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)

Clever Eleven July 2009 ¤

No, you haven't missed out on one. I'm celebrating two full years of C11 by skewing the calendar system. I found it a bit misleading that my monthly mixes usually were published the week after the month after which they were named, so from now on, C11 will be published mid-month.
This unfortunately means that you'll miss one month's worth of clever tunes, but I've made it up to ya by making one hell of a compilation this time: Old faves and new names, loud guitars and snarling synths, party anthems and summer chillers - and even a big beat remix!

1. A-ha - The Bandstand
- They are Norway's undisputed kings of pop, having scored 19 top 10-hits back home.
- This is the opening track off their 9th album Foot of the Mountain, which sees the trio returning to their synth pop roots.
- Sounds like Depeche Mode without the heroin.
2. The Cinematics - Love and Terror
- They are gloomy Glaswegians giving Editors and White Lies a run for their money.
- This download-only single is a taster of their second album, out "sometime in the fall".
- Sounds like an improbable Duane Eddy/The Cure collaboration.
3. Jet - She's a Genius
- They are presumably a band on the run, being named after the Macca/Wings tune.
- This is the first single from the Melbourne quartet's third longplayer.
- Sounds like My Sharona's naughtier (and appearantly smarter) sister.
4. Pete Yorn - Paradise Cove
- He is New Jersey-born singer/songwriter, soon to release a duet album with Scarlett Johansson. Bastard.
- This is a summery gem from his fourth studio album, cleverly titled Back and Fourth.
- Sounds like Josh Rouse before his fatal move to Spain.
5. Kamera - Misfortune Strikes Again
- They are another proof of the "bands with names that begin with a K are kool"-theory.
- This is the catchy spearhead of the Swedes' third album, Blank Expressions.
- Sounds like they're gonna give The Cinematics a run for their money (wait a min...)
6. Idlewild - Younger Than America
- They are Scottish punksters-turned-songsmiths who self-released their 6th full-length, Post Electric Blues, this month.
- This is the album opener, showcasing their fascination for the US, musically and lyrically.
- Sound like a surefire hit from R.E.M.'s Green, played by better musicians.
7. Better Than Ezra - Turn Up the Bright Lights
- They are US rock veterans based in New Orleans.
- This is not a dark Interpol cover, but a rather uplifting track from their 7th album.
- Sounds like readymade for alt.rock radio stations.
8. The Duckworth Lewis Method - Flatten the Hay
- They are a baroque'n'roll supergroup comprised by devine comedian Neil Hannon and Thomas Walsh of Irish power-poppers Pugwash.
- This is off their self-titled debut, presumably the first-ever concept album about cricket.
- Sounds like post-Smile The Beach Boys, added English whimsy. Latter-day XTC, then.
9. Reverend & the Makers - Silence is Talking [Jagz Kooner Remix]
- They are political poet Jon McClure and his gang, soon out with their sophomore album.
- This is the first single from it, based round the famous horn theme from War's Low Rider.
- Sounds like a coked-up Tomorrow Never Knows with a mariachi touch (a song they actually interpolate when played as the opener of their current live set).
10. The Twang - Barney Rubble
- They are baggy Brummies heavily indebted to Madchester.
- This is the first single from their media-butchered second album, Jewellery Quarter.
- Sounds like they're really trying to do psychedelic scouse, but not quite getting it.

11. New Education - Another Miracle
- They are Stoke-on-Trent foursome specialising in soaring smalltown anthems.
- This is only their second single, hinting of big things to come for the lads.
- Sounds like the guitarist might own a Stone Roses record or two.

SUBS:
Engineers - Sometimes I Realise
Defend Moscow - Die Tonight
Mew - Repeaterbeater
Tiny Spark - For You the World Waits
The Proclaimers - Love Can Move Mountains

Clever Eleven May 2009 ¤

Another month, another 11 cracking tunes, this one sees the return of some of my personal faves from the 90's - and there's even a comeback from a certain 80's act that didn't allow us to forget about them.

