2010

The music year 2010 has been a brilliant time for softpop but otherwise left much to be desired.
I had really big plans for the blog this year, but the lack of posts is obvious now that there are only a few hours left until 2011. It is what it is and my lesson is to not promise more than I can hold. I still have the ideas I mentioned one year ago, but this time the plan is to post when the inspiration comes back.

Records
1. Very Truly Yours –Things You Used to Say
2. Allo Darlin - Allo Darlin
3. Katie Goes to Tokyo - My Naked Heart
4. The Soft City - The Soft City
5. Sambassadeur – European
6. The Jezabels – Dark Storm EP
7. The Secret History –The World That Never Was
8. Stars – The Five Ghosts
9. Will Driving West – The Breakout
10. Standard Fare – The Noyelle Beat

Also good: Minipop - Automatic Love EP, Now Now Every Children – Neighbors EP, The New Pornographers – Together, Säkert! – Facit, Seapony - Seapony EP

Songs
1. Katie Goes to Tokyo - Before You Fell in Love With Her
2. Sambassadeur - Stranded
3. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Say No to Love
4. Standard Fare - Love Doesn't Just Stop
5. Allo Darlin - Dreaming
6. Very Truly Yours - Your Funeral
7. Shrag - Rabbit Kids
8. Allo Darlin - My Heart Is a Drummer
9. Trembling Blue Stars - Cold Colours
10. Katie Goes to Tokyo - The Apartment, The Cat and The Dress
11. Minipop - Into the Night
12. Betty and the Werewolves - Paper Thin
13. The Jezabels - Sahara Mahala
14. Forest City Lovers - Minneapolis
15. Wild Nothing - Summer Holiday

2009

The year list of 2009 is finally complete and it is clear to me that my listening has been concentrated in a few albums. Lacrosse top the album chart, followed by a big gap down to second placed The Jezabels. When I listen to Bandages for the Heart it almost feels like the time before internet.

2010 will probably become a sort of comeback for the blog. I have some ideas I want to carry out, and it will be a very interesting year here on the blog if everything goes well.

Records
1. Lacrosse - Bandages for the Heart
2. The Jezabels - The Man Is Dead EP
3. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (LP)
4. Strawberry Whiplash - Picture Perfect EP
5. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
6. The Afternoon Naps - Parade
7. Joy Formidable - A Balloon Called Moaning
8. Grand Archieves - Keep in Mind Frankenstein
9. The Starlets - I Wake Up Dreaming
10. Burning Hearts - Aboa Sleeping

Also good: The Fauns - The Fauns, Headlights - Wildlife, State Broadcasters - The Ship and the Iceberg, JJ - JJ no 2, Immaculate Machine - High on Jackson Hill, God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl


Songs
1. Lacrosse - Come Back Song #1
2. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction
3. Camera Obscura - French Navy
4. The Jezabels - Disco Biscuit Love
5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Stay Alive
6. Grand Archieves - Oslo Novelist
7. The Starlets - To the Winter Park
8. The Jezabels - Be a Star
9. Burning Hearts - I Lost My Colour Vision
10. Strawberry Whiplash - Celestial
11. Ohbijou - Wildfires
12. Sally Shapiro - Miracle
13. The Besties - Man vs Wild
14. Metric - Sick Muse
15. Anna Järvinen - Äppelöga

2008

Once again, I am waiting for a train that will take me from Lund and today feels like the right day to post the year list of 2008. It has been a weak music year and I do not think any album on this list would break into a revised version of last year's album list.

Records
1. Celestial - Crystal Heights
2. The Rosie Taylor Project - This City Draws Maps
3. Sons and Daughters - This Gift
4. The Narrative - Just Say Yes EP
5. The Indelicates - American Demo
6. Tilly and the Wall - O
7. The Charade - Keeping Up Appearances
8. Stars - Sad Robots EP
9. Monsters Are Waiting - Ones and Zeros EP
10. The School - Let It Slip EP
11. Like Honey - Leaves
12. The Secret History - Desolation Town EP
13. Cloetta Paris - Secret Eyes
14. Mates of State - Re-arrange Us
15. Forest City Lovers - Haunting Moon Sinking

Also good: Sad Day for Puppets - Just Like a Ghost EP, The Boy Bathing - A Fire to Make Preparations, Headlights - Some Racing Some Stopping, The Kid - Transient Blood


Songs
1. Monsters Are Waiting - Ones and Zeros
2. Celestial - Try to Understand
3. Hello Saferide - Anna
4. Celestial - Lonely Boulevard
5. The School - I Want You Back
6. The Indelicates - We Hate the Kids
7. Speedmarket Avenue - Way Better Now
8. The Kid - Mayhem Troopers
9. The Long Blondes - The Couples
10. Secret Shine - Vocie of the Sea

Half year summary 2008

Records

While waiting for the train which will take me north, I take the opportunity to finish my half year summary. Sons and Daughters top my album list. The introductory song Gilt Complex defines the entire record just as Lust in the Movies set the bar for The Long Blondes' debut album Someone to Drive You Home.
Tilly and the Wall's opening six minutes on the new album O sums up the band. It is possible that it will change if I listen more, but I now feel that O quality-wise is more consistent than the band's previous records. And did I say that Pot Kettle Black is wonderful? Speaking of reliability, Mates of State delivers as usual. Their fifth album Re-Arrange Us is not as good as the brilliant Bring It Back, but still a given on this list.

1. Sons and Daughers - This Gift
2. Tilly and the Wall - O
3. The School - Let It Slip EP
4. Mates of State - Re-Arrange Us
5. The Rosie Taylor Project - This City Draws Maps

Also good: Cloetta Paris - Secret Eyes, Sad Day for Puppets - Just Like a Ghost, M83 - Saturdays = Youth, Headlights - Some Racing Some Stopping, Ally Kerr - Off the Radar.


