Are you sitting in your bedroom and wondering about whatever happened to bands like The Cranberries or The Cardigans? If so wonder no longer because the Belljars will provide you that jolt of indie pop you've been waiting for. Although this ep's production is a little lofi the band seems talented with a full band sound with drums, bass and guitar, a lovely duet on "You Will Know", violin on both songs, and lead vocals in English and Swedish by a mystery woman. Very few bands nowadays don't have a paper trail. Rarely do [...]
Here's a couple new songs from The Heart Sick Groans. I like the band's slightly retro sound as well as their consistently upbeat demeanor. A Bossanova With This Casanova If The Canary Stops Singing
I haven't heard of this electronic pop band Kids yet. Have you? It's shockingly good. Well produced, hd video, appealing artists etc etc. Sure there a few cheesy moments in the single "My Sincerest Apologies" but it gives the song a bit of fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. My Sincerest Apologies Kids - My Sincerest Apologies from David HJ. Lindberg on Vimeo .
The guys from The Bland Band emailed me their new song/video today. It seems from the band's name and their description of themselves ("A modest little band) that they have a self confidence problem. I hope this post puts that to rest. First off they aren't that little. The band is at least seven members and they are not modest in the assortment of instruments they play - including trumpet, mandolin, guitar, slide trombone, standup bass and drums. The new song (the band's first) is catchy and poppy - in [...]
I got an email from a Swedish artist named Victor Sandström with news of a new song. I wrote about his last project Sandstream about three years ago (here - song called "Teenage Love" is still available). At the time I was impressed with this young (16!) man's take on electronic based pop. While the new song is said to be in more of a pop/rock style I still find the undercurrents of electronic beats and whirls to be mesmerizing. Maybe this type of stuff is easy to do nowadays but if so I think I [...]
Here's an update to a band I wrote about back in 2009. At the time they were a punk three piece called Tyred Eyes but they seem to have grown to a quartet by adding a female presence. Their sound has matured a bit as well. They are currently in the midst of a European tour and are planning to release their debut record this year. Here's the song "Party Like It's 1939!" Party Like It's 1939!
Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a .zip file of the whole 36-track compilation here . ARGENTINA : Zonaindie Nubes En Mi Casa - Aceleremos Nubes En Mi Casa is an indie-pop band led by singer Josefina Mac Loughlin. Aceleremos is a preview from their upcoming second studio album, Me [...]
I like the dudes in Vampyramidan. I don't know what in the hell they are singing about and from the video they seem a little strange but I like `em. Here's their new single "Svek". It's got cheeky guitar solos, handclaps, and a greek chorus so that's something. Svek
Tim Schmidt is a favorite of Swedesplease. In fact he's a bit of an obsession. At the moment he's preparing a new album titled Dog to be released in Februaury on Just Like Records. This is the first single from it. While it has some common elements from past records (that steel string acoustic guitar sound) and Tim's unique voice; the single also has some strange new elements (weird overdubs, clipped vocals and found sounds). <iframe width="400" height="100" style="position: relative; display: block; width: 400px; height: 100px;" src=" http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPl ayer/v=2/album=1690260075/size =venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=42 85BB/" allowtransparency="true" [...]
**12/6/2011 Update** So I wasn't sure if I was going to repost this Swedish Christmas mix this year. I hadn't come across any songs I wanted to add to the list. `Til today. And this gorgeous synthy xmas song from Slottet . Lots more info at the wonderful English label Fika Recordings . I'll update this when something worthwhile comes along. A Cold Christmas P.P.S. If you are really hard up for more Christmas music you can check out the roots leaning [...]
Here's a digital single released by the label The Snake by the band Seabisquit . The song is called "Psychic Secret". They're calling it lofi folk trip hop. It's a little messed up but I like that about the song. Psychic Secret
If your idea of Swedish music is something exotic like Lykki Li, First Aid Kit, and/or Jens Lekman the music of might surprise you. On the whole the new record hews closer to Big Star meets Wilco dad rock than the drum and bass electronica music coming out of Sweden of late. Sebastian Fors is one of the main men behind the band. He has been contributing to the Swedish music scene for a few years now in multiple projects and appearing with many different bands. The new self-titled records though is some [...]
Pal is Albin Johansson from Mälmo. And his new EP Weeks is one of the better things I've heard in a while. On the whole it's a mellow, dreamy lofi electronic pop. The release date is Dec. 7 but you can buy it now on Bandcamp here . Gone
I believe I'm the worldwide expert on Klifton Filente (posts here and here ). With that said I really know very little about him. The band is really just Jonas Lundvall from Gothenburg. In the past I have compared his sound to that of Paul Simon or Nick Drake, this new record is a little more layered so maybe think the English band Felt. You can purchase Breaking the Clouds here via Bandcamp. Foremost Of The Westerners
Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a .zip file of the whole 35-track compilation via MediaFire . ARGENTINA : Zonaindie Fútbol - El Asedio De River El Eternauta is an amazing science fiction comic created by Argentine comic strip writer Héctor Germán Oesterheld with artwork by Francisco Solano [...]
Loving this Vit Päls video for the song "Loving You Was Crazy Shit"
Halina Larsson is an ex-pat from Sweden who has lived in LA and now resides in Brooklyn. She's got a diverse sound and a variety of influences including Janis Joplin, Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Feist and Elliot Smith. Halina a trained jazz vocalist who on this ep falls somewhere between indie folk songstress and new soul chanteuse. It's an odd combination but on certain songs and in certain styles she can pull it off. Here's "Puget Sounds" from the new ep Fire and French Horns . More info or to buy the [...]
A day later and a krona short but here is the October edition of MAP (Music Alliance Pact) Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a .zip file of the whole 34-track compilation via MediaFire . ARGENTINA : Zonaindie Flopa/Minimal - Atolondrón A couple of months ago, [...]
I really loved the songs I heard from John Hillblom a year ago. And I know a lot of you did as well as the post I wrote on his music is one of the most popular on the site. Well Johan is back, sort of. He has changed his name to Johan Hliom . And he has changed his music as well from simple cheery indie pop to challenging, multilayered, and somewhat darker pop. So while there are many changes one thing that hasn't changed is Johan's voice. [...]
SwedesPlease
Today I Feel I’ve Sprung A Leak
Young Jeezy featuring Jay-Z, Andre 3000 & Drake – I Do (Remix)
Bang Gang - Sacred Things (Gus Gus Remix)
The Drums - “Money” Bassment Jaxx (MP3 Stream)
Miike Snow – Paddling Out (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)