1. Ash - Return of White Rabbit
- Something of a curveball from the Northern Irish power-popsters, with its choppy guitars and lurking electronics, this free download is stated as being a prequel to their series of 26 singles in 12 months project, kicking off in September.
2. The Morning After Girls - The General Public
- Putting Alan Moulder behind the mixing desk is clearly not the worst of ideas for a band that wants to sound like Ride meets BRMC, as showcased by the hypnotic title track from the expat Australians' new EP.
3. Jeremy Enigk - Restart
- Taken from his fourth solo album OK Bear, this jangly track sees the onetime Sunny Day Real Estate frontman in surpringly conventional, almost country&western mode.
4. Barcelona - The Takers
- Barcelona were indeed the takers of most football trophies this spring, a feat this song probably doesn't dwell to long on, concentrating instead on taking the grandiose piano-driven anthem to new heights. It's one of the new tracks recently added to the Seattle trio's reissued '07 release Absolutes, following their signing to the big league.
5. Placebo - For What It's Worth
- Brian Molko & co return with a new drummer and funky horns (!) on the groovy spearhead single from their sixth studio album, the critically favoured Battle for the Sun, released next week.
6. Lightning Seeds - Ghosts
- It's been a massive ten years since Ian Broudie put out an album under this moniker, but it only takes a matter of seconds to recognize the scouse pop perfection mastermind behind this bouncy track, tailor-made for summer slacking.
7. Simple Minds - Moscow Underground
8. Silent Film Project - Two Days
9. Kasabian - Underdog
- The Leicester lads will probably estrange more fans than they will attract new ones what with their third long-player West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum being as weird and trippy as the title suggests. The opening track were at least straight enough to feature in the new Sony Bravia TV ad alongside Brazilian footballer Kakà.
10. The Airlines - S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y.
- LA foursome spell out everyone's favourite weekday on their debut EP.
11. Leaves - Aeronaut
- Being Icelandic and often leaning on the atmospheric and brooding, the Sigur Ròs comparisons are inevitable, but this bunch often come closer to Doves in their lighter moments, even when they bring out the brass.

SUBS:
The Answering Machine - Obviously Cold
The Von Bondies - Blame Game
Alessi's Ark - Over the Hill
You Me At Six - Finders Keepers
Superfamily - Let's Go Dancing

Clever Eleven April 2009 ¤

Due to vacations, holidays, birthdays and other time-consuming activities, April's collection is a good week late, but better clever than never, eh? You know the drill, eleven cracking tunes, perhaps particularly upbeat this time.