Other
This year's best news is that Kathleen Bracken plays with Those Transatlantics again. Beyond that there are many other music-related things which made me happy. Some old and some new. I come to think about this right now:

Aberdeen (band)
Minipop (band)
El Perro del Mar (concert at Mejeriet)
Bruce Springsteen (concert at Nya Ullevi in Gothenburg on July 5)
Katie Goes to Tokyo - Big City (song)
Sad Day for Puppets - Hush (song)

Setlists and pop dreams

Among all the stressfull Friday nights at Blekingska last fall, I remember one conversation very well. The band Irene were preparing the stage for sound check. In the meantime, I was speaking to Tobias and Malin of Laurel Music about which songs they were going to play. Please don't show me the setlist, I do not want to know anything before the show, I said. Why not, Malin asked. Then and there I found it difficult to give a quick answer and probably said something stupid such as it gets more exciting that way without further explaining myself. It stroke me afterwards that this conversation opened my eyes. At that moment I became aware that there are so many different ways to experience a concert.

A great deal of my experience at pop concerts is the concept of being left unknown about exactly what songs that will be played and how they are arranged, in the same way that you do not know how things are going for your favourite team in the next match. It may seem a bit silly that this could impact the experience so much, but we both forget that when the favourite band plays our song.

As a promoter, I collected setlists from most, but not all, gigs at Blekingska last fall. It may be fun to look at them in the future. For the record, I add the setlists to this post as well. The dotted line separates the ordinary concert set from the encore.


Like Honey, September 21, 2007
New York – Tiles – Old Boy – Telling Lies – Five Minute Dream – Nothing's Right
--------------------
Airport

Language of Flowers, September 21, 2007
Where You Belong - Who You're With - Cat's Miaow - You're The One - Summer's Been and Gone - If It's Not You - Songs About You - Panda Girl - I Don't Care at All - Tara Mascara
--------------------
Botanic Gardens

Secret Shine, September 28, 2007
Oblivion – Lost Memory – Sound of Light – Deep Thinker – Hate You When You Smile – Adored – Stars in the Sky – Hit the Ground – Cafe Crash – Wish Coming True – Loveblind

Friday Bridge, October 5, 2007
Introduction de la Soirée – Le Satin S’empare – The End of the Affair – Literature – The Lady Julie – Armance L’Actrcie – Shanghai Shipping – Edward the Hedgehog – The Story of Agnes – Love and Nostalgia – 24 Hour Party People – It Girl

Strange Idols, October 12, 2007
Say Anything – Old Times – He’s Out Looking for Love – She’s Gonna Let You Down Again – X-ray Vision – New song – Intensions – Blue Espers/Berlin - It’s No Fun
--------------------
Ovanite Sensation

Laurel Music, November 2, 2007
The Way Love Goes – Dreams and Lies – Disappear – Northern Light – No One Wants Forever – Into the Blue – Sirens
(in Copenhagen the following night Laurel Music added Question Mark, Karma 2 AM, and another new song to the concert set)

Irene, November 2, 2007
The Game – Little Things – Looking for Love – Stardust – Seaside – Waterfront – End of the Line – September Skies – Only You – Baby I Love Your Way – June Is Flat – Little Lovin’ – By Your Side

Lucky Soul, November 10, 2007
My Brittle Heart – One Kiss Don’t Make a Summer – Ain’t Never Been Cool – Struck Dumb – Add Your Light to Mine, Baby – The Towering Inferno – Baby, I’m Broke – Gimme Love – The Great Unwanted – Heatwave by Marta Reeves and The Vandelas – Lips Are Unhappy
--------------------
The Killing Moon by Echo and The Bunnymen

The Sunny Street, November 30, 2007
Drawings – Blackberries – Morton and Claude – Kill You – Rainy Hearts – Comedians – Cyclists – All the Way – Greasy Crisps – Pottery and Glass


In some strange way, I managed to also get a setlist from Säkert's gig at Kulturbolaget in Malmö on December 1. I post that one as well, but I will not bring home any more paper pieces from concerts in a while.

Säkert, Kulturbolaget December 1, 2007
Och Jag Grät Mig till Sömns - Rotary - Stetoskop - Någon Gång Måste Du Bli Själv - Ditt Kvarter - Det Här Är Vad Dom Säger - Min Hemstad - Faller Isär - New song - Sanningsdan - Allt Som Är Ditt - Är Du Fortfarande Arg
--------------------
Det Kommer Bara Leda till Något Ont - Vi Kommer Att Dö Samtidigt - 2006

My 2007

Concerts
A really good concert almost always comes down to more things than the music. Sambassadeur have written my soundtrack (the tambourines are shaking but I don't hear the sound, it's my favorite song but I don't like the crowd) of many gigs that were spoiled by people who were talking during the songs. The crowd was horrible when Lucky Soul played at Debaser Medis in Stockholm on Friday, November 9. Lucky Soul played at Blekingska in Lund the following night. The office people who ran the student nation decided to overprice the tickets. I was not happy with that, but the concert was absolutely fantastic because all people who had paid an expensive ticket for the show came for the music rather than the booze. People jumped up and down crazily to the hits Lips Are Unhappy and Ain't Never Been Cool, but they were still completely silent during the quit ballad Baby I'm Broke. Wonderful!
This was very ironic since the crowd at the very same Blekingska talked constantly during Laurel Music's comeback gig only one week earlier. I saw Laurel Music in Copenhagen the following night. It was a very intimate concert with seats around tables for the audience. I had a totally clear view and everyone was quiet the whole time. Laurel Music's concert in Copenhagen will stay in my memory for life. Language of Flowers gave me another unforgettable night when I had the honor to host their last ever show.
The Magic Numbers end the concert year 2007 on Wednesday. I look forward to that gig but I do not think that it will manage to get a place on my list. The concert year has really been that good! I attended 16 concert nights this year, but I have not written any concert texts this fall. You were always on my mind, but I did not have the time to write.

