Shorties...

I’ve decided to abandon the Christmas post. The post itself is rather lame I know and if nothing else it definitely proved that I’m one lazy bastard. This doesn’t mean however that there will be no more Christmas tunes, and here are a couple of nice ones for you.

+ Sherwood – Snowing In Seattle
Despite the chiming bells, this pumping and catchy track by Sherwood is probably not your typical Christmas tune. Instead its driving pace should be the perfect companion during the next few days of furious shopping.

+ Balthrop, Alabama – Christmas in Jail
Balthrop, Alabama consists of siblings Pascal and Lauren Balthrop (and several others I've been corrected) and with help from Dawn Landes the duo has recorded a seasonal album named A Very Balthrop Christmas. It’s out on End Up Records and with 12 charming folk-rock tunes (not every one is as bittersweet as this promo track) it is well worth a try. And two weeks from now, it sure is too late!

Charlie, Don’t Surf drummer Mikkel has released (published is probably a more accurate term) a few tracks under the alias ME ME ME. These infectious synths/electronic dominated tunes are worlds away from the indie pop universe of the surfer lads (not that I mind at all). Learn more about the project and download two more tracks from Mikkel’s website.
+ Shed Some Light

Remember my comment last week on the Plushgun promo mail? Afterwards I actually received an apology, which was quite a surprise. Learned in the same apology mail that I haven’t posted the new video for Just Impolite, so here it is. And if you missed the track the previous billion times I posted it, it’s here as well.
+ Just Impolite

Off to London...

Thanks to those of you who left a comment on yesterday's post. As always it's great to learn that someone is actually reading the words!

I'll jump the bandwagon and add to the hype, so here's the new track Is There A Ghost by Band of Horses. The band's second album Cease To Begin will be out on October 9 on the amazing Sub Pop Records, which is (another) one of those visionary labels knowing and understanding the importance of giving away a track or two from future releases as "teasers". Judging by the first track one could guess that the new album will be a bit more "rocky", but soon we'll be much wiser. However Is There A Ghost certainly doesn't disappoint (after a few listens), so expectations remain pretty damn high.
+ Is There A Ghost

Want to win the debut album by The Floor Is Made Of Lava? Visit the band's blog and guess who utters "WHO THE FUCK ARE ARCTIC MONKEYS?"! Nice!

Chris explains why we all should donate blood. In a comment I explain why I'll never be a blood donor (it has something to do with needles).

1 2 3 4 is sharing one more track from the band's forthcoming debut album In Your Faith.
+ Coltrane

Charlie Don't Surf gives away the remaining three of four newly recorded tracks over at Myspace. Wonderful stuff!
+ I'm Surprised By Your Eyes

Best news of the day: Northern Portrait joins Matinee Recordings.

Yep - tomorrow I'll be heading to London with 7 of my very thirsty friends, and during our 4 day stay I expect to gather enough information to be able to write a small booklet about beers and pubs in greater London!
+ Null Device - Walk In London (Null Device Brick Lane Mix)

One of the new tracks by Danish indie rock band I Am Bones is called The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing. I think I'll use the title as a quick test the next few days. As long as anyone can say it without stumbling over the words, he's simply not drunk enough! On a complete sidenote - the song (from the band's forthcoming album The Greater Good) is actually pretty good!
+ The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

Those were the days...

A few years back I used to read these comments every week. Unfortunately I don't bother checking them out anymore, which actually is quite a shame as James Masterson is a pretty knowledgeable and entertaining writer. And it certainly isn't his fault that most of the music entering the UK Top 75 Singles Chart is pure garbage. But reading through his column these days is pretty darn close to being torture, as it becomes more and more rare that one band/artist I even remotely care about is being mentioned. I guess it's just another example of the injustice of the music world, when a good writer is being forced to write about bad music?

In the mailbox this morning I found the album Different Places by electro pop duo Plastic Operator. The album was released on Fine Day Records 3 months ago and has received some great reviews. And upon first listen it does actually sound pretty good.
+ Another Sound

Danish surf pop band Charlie, Don't Surf has just finished recording 4 new tracks - all of them produced by Ebbe Frej of EPO-555. The first result of this interesting collaboration; Starting Low, Aiming High, is now available to download, and from the first listen it's very clear that this is a quite fruitful combination. We already knew that the boys could write charming pop songs, but with the assistance of a more experienced producer, the sound has been taken to the next level. This is instantly loveable and I'm impatiently looking forward to hearing the remaining four tracks!
+ Starting Low, Aiming High

German indie rock trio Tornister has recorded a new track called A Point Of View that they are giving away for free over at Myspace. The track is a nice follow-up to the previous two tracks published by the band (download).
+ A Point Of View

This and that (International edition)...

