Clever Eleven August 2009
The summer holiday is officially over (at least here in Norway), and artists and record companies are clearly back from vacation. Loads of great releases coming out these days, these are the greatest eleven of them.
Also, you might notice that the player on the right is new. The selection and service of last.fm was free-falling since their introduction of payment services, but with the new Grooveshark widget, you are at last able to freely listen to the complete compilation in all its glory!
1. The Brimstone Solar Radiation Band - Sanctimonious High
- They are (as the name suggests) a flamboyant retro ensemble from Bergen, Norway.
- This is the first single off their forthcoming third longplayer, Smorgasbord.
- Sounds like The Soundtrack of Our Lives. They actually look like them, too!
2. Brendan Benson - Eyes on The Horizon
- He is now probably better known as "the other one in The Raconteurs", but he actually had been a critically acclaimed recording artist for 10 years before Jack White called.
- This is the song that gave his recent fourth solo album its title, My Old, Familiar Friend.
- Sounds like he learned a few tricks from his onetime collaborator Jason Falkner.
3. The Temper Trap - Science of Fear
- They are much hyped Aussies, recently relocated to London in hopes of breaking the UK.
- This is the track from debut album Conditions with the least falsetto in it, mind.
- Sounds like Coldplay having an uncontrolled tantrum.
4. Metric - Gimme Sympathy
- They are Canadian electro-pop quartet made up by Emily Haines and three other guys (when they're not busy releasing solo albums or performing with virtually every other indie band in Montreal, that is).
- This is one of the highlights from Fantasies, finally getting a proper single release.
- Sounds like a female Killers (not exactly The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, but hey).
5. Century Man - Marauder
6. Darker My Love - Blue Day
- They are LA-based droney indierockers currently sharing two members with The Fall.
- This is a groovefest from their second album, imaginatively named 2, originally released August 2008, but not getting international distribution until now.
- Sounds like Deep Purple's Hush as Ride probably would have played it.
7. Third Eye Blind - Don't Believe a Word
- They are US alt.rock veterans for whom I must admit to having a soft spot.
- This is the lead-off single from their 4th LP, which took them six years to make.
- Sounds like the opening credits to an American Pie film (some might suggest all their songs do just that, and one of them actually does).
8. Paolo Nutini - Candy
9. Ian Brown - Stellify
- He is the ressurection, according to The Stone Roses' legendary debutalbum, which got a 20 year anniversary release this month.
- This is gonna be the first single off his sixth solo album, My Way, released in September.
- Sounds like he's still the untouchable King Monkey.
10. The Ruling Class - Sleeping Beauty
- They are English/Swedish five-piece who is obviously mad fer it.
- This is one of two A-sides on their second single, and I'm not kidding you: the other A-side is just as groovy (and just as indebted to Madchester).
- Sounds like this might be the second coming, then.
11. Radiohead - Harry Patch (In Memory of)
- They are indie eccentrics that have managed to adapt to new technology.
- This is their spontaneous download-only single paying tribute to the last UK veteran of the WWI, that recently passed away, aged 111. Get it here and support the British Legion.
- Sounds like Sigur Ròs doing Pink Floyds The Final Cut.
SUBS (and what they sound like):
Dakota - Wild Child (a somewhat whimpy take on Suede's classic Thrash)
Sugar Army - Tongues in Cheeks (Killing Joke covering Split Enz)
Richmond Fontaine - You Can Move Back Here (Wilco (the band))
Voluntary Butler Scheme - Tabasco Sole (The Beta Band peeking out from their own a**e)
The Chemists - A Love Like No-One Else (Doves' Pounding with synth frosting)