1. Language of Flowers – September 21 at Blekingska, Lund
2. Lucky Soul – November 10 at Blekingska, Lund
3. Laurel Music – November 2 at Huset Magstreade, Copenhagen
4. Irene – November 2 at Blekingska, Lund
5. Au Revoir Simone – November 12 at Vega, Copenhagen
6. Strange Idols – October 12 at Blekingska, Lund

In addition to these concerts, I will particularly rembember the shows with Like Honey (at Blekingska as the support act for Language of Flowers), Air (at Vega the same night as Au Revoir Simone), and Säkert at Kulturbolaget in Mamö.


Albums
Just as I predicted a year ago this year's best album was made by a band whose name begins with "L", but I did not know that (to me) unknown Let's Go Sailing would take me by storm.
Sambassadeur's second album was clearly the disappointment of the year. The single Subtle Changes promised much, but everything I loved with Sambassadeur was lost on the long awaited album Migration. I should really appreciate the record given that Anna sings on all songs except one, but Migration fails to shine despite more than 20 listenings. Sambassadeur have changed their sound and many people will like it, but I will never ever prefer the current pop orchestra sound over the magic of If Rain. I give Migration the rating five out of ten. I have not decided the rating of The Chaos in Order and it will not be needed either. A number one on a year list is greater than a numerical rating.

1. Let's Go Sailing – The Chaos in Order
2. Lucky Soul – The Great Unwanted
3. Immaculate Machine – Fables
4. Celestial – Dream On
5. Tupelo Honeys – Salute You
6. Stars – In Our Bedroom After the War
7. Palomar – All Things, Forest
8. The Afternoon Naps – Sunbeamed
9. Friday Bridge – Intricacy
10. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
11. Säkert! – Säkert!
12. Fireflies – Goodnight Stars Goodnight Moon
13. Irene – Long Gone Since Last Summer
14. Love Dance – Result
15. The National – Boxer

Also good: Au Revoir Simone – The Bird of Music, The Loose Salute – Tuned to Love, Cats on Fire – The Province Complains, Electrelane – No Shouts No Calls, and Blonde Redhead – 23.


Songs
In the end I had to give in and admit that Bobby Wratten wrote two of the best songs this year.

1. Trembling Blue Stars – Idyllwild
2. Lucky Soul – One Kiss Don't Make a Summer
3. Stars – Bitches in Tokyo
4. Celestial – Dream On
5. Stars – Take Me to the Riot
6. Northern Fields – Never Take the Beauty
7. The Strange Idols – It's No Fun
8. Trembling Blue Stars – November Starlings
9. Tupelo Honeys – The Return of the Weeping Man
10. The School – Let It Slip
11. The Garlands – You Never Notice Me
12. Club 8 – The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming
13. Let's Go Sailing – Sideways
14. Sambassadeur – Subtle Changes
15. The Secret History – Mark and John
16. Irene – By Your Side
17. Immaculate Machine – Dear Confessor
18. The Secret History – Our Lady of Pompeii
19. Penny Century – Nothing Burns Like Bridges
20. Jonna Lee – Dried Out Eyes
21. Säkert! – Någon Gång Måste Du Bli Själv
22. Like Honey – Telling Lies
23. Palomar – You're Keeping Us Up
24. Those Dancing Days – Hitten
25. Liechtenstein – Stalking Skills


2008
Laurel Music's new album is called Cycles and will likely top my next year list. In addition, Katie Goes to Tokyo, Like Honey, and The Charade release new album. And The Secret History will hopefully come to Sweden.

The Boy Has Gone Away

A year ago, I complained about the poor concert scence in Lund. In April this year, I nominated myself for the position as promoter at Blekingska nationen. The following lines were included in my presentation: If I am elected, I intend to make Club Indigo a unique, alternative concert scence that will give the audience happiest days of our lives-evenings this fall. I gladly listen to artist recommendations, but I am solely responsible for choosing the bands that will play at the club. It is my true opinion that a concert club will work at its best with a clear, consistent and considered band booking policy instead of eternal compromises.

I was, of course, elected and my work began after midsummer. As I am writing this almost half a year later, it is with tremendous pride that I am looking back on the fall. The mission is completed and the result speaks for itself. We were the club that exclusively set up the first concert in Sweden for Secret Shine and Strange Idols. We were honored a visit by Lucky Soul. On our inquiry, Laurel Music did a comeback gig after a year of silence. Language of Flowers played their last show ever at little Blekingska.

I would be lying if I said that all concert nights were perfect but it was amazing those nights where everything clicked. As promoter with the sole responsibility for band bookings, I was - together with sound engineers, club managers, band hosts, DJs, workers at Indigo and two hard working guys at the nation's office (thanks for this fall everyone!) - one of several people who during the fall of 2007 made Club Indigo the world's best pop club the three nights (September 21, November 2 and November 10) when everything came together perfectly.

September 7: Differnet
September 21: Language of Flowers (UK) + Like Honey
September 28: Secret Shine (UK)
October 5: Friday Bridge
October 12: Strange Idols (UK)
November 2: Irene + Laurel Music
November 10th: Lucky Soul (UK) + Napoleon
November 30: Punky's Dilemma + The Sunny Street (UK)

End of the Line

Last Friday's Club Indigo came to be my last night as DJ at Blekingska nationen. I had decided in advance to not do any more DJ sets. In total I got six nights as DJ at Blekingska from January 2006 to November 2007.

Last Friday, I easily found myself to be my harshest critic. I somehow forgot to play The Field Mice. And I did not play Happiest Days as the closing song! A reason as good as any to step aside and make way for a new generation of kids.


