Feel the Pulse of … Swedish Pop Rock
August 6, 2008 by S C
An open invitation to indie rock fans everywhere:
From one music fan to another, it is my duty to share with you a trend that I have noticed slowly building on the indie rock scene over the past 12 months – it is my sinking suspicion that there is something extra-specially wonderful going on in Sweden! Maybe it’s all Mamma Mia’s fault with the resurgence of ABBA in popular culture or perhaps I am having sub-conscious Ace of Base cravings but - for the last year, it seems that our Scandinavian friends have been responsible for some of the hottest burgeoning acts in rock & pop music today!
The CD rotation here at Tower Records has been paralyzed with blue-and-yellow sound and every new group I discover on either Myspace or IMEEM hail from Borlange, Gothenburg or Jönköping. So, being a music fan in today’s blog-logical world, I wanted to share a few of the personal favorites from the Tower Records Indie Music team.
Somewhere between The Beach Boys and Daft Punk exist Gothenburg’s Pacific!, the electronica duo whose debut album hit U.S soil this past July.
The first of several Swedish acts brought to you by Indie wonderkids Mute Records, this garage band sounds like they have taken an overdose of CCR and electric-era Bob Dylan. For those of us who like that sort of thing, this is a fantastic record.
Another gem from Mute, this often-enormous ensemble of musicians deliver what they describe as “happy pop songs” — including a hilarious take on the Britney Spears head-shaving, tattoo parlor trolling incident of last year.
The Radio Dept. - Freddy and the Trojan HorseDreamy and kind of sad, the melodic synth sound of The Radio Dept. may not appeal to the hard rockers in the audience, but for those of us who adore OMD and New Order, I highly recommend giving their discography a spin.
The Sounds - Dying to Say this to YouWhile this album has been out for a little while, this Swedish pop group are just starting to garner major buzz in America - owing success to their track “Tony the Beat” being featuring on the soundtrack for the hit move “Music and Lyrics.” A thoroughly enjoyable retro ride, the vocals will remind you of your favorite Missing Persons track.
Interested enough to listen to a few songs? We have lovingly prepared a new IMEEM playlist, containing the tracks above and many more Swedish pop / rock tracks that we recommend. Enjoy!
- Sabrina, Tower Records Music Team
This Party Is Not Traumatic, Try: Fantastic!
July 29, 2008 by Danny
A few months ago I went to a Cut/Copy show – it was one of the most incredible live concerts I’ve been to in a very long time. You see, I love, love, love Cut/Copy.
I’ve loved them from the beginning with Bright Like Neon Love to this year’s album In Ghost Colours. Anyway, my point is that I was a terribly biased audience member. I had little time for whomever was opening that night. In my mind, living up to the great dance-catchiness of Cut/Copy seemed an insurmountable task. Well, that evening Black Kids opened and I was pleasantly surprised that they were equally as dancibly catchable.
Just who are these Black Kids I pondered. Where did they come from? Where do they go? And you know the rest of the song. But seriously, if you love dance-synthy-retro-euro-disco-80s-catchy tunes, pick up Partie Traumatic their new album. This Jacksonville, Florida Quintet of keyboardists, guitars, drums and vocals are storming onto the Indie music scene. They were named an “ Artist to Watch for in 2008” by Rolling Stone. In fact, last Thursday night Black Kids serenaded David Letterman’s show with “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You” If you didn’t catch them on the Letterman show, just look at your local show listings and you’ll see that they’re probably coming to a town near you – they have a crazy touring schedule.
Let me just say this: if you’re making a summer mix of beach jams and BBQ tunes, DO NOT FORGET TO INCLUDE Black Kids. Seriously. If you put the songs “Look at Me (When I Rock Wichoo)” or “Hit the Heartbreaks” people are gonna line up to talk to you. “Who’s this?” they’ll say. “Oh, I saw them months ago. Well, I didn’t, but someone I know did,” you’ll say. Their response: “Oh really? Why are you so amazing? Marry me?”*
* some results may vary
Stop, Hey, What’s that Sound? …It’s the NEW CSN&Y Album!
July 28, 2008 by S C
I remember when I was in college and listening to Crosby, Stills and Nash (and sometimes Y … as in Neil Young) was a rite of passage. We would listen to their records over and over and over, singing along and basking in our naïve youthfulness. Who could forget those glorious years at the beginning of the new millennium?
What I mean to say is, Crosby, Stills and Nash are timeless. They appeal to every generation, be it baby boomers who were around for the Vietnam protests, or today’s young adults who are discovering the group for the first time.
In this age of one-hit-wonders, CSNY proves their longevity with the latest album Déjà Vu Live – an eclectic musical mix of 16 of their popular tracks played live. While the selection may be eclectic, the anti- war theme that runs through each song is apparent. Déjà Vu is riffing on their song “Déjà Vu” from album 1974’s So Far, but more aptly, it is suggestive of a return to the CSN(Y) catalogue as a means of returning to the politics that surrounded this strongly anti-war group.
In this era of the Iraq War, CSN are back to remind us of the perils and destruction caused by war. Tracks such as “Living With War,” “Military Madness,” “Let’s Impeach the President” and “Find the Cost of Freedom” have blatant messages of learning from our past mistake
This anthemic live album couldn’t come out at a more opportune time, with the US Presidential election just around the corner and the possibility for change on the horizon.
Check out this new album by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and remember just how much you love CSNY!
=Freedom of Speech!
PS – Don’t forget to watch them on the Colbert Report this week on Wednesday July 30th.
Anticipated Album Alert!! Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus
June 17, 2008 by Romy
Finally, after 15 long years, Rhino Records has announced the release of Chicago’s Stone of Sisyphus. Recorded in 1993, the album was originally set for release in March 1994, but was shelved by the group’s former record company, Warner Bros. Records, claiming that it was “unreleasable”. The issue was seeded in the fact that the album contained a variety of unique songs which appeared to be unlike much of their previous work; so much so, that Robert Lamm, one of the founding members of the group, thought that they should stray from their usual album numbering since the sound was so different.
Fast-forward to June 17th, 2008, after more than a decade and a half and several intermittent thematic record releases later, Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus now contains eleven of the original twelve tracks plus four extra demo recordings. The first single, a remixed version of “Let’s Take a Lifetime”, is packed with supplemental saxophones and a newly recorded bridge. The brash horn punches and solos give this track a life of its own and re-invent the group’s sound and style which so many of their fans grew to adore.
Let us not quickly forget that Chicago celebrated its 40th Anniversary last year – an illustration of longevity rarely achieved in most careers, let alone the music business. The Chicago-based band, formed in 1967, began their career as a politically charged, experimental rock ‘n’ roll group which became known for producing a slew of hit ballads in the 70s and 80s. In over four decades, the group sold more than 122 million records and had more than 50 Top-40 singles.
See for yourself if they live up to their reputation as one of the most energized and talented live bands by catching them on their U.S. and European tours promoting the much-delayed release of their new/old album, Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus, this summer.
Clash of the Titans: Madonna and Mariah Fight for #1
April 29, 2008 by Romy
If you’ve heard Madonna’s single “4 Minutes” the song she sings with Justin Timberlake you just know that this album is going to be HUGE! She collaborated with JT, Timbaland and Pharrall Williams, just to name a few.
Order both of the new albums and judge for yourself who is the ULTIMATE Diva!
Madonna - Hard Candy
Mariah Carey - E=MC2
