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

Quarterly report: Q12011

Stockholm Boat Sessions: Penny Century

Who can resist Penny Century playing live for Stockholm Boat Sessions? And why would you want to? Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ_jvYNbZeI

Interview: Penny Century

Penny Century - James Hurley

More X-mas downloads: a new track from Penny Century is up at Absolut Noise: http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2010/12/exclu-penny-century-new-song-james.html

Presenting: Nord & Syd

Check out Nord & Syd, a new band from prolific Swedish indiepop artist Martin Abrahamsson (Vapnet, Siberia, Kommun) alongside David Nygård (Laakso), Julia Hanberg (Penny Century), Kalle Danielsson (Holy Madre) and Joel Linderberg (Ironville): http://www.nord-och-syd.blogspot.com/

New Penny Century single coming via Absolut Noise

The new Penny Century single "James Hurley" will be released as a free download on 3pm CET Christmas Eve via Swedish music blog Absolut Noise.

MP3: Penny Century - Fiver

I am excited to premiere a new track today from Penny Century, still one of my absolute favorite Swedish indiepop acts and yet somehow, still also currently unsigned. But let's not dwell on that travesty and instead dig into the music, a track entitled "Fiver" which they describe as "perhaps not the most radio-friendly song," but one that best exemplifies the "difference between this album and the last." Which is not to say that the difference is really all that drastic, but "Fiver" does indeed show a much mellower and subdued side of the band. Of course, Julia Hanberg's vocals shine through as strong as ever and the band's melodies are still super catchy, though with a much stronger emphasis on the keyboards. I'm not fortunate enough to have heard any more than this one tune, but if it's more along these lines, I'm sure I'll love it. As for the future, the first "official" single from the album "James Hurley" comes out on Christmas Eve and I suppose the album itself (working title: "Friends and family") will follow sometime thereafter, either via the band's own Love and Records label or via some other smart person who decides to pony up. Perhaps it's time already for me to get my 2011 watchlist started?

Penny Century - Fiver

Penny Century wrapping up new album, touring the UK

Penny Century, one of my favorite Swedish indiepop acts, reports that their new album is almost done and is tentatively set for a late summer release with a single on the way shortly. As with the band's "Valencia EP", it was recorded at Studio Cobra with Konie. The band is also heading back to the UK next month:

06/05 - The Hope, Brighton
06/06 - The Dublin Castle, London
06/07 - The Magnet, Liverpool
06/08 - The Keys, Middlesbrough
06/09 - Trillians, Newcastle

Festival report: CMJ 2009

Penny Century - Live in Östersund (video)

Penny Century, quite easily my favorite currently unsigned Swedish indiepop act, have posted a video playlist of four songs from their recent live appearance in Östersund, Sweden: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=4EF8D4B7294809DD

Penny Century UK tour

Swedish indierockers Penny Century are heading back to the UK at the end of the month:

10/31 - The White Room, Sunderland
11/01 - Seaham Leisure Centre, Seaham
11/03 - The Works, Middlesborough
11/05 - Cartridge World, Sunderland (invite only)
11/06 - Institute of Arts, Durham
11/07 - Cluny 2, Newcastle

Sirius playlist week #19

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

01. Penny Century - Just because (feat. Mattias Alkberg)
02. TALK 1
03. Piroth - Fog dancers
04. Shogun Kunitoki - Riddarholmen
05. Elenette - Start; alla program; spel
06. TALK 2
07. The End Will Be Kicks - Sweets and filth
08. Viola - Nobodylovers
09. Pan Sonic - Maa
10. Antifilm - Here comes the son
11. TALK 3
12. Ingenting - Slapp in solen
13. Pixie Carnation - Fresh poems
14. David Åhlén - Spirit fall
15. TALK 4
16. The Fine Arts Showcase - The teenage order
17. Pinto - We breathe too much
18. The Opium Cartel - Better days ahead
19. Dag för Dag - I am the assassin
20. TALK 5
21. Aerial - All refrain

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.

MP3: Penny Century - Valencia

More and more bands are beginning to understand the value of giving away their music for free, but honestly, how much of it is actually worth downloading? Chances are you haven't noticed, but I've really tried to pare down on the amount of crap I post so it's more quality, not quantity. Even still, I can barely keep up with it all so I know the majority of readers are likewise behind the curve. Swedish indie act Penny Century posted a free EP last month, but it took me weeks to give it a thorough listen despite Mattias Alkberg illustrious name being attached to the credits. What's wrong with me, right? Like I said: too much music, too much crap, diminished expectations. Good thing that these guys are damn good because they jumped right out at me when I threw 'em into a shuffle playlist of new tunes not too long ago. It was one of those "I must know who this is!" moments when you hear something for the first time and immediately understand it's greatness. Penny Century are like that, a solid, instantly-gratifying indiepop act. Obviously reminiscent of early Bear Quartet, but also with their own identity and personality. Good songs, good feelings. Mattias' appearance is merely sugar on top of the frosting, by no means the main attraction. Check out the title track below and then go here to download the rest.

Penny Century - Valencia

Sirius playlist week #14

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

01. TALK 1
02. Small - Highway child
03. Seance - Invocation
04. Halph - New money
05. TALK 2
06. Anna Frank - Directions
07. Kristofer Åström - Me and the snakes
08. The Scrags - Mad passion
09. TALK 3
10. Randy - Who's side are you on?
11. Division of Laura Lee - Violence is timeless
12. Existensminimum - 1993
13. Familjen - Socker
14. TALK 4
15. The Fine Arts Showcase - Lovesick
16. Viola - Cute destroyer
17. Nitad - Nervvrak
18. Penny Century - Just because
19. TALK 5
20. Marions - Another hour
21. BJ Nielsen - Tummen upp
22. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Facelessness erases every trace of humanity

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.