(22.00)
Air - Cherry Blossom Girl
Trembling Blue Stars - November Starlings
Stars - Elevator Love Letter
Cats on Fire - Higher Grounds
Aberdeen - Sink or Float
Irene - End of the Line
The Aislers Set - The Way to the Market Station
Celestial - Nothing Happens Twice
Those Dancing Days - Hitten
Northern Fields - Never Take the Beauty
Red Sleeping Beauty - Make Me Smile
The Strange Idols - She's Gonna Let You Down
The School - Let It Slip
Language of Flowers - Summer's Been and Gone
Tilly and the Wall - Nights of the Living Dead
The Eyeliners - Everything's Alright
The Primitives - Secrets
The Cardigans - Rise and Shine
Ride - Twisterella
(23.00)
Like Honey - Airport
Wilson Hospital - Call Me A.S.A.P.
Sambassadeur - Marie
The Fat Tulips - Confessions of an English Girl
The Popguns - Waiting for the Winter
------------------------------------------------
THE SUNNY STREET LIVE
------------------------------------------------
Comet Gain - You Can Hide Your Love Forever
Belle and Sebastian - Sleep the Clock Around
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
Stone Roses - Mersey Paradise
My Favorite - The Informers
Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted
------------------------------------------------
PUNKY'S DILEMMA LIVE
------------------------------------------------
(00.50)
New Order - True Faith
Human League - Don't You Want Me
Blondie - Maria
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is a Place on Earth
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
The Cure - Friday I'm in Love
Le Sport - Tell No One About Tonight
Caesars Palace - Over for It Started
Pulp - Disco 2000
The Long Blondes - Once and Never Again
The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me
Lucky Soul - Ain't Never Been Cool
The Smiths - This Charming Man
Language of Flowers - If It's Not You
Tralala - All Fired Up
Morrissey - First of the Gang
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
The Essex Green - The Late Great Cassiopia
Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy
The Magic Numbers - Take a Chance
(02.00)
The Arrogants - Lovesick

I dreamt of you last night

It certainly was a bit unreal. Last Friday, Blekingska was full of people who came for shows with my favourite bands. Before, between, and after the gigs, I and Psymon played our favourite pop. A nice little memory from the night was that someone wished for us to play The Knife. I skeptically replied that I would check my cd bag. I had left Deep Cuts at home. It did not fit in. Blekingska was really pop last Friday and I loved it.

(22.00)
Aberdeen - The Boy Has Gone Away
Ride - Twisterella
Another Sunny Day - You Should All Be Murdered
Trembling Blue Stars - Idyllwild
Celestial - Dream On
Red Sleeping Beauty - Make Me Smile
The Garlands - You Never Notice Me
Sally Shapiro - I'll Be by Your Side
Friday Bridge - Love and Nostalgia
The Lucksmiths - Camera-shy
Saturday Looks Good to Me - Lift Me Up
Acid House Kings - Say Yes If You Love Me
Sambassadeur - Subtle Changes
Strange Idols - It's No Fun
Stars - Ageless Beauty
Slowdive - When the Sun Hits
Brighter - Does Love Last Forever
Sambassadeur - Marie
Stars - Take Me to the Riot
(23.00)
Popguns - Waiting for the Winter
Headlights - TV
Lucky Soul - Ain't Never Been Cool
The Go! Team - Huddle Formation
Mates of State - Beautiful Dreamer
------------------------------------------------
LIKE HONEY LIVE
------------------------------------------------
My Favorite - Burning Hearts
Comet Gain - You Can Hide Your Love Forever
Laurel Music - Winter Slow
Pale Saints - Language of Flowers
The Sea Urchins - Pristine Christine
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
Free Loan Investments - Rush Hour
Camera Obscura - Phil and Don
------------------------------------------------
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS LIVE
------------------------------------------------
(00:50)
The Field Mice - Emma's House
Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy
New Order - True Faith
Le Sport - Tell No One About Tonight
Human League - Don't You Want Me
Morrissey - First of the Gang
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
Blondie - Maria
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is a Place on Earth
The Long Blondes - Once and Never Again
Saint Etienne - He's on the Phone
Tralala - All Fired Up
The Hidden Cameras - Ban Marriage
Pulp - Disco 2000
My Favorite - Absolute Zero
The Essex Green - The Late Great Cassiopia
The Smiths - Ask
Belle and Sebastian - Electronic Renaissance
The Magic Numbers - Take a Chance
The Field Mice - Canada
New Order - Regret
Broder Daniel - Shoreline
Language of Flowers - If It's Not You
Suede - Trash
Language of Flowers - Tara Mascara (I really should had ended the dj set with Happiest Days of My Life instead. That is the only thing in the dj set which I regret).

Half year summary 2007

Albums
How many new records do you need for half a year?

I wonder how many records you need. What your record collection needs is an entirely different matter.

Every year there is at least one album I listen to quite differently compared to other records. These albums tend to become overlistened. I fell for Tralala and Hello Saferide two years ago. Katie Goes to Tokyo was more important than anyone else in 2006. Halfway into 2007, another two debut albums top my list. Lucky Soul's The Great Unwanted is fantastic but still does not have a chance against Let's Go Sailing's The Chaos in Order.
When I wrote my half year summary in June last year, I noted that the album concept no longer appealed to me. I was wrong. I was rather tired of lengthy albums and found it difficult to appreciate the abundance of records. Back then it felt like I had to listen to everything. It was, in other words, the music stress I had grown tired of. Now I find it easier to appreciate what I do have. I would be happy to just have Let's Go Sailing, Lucky Soul, and Palomar this semester. The rest is bonus listening. With an eye on the fall, I am hoping for Laurel Music, Like Honey, and Langauge of Flowers!

1. Let's Go Sailing - The Chaos in Order
2. Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted
3. Palomar - All Things, Forests
4. Friday Bridge - Intricacy
5. Love Dance - Result

Also good: Celestial - Dream On, Au Revoir Simone - The Bird of Music, Säkert! - Säkert!, The National - Boxer, The Loose Salute - Tuned to Love.

My record collection just got two new members: Celestial's Dream On and Camera Obscura's Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken. It will do with that for the rest of the year. But what the record collection needs and what I want are of course not the same thing.


Songs
I stand with a rifle. I will spend my life now. And take back everything that is yours.

