer than this", he said.

The last time the guys performed here was at a packed indie club. I remember them apologizing for the short set, since they only had their debut out. Completely understandable.

Their recent gig felt shorter, which is weird because they had just released their sophomore a day earlier. Also, there was no one selling the freshly out of the oven album at the place itself. Maybe it's because they were in such a hurry to hit the bars. Dunno.

Simply, I was missing some of their songs, the sound was a bit off and the atmosphere would have been better at a smaller venue (can't blame them for that though).

Anyways, still love you guys, hope it was a one night thing, if not then you should get your act together.

*oh dear*

March´13 Video Box

I prefer audio over video, but the video box is now here for those addicted to visuals. Hope you find some inspiration for your own projects!

1. Holm. - Day 174 Could You Hear Me?



2. Lloyd Yates - Runs Like Fire



3. Buke and Gase - General Dome



4. The Computers - Love Triangles, Hate Squares



5. Frank Turner - Recovery



6. Mumford and Sons - Whispers In The Dark



7. The Strokes - All The Time



8. French Films - Latter Days



9. Maven Fiction - We´ll Get Clean Together



10. Rilo Kiley - Let Me Back In



11. Azealia Banks - No Problems



AZEALIA BANKS - NO PROBLEMS from Rony Alwin on Vimeo.


12. The Knife - A Tooth For An Eye



PICK OF THE MONTH:
Athletes In Paris - Borrowed Time
(Just noticed this was published in February, but never mind.)

January ´13 Music Box

As I was scrolling through songs that I liked, all I can say is that January was busy! I noticed that there were many songs that I already had forgotten, not in a bad way though- new ones just kept coming in! Anyways here are the tunes, which deserve attention.

1. Pinback - Proceed To Memory

Make sure to watch the video, it's mint.




2. Santigold - Girls

It's quite funny that Finnish band PMMP has a song called Tytöt (=Girls) and a similar video concept. Click here to see it.




3. Telekinesis - Ghosts And Creatures




4. Widowspeak - Thick As Thieves




5. Widowspeak - Locusts




6. Kali Ma - Great Lake (Demo)




7. Baroness - March To The Sea

Tour footage before the bus accident.




8. Gerry & The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone

Finally a video for this song.




9. French Films - When People Like You Filled The Heavens




10. The Strokes - One Way Trigger




11. fun. - Sight Of The Sun

Probably the band's best song.




12. Crystal Castles - Sad Eyes




13. Shelf Nunny Ft. Briana Kranich - Cause I Had The Time

My favorite of the month, featuring his fiancé. Check out the cool video too.






What were your favorite songs of January? Leave a comment below or on Facebook or tweet to me @InJallusWords

French Films @Freetime, Jyväskylä

By far one of the best Finnish bands French Films hit my hometown Jyväskylä, when they performed in indie bar Freetime last Friday. Many have said they are great live and it's hard to disagree. Providing raw energy and tunes for the audience to easily jump and dance to, there's no doubt old fans got what they came for and that new ones were born. Someone even did a roll and split jumps on the stage after the gig and got carried away by the bouncer.

The only thing that made me feel really uncomfortable was seeing the guys wear their leather jackets, while sweating worse than in a sauna. Talk about an efficient work out.

Hearing French Films

What is the first thing you think of when talking about French films? For me, it is the eternal question of why the French have to include so many erotic scenes in their movies, that it could be classified as soft porn. While I’m figuring out an answer to that, I could also think about ‘French Films’, as in the indie band from Finland.

Formed in 2010, French Films consist of five members coming from cities called Järvenpää and Espoo aka The Ass of Helsinki. When I listen to their music, for sure they’ve been influenced by post-punk acts such as Joy Division and The Cure. However, it is officially stated that dreaming, cold and dark winter and being alive are what is driving them musically forward. 

It doesn’t come as a surprise that the climate is one reason for the depressing and melancholic music the Finns/Nordic people are known for. This comes clear in the song ‘Living Fortress’ with lyrics;

Oh winter. You're looking kind of mean now. You take away a lifetime. 
And never pay it back.

Although, the upbeat melodies and photos of the band posing by the water and sun shining on their faces; I can’t help dreaming of a summer spent on the road in a hot car with the cooling wind blowing from the windows, giving me and my friends exactly what we need. So, here’s another thought when discussing about French Films; SHOT GUN!

When the band’s first single ‘Golden Sea’ was released in 2010, it was well-received on blogs, which made singer-guitarist Johannes go ‘shit, we gotta top that…’. I guess great makes fantastic, as French Films’ debut album ‘Imaginary Future’, released the following year, is full of gems. My personal favorite is ‘The Great Wave Of Light’, which I could say to be the ‘happiest’ track of the album. I play the air guitar to it, and the lyrics are simply brilliant; 

So I wanted to live in the clouds or the cartoons or the clouds in the cartoons.  

But it goes like this every time we wake up in the afternoon.

 

It just puts a smile on my face, as does the whole album.

© Tuomas Välinen