Various...

I’ve probably written this a billion times before (give and take a few), but nonetheless I still feel that it’s relevant to repeat it from time to time. To all you friendly people sending mails suggesting I should check out this, that or something else; I’m truly sorry if you never get any reply or even better see the stuff featured around here. But time is a limited resource and although I do my best actually giving what’s sent my way a listen, it’s still only a minor part of the whole thing. As it should be painfully obvious to anyone, who’s accidentally tried to read one of my posts, English is not my first language. Heck; I was pretty horrible at it in school and to me grammar was always a complete waste of time. So believe it or not; every fucking post I’ve ever written took pretty close to forever to write. It may not look as if they did, but trust me! They did! So every time I start feel like writing a post I immediately start thinking of the grammar and spell checks, googling for phrases, finding synonyms etc. Needless to say quite a few blog posts have ended up never seeing the light of day, because I really didn’t have energy for another English lesson. And though I often post songs or videos accompanied by only a few lines, there also happen to be days, where I think posts like that are too pathetic to post. I’m just rambling here and probably should get to the point...problem is: there is not point really. So I’ll just shut the fuck up for now and post some of the stuff that’s on my to-do-list to hopefully ease my conscience a little...

Extinctions, the new album by Burning Hearts, was released yesterday. It's an absolute beauty so please, please, please give it a listen!
+ Burn Burn Burn

What seems like ages ago, I labeled The Papertiger Sound as "one of the best unsigned bands in the world". As far as I can tell they remain unsigned, but luckily they are still around recording music and continue giving it away for free. New EP Call Home is free to download via bandcamp and older releases can be grabbed from the band's homepage.
+ Safe Inside

Embarassing has to be the word. Three weeks ago I mailed Datawaslost and requested a download copy of the North College Hill album by The Minor Leagues. They gladly (and quickly) mailed it and I showed my gratitude by...doing absolutely nothing! Stupid...for a number of resaons. If I want labels to mail me albums, it's probably a mighty fine idea writing a few words! But more importantly the album contains some pretty damn good pop songs and how will my two readers know that unless I tell them (they probably knew already)?
+ Please Don't Throw My Love Away

Danish band Forgotten Fields On Fire is now called Jetsi Kain. Not really sure why, but as long as they keep writing charming pop songs, I really couldn't care less. New track I'm In Control was produced by the same lads, who produced the track by The Electic Moniker I posted not so long ago and does have a little of the same Caribbean feel to it (more reggae than calypso though)...
+ I'm In Control

Extinctions...

Business as usual, I guess? Everyone’s going on about how the new Burning Hearts’s album is finally here and ignorant me has little clue about what’s happening. So of course my first reaction is: WHAT! Is this something we’ve been waiting for? Then I check the archives, wind back the clock three years and suddenly remember that I actually enjoyed  the debut album Aboa Sleeping immensely. And now that I’ve listened to Extinctions a few times, I fully understand the micro-hype and am cursing myself (just a little bit) for not having giving myself the opportunity to experience the thrill it is to be looking forward to what will hopefully be a brilliant album! And furthermore experience how all my expectations are met, when it turns out that the album is in fact brilliant. So once again Burning Hearts have been importing songs "directly from the indie pop heaven" and trust me; whenever the third album comes out, I'll be ready...

Burn burn burn by Burning Hearts

+ Into The Wilderness
+ Night Animal (from Night Animal 7")
+ I Lost My Colour Vision (from Aboa Sleeping)
+ Sea Birds (from Aboa Sleeping)

Day off mixtape...

Having the day off, so not sure if I'll be anywhere near a computer today. But I did spent some time yesterday plowing through an insane number of emails to dig up some interesting tunes to keep you entertained today. As always it was quite a rollercoaster ride though the number of “ups” was surprisingly high!

+ Burning Hearts - Into The Wilderness
New EP out June 21 on Shelflife Records. The promo track is really catchy, so "must" check out the entire EP.

+ New Pyjamas - Fishing
No clue how to label this, but I do think it's quite interesting. Hiding behind the alias is a 20 new old dude who "gets inspired by the greats who have become before me".

+ Hello Vegas - No One Knows

According the band they make "music you can swim to". Never thought much about what that kind music sounds like, but pretty good apparently?

