After the M.I.A. experience it's time to get back on track, so I recommend that you check out Boston based band Aberdeen City. Not the most original band the world has ever seen/heard and their inspirational sources certainly include Interpol and The Killers (and probably a few others I cannot think of now). But the two songs available from debut album The Freezing Atlantic are nice guitar laden and melodic ones, so this band could very well be worth a closer look!

Aberdeen City (Webpage + Myspace)
God Is Going To Get Sick Of Me (MP3)
In Combat (MP3)

Debut album Arular by M.I.A. regularly pops up in the constant flow of "best albums of 2005" lists, so this morning I gave the album a spin in the car (again the library is the resource) to hear for myself what all the fuss is about!!
My hopes weren’t too high, because world music, electronic dancehall, rap etc. really doesn't appeal to me, but I still thought I should give it a try!
Calling this music bad would be highly stupid and ignorant, because I'm more than convinced that in her specific genre/area M.I.A. is a topnotch performer and has plenty of fans. But top performer or not it didn't change much, because this kind of music still doesn’t do anything for me and leaves me quite bewildered, as I honestly fail to hear what is so great about it.
I will give another try later today, but don’t expect that I will change my point of view.

M.I.A. (Webpage)

2 new albums have been added to my CD-Collection:

Colder: Heat
The sticker on the CD cover quotes various reviews. Summed up they describe Heat as an atmospheric album with a cool mix of post-disco and electronic pop inspired by early New Order and sounding like a funkier Joy Division. The album was picked by Kasper Eistrup of Kashmir as the best foreign album of the year, which convinced me that I should try listening to it.
Too early to post my thoughts on the album, because it isn't very immediate, so I need a little more time listening to this stuff.

Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
I mentioned this album a while back when I listened to the copy I had borrowed from the library. I really haven't that much to add, except that it is rapidly turning into one of my favorite albums of the year!

Demo of the month (December) in Danish magazine Gaffa is by duo Ruined By Martin. According to the band itself the music is a hybrid of raw energy, coolness, masculinity and dreamy pop music with heavy beats and worked-through melodies. Pretty accurate description and it probably would take me quite some time to think of a more precise one.
The demo contains 4 songs and each one is fresh, melodic, straight-forward, well-produced and oozes of potential. Listening is a real pleasure and at times it can be rather difficult to understand that this is a demo. I cannot see what should hold the "big" companies back and prevent them from signing these guys to a record contract.

I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more from the band!

Stream the songs at the band's webpage or buy the demo at payload.dk as I did!

This week my 5 votes for Tjeklisten goes to:

1. The Alpine: Mondays Look The Same (Watch the video)
2. Kent: Dom Som Försvann
3. Green Day: Jesus Of Surburbia
4. Mew: The Zookeeper’s Boy
5. Sigur Ros: Hoppipolla

Zzzzzzzzzz – I must have been sleeping! What else can explain why I’ve completely overlooked Alligator by The National.
The album was released nearly 8 months ago and now it starts appearing on various year end lists as one of the best albums of 2005, so I obviously believe that I must have missed something!
So time to wake up now and give that album a listen. As always our local library is a reliable source and I was able to pick up the album there last week. Two listens and so far I'm really impressed.
The band sounds to me like a mix of a few other bands. For example try to combine the melodies of Coldplay with the sound of Wilco and darkness and coolness of Interpol. Probably not quite right, but it should give you some sort of idea of what’s going on here!
Another album added to the shopping list.

The National (myspace)
All The Wine (MP3)
Lit Up (Video)
Secret Meeting (Stream/Mp3) added to my current favorites!
More stuff

Soundvenue Sampler CD...

I received the December edition of Soundvenue yesterday and as usual a Sampler CD was included. Unlike the last time there are no immediate ear catchers on the sampler, but nonetheless the CD still features quite a few songs worth a closer look.


Jenny Wilson - Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward (Listen)
After listening to it a few more times I really like this one. Nice melody, feet tapping rhythms and a great voice.

Grandaddy - Pull The Curtains (MP3)
Downloaded it a while ago, because Stop The Noise mentioned it. I didn't like it at first, but it has something that makes me return to the song.

The Deadly Snakes - Gore Veil (MP3)
I seriously don't know how to define this one. According to their webpage their music is influenced by garage-rock. But where did the trumpets come from? This one grows each time I listen to it!

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood (MP3)
The quality of the song drops significantly when he begins to sing. But the music is pretty good though!

Broken Social Scene - 7/4 Shoreline (MP3)
BSS seems to be everyone's favorite Canadian band. The song is not bad at all, but I'm not sure that it really is that special!

and finally

I Am Bones - Building Hospitals (MP3)
I've mentioned the band before, but this song is very well worth a listen!

Chris (my Swiss connection) recently went on a two day music powershopping excursion to London and Saturday I learned that among his numerous purchases were a couple of CD’s (listed below) for me as well, when I found a nice package in my mailbox.
So thank you Chris for this early Christmas present!

The River Detectives – King Of The Ghost Train Ride
I originally learned about this band in the late 90's through an American friend. Back then I (and probably everyone else) thought the band was long gone, because they hadn't released anything since 1992. But as things turned out we (luckily) were wrong and in September this year a third album was released. 13 years may have gone, but the band still sound as great (if not better) as they did back then.
The album only runs 33 minutes, but the great melodies, the jangling guitars and beautiful harmonies quickly make you reach for the repeat button.

Webpage
Some Kind Of Love (MP3)

Lano Places - Everyone Likes To be Lonely
There are quite a few bands out there (what an understatement) living in complete obscurity, even though they should be heading for fame and fortune. Norwegian band Lano Places is one those bands writing music far too great to be widely ignored. Listen to a couple of their songs and I'm certain that you will agree!



Morning Runner – Be All You Want Me To Be (single)
Great second single from British band Morning Runner. According to this article from Q Magazine the debut album is expected to be released in January next year. Could be a great one, because the band definitely has the potential! You can watch they video there as well!

I just came across this nice sounding indie band called The Consultants. Somehow I always seem to be several months behind, because their debut album Work From Home was released June 21. But since the band is very new to me, I thought they were worth mentioning anyway and if the rest of the album is as good as the two songs I've downloaded from their webpage, it really should be worth checking out!


Snow Fell (It's Night) (MP3)
Hollow-Bodied Evening (MP3)

Fruit Bats

I’ve suggested a few times before that you really don't have to buy any new music these days, because you can always (and without much effort) find something interesting somewhere on the Internet.
In an attempt to test if this theory is correct, I did a search this morning and quickly came across the (to me) unknown Chicago based band Fruit Bats.
They play nice and melodic guitar pop/rock and the following 4 songs are available for free download:

Spelled In Bones (Released 2005)
Silent Life (MP3)
Lives Of Crime (MP3 - click listen and choose download)

Mouthfuls (Released 2003)
A Bit Of Wind (MP3)
Slipping through the Sensors (MP3)