These are some of my absolute favourite blogs from my blogroll (see the left sidebar). The list is randomized from a larger list of my favourites, and it will change at every visit:
I grew up with Creation, Sarah, C86 and sweet, 60s inspired jangly records, and those sounds still goes goes straight to my heart. Today’s mp3s from Eardrums could well have been on the last EARDRUMS MIXTAPE (“Sweet Harmony”), so if you like these, you should get that one too (some of the mixtape songs will be taken down very soon, and some might be down already). Enjoy!
THE ELECTRIC POP GROUP
The first song comes from a swedish indie band from Gothenburg, called The Electric Pop Group. The trio were started in 2005 by brothers Erik and Martin Aamot, and this song was written before that, as a gift to the girl who now plays electric organ in the band, Linnéa Nilsson. This is the story about how they met her: The Electric pop Group - Pop Girly THE EXPLORERS CLUB
Next up is a band I’ve listened to over and over again during the last weeks. I wonder how many Beach Boys-records these guys have in their collections… The Explorers Club from Charleston, South Carolina, recently released their first EP, a lovable collection of fantastic melodies, harmonic “aaaa”-backing vocals, jangly guitars, castanjets and drums with lots of reverb. And sweetness, of course. They sound a lot like the Beach Boys or other groups like that from the 60s, and call themselves a “sunshine psychedelic pop group”. The EP is available from iTunes, and should be present in every music fans collection. The Explorers Club - I lost my head The Explorers Club - Forever
CELESTIAL This one really reminds me of those ol’ times. Celestial is a band that release their music on the small label Music is my girlfriend. Dreamy feeling, tender vocals and jangly guitar pop. What yer is it? 1986? Celestial - fragile heart
THE POEMS
I don’t know much about The Poems, other than that they’re from Scotland (Glasgow), they’re out on the great Minty Fresh Records, and they sound brilliant. Just listen: The Poems - ballad of the bitter end
…and we’ll round up with a video from The Postmarks:
As a Sunday treat, let me introduce a small Parisian band that records pretty, shiny instrumentals and songs: Bilbao.
Gui and Mo friends, and they just got together (with other friends) to record short airy melodies full of glockenspiels, flutes and precious guitars. It’s all very quiet, and it fits the slow mood of a Sunday morning (or night) well; it sounds like people are quietly jamming in the next room. Tracks like “Brindille” or “Catch Me” are cheap-sounding fluffy treats, and sometimes that’s just what you need; they’re recommended if you like to daydream listening to Lullatone, Yann Tiersen or The Album Leaf.
The guys in this unsigned band may be hiding, but they’re generous, and their mini-album Fancies & Rareties is downloadable in its entirety here. Here’s a couple of tracks from it:
Singer/songwriter Anna Vogelzang reminds me a lot of talented Ani Difranco, which seems to be one of her favourite artists as well… Her music has lots of inputs from both folk and jazz, but also some kind of acoustic punk rock sound, which makes the music edgy and interesting.
Although Anna has made some great versions of songs by both Difranco and The Postal Service, she writes her own music. With poetic and soulful lyrics, a powerful voice, and simple, yet lovely and harmonious melodies, Anna Vogelzang makes you disappear into her music. Gotta love it!
Ready for catchy riffs and three minutes of energy pop/rock songs? The School was formed in Trondheim in the spring of 2004. One can hear references to 80s rock in their music - influenced by early 1980s new wave bands like Talking Heads, XTC and Buzzcocks.
The band signed a record deal with Kong Tiki Records and in January of 2006 they released their self-produced “Madchen EP”. Later last year they released their debut album “Espionage”. The album was produced by John Fryer (Nine Inch Nails etc). These two songs was first released on the “Madchen EP” and are from the bands homepage. Also: The School at myspace.
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