Got a big box of CDs due to arrive either today or tomorrow including new stuff from Säkert!, Isolation Years, Ane Brun and more so I've gone ahead and updated the webshop with all the new inventory. Restocks include Nikola Sarcevic, the "Oh no... it's Christmas!" comp and Hello Saferide's "Would you let me..." EP.

MP3: Isolation Years - Landslide

The new Isolation Years album "Sign, sign", one of my most anticipated records for 2007, was released today. Fortunately for me, I got an early promo so I've already had a few weeks to spend with the album. Fortunately for you too 'cuz the more I've gotten to know the music, the more I understand and appreciate it. My history of first impressions with Isolation Years have been fraught with peril in the past, so I make sure to give them a lot of time to grow on me. Case in point: I hated sophomore album "It's golden" when it was first released and now it's one of my most favorite records ever. "Sign, sign" in no way elicited such a strong reaction, but I was skeptical. As Nancy stated in her review, the album is very consistent, but lacking in standout moments. It took quite a few listens before any of the songs besides the first single "Landslide" (which I've posted today) embedded themselves into my memory. My outlook changed little by little. Opening track "Albino child", with its odd Jesus character depiction and ominous tone, was an early favorite. A few of the other, more religious-minded songs such as "Daddy I'm a pilgrim now" soon followed. It took some time, but eventually I've come around to loving it all. Maybe not the best work of their career thus far, but definitely a worthy addition to the catalogue.
I will be getting a few copies for resale, but they probably won't be in stock until late next week. Hold tight!

Isolation Years - Landslide

Do You Dream of Noise? and Burnt Toast Vinyl will be teaming up to release a new one-sided LP from Isolation Years later this year. Five songs plus an etching on the b-side.

Pssst! Randy will be a surprise opening act at the Isolation Years releasefest on January 26 in their hometown of Umeå.

Got a fresh batch of reviews posted for y'all today: [click here]
I gotta say that the new Isolation Years just keeps growing and growing on me after a less-than-impressive first impression. Definitely one of my recent personal favorites.

Isolation Years
Sign, sign
NONS

This is the fourth record from one of Sweden's best kept secrets. On their first two, singer-songwriter Jakob Nyström, if never quite gloomy, sounded like a seeker out of place in the world around him, a status that lent a certain mystical magic to his already poignant vocal delivery and the band's unusual folky/psychedelic/rock sound. 2005's "Cover the distance" found them alternating that sound with cheer, and on this, their most consistent record, they sound almost (dare I say it?) happy. While touching on many of the same themes - Jesus, secularism, connection and lack of connection to place and people - this time around it's poppy and even bouncy throughout. There are no jaw-droppingly magnificent tracks like "Hemisphere" (from 2001's "Inland traveller") and it's no artistic stretch, but it's Isolation Years all the way, which is to say it's a solid, tuneful, beautiful piece of jangly folky rock that sounds like no one else.
- Nancy Baym

The new Isolation Years single "Landslide" is now streaming on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/isolationyearsmusic
The band's new album "Sign, sign" is easily one of my most anticipated 2007 releases.

Isolation Years have confirmed that their new album will be called "Sign, Sign". View pics from the recording sessions here: http://www.isolationyears.com/goodies.asp

Umeå-based indie rockers Anna Leong have announced that their debut album "After the forest fire" will finally released on January 31 on the band's own White Weekend label. Recorded in the fall of '05 with Daniel Berglund (Isolation Years) engineering and co-producing, the album has been in limbo a long time since the group was left label-less after Chalksounds closed shop. Listen to the first single "They will know us" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/annaleong

Isolation Years report that their new album is done, all that remains is the sequencing and so forth. Expect a late January release.

MP3: Ella Rouge - Manhattan

I've mentioned my appreciation of Christian music a few times here and there, but I think some clarification is in order. When I talk about good Christian music, I mean passionate stuff like Namur and Isolation Years or 16 Horsepower and even the Louvin Brothers. It's important to note that except for the latter, all of these acts consider themselves musicians first, Christians second. The mission is to make music, not necessarily spread the gospel, though inevitably their convictions are reflected in the music. Want an example of what not to do? Listen to today's mp3 from Ella Rouge. This is exactly the kind of empty, vapid music that gives Christian rock such a horrid name. If the Holy Spirit moves you in profound ways, the music should reflect that. Hiring a gospel choir to double the final chorus is no substitute for real emotion. The first couple songs on their record aren't so bad - overproduced and generic yeah, but listenable. I probably wouldn't change the channel if they came on the radio. But this song? Terrible. Painful even. Download at your own risk. Some trivia: The band features the vocals of one Ludwig Andersson, son of Benny from Abba. Though technically proficient in every way, I feel his talents could be put to much better use.

Ella Rouge - Manhattan

Video mix: Peter Bjorn and John, The Lionheart Brothers, Kristofer Åström, Desert Planet, José González, Khoma, more...

MP3: Isolation Years - Frosted minds

I didn't care much for Isolation Years' second album "It's golden" when it first came out. The lead single "Open those eyes" was a huge departure from the mid-tempo folk/rock sound of "Inland traveller", the debut. Not to mention the increased promenince of religious imagery in the lyrics. Needless to say, I just wasn't having it. Still, I never quite gave up on it. Good thing too, since it's now one of my most favorite albums. I believe I have mentioned the story before a long time ago, but I was on vacation doing a long drive through the woods of Northern California listening to "It's golden" and all of a sudden, it clicked. The scenery, my laid-back frame of mind - whatever it was, it made me reevaluate my entire outlook. Yes, it's still quite different from the debut, but you know what? That's not a bad thing at all. They're both great albums in their own separate ways and I really think that just goes to show how good of a band Isolation Years is. I know it's common for folks to shy away from bands that flirt with notions of 'Christian rock', but listen: you're missing out. And besides, the Bible has been providing fodder for quality songwriting for ages. It's not going to change anytime soon, so stop being so damn afraid of it. I'm no Christian myself, but I know that passionate people make passionate music. I won't lie - a lot, nay the overwhelming majority, of Christian rock sucks. It's watered-down garbage. But most pop music sucks too, come to think of it. Now, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea and start thinking that Isolation Years are purely a Christian rock act. That's wholly unfair and would be totally selling them short. They're about much more than that. It's just that I recently finished reading "Body piercing saved my life" by Andrew Beaujon, an excellent look into the world of modern Christian music and have been thinking a lot about it. It's such a strange segregated society, coexisting almost in parallel to the secular world. What's interesting is when the two meet. But enough of that tangent, listen to this Isolation Years song and enjoy one of my favorite bands and read that book to learn more about the weirdness of Christian underground society.

Isolation Years - Frosted minds

Isolation Years report that they have started to mix their forthcoming album. Can't wait to hear it as they've been one of my favorite bands for a long while. In fact, I've got them scheduled as this week's Friday post. Future song titles to puzzle over include "(Jesus was an) Albino child", "A lonely view", "Soldiers on leave" and "Daddy I'm a pilgrim now".

Isolation Years will be recording a new album this summer at Studio Gröndahl in Stockholm with Johan Gustafsson producing.