Allt Som Är Ditt (Everything That Is Yours) was the collectively strongest music-related moment in Sweden in spring 2007. Consequences follow lines such as de jävlarna ska skjutas! (the bastards should be shot!) and I get scared when I read what some people write on their blogs. I get frightened by a lynch mob that finds the irreversible death penalty a better option than jail. I can not stress enough that innocent people are executed, and will be executed, by the state in countries which practise the death penalty.
On the other hand, I also get surprised by the tunnel vision shown by other people who find it difficult to understand why Annika Norlin (Säkert!) has become so acclaimed for Allt Som Är Ditt. The imagery may be very clear (you will get the message of the music video even if you do not understand a word of Swedish) if the lyrics are interpreted literally, but I understand the context and take the song for what it is. Allt Som Är Ditt is an important contribution to an always present debate and a description of the feelings shown by a friend of a raped woman. Those who criticize the lyrics could think about whether it would be better if Annika instead sang the bastards should be locked up (and then acquitted by the Supreme Court).
I want to clarify my views on this topic in order to avoid potential misunderstandings. I strongly believe in the principle of the accused being innocent until proven guilty. I am aware that the courts get it horribly wrong sometimes, but presumption of innocence is not the fault. The main problems in the judicial system are corruption, bias, prejudice, discrimination, and incompetence.

Trembling Blue Stars surprised me with Idyllwild and November Starlings. Bobby Wratten has something big going on if he can drop the Missing the Moon sound completely on the next album. That would allow Trembling Blue Stars to reach their full potential.
I really want to love Celestial's debut album. It is brilliant at times, but I find it difficult to listen to Bluebell Meadow and Pale Blue Eyes. They do not fit in among the other songs. I much rather listen to the fifth track Dream On again.

1. Säkert - Allt Som Är Ditt
2. Trembling Blue Stars - Idyllwild
3. Celestial - Dream On
4. Lucky Soul - One Kiss Don't Make a Summer
5. Let's Go Sailing - Sideways
6. Palomar - You're Keeping Us Up
7. Those Dancing Days - Hitten
8. Celestial - Fragile Heart
9. Trembling Blue Stars - November Starlings
10. Apples in Stereo - Sunday Sounds

A different Walpurgis Night

The DJ set was not quite as I expected. No one told me that the dance floor would differ so much between a Walpurgis Night and a regular Friday night. I got a real challenge this time, but in the end I had no problem to deliver a set that made people have a great time. It was, however, sad to see that the recognition factor outweighs the hit factor. I had to compromise early on, but from Canada on I only played songs that I truly love. The night was great in the end, but I will definitely not be the DJ on any more Walpurgis Nights.

(23.30)
Air - Sexy Boy (actually, I had intended to start with Where You Belong but it would be pointless this night) )
Ride - Twisterella
Au Revoir Simone - Dark Halls (and here I wanted to play Laurel Music)
Headlights - TV
My Favorite - The Informers
Another Sunny Day - You Should All Be Murdered
Stars - Ageless Beauty
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Looker - Hey Kids
The Long Blondes - Only Lovers Left Alive
(00.00)
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
The Cure - Friday I'm in Love
Morrissey - First of the Gang to Die
The Strokes - Last Nite
The Smiths - This Charming Man
Le Sport - Tell No One About Tonight
Human League - Don't You Want Me
Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough
The Knife - Heartbeats (This was where the dance floor really came to life. Such a predictable response. I felt like I could be replaced with a jukebox at this time.)
New Order - True Faith
The Undertones - Teenage Kicks
Saint Etienne - He's on the Phone
Blondie - Maria
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is a Place on Earth
Pet Shop Boys - It's a Sin
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams
Bloc Party - Helicopter (this song emptied the dance floor ... )
(01.00)
Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To
Pulp - Disco 2000
The Smiths - Panic
Looker - Hope and Anchor
The Long Blondes - Once and Never Again
The Magic Numbers - Take a Chance
The Essex Green - The Late Great Cassiopia
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Belle and Sebastian - Electronic Renaissance
Interpol - Obstacle 1
The Knife - Listen Now
Baxendale - Music for Girls
Suede - Trash
Ramones - Sheena Is a Punk Rocker
The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now
The Field Mice - Canada
Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy
My Favorite - Absolute Zero
(02.00)
Langauge of Flowers - If It's Not You (here I said that it was the last song but I was allowed to play more)
Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day
The Arrogants - Lovesick
The Field Mice - Emma's House
Comet Gain - You Can Hide Your Love Forever
My Favorite - The Happiest Days of My Life
The Aislers Set - The Red Door
My Favorite - Working Class Jacket (at the end of the song the kids on the dance floor turned to me and sang the last lines loudly. That was a fine moment )
Cats on Fire - Draw in the Reins
Langauge of Flowers - Tara Mascara
Broder Daniel - Shoreline

Step into a beautiful world filled with hits

It was noticeable yesterday how much I had learned since the last time I was DJ at Blekingska. But you would not think so when I entered the DJ booth and tried some transitions before the club opened. I had forgotten how the DJ mixer worked. The autocue button was not pressed on the left side and that detail almost drove me crazy. The nice sound technician helped me with that later and everything went well from that point. As always, I made some minor mistakes (to check that you really have loaded the cd you intend to play is a good advice, furthermore I am not capable of speaking with people at the same time I prepare the cd player with the next track) but overall I delivered a very good DJ set.

I played hits almost constantly after Juvelen left the stage. Perhaps that was the factor which made people stay at the dance floor when I played a few songs that almost no one recognized. By watching the dance floor, I could easily notice when I played a song the audience had not heard before, but people still danced when I increased the tempo. Watching many people dance to Language of Flowers was the peak of a terrific night.
I wrote down all the songs in order on a note pad. I am glad I did that because I would have no chance to remember the DJ set today.

