Top 10s for 2006: Staff picks

Today's top 10 comes from Andrew at Aversionline/Blodårstid, two of the best music review websites out there: [click here]
We may not see eye-to-eye on all music - I doubt he would ever get into Hello Saferide and I'm sure as hell never going to listen to E-Town Concrete - but his integrity is impeccable so I always trust what he says. Big ups to him for contributing.

Mundane Sounds names Hello Saferide as one of their top picks of 2006: http://www.mundanesounds.com/2006/12/best-of-2006-part-two-new-faces.html

Hello Saferide's "The quiz" ranks at #48 on the Stylus top 50 singles of the year: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/stylus-magazines-top-50-singles-of-2006.htm

Not a big suprise: Razzia has officially signed Maia Hirasawa, a name you might recognize from her work as part of Hello Saferide's band. Look for her debut album in March 2007. Read my profile piece on her right here: [click here]

This week's It's a trap! Last.fm/Audioscrobbler listening group top 10 albums of the week:

01. The Postal Service – Give Up
02. The Arcade Fire – Funeral
02. Death Cab for Cutie – Plans
04. The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow
04. Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary
06. The Radio Dept. – Pet Grief
07. I'm from Barcelona – Let Me Introduce My Friends
08. Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
09. Tiger Lou – The Loyal
10. The Knife – Deep Cuts

And the top 10 artists of the week:

01. The Shins
02. Sufjan Stevens
03. Bloc Party
04. Belle and Sebastian
05. Death Cab for Cutie
06. The Beatles
07. Radiohead
08. The Radio Dept.
09. Hello Saferide
10. The Decemberists

Does this list seem as ho-hum ing to you as it does me? Help fight the tedium by becoming a member of our group! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

Pitchfork reviews Hello Saferide: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39679/Hello_Saferide_Introducing_
Pfork readers looking to purchase said record, please click here. Thanks! Folks either having trouble with PayPal or looking for an alternative, get in touch and we'll work it out.

MP3: Hello Saferide - Long lost penpal

Today marks the official release date of Hello Saferide's "Introducing..." LP. I know it may seem totally arbitrary, but these things are kind of important in the retail world. Or so I'm told anyway. Like many people, I was first introduced to Hello Saferide's music via "Highschool stalker" which was something of a small Internet sensation when it first made the rounds. Unfortunately, I blew it off. That song and the subsequent single "My best friend" (aka 'the lesbian song') stuck me as too twee, too cutesy. Not that were bad mind you, just that they were apparently lacking substance. So, like an idiot, I slept on it. Luckily, those cursory listens stuck a chord with my wife or I might've never gone back for more investigation, but eventually I did and thank goodness because Hello Saferide is much more than meets the eye. Yes, she's cute and twee and all that, but there's also a poetic depth to her work that isn't so obvious. It's all too easy to write her off as some run-of-the-mill female singer/songwriter, but run-of-the-mill she most certainly isn't. This is music that grows the more you listen. There's always another line that requires second thought and study. Also, as I've stated before, this is not the sort of thing that ever gets old. Hello Saferide will sound just as good twenty years from now as it does today. That can only mean one thing: instant classic.
Download "Long lost penpal" (Annika's favorite song on the record, also featuring the very talented Firefox AK) today from the playlist on the right or head to my label page for a few additional tracks. Buy Hello Saferide CDs and LPs here: [click here]

Hello Saferide - Long lost penpal (ft. Firefox AK)

Stylus recommends Hello Saferide: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/hello-saferide/introducing-would-you-let-me-play-this-ep-10-times-a-day.htm
For all your Hello Saferide shopping needs, click here. For a report on her show in Glasgow last night, check this out: http://blog.myspace.com/soundsofsweden

IAT contributor Jason Christie checks in from Hello Saferide's UK tour: [click here]

And speaking of new releases and Hello Saferide, Swedesplease is giving away a copy of the new record: http://swedesplease.blogspot.com/2006/11/new-song-from-salty-pirates-plus-hello.html

Live report: Hello Saferide @ Dublin Castle, London UK 11/14/06

Songs:Illinois has Hello Saferide's contribution to the Groover Recordings Gene Clark tribute "The world turns all around him" for free download: http://songsillinoismp3.blogspot.com/2006/11/world-turns-all-around-him-tribute-to.html

Lots of new content added recently including an interview with Swedish artist Cake on Cake and a new batch of reviews, including a few CMJ shows. Good stuff, so check it out. Also, be aware that the vinyl edition of Hello Saferide's fantastic album "Introducing..." is now in-stock and ready for purchase. Buy it now and save - I'll probably up the price once the official release date comes around on November 21.

Swedesplease has Hello Saferide's contribution from the new "Oh no... it's Christmas!" comp for free download: http://swedesplease.blogspot.com/2006/11/new-song-by-hello-saferide-i-pod-x-mas.html
Preorder the comp here and don't forget that the vinyl edition of "Introducing" can be purchased right here. Vinyl is due to show up TODAY so expect orders to be processed immediately despite the November 21 'official' release date.