+ Amanda Mair - House
This 16 year old (and obviously very talented) Kate Bush "clone" has just been signed by Labrador Records.

+ Hey Champ - Anything At All
Catchy electro-pop. No more words needed. Really!

+ Sam Roberts Band - Longitude
Yet another catchy one; this one features Elizabeth Powell (who?) of Land of Talk (who? they are from Canada apparently) on vocal!

Is This The Way The Good World Will End...?

In hindsight that “from the mailbox” mixtape I posted the other day was pretty damn good. Certainly not from a writing point of view, as the words weren’t really there. But most of the songs were of surprisingly high quality and 7 of them have been on repeat this morning, with only the Pet Shop Boys cover being ignored. To be honest, and being that every now and then do make you feel a lot better, I only posted it to attract some visitors, though the number of visits it actually did cause most likely can be counted on one hand. But to cut a long story short (which I’ve been told means that the story is already too long) two of the songs ended up in my current favorite list (in the right column in case you don’t know what I’m talking about) and thus deserves a few words along the way.

At first I ignored the promo mail regarding young UK singer Polly Scattergood, but then I read this excellent write-up at Chromewaves and thought “what the heck”. And I do agree with the take that Nitrogen Pink is an intriguing first single from what one could suspect will be a fine debut album, as the other songs streaming at myspace do sound rather interesting. Though the best moments are the ones where the young lady abandons her quiet and natural (?) singer-songwriter background and instead follow a less obvious electronic pop path, as she seems to be quite a force in this field. Whether or not there’s anything about my fear of an album dominated by this high-pitched voice (as beautiful as it may be), could end up being a little too much, I will put to rest for now and instead wait for the release of the self-titled debut album. And it won’t last long as it will be out March 9 in her native UK and preordering is already possible from the HMV webshop (and several others as well I guess).
+ Nitrogen Pink

Dead Heart Bloom is one of those bands that every music fan should love. If for nothing else then at least for its generosity, as every single song recorded by the band is available for free download. And quite a productive band this is, as 3 5-tracks EP’s were recorded and released last year. Just like the brilliant Flash in a Battle it’s all beautiful folk pop/rock, but suddenly something ignite and on the track Is This The Way The Good World Will End? the band decides to go shoegazing/noise-rocking, which as well as being unsuspected is both fascinating and refreshing.
+ Flash in a Bottle
+ Is This The Way The Good World Will End?

A few bits and bobs since you’re here already!

Calling new Danish band The Olympics a “super-group” might be a little over the top, but lots of skills is gathered, as all 5 band members have experience from other bands (Feet Don’t Fail Me and Surf In Stereo) or have worked as producers/remixers (john the electrician and Zvook Mescalin). Two songs have been published so far and though they don't convince me completely I still suggest that we keep an eye on these lads.
+ Superheroes

The Burning Hearts album Aboa Sleeping is out now on Shelflife Records. A month and a half ago I wrote that the 9 tracks had all been imported from “the indie pop heaven”, and they still sound exactly like that! It costs $10, so don't give me any "financial crisis" bullshit for not buying it!
+ I Lost My Colour Vision
+ Sea Birds

The video for the stunning new Doves single Kingdom of Rust.

Shorties...

Only two days left, but there’s still one Christmas song left in the pipeline. It’s this excellent one by talented Copenhagen indie pop/rock quartet Passtime Poets named A Murder Yuletide.
+ A Murder Yuletide

In A Cyclone of Stones reports that Oliver North Boy Choir has been busy recording their next single (they are always busy recording singles - aren't they?). To ease the wait, the trio is giving away a song for free named Ventil, which was recorded years ago, while they were still known as pierre.
+ Ventil

The debut album Aboa Sleeping by Finnish duo Burning Hearts will be out February 10 next year on Shelflife Records. The album contains 9 wonderful tracks imported directly from the indie pop heaven, thus helping to keep the labels streak of fantastic releases alive. The album in its entirety can be streamed from Last.fm.
+ I Lost My Colour Vision
+ Sea Birds

One Weekly Gun has now officially published his excellent One Xmas Song.
+ One Xmas Song

Now there’s a Christmas present I could easily live without. Indie MP3 has decided to throw in the towel and has ceased to exist. Always sad when one of the best music blogs out there decides to call it quits, and it will be sorely missed.