(22.00)
Aberdeen - Sink or Float
Sambassadeur - If Rain
Gentle Touch - Fascination
Slowdive - Machine Gun
My Favorite - Johnny Nightmare
Au Revoir Simone - Dark Halls
Heavenly - Cool Guitar Boy
Hello Saferide - 2006
Marit Bergman - No Party
Language of Flowers - Don't You See
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
Wilson Hospital - Call Me A.S.A.P.
Stars - Ageless Beauty
Sambassadeur - Marie
Belle and Sebastian - Electronic Renaissance
Saint Etienne - Like a Motorway
My Darling You - Please Don't Talk to Me, I Fall in Love So Easily
Irene - Stardust
Acid House Kings - Keep Your Love
The Arrogants - Cool Shoes
Slowdive - When the Sun Hits
The Cure - In Between Days
-----------------------------------------------------------------
JUVELEN LIVE
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The Field Mice - Emma's House
My Favorite - The Happiest Days of My Life
Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy
Lush - Single Girl
Popsicle - Hey Princess
Magic Numbers - Take a Chance (but prior to that the intro of Emma's House before I realised I forgot to change track on the burned cd - pretty clumsy)
The Hidden Cameras - Ban Marriage
Morrissey - First of the Gang (I had planned to play You Have Killed Me, but I wanted a super hit to fill the dance floor at this moment)
(00.00)
New Order - True Faith
The Knife - Heartbeats
Human League - Don't You Want Me
The Undertones - Teenage Kicks
Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums
Pulp - Disco 2000
Caesar's Palace - Over 'for It Started (I was doubtful that people would appreciate this song, but it worked fine)
Broder Daniel - Shoreline (I should had played I'll Be Gone instead)
Bloc Party - Banquet
Franz Ferdinand - This Boy (I could not decide between This Boy and Do You Want To, I got to make my mind up quickly when the time of Banquet was running out)
Interpol - Obstacle 1
Tralala - Like This
Cats on Fire - Draw in the Reins
The Essex Green - The Late Great Cassiopia (I love Cassiopia. Admittedly a real crowd pleaser, but it is so fun to watch people dance to this song)
The Arrogants - Lovesick
Razorcuts - Jade
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (there were some new students at the club who never had been at Blekingska before. Girls Just Want to Have Fun was for them)
The Pipettes - It Hurts to See You Dance So Well (a boy came to the DJ booth and wished for me to play School Uniform. I would have played School Uniform if I had it on any of the cds) 
(01.00)
Language of Flowers - If It's Not You
My Favorite - Absolute Zero
Tralala - All Fired Up
Looker - Hope and Anchor
The Field Mice - Canada
The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again (when you think about it, there is no reason not to play The Smiths. This was a wish I gladly fulfilled)
The Cure - Just Like Heaven (perhaps the most bizarre thing during the whole night. Someone asked me to play Just Like Heaven earlier in the night but I answered "we'll see". I had planned to play Boy's Don't Cry here, but I had chosen the wrong The Cure compliation. Just Like Heaven which also is the third track on the disc was thus played)
The Primitives - Crash
Lucky Soul - Ain't Never Been Cool (I do not think that this band works that well on Blekingska's dance floor but I decide myself what I want to play)
The Knife - Listen Now
Of Montreal - Disconnect the Dots
Pulp - Common People (dangerously close to "too much" but what the hell, it was between this song and Mis-Shapes. But I will probably not play Common People the next time I am DJ at this club)
Baxendale - Music for Girls (Yes, I have to tell you - a good friend of mine said that she would come to Blekingska this night, but then my cell phone displayed a missed call about half past twelve. She arrived shortly after that and I was very happy to see her. She and the rest of the floor were dancing really lovely to the "and if this is really music ..."-section of Music for Girls. Happy days are here again!)
My Favorite - Let's Stay Alive
The Smiths - Panic (a wish: "you - do you know the name of the song by Smiths which goes like 'hang the dj hang the dj hang the dj hang the dj hang the dj'?"
Yes, I know that song and it is pretty good!)
The Tough Alliance - Silly Crimes (after Listen Now was played, people at the dance floor started to shout for TTA. Not exactly my favourite band but this song is good enough after all)
Blondie - Maria (a better song than many indie hits. Blondie were so damn good)
(02.00)
Popsicle - Not Forever
Magic Numbers - Forever Lost
The Aislers Set - The Red Door
Saint Etienne - Sylvie
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
New Order - Regret (for a long time I did not see the greatness of this band. Psymon convinced me, as usual) "after this you get three more songs"
Blondie - Hanging on the Telephone
Soft Cell - Tainted Love (it was messy among the cds and I put on the first thing I saw which I had not already played)
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
----quiet a while---
"You may well play one more song"
The Smiths - This Charming Man
The Smiths - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (all of a sudden it became very much The Smiths but there were only ten people on the dance floor at this time, including me. To close the DJ set with There Is a Light That Never Goes Out felt a bit like a pop cliche though)

My 2006

Concerts
The Au Revoir Simone show on November 17 will be a nice ending to an absolutely amazing year of concerts. In total, I spent 22 nights at concerts this year. It is pretty much given that I did not attend any real festival this summer. You find my concert stories in the right column labelled as Concerts.

01 Language of Flowers - May 27 at Mejeriet, Lund
02 Hello Saferide - March 11 at Mejeriet, Lund
03 Like Honey - September 3 at Mejeriet, Lund
04 Belle and Sebastian - May 13 at Kulturbolaget, Malmö
05 Camera Obscura - October 7 at Kulturbolaget, Malmö


Songs
01 Laurel Music - Winter Slow
L A U R E L M U S I C.
Pop hearts never die! I have heard the future and it sounds wonderful. Laurel Music is worth waiting for.

02 Sambassadeur - Marie
I was convinced that Marie was the song of the year when I wrote my half year list. Marie was actually more than a song to me. Things have changed since then and Marie thus only gets an honorable second place on this list. 

03 Language of Flowers - You're The One
My beloved Language of Flowers do not seem in a hurry with the sequel to Songs About You. They have a lot to live up to. With You're The One Language of Flowers show that they can still deliver spellbinding "girl meets boy"-stories. And I listen to every word.

04 Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy
I heard Lips Are Unhappy in early June and thought it was a good pop song, but it would take another month before I really fell in love. Five months later, I am a little sad that there were no promoters in southern Sweden who wanted to set up a show with Ali Howard's band but you can not have everything you want. SHAKE SHIMMY SHIMMY SHAKE SHIMMY.