1. Green Day - Know Your Enemy
- I'm guessing minimalism was never on the agenda when Billy Joe & co set to return with a Butch Vig-produced rock opera.
2. The Enemy - No Time For Tears
- What better way to follow Green Day's suggestion than to check out the first single from the Coventry punks' second album Music for the People, where The Jam/The Clash-attitude is topped with Oasis/The Verve grandiosity to great effect.
3. Bob Mould - City Lights (Days Go By)
- He's pushing 50, but the former frontman of Hüsker Dü and Sugar is more prolific than ever, releasing his ninth solo album Life and Times only a good year after his eighth, it still being better than what most bands at half his age muster in twice the time.
4. LoveLikeFire - William
5. Eskimo Joe - Foreign Land
- Already huge in their homeland (no, not Greenland), the Aussie trio try their luck on a foreign contintent with their fourth album, Inshalla. In keeping with the exotic album title, the lead-off single not only builds from a Turkish snake-charmer's theme but also features a muscular guitar riff in the vein of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir.
6. Manic Street Preachers - Jackie Collins Existential Question Time
- With AWOL guitarist Richey Edwards officially pronounced dead last November, the Welsh trio pay the ultimate tribute by using his lost lyrics on their upcoming album that also see them returning to their earlier work in terms of fuzzy guitars and artsy song titles.
7. The Mojo Fins - Always Now
- The Brighton popsters soldiered heroically on after the death of their lead singer two years ago, and are finally ready with their debut album The Sound that I Still Hear. The sound they're still hearing is presumably that of The Unbelievable Truth (remember them?) or even The Sundays.
8. Tinted Windows - Kind Of A Girl
- Ten years ago, the odds would be pretty high on a Hanson/Smashing Pumpkins collaboration. Well, here you have the heartthrob from the former and the weird guitarist from the latter, joining forces with songwriter-maestro Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) and the drummer from Cheap Trick in an unlikely, but most likeable powerpop supergroup.
9. The Fine Arts Showcase - The Teenage Order
- If anything, this track is certainly a showcase of mastering the fine art of emulating The Byrds (1967, to be precise), something the sympathetic Swedes aren't too coy about, naming the brilliant parent album Dolophine Smile after a track by the psychedelic pioneers.
10. Maxïmo Park - Roller Disco Dreams
- Personal highlight from the the Geordies' third outing, on which they (again) sadly fail to repeat the magic of their debut, sounding more and more like a Kaiser Chiefs without the singalong-anthems, without the hits and most importantly - without the fun.
11. Heroes & Zeros - Cipramillion
- On their second album, the Norwegian drone-poppers get some vocal help from current indie it-girl Anne-Lise Frøkedal, who appears for the third time in five months (also being lead singer in Harrys Gym and I Was a King).

SUBS:
The Tragically Hip - Honey, Please
The Mary Onettes - Dare
Montée - Isle Of Now
Gomez - Natural Reaction
White Belt Yellow Tag - You're Not Invincible

Clever Eleven March 2009 ¤

Spring is upon us, and this month's collection is somewhat more optimistic and light-hearted than the last. This time I was hoping to include some comeback tracks from some old indie heroes, but sadly Placebo, Maxïmo Park and Kasabian all failed to impress with their new outings. C11 is no place for pity or old heroics!

1. The Veils - Three Sisters
- Ferociously folky track from the relocated New Zealanders' third album Sun Gangs, out in April.
2. Death Cab for Cutie - My Mirror Speaks
- Supposedly the positive vibe didn't fit too well with the overall feel on Narrow Stairs, but this EP of outtakes from the album sessions still make for a great listen on a sunny spring day, especially this track, reminiscent of old favourite I Was a Kaleidoscope.
3. Rogues - Not So Pretty
4. Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You
- Is it just me, or doees the beautiful opening track from the new pornographer's fifth album Middle Cyclone (she obviously has a thing for strong winds) recall the late Kirsty MacColl?
5. Hiawata! - Valley Boys
- Belonging to the same independent scene of my hometown of Oslo, Norway as previous C11 includees Harrys Gym and I Was a King, this lot represent the pure popside of it.
6. Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
7. Camera Obscura - French Navy
- This timeless piece of summery soul from the Glaswegian six-piece precedes their fourth album My Maudlin Career.
8. Jeremy Enigk - Mind Idea
- The Missing Link was my definitive favourite album of 2007, and judging by this taster from the upcoming successor OK Bear, the former Sunny Day Real Estate agent is still in good shape.
9. Red Light Company - Arts & Crafts
- You know you got a killer of an album, when the fourth single off it is this good, and with a debut like this, RLC should be playing the sort of big venues their music clearly was made for any time soon.
10. Delphic - Counterpoint
- The six-minute debut single from this Manc trio shows that it is possible to twiddle the knobs and make a good tune out of it at the same time.
11. The Hours - Big Black Hole

SUBS:
Oasis - Falling Down (The Prodigy Mix)
Steve Cradock - Running Away
The Hot Melts - Edith
The Orange Lights - Life Is Still Beautiful
The Maccabees - No Kind Words

Clever Eleven February 2009 ¤

February might be short, but there certainly hasn't been a shortage of great songs, as proved by this month's collection. The variety is arguably wider than ever, when it comes to geography, gender and genres - you'll even find a piece of Russian synth pop amongst the subs!