In my search last week for OMD covers, I stumbled upon US duo Vitesse. The duo definitely has found some inspiration in the music of OMD (and many other as well), so recording a cover of 2nd Thought (from the OMD album Organisation) probably was a quite logic thing to do. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a version of this track, though I'd obviously love to hear it. In general this seems to be a band thriving in anonymity, as information is very sparse. So all I really know is that this was a duo that recorded 4 albums in the years 1999-2002, and that I've liked everything that I've heard by the band so far.
+ Small Gift
+ A Statue on Easter Island

Some time ago I wanted to post the new track Still No Signs by Charlie Don't Surf, but no matter what I did, I just couldn't make the file work/play. Yesterday I tried again and this time I experienced no problems at all. So here it is the (not so) new track by the Danish pop surfers and once again the boys have recorded a wonderfully charming pop tune.
+ Still No Signs

At first I only listened to UK duo/trio (?) The Painted Word, because one of their songs was named after band itself. But (to my great delight) that one turned out to be a great indie pop track (with some psychedelic influences), and the rest of their stuff isn't bad either. And the band seems to be really outgoing and friendly as well, which doesn't hurt either!
+ The Painted Word
+ Green Sea Blue

Taken directly from the Speaker Bite Me webpage:
"From today, May 23rd, and a week ahead, we will upload a remix every day for your listening pleasure. We start out with two tracks..."
+ Teach Me Tiger (SuperTroels remix)
+ Bongo Bizarre (Junior Senior remix)

Another busy day!!

I have another hectic one ahead of me, so I won't have much time for posting anything. But I thought I'd share these with you.

Celestial's debut album Dream On will be released on Skipping Stones Records this spring and the title track has been made available as a free download by the label as a (let's call it) "appetizer". Highly anticipated.
+ Dream On

The great Danish indie poppers Charlie Don't Surf has a new song available for download over at Myspace.
+ Still no Signs

SuperTroels has posted a remix of Green Concorde's 2:26.

Mew surfing in Canada????

Today is your last chance to enter the Charlie Don't Surf contest. I've only received a few entries so far, so the chances of winning should be pretty decent.

Someone left a comment asking if I know where A Triumph For Man by Mew can be purchased online. If you live in Scandinavia or EU you can buy it here. Cannot find it on Amazon, so I don't know if it's possible to buy it if you live in the States?
+ Saliva (From Half The World Is Watching Me)

In the mailbox this morning, I found a mail recommending US indie pop band Canada (!). Canada is/are a 7 piece from Michigan, who released their full length debut album This Cursed House in June this year. The band sure deserves to be recommended to as many people as possible. Not just because the music is very good (should appeal to anyone who enjoy the music of Sufjan, The Arcade Fire, My Latest Novel etc.), but also because the band has made 3 songs from the album available as free downloads. I still think that every band should do this, because it definitely is the very best way for any band/artist to promote their music!
+ Record Function
+ Beige Stationwagon
+ Hexenhaus

Not sure what to think of this cover version of Cemetery Gates by The Very Most. Nice acoustic feel, but I guess it's difficult to cover any song by The Smiths?
+ Cemetery Gates

Monday, Monday, Monday...

Remember to enter the Charlie Don't Surf contest and you might win "the best cd you’ll ever get!" (quote)
+ Right/Wrong

Kind Of Girl is announcing a few concert dates in October/November. Don't miss the opportunity to see them live!!
+ Watch In Wonder

Torr is surprised to learn that Kent released The Hjärta & Smärta EP in October last year. Since it won't be released in the US, he offers all 5 tracks of the EP as free downloads.

Peter is back from his trip to Denmark. Read his report right here, if you understand German.

In the mailbox this morning I found these two nice ones from NY powerpop band Bridges and Powerlines. Seems like every second new band these days are listing Interpol among their influences. Nothing wrong with that though!
+ Carmen
+ Mumbles

Mew's debut album A Triumph For Man is re-released today. To "celebrate" that I've re-posted two tracks from Half The World Is Watching Me, which hopefully will be re-released soon?
+ King Christian
+ Mica

Charlie, Don't Surf - Contest

The 5-track debut EP How Turkey Turned Into Being A Monster by Danish indie pop band Charlie, Don't Surf has been released and can be ordered at the band's (new and great looking) wepage for the bargain price of €8 or DKK50. If you for some reason believe that paying €8 for 5 bloody fantastic pop songs is more than your economy can handle, I instead suggest that you try to win it, as I have two extra copies to give away.

If you like to enter this small contest, all you have to do is sending me an e-mail, in which you write the name of the drummer in Charlie Don't Surf.

I'll (randomly; of course) pick the winners next Friday; September 22.

Below you can download one of the tracks of the EP, if you still need to be reminded, why you simply must buy (or win) that EP!
+ Breakthrough

A little of this and a little bit of that!

I plan to write my thoughts on Vesterbro Festival tonight.

I mentioned Danish "Happy-Lo-Fi-Party-Indierockers" Charlie, Don't Surf a few months ago. Back then the songs weren't available as free downloads for very long, but when I checked their profile a couple of days ago, 3 songs were back up. This is great summer music, so grab the songs while they are there!
+ Bury Your Sadness (Always)
+ Friends of French Art
+ Breakthrough

One band that played Saturday evening was The Ondt and The Gracehopper, but we only arrived in time to hear the band perform one song. However that one sounded absolutely fabulous, so right now I'm very much questioning our decision to see The Alpine instead. I find it very difficult to describe the music, so these are the words of the band; "The music has settled in the area between the organic sound of acoustic instruments and the noise of electronic malfunction. Good when you're alone hugging your blanket, not that great for the dance floors..."
+ When We Dead Awaken
+ Year Of The Dog

Peter recommends Under Electric Light. Check them out!!!!

Blast - Peter beat me to it ;-) Listen to the new song by Du Pacque! First impression is very good!
+ Five Storey Houses