05 Katie Goes to Tokyo - Alone
Katie has meant more to me than anyone else this year. She was there when I slides and she was still there when my life collapsed. I try to rebuild it, piece by piece. I no longer know what I want but I know that Katie makes it a little easier to wake up in the morning.

06 Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
07 Hello Saferide - 2006
08 Katie Goes to Tokyo - The Girl Who Ruined Your World
09 Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted
10 Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day
11 Anna Ternheim - Tribute to Linn
12 Mates of State - Beautiful Dreamer
13 The Magic Numbers - Take a Chance 
14 Firefox AK - City to City
15 The Charade - My Song to You
16 Vapnet - Färjemansleden
17 Headlights - TV
18 Morrissey - You Have Killed Me
19 The Pipettes- Because It's Not Love (But It's Still a Feeling)
20 Those Transatlantics - Whiskey and Tea
21 Acid House King - Keep Your Love by The Loveninjas
22 The Essex Green - Penny and Jack
23 Like Honey - New York
24 The Positions - Back to Me
25 The Tidy Ups - Lack of Nourishment


Albums
There seem to be unspoken rules which determine that a year list shall contain 25 albums. That are just too many albums for me. It is rather pointless to list more records than you will remember when you look back on the year later. I present a top10 this year. I could have done a top15 instead, but no more records than that.

01 Katie Goes to Tokyo - Katie Goes to Tokyo
02 The Positions - Bliss!
03 Those Transatlantics - Knocked Out
04 Mates of State - Bring It Back
05 The Charade - A Real Life Drama
06 My Latest Novel - Wolves
07 Anna Ternheim - Separation Road
08 The Essex Green - Cannibal Sea
09 Marit Larsen - Under the Surface
10 The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes

Also good: The Besties - Singer, The High Violets - To Where You Are, Math and Physics Club - Math and Physics Club, Ms. John Soda - Notes and the Like, The Weepies - Say I Am You, Firefox AK - Madame Madame, Tilly and the Wall - Bottom of the Barrels.
Not evaluated: The Snow Fairies - Voila!, Friday Bridge, Tralala - Is That The Tralala.


EPs
01 Sambassadeur - Coastal Affairs
02 The Tidy Ups - Dizzy Heights
03 Hello Saferide - Would You Let Me Play This EP Ten Times A Day?
04 Gentle Touch - Gentle Touch
05 The Postal Blue - Road to Happiness

Not evaluated: Lucky Soul.


2007
Next year's best album will most likely be the the sequel to This Night and The Nex. I can not see how any other band would compete with Laurel Music. There is a good chance that all bands on the top3 album list will be sorted under the letter "L". Lucky Soul, Like Honey, and Looker all release debut albums. And although I doubt it there is a possibility that even Language of Flowers are recording a new album. Architecture in Helsinki and Sambassadeur are working on new albums. Shelflife Records returns with new releases.

There is a basis for 2007 to become the best record year of the 2000s.

2005 in retrospect

It is soon December, the month when lists are published everywhere. I will post my year lists of 2006 in a few days, but first I would like to look back on last year. Each year is actually a good record year and you will always find something you like as long as you make a real effort to search for it. 2005 offered many fine records and I did not hear or listen to everything properly in time for my summary of the year. The Consultants did call it quits to form a new band before I discovered their Work from Home and The Charade's debut album was a perfect example of a record that became better with time. I placed The Best Is Yet to Come as number 20 on my album list of 2005. Now I can hardly understand that it was left out of the top10, but these things happen when you lack perspective. Almost a year has passed since my original year list of 2005 and I think it is about time to fix it. Here comes the real and revised list with my favourite records of 2005.

01 Hello Saferide - Introducing ...
02 Tralala - Tralala
03 The Consultants - Work from Home
04 Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die
05 The Charade - The Best Is Yet to Come
06 Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
07 M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us
08 Electrelane - Axes
09 Au Revoir Simone - Verses of Comfort, Assurance and Salvation
10 Sambassadeur - Sambassadeur
11 The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
12 Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
13 Frida Hyvönen - Until Death Comes
14 Acid House Kings - Sing Along With The Acid House Kings
15 Strip Squad - The Adventures of Strip Squad

The best records of the 2000s

A good record is a good record. Albums, EPs and EP collections are all included on this list. The only requirement is that the songs on the records have to be from the 2000s. My favourite songs on each record are written in italics.


01 Language of Flowers - Songs About You
Shelflife Records, 2004
Where You Belong, If It's Not You, Who You're With, I Don't Care at All, Tara Mascara, Leaving, Summer's Been and Gone, Songs About You, Botanic Gardens, She's Gone Away

02 Laurel Music - This Night and the Next
Labrador Records, 2004
No One Wants Forever # 2, Dreams and Lies, No One Wants Forever # 1, Make Believe, Into the Blue, The Way Love Goes, Disappear

03 My Favorite - Happiest Days of Our Lives
Double Agent Records, 2003
The Happiest Days of My Life, Le Monster, Burning Hearts, White Roses for Blue Girls, Badge (Grace Under Pressure), The Suburbs Are Killing Us

04 The Arrogants - Your Simple Beauty EP
Shelflife Records, 2000
Lovesick, Lovesick (trashy live acoustic version), Nothing Good Will Ever Come of This, Let you Down, Costa Rica

05 The Snow Fairies - Feel You Up
Red Square Records, 2003
Tongue-Tied, Summer in Japan, Lovers in the Countryside, April Showers, December Love

06 Katie Goes to Tokyo - Katie Goes to Tokyo
Tap Your Feet, 2006
Until She Breaks, The Girl Who Ruined Your World, Unbelievable, Contemplation's Over, If It's Alright, Moving from This Town

07 Brittle Stars - Brittle Stars
Shelflife Records, 2000
Four Words, This Trip, Tripping Me Up, Afloat, You Went in Phases

08 The Shermans - Happiness Is Toy Shaped
Shelflife Records, 2001
Sad Kind of Life, Falling Out ​​of Love, Cindy Sherman, The Umbrella Song

09 Hello Saferide - Introducing ...
Razzia Records, 2005
I Thought You Said Summer Is Going to Take the Pain Away, Long Lost Penpal, San Francisco, I Don't Sleep Well, If I Don't Write This Song Someone I Love Will Die

10 The Essex Green - The Long Goodbye
Merge Records, 2003
The Late Great Cassiopia, Chartiers, Southern States, Lazymay


More favourite records:
Tralala - Tralala (2005), The Knife - Deep Cuts (2003), Stars - Set Yourself on Fire (2004), The Consultants - Work from Home (2005), Belle and Sebastian - Fold Your Hand Child, You Walk Like a Peasent (2000), Mates of State - Bring It Back (2006), Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside (2004).