1. Mando Diao - Gloria
- A highlight from the Swedes' fifth album Give me Fire, this soulful stomper rather curiously manages to cross the Them and Laura Branigan songs by the same name.
2. Defend Moscow - Manifesto
- If the thundering bass riff doesn't get you, the tappin' guitar solo certainly will. Oh, and inbetween there's a pretty cool synth anthem by this troupe that even features a Norwegian songstress.
3. The Wombats - My Circuitboard City
- Also with a Norwegian in their ranks, the far more familiar Merseyside marsupials return with a single that shows some musical growth (thank God).
4. The Race - Rude Boy
5. Jersey Budd - Visions Of You
- While the second single from the Leicester troubadour is a surefire energy boost, it is also so Springsteen, it's a wonder he hasn't named himself "New Jersey Budd".
6. Howling Bells - Cities Burning Down
7. The Virgins - Teen Lovers
8. Tilly & The Wall - Pot Kettle Black
- The Nebraskan five-piece re-release this outburst of a single and give us a hint of how The White Stripes might have sounded had they put Jack behind the drumkit, replaced Meg with her three angry sisters and hired a tap dancer for percussion duties.
9. The Presets - If I Know You
- No, it's not New Order remixing Editors, it's just the fifth and final single from the Aussies' platinum-selling album Apocalypso.
10. The Datsuns - So Long
- When compared to The Presets, this piece of glammed-up Kiwi cock rock proves that the even the musical distances are greater than you'd think down under.
11. Doves - Kingdom Of Rust
- The moody Mancs return after four long years with this epic single that precedes the album by the same name, due out April 6th.

SUBS:
Saint Etienne - Method Of Modern Love
Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
The Coast - Tightrope
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Tesla Boy - Electric Lady

Clever Eleven January 2009 ¤

Apologies for the late release this time around! To make up for it, I've made a particularly cheery collection to keep the spirits up in the dark winter months - it even features presidents, an ex-king and the boss himself!

1. I Was a King - Norman Bleik
- Fresh Norwegian indie darlings pay a shamless, yet lovely tribute to Teenage Fanclub in tune and title (presumably a nod to Neil Jung from TF's '95 classic Grand Prix, an album on which this song would fit right in).
2. New Rhodes - The Joys of Finding And Losing That Girl
3. Bruce Springsteen - What Love Can Do
- The Boss take some time off his Obama endorsing to release his 16th studio album, this highlight is even described as "a love in the time of Bush meditation".
4. The Presidents Of The United States of America - Ladybug

- Although neither Bush nor Obama is yet to be found in their lineup, PUSA made the most of their name and released a specially composed Obama inauguration song, available for free on their website. This similarly cheery track, however, is from their recent Ladybug EP.
5. The Rifles - Winter Calls
6. Sibrydion - Praying For Rain
7. Office - Nobody Knows You
- The Chicago power poppers make some beutiful Illinoise on their latest effort Mecca, generously available as a free download. I guess that's you'd call Open Office, eh?
8. The View - Temptation Dice
9. Great Lake Swimmers - Pulling On A Line
10. Starsailor - Tell Me It's Not Over
11. The Appleseed Cast - The Summer Before

SUBS:
Doves - Jetstream
Wintersleep - Archaeologists
Maribel - Taste the Trash
Metric - Help I'm Alive
Morrissey - I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris

Clever Eleven December 2008 ¤

Happy new year everybody! Hopefully you've all enjoyed your holidays, I know I certainly have - without too much concern for the last compilation of 2008, so I really had to get to work those last days of my vacation. As December traditionally is a dry month for new releases, I had to include a few overlooked gems from the previous couple of months to stage a sufficently strong line-up, but the final squad looks (and sounds, no doubt!) as good as ever. See y'all in 2009!

