Top 10s for 2011: It's a Trap!

MP3: Moto Boy - Love is the one thing you can't pretend

Most of my summer listening this year has been revisiting old favorites, partially because there's been few 2011 releases that have stuck with me, but also just because that's what summer is for. Also, as mentioned yesterday, I've also been listening to a lot of pop lately and there hasn't been much in that department that's blown me away recently except for maybe Kaka. And the new Kite, but we'll get to that eventually. What interests me most though, are the artists that didn't make a huge splash with me the first time around; instead, they lingered on the periphery until they eventually work their way into my permanent playlist. For instance: Moto Boy. I've always liked Moto Boy, but three years on I've finally realized that yes, I kinda actually do really love him/his music. The best pop music is always about the grand gesture and Oskar Humlebo's sweeping falsetto is a case study. Dunno why it took me so long to come around, but Moto Boy has staying power, a rarity in the endless stream of mediocrity.

Moto Boy - Love is the one thing you can't pretend

MP3: Kaka - Candyman

Okay, summer music time. Even though I've got a summer cold (always the worst!) and the sun isn't shining at all here in the PacNW, I'm about to go on vacation for two full weeks and am looking to get mentally prepared. Not to mention, I need to make playlists for cruising down the coast. So with that in mind, my #1 pick is easy: Kaka. I hate to say the name out loud (still!) and will typically just say "Richard Karlsson's solo project" instead, but there's no denying that his latest album "The two" is my current go-to, good-time party jammer. He's got such a cheap and corny Casio factory-preset sort of sound, but by fully embracing it and taking it to the extreme, he makes it work. The ridiculousness is integral.
"Candyman" is one of the "darker" tunes from the albums I guess, though it's certainly relative -- can't fuck with that Gary Glitter-swing in the beat and that monster chorus, especially the huge buildup before each instance. So while I'm still reluctant to say the name aloud (much like the song name, I suppose), I offer no such hesitance in recommended the music.

Kaka - Candyman

Kaka is Popjustice song of the day

Swedish artist Kaka has the song of the day over at Popjustice: http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5444&Itemid=279
I'm not always big on a lot of the stuff they go for, but Kaka is fully backed.

New Kaka album pushed back to March

Kaka, the solo project of Richard Karlsson from The Mo, will now release his new album "The two" on March 30 via Despotz Records. The new single "Stars" is out now I believe.

New Kaka coming in February

Look for the new Kaka album "The two" to be released on February 22 via Despotz Records.

Sirius playlist week #39

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Simian Ghost - Beat on the brat
02. TALK 1
03. End of All - Folkhemmet
04. In These Woods - Bear
05. The Bells - Outside
06. Britta Persson - Some girls some boys
07. TALK 2
08. Kråkesølv - Nordavind mot varme kinn
09. Tomas Halberstad - The pendulum swings again
10. WhoMadeWho - Left hand of the boxser
11. TALK 3
12. Säkert! - Köttet är svagt
13. Next Life - Battle tactics
14. Kaka - Candyman
15. The Fine Arts Showcase - Spanish kerosene
16. TALK 4
17. Kimono - Black
18. Axe - Up against common sense
19. NNDC - Mouthful of diamonds
20. Slöa Knivar - Anticimex
21. Enforcer - Take me to hell
22. TALK 5
23. Ikons - Imperiet

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Kaka - Candyman (video)

Kaka has a video for his brand new single "Candyman". Can't say the clip is all that, but I'm really enjoying the new material. Direct link: http://vimeo.com/15156146

MP3: Kaka - Below this sun

Kaka's self-titled debut album from a couple years ago was a bit of a sleeper. A few really great tracks (such as "The hotspurs"), but it never seemed to get much traction. That is to say, I enjoyed it, but it lacked the stickiness I really need in my pop music. Not to mention, an atrocious name. C'mon... Kaka? Talk about hamstringing yourself from the get-go, might as well burn a few wads of cash while you're at it. Anyhow, the new single "Below this sun" is good, maybe even a little bit great, but like my wife just said to me, "this sounds really fun, but I can't recommend them to anyone." I've played it on my radio show a few times even though I'm loathe to announce it out loud and now I guess I'm recommending it you, here in print, despite my foolish trepidation. Once you get past the awful, awful name, there's actually a lot to like.

Kaka - Below this sun

Sirius playlist week #29

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Champagne Riot - A friend of a friend
02. TALK 1
03. Hur Högt - Hur högt
04. Karl X Johan - Flames
05. Nils Bech & Krazy Fiesta Arkestra - Drunk love
06. TALK 2
07. Håkan Lidbo - Zuzuvela
08. Jasmine Kara - Try my love again
09. Kaka - Below this sun
10. Viola - Neon lightning
11. TALK 3
12. Supersci - Snap out of it
13. Haleiwa - Vibraandaman
14. Korallreven - The truest faith
15. TALK 4
16. Robyn - Dancehall queen
17. Hunt - Ashes of a secret heart
18. Rasmus Kellerman - Where do you go at night
19. TALK 5
20. Tutankamon - Have you ever been in love?

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #27

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. TALK 1
02. Makthaverskan - Inside of me
03. Swedish House Mafia - One
04. Elias & the Wizzkids - Waste of time
05. TALK 2
06. The Animal Five - Dancing on my own
07. Miasmal - Creation of fire
08. The Aches - Count slowly to ten
09. Karin Ström - Reptilian brain
10. TALK 3
11. Dear Euphoria - No more time to weep
12. Delay Trees - Cassette 2012
13. Sort Sol - Marguerita
14. TALK 4
15. The Tallest Man on Earth - The wild hunt
16. Cut City - The sound and the sore
17. The Hives - Civilization's dying
18. The Nature - Din medicin
19. TALK 5
20. Kaka - Below this sun
21. The Scrags - Psycho cyclone
22. On Volcano - Ride the wolf
23. TALK 6

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

SXSW showcase update

Here's the latest list of Scandinavian acts officially confirmed for SXSW:

Årabrot (NOR)
Baskery (SWE)
Benny Crespo's Gang (ICE)
Blood Red Throne (NOR)
Bloodgroup (ICE)
Casiokids (NOR)
Dmitry Fyodorov (SWE)
Grande (NOR)
Adam Heldring (SWE)
Jaakko & Jay (FIN)
Kaka (SWE)
Kakkmaddafakka (NOR)
The Latebirds (FIN)
Love:Fi (NOR)
Mixtapes & Cellmates (SWE)
Peter Bjorn and John (SWE)
Kristofer Ragnstam (SWE)
Sprengjuhollin (ICE)
Steed Lord (ICE)
Steso Songs (SWE)
The Shitsez (NOR)
The Tallest Man On Earth (SWE)
Sofia Talvik (SWE)
Those Dancing Days (SWE)
The Tiny (SWE)
Wildbirds & Peacedrums (SWE)

Despotz signs O'Spada

Despotz Records (The Deer Tracks, Kaka) has announced the signing of Swedish act O'Spada and will be releasing their debut album this coming fall. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ospadamusic

RSK Entertainment Ltd. has licensed Kaka's underappreciated debut album for release in the UK on March 9. The record will also be released throughout all of Scandinavia on March 4 via Playground Music.

The Deer Tracks (ft. members from Leiah, Ariel Kill Him and Twiggy Frostbite) have broken free of their contract with Finnish label Next Big Thing and are now signed to Despotz Records (Kaka, Hellsongs) in Sweden. Look for their debut album "Aurora" to be released on August 27.