Clever Eleven March 2008
Spring is in the air, and the music scene is already in bloom. This month produced an abundance of great tunes, actually enough to field TWO strong collections! My preferred eleven may not be the same as yours, so get'em both, to be on the safe side. Additionally, an extra effort has been made to make this edition sort of multinational, with 9 different countries represented across the 22 tracks. Kos døkk!
1. Infadels - Make Mistakes
They are dance rockers appearantly turned guitar-heavy anthemic indie hopes.
This is the first single from their second album, due later this summer.
Sounds like were up for some hi-infadelity!
2. Alphabeat - Fascination
They are six Danes with a shameless 80's obsession who relocated to London.
This is without a doubt the happiest song you'll ever find on a C11.
Sounds like the prequel to Walking on Sunshine, let's just admit it.
3. Supergrass - Ghost of a Friend
They are cheeky britrock mainstays that once almost turned cartoon characters.
This is perhaps the most hummable tune on their sixth album Diamond Hoo Ha.
Sounds like they picked up a few Bowie vibes when recording in Berlin.
4. Voicst - E-Slick
They are a powertrio from Amsterdam whose name means "energy" in Afrikaans.
This is one of several hard-poppin' tunes from their second album.
Sounds like something Supergrass could have done 10 years ago, incidentally.
5. Uncut - Kiss Me
They are Canadians who like to play loud and occationally gaze at their shoes.
This is from their 2006 album Modern Currencies, finally released outside America.
Sounds like The Raveonettes doing The Jesus and Mary Chain.
6. Sparkadia - Too Much to Do
They are as pleasant and snappy as you'd expect from an Aussie quartet.
This is second single from their debut album, currently only available digitally.
Sounds like they always take the weather with them.
7. Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
They are Seattle indie quartet, their awaited album Narrow Stairs, out in late May.
This is the first taster from it, a good eight minutes of hypnotizing space rock (!)
Sounds like this album might just be the "curve ball" they have announced, then.
8. Sambassadeur - Final Say
They are Gothenburg popsters named after a song by Serge Gainsbourg.
This is the second single from the album Migration.
Sounds like New Order-side project The Other Two, or rather the Pet Shop Girls.
9. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong - Lonely Buoy
They are ones to watch in 2008, according to Q, NME and BBC.
This is their second single, as daftly named as the band itself.
Sounds like the English Strokes (before they became utter rubbish).
10. Hard-Fi - I Shall Overcome [Per un Punga di Hard-Fi version]
They are suburban knights conquering C11 with their third single in a row.
This is a remix from the digital release, originally (and aptly) titled "over the top remix".
Sounds like the Mexican gringo's I Will Survive.
11. The Charlatans - This is the End
They are true veterans who survived Madchester, Britpop and the new millennium.
This is the closing track from surpringsly good tenth album given away for free!
Sounds like two or three different songs by The Stone Roses.
RESERVES: The Sonic Hearts - To Be Someone, Envy And Other Sins - Highness, Boy Kill Boy - Promises, Guillemots - Falling Out of Reach, Slut - Come On, The Gutter Twins - God's Children, Ida Maria - Stella, Los Campesinos! - Death To Los Campesinos!, The Futureheads - The Beginning of the Twist, The Fashion - Like Knives, Caesars - Boo Boo Goo Goo