1. White Lies - To Lose My Life
2. Tigers That Talked - 23 Fears
3. Harrys Gym - Brother
4. Winterpills - Take Away The Words
5. Neon Neon - Dream Cars
6. Alessi's Ark - The Horse
7. Ladyhawke - My Delirium
8. Ra Ra Riot - Can You Tell
9. The September When - Don't Call the Cops
10. Army Navy - Pocket Boys
11. Kyte - Eyes Lose Their Fire

SUBS: The Hours - See The Light, Gramercy Arms - Shining Bright, Glasvegas - Please Come Back Home, SixNationState - Your Money or Your Life, Pete and the Pirates - Jennifer.

SPOTIFY LINK

Clever Eleven November 2008 ¤

Yuletide is just a few weeks ahead, and it seems like rockers around the world are emptying their closets to put something out for the christmas sale. This is great news for music compilers such as myself, and once again I treat you all to a double whammy - 2x11 great songs, which even fit perfectly on a single CD (playlists included, as usual)! In addition to the many EP- and single-only tracks featured, note the heavy Scandinavian delegation this month.

1. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Thrill Me
- Noel Gallagher's favourite Swedes bring on a stompin' Southern groove on the first proper single from their fifth album, the 24-track mammoth Communion.
2. Jersey Budd - She Came Back
- Leicester-bred singer/songwriter gets a little help from Kasabian's Tom Meighan on his first single, that sound like a midwestern Paul Weller or a rocking David Gray (imagine that).
3. Mutemath - Spotlight
- The New Orleans electro-rockers are putting the finishing touches on their second album, and presents this energetic preview on the soundtrack to the vampire movie Twilight.
4. Oasis - I'm Outta Time
- Appearantly it took Liam nine years to write Oasis' beautiful new single, which is the ultimate showcase of the author's Lennon obsession; it even features a speech sample from his idol's New York days.
5. The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Assassination of Myself
- The Swedish commie punks celebrate 10 years of existence with a new album, The Cross of My Calling.
6. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Everything With You
- Watch out for this New York quartet and their shoegazey sunshine pop. It's like the last 20 years of music never happened.
7. The Raveonettes - Young And Beautiful
- The digable Danes release no less than four EPs this autumn, each with a different style or theme. This track is from the third and most recognizable outing, Beauty Dies.
8. ...and You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Festival Thyme
- The Texan proggers shorten the wait for their forthcoming album, due early next year, with an eclectic collection of tunes, with the lighthearted title track being the highlight.
9. Molotov Jive - Paint The City Black
- Umistakably Swedish blend of The Clash and not least Born to Run-era Springsteen on the anthemic new single from this Karlstad four-piece.
10. Magnetic Morning - Indian Summer
- The indie super duo consisting of Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino and Adam Franklin of Swervedriver finally deliver an album's worth of atmospheric pop, not a million miles from the latter's solo project Toshack Highway.
11. Third Eye Blind - Red Star
- They may take their time between albums, but the multi-talented Stephan Jenkins and his troupe are still able to throw out a catchy tune, like this taster from their upcoing fourth album, Ursa Major.

RESERVES: The Killers - Spaceman, Brut Boogaloo - Messed Up A Good Thing, Findlay Brown - All That I Have, Howling Bells - Into The Chaos, It Hugs Back - Work Day, Operahouse - Change In Nature, Lovers Electric - Could This Be, Nick Harrison - Something Special, Stars - 14 Forever, Coldplay - Life In Technicolor ii, The Fireman - Dance Til We're High.

Clever Eleven October 2008 ¤

A slightly mellower and warmer collection this month, possibly unconsciously inspired by the recent snowfall in my hometown. Hopefully it will keep you warm, as well!

