The Long Blondes - Once and Never Again

A really good unknown song which is played at the right time can blow away an entire dance floor. I will be the DJ at Blekingska on Monday and then expect something similar from singer Kate Jackson and her band The Long Blondes. Sheffield's latest pride is admittedly not very unknown, but the concentration of initiated indie kids may not be as high as usual on the last night of April.

The Long Blondes released their debut album Someone to Drive You Home on Rough Trade in the end of last year. The Long Blondes are great for real unlike their outrageously overrated label band mates Arcade Fire and The Strokes. Listen loud and long on Once and Never Again and decide yourself. Once and Never Again brainwashes us with the feminist message 19, you're only 19 for God's sake - Oooh, you don't need a boyfriend and the song Heaven Help the New Girl later repeats The Long Blondes' almost unhealthy obsession with the age 19. Kate is almost 30 and wishes she were young again

You know I'm not so young
I spent an hour getting ready every day
And still I end up looking more or less the same

but she has some tips and knows the deal I could show you, a thing or two - Oh, I could show you the ropes, and although some people should listen to

Come back with me, and find out what you really want
Come home with me you'll only have to do it once
'cause I know what it feels like to be your age
You only have to do it once, and never again

the kids do not care. It does not seem to matter that Kate is both handsome and the coolest in the world, the world will not listen.

The Long Blondes played at Debaser Slussen in Stockholm last month. The age limit? It was 18 of course, so that the 19-year-old kids could listen to the message.

http://www.thelongblondes.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/thelongblondes

Review: Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted

Lucky Soul's debut album The Great Unwanted is released tomorrow and the British pop landscape will change forever. Lucky Soul shake shimmy shimmy shake shimmy shaked their way into our brittle pop hearts with an overheated stroboscope. Last year's summer hit Lips Are Unhappy glittered with the sea. It was only the beginning of a long friendship. Lucky Soul were with me wherever I thrived. Lucky Soul on youtube, at after parties, and played by the DJ at Blekingska before Au Revoir Simone's concert. Lucky Soul were my obvious first choice in the category "best new band" when I summed up last year. Both Lips Are Unhappy and The Great Unwanted deservedly made it into top10 on my list of last year's best songs.

The Great Unwanted is a long parade filled with great melodies and beautiful vocals. The singer Ali Howard is comfortable with both sunshine pop and sweet ballads. I am even more impressed by the sum of the parts. Listen to the changing pace in Ain't Never Been Cool and listen to the end of One Kiss Don't Make a Summer. I get to hear all my favourite Lucky Soul songs, except for Give Me Love, from the second the introducing track Add Your Light to Mine, Baby starts.

Add your light to mine x3
Together we could shine

Lucky Soul's strength is also their only weakness. Sometimes I feel that The Great Unwanted sounds more like a collection than an album. There is not enough depth in the music. That is the most negative thing I have to say about the record. Lucky Soul's pop perfection leaves very little to be desired, and it is hard to blame a band for being specialists at writing hits. Lucky Soul have never pretended to be a band to cry with, and everyone can not be all things at once.

Forget the image-aware The Pipettes, and forget the sixties. Lucky Soul feel more at home in the contemporary pop scene where they have placed a never-ending candy vending machine. The Great Unwanted is one of the ten best records of the 2000s. But it is not a ten. Not when Last Song ends the record instead of the wonderful It's Yours. As if that would make any difference. Song by song, The Great Unwanted will be capable of matching everything that is released this year. Everything.


Nine Out of Ten

The San Marino - Super Sexy TV Girl

Our language is constantly changing and so is the terminology. Today, even bands on major labels are described as indie pop. Twee is another term which often is used incorrectly nowadays. As a listener you just need to listen to soft music to be categorized as twee. Ironically, I really like the broader (and incorrect) definition of twee as it simplifies my search for new favourite music.

I easily admit that I do not understand the narrow, more orthodox form of twee. I can certainly understand that people do not appreciate Jari Haapalainen-like sterile sound landscapes, but real twee is probably the world's worst-produced music. Far too often I hear great melodies getting destroyed by the tinny sound which make it impossible to hear a single word of the song. Apparently it is supposed to be that way. The Haircuts is one of many band that could had sounded so much better if they were less twee. The San Marinos in contrast make twee which sounds really good, despite the tinny sound.

Then of course there are twee bands that are just wimpy or very pointless too, but they deserve their own posts and I will write about that another time.

Celestial - Dream On

Celestial is actually Andeas Hagman's one man project, but guest singer Malin Dahlberg steals both the show and my heart. Malin sings on the upcoming album Dream On and her voice follows me wherever I go.

I listen to all of Celestial's songs and hear that the other musicians are gifted as well. It is thus no coincidence that Dream On is released by the sympathetic label Skipping Stones Records. It had gotten into me that the record was delayed so I am very happy to see that Dream On is released on April 24. The single Fragile Heart can be ordered already today from the mailorder Delicious Goldfish Records.

The music spring of 2007 belongs to Celestial and a certain British band which also release their debut album now in April. Take a trip to Celestial's myspace and website. I tell you more about the British band another day.

I still miss Blekingska

I will write an exam on April 19. If I pass the exam, I will most likely candidate for the position as promoter at Blekingska nationen for the fall of 2007.

The elections at the student nation are held already on May 9, and that really complicates things. I must be certain that I pass the exam before I candidate or otherwise I put both myself and the student nation in an unneccessarily uncomfortable situation. This is, however, a perfect opportunity to become the promoter at an indie pop club. I will not get this chance again, and my options look very well as long as no else shows interest for the position.

Either way, I will DJ at Blekingska on Walpurgis Night and that will be fun. I am happy to see Lund and Blekingska again.

Let's Go Sailing - Sideways

A record came with the mail.

My friend Psymon wanted me to listen to Let's Go Sailing. I have listened to their debut album The Chaos in Order many times now. It is sooo beuatiful. You can download three songs at Let's Go Sailing's website. My favourite song Sideways is found on myspace.