Let's Stay Alive

It could have been one of those happiest days of our lives club nights, but only 40-50 people showed up at the club. Blekingska may bring in 250 people. I was dj at Blekingska in January when almost 200 people came to the club.

I really felt the difference in number of visitors. It was difficult to dj this time but the night still ended up pretty good. Those who dared to enter the dance floor seemed to have fun. The last song was played at 2:20. This is the upbeat part of yesterday's dj set, starting around midnight. The last three songs are in order, the rest are a bit mixed (there is no chance that I remember the order as I did not write down this part of the set):

Brainpool - Bandstarter
Morrissey – First of the Gang
Saint Etienne – He’s on the Phone
My Favorite – Absolute Zero
The Hidden Cameras – Ban Marriage
Bloc Party - Helicopter
Interpol – Obstacle 1
The Strokes – Last Nite
The Tough Alliance – Koka Kola Veins
The Stone Roses – Made of Stone
Belle and Sebastian – Dirty Dream Number Two
Razorcuts – Jade
The Undertones – Teenage Kicks
Ramones – Sheena Is a Punkrocker
Language of Flowers – If It’s Not You
The Pipettes – It Hurts to See You Dance So Well
The La’s – There She Goes
The Smiths – This Charming Man
The Primitives – Crash
Oasis – Some Might Say
The Knife – Heartbeats
The Libertines - Can’t Stand Me Now
The Magic Numbers – Forever Lost
Pulp - Disco 2000
Blondie – Hanging on the Telephone
Of Montreal – Disconnect the Dots
Tralala – All Fired Up
Looker – Hope and Anchor
The Knife - Listen Now
Saint Etienne - Sylvie
Stone Roses – She Bangs the Drums
The Essex Green – The Late Great Cassiopia
Popsicle – Not Forever
Pulp – Common People
Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
The Smiths – Panic
Lush – Single Girl
Mew - Mica
My Favorite – Let’s Stay Alive
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun
The Field Mice – Canada
Bloc Party - Banquet
Tralala – The Girls Say
The Arrogants – Lovesick
The Arrogants - The Distance Between Us
My Favorite – Le Monster

Listen Now made people look really handsome when dancing, as always. The Late Great Cassiopia, All Fired Up, Hope and Anchor, Common People, and Girls Just Want to Have Fun also worked fine. But I forgot to play Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy. I will play it the next time I dj.

When the Sun Hits

Here is a list of the early songs in yesterday's dj set. This list is in order song by song (although it is possible that I have mixed up the order of a few tracks).

22:00
Air - Sexy Boy
Ladytron - Playgirl
Au Revoir Simone - The Disco Song
Stars - Elevator Love Letter
Brittle Stars - Four Words
Second-Hand Furniture - People Like You
Jesus and Mary Chain - Just Like Honey
House of Love - Christine
Slowdive - Machine Gun
Slowdive - When the Sun Hits
Pipas - Mental
Fibi Frap - Where'd You Learn to Kiss That Way
Katie Goes to Tokyo - Unbelievable
Heavenly - Cool Guitar Boy
Red Sleeping Beauty - Don't Say You Love Me
Postal Blue - The World Doesn't Need You
Go Sailor - Fine Day for Sailing
The Softies - Charms Around Your Wrist
David Bowie - Starman
Architecture in Helsinki - The Owls Go
The Cardigans - Good Morning Joan
Like Honey - Sad Song
Language of Flowers - Where You Belong
The Ladybug Transistor - The Places You'll Call Home
Sambassadeur - Marie
Mates of State - Along for the Ride
Headlights - TV
Apples in Stereo - Rainfall
The Concretes - Seems Fine
Popsicle - Hey Princess
The Cure - Friday I'm in Love
Pulp - Mis-Shapes
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Le Sport - Business Girls

Half year summary 2006

I will remember the first half of 2006 as the time I discovered Language of Flowers. More than a year had passed since the release of their debut album Songs About You, but I still discovered the band in time to attend my most amazing concert ever. Spring 2006 was also the time I took farewell of Belle and Sebastian. It was time to move on, but I did not start over here and now. I have spent the spring trying to fill my music gaps in the 2000s. My pop heart beats rapidly to twee and softpop. The Snow Fairies, The Arrogants, and Brittle Stars are my new favourite bands.

Albums
I have not taken the time to listen to that many new releases. For the first time in life I am beginning to feel tired of the album concept. I find it hard to keep up the interest after forty minutes with the same record. I thus only include six albums on my list as I want to be honest with myself. With an eye on the fall, I look forward to new albums by Laurel Music and Like Honey.

1. Katie Goes to Tokyo - Katie Goes to Tokyo
2. Mates of State - Bring It Back
3. The Charade - A Real Life Drama
4. The Essex Green - Cannibal Sea
5. My Latest Novel - Wolves
6. The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes

Songs
Sambassadeur make me feel comfortable. They are there every spring ready to deliver. Coastal Affairs is only an EP between two albums, but Marie is the best song of the year so far. For me personally, the lines you know we were scientists, every conversation was a test means everything

1. Sambassadeur - Marie
2. Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day
3. Vapnet - Färjemansleden
4. Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
5. Katie Goes to Tokyo - Until She Breaks
6. The Essex Green - Penny and Jack
7. Firefox Ak - City to City
8. The Charade - My Song to You
9. Rainer Maria - Catastrophe
10. My Latest Novel - Pretty in Panic

(Originally published on July 2, 2006)