1. The View - 5Rebbecca's
- The Scottish youngsters provides this month's opening anthem, with an energetic taster from their second album, due early next year (the ortography varies even on their own website, so don't blame me for any misspelling or -punctuation).
2. The Charlatans - Oh! Vanity
- The northern monkeys finally put out a physical single release of this bouncy gem, which bears a striking resemblance to New Order's Waiting for the Siren's Call.
3. Blitzen Trapper - God & Suicide
- Another month, another eclectic rootsy pop ensemble from the States, getting the critic's thumbs up. Recently signed to Sub Pop, this Portland, Oregon act recalls Wilco in their Beatles-mimicking days.
4. Duncan Lloyd - Make Our Escape
- Poppy highlight from the Maxïmo Park axeman's solo album, which more or less sounds like a collection of demo versions of his proper band.
5. Bloc Party - Talons
- Kele & co whip out a surprise single for the physical release of their third album Intimacy.
6. Robin Thicke - Magic
- Slick, yet classy soul from LA white boy with an obvious Marvin Gaye-obsession.
7. Attic Lights - Walkie Talkie
- Just one of many joyous highlights from the Glaswegians' remarkably tune-and-harmony-heavy debut album Friday Night Lights.
8. Josh Pyke - Don't Wanna Let You Down
- On his second proper album, the Aussie troubadour takes good care of the Elliott Smith/Matthew Jay heritage.
9. The Broken West - Perfect Games
10. The King Blues - My Boulder
- Scruffy, yet highly infectious singalong folk-punk from London outfit, with political tendencies and a frontman called Fruitbag.
11. The Cure - Underneath the Stars
- Lush and atmospheric opening track from Lipstick-Bob's latest longplayer.

SUBS: Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care, Ben Folds - Kylie From Connecticut, Golden Silvers - Magic Touch, The Rifles - The Great Escape, Razorlight - Wire To Wire.

Clever Eleven September 2008 ¤

The September selection is not only notable for the spectacular assembly of anticipated indie royalty "comebacks", but also for a remarkably high share of eighties-tinged synth pop. But relax, die-hards, there's still plenty of heavy gauged guitar to go around for those autumn air raids!

1. Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss a Beat
- Another fist-pumping anthem from Ricky Wilson & co; allegedly features inaudible backing vocals from Lily Allen.
2. Captain - Echoes Of Fashion
- If they manage to get their second album out, this is what to expect, 80's flavoured pop perfection, not a million miles from C11 favourites Royworld.
3. Underground Railroad - Kill Me Now (Or you Never Will)
- Allthough this grungy gang is located in London and sounds remarkably un-French - who'd expected two representatives from France in one edition of C11? Not me.
4. The Killers - Human
- The Vegas bunch return to what they do best, but not even the cleverest minds (that includes me, obviously) can tell whether we are human or dancer.
5. Grantura - Down from the Mountain
- The band name, as the music itself, may link Grand Canyon and Ventura, but these harmonic horsemen are actually from the dusty streets of South London, imagine that.
6. Snow Patrol - Take Back The City
- The upcoming single from the ballad-friendly Brits show less gloom and more balls than their previous efforts.
7. Tahiti 80 - All Around
- The new single from the French foursome is a pleasant slice of soft rock that should have fellow countrymen Phoenix taking notes, are they still awake.
8. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
- Honest working class rock from Noo Joisee act, that diserves credit for sounding less like The Boss than a Levellers/Killers hybride, despite singing about cars, rivers and the good ole days.
9. The Dears - Money Babies
- A song unfortunately too typical for the troubled Canadians' upcoming album Missiles: despite the tasteful arrangement and beautiful melody, the song doesn't really seem to go anywhere, and just as it's finding its groove, it's over!
10. Van She - Kelly
- The Oz technofiles find a free seat between M83 and Cut Copy and give their two-year old debut single a makeover for their brilliant debut album V.
11. Travis - Song to Self
- The likeable Scots have appearantly turned their amps up on their recent album Ode to J.Smith, in an attempt to regain some of the territory lost to Coldplay during the last 5-6 years.

SUBS: Sigur Rós - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur, Absentee - Bitchstealer, The Raveonettes - Vintage Future, Elvis Costello And The Imposters - No Hiding Place, Iglu & Hartly - In This City

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