Top tens for 2010: Absolut Noise

We Are the Storm - Shoreline (live video)

We Are the Storm perform live for Kvalität. Not a cover, but a homage to the great Broder Daniel. Direct link: http://www.kvalitat.com/2010/12/we-are-the-storm-shoreline/

MP3: Another Nation's National Anthem - About your fathers

I am a big appreciator of the large gesture. Pixie Carnation and We are the Storm are two fine examples of contemporary Swedish acts achieving epic indie rock grandeur; Another Nation's National Anthem is another. The band's new EP "Conscious castle" is a concept work that flows steadily from track to track, from one climatic moment to the next; in between are moments of refined melancholy that remind me of Tiger Lou, especially on the two-part "Hold, stranger". The band's own descriptor of "massive" implies a heaviness that they lack, but they got the size part right on. Many acts have been following similar paths in the wake of Arcade Fire, most of them falling far short; ANNA succeeds with their restrained bombast and a balanced fragility/woundedness. They could probably still do more to differentiate themselves from the rabble, but I can't begrudge a song like "About your fathers" when it does it so well.

Another Nation's National Anthem - About your fathers

The Shiloh - The ship (video)

I have to say, I like this song a heckuva lot more than I thought I would. I expected overwrought emo-pop silliness and while The Shiloh are definitely rooted in such terrain, their new single is really just a great pop song. Still leaning towards overwrought perhaps, but in a good way. Though maybe not quite as stellar as We are the Storm's "I woke up to the bells", it's got a similar appeal, it pulls the same heartstrings. Oh, and bonus points for a star turn by the daughter of IAT.MP3 artist Racingpaperplanes/Richard Wilson! Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX0aB0RfNsc

We Are the Storm in the studio

We Are the Storm will begin recording their debut album this weekend -- definitely one of the year's most anticipated releases.

Festival report: Popadelica 2010

We are the Storm
Live @ Popadelica, Huskvarna 05/01/2010

"The really good songs tends to write themselves," singer and guitarist Staffan Blomén declared as we sat down for a chat a couple of hours before We are the Storm played at this year's rendition of the Popadelica Festival in Huskvarna, Sweden. We were of course talking about the smashing "I woke up to the bells", which surfaced as a live video a while back. The song is simply breathtaking, so simple and yet so direct. Can you believe this band is still unsigned? They won't be for long, take my word for it. Listening to the songs on the eponymous EP the band released last year got me thinking about Fireside still on their best, or a rougher version of Britain's Athlete. While I was under the impression that the music of We are the Storm was all about dealing with all those not-so-good-feelings we all get from time to time, Blomén explained it was quite the opposite. We are the Storm are all about letting out all that which can't be kept within, no matter the feelings. A fact very clear when the band finally hits the stage - The Seven Nation Army, seven people crowded in a very limited space, performing like their lives depended on it. Let me say this again: We are the Storm are still not signed to any label (it's crazy, I know)! They still lack some experience when it comes to playing live, yes, but the songs! This short 30 min set features only new songs, songs that hopefully will be recorded sometime this summer, and even though "I woke up to the bells" is still the strongest song by far, I sense great potential in these lads from Uppsala. Sure, they need to work on their performance, but with a few more shows in the bloodstream I'm sure they will figure out how to get a good flow going. Because here's the thing, when they're actually playing music, they are amazing! Record labels, get it touch. Now.
- Christian Stenbacke

We are the Storm - I woke up to the bells (video)

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Frzt-be_nI

I saw a preview of this clip about a month ago and was eager to post it, but was told to hold off until they were ready. Now, We Are the Storm are ready. This is the first taste of the band's new material, recorded live in an old theater in Uppsala, Sweden and it is killer. Now I'm eager to hear more.

Top 10s for 2009: Absolut Noise

Top 10s for 2009: Magnus Wikmark (We are the Storm)

Sirius playlist week #48

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

01. TALK 1
02. Kommun - I don't say anything
03. On Volcano - Out of sight
04. Turboweekend - Something or nothing
05. TALK 2
06. The Idle Hands - Hearts
07. Thåström - Linnéa
08. Fronda - Mitt allt
09. TALK 3
10. We Are the Storm - A song for our city
11. High Hats - The end
12. Wardruna - Kauna
13. Halph - New money
14. The Scrags - TV messed up mind
15. TALK 4
16. They Live - Magic glasses
17. Ison & Fille - Jag skratter idag
18. Nitad - Rädslan
19. TALK 5
20. Elmo - Shine down on us

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.

The best things in life are free: Fare You Well, Livaventura, Okkultokrati, Penny Century, We Are the Storm

Aversionline likes We Are the Storm

Aversionline gets hit to We Are the Storm: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2009/11/05/we-are-the-storm-st/

Sirius playlist week #30

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

01. I Are Droid - Sevenfold
02. TALK 1
03. [ingenting] - Halleluja!
04. Montys Loco - Farewell Mr Happy
05. Turboweekend - Something or nothing
06. José González - How low
07. TALK 2
08. Ison & Fille - Ikväll vi är kungar
09. Arcana - Invisible motions
10. Eskju Divine - Darkness all around
11. TALK 3
12. Murmansk - Silver heel
13. Björn Kleinhenz - HAZ 920
14. David Sandström Overdrive - Songs that maybe won't be forgotten
15. Randy - Evil
16. TALK 4
17. The Bombettes - Oh boy
18. We Are the Storm - Where we used to be heroes
19. Elmo - Young love
20. The Bear Quartet - Volksblues (ft. Karin Dreijer Andersson)
21. TALK 5
22. Mattias Alkberg - Jag bara tänkte, liksom, att

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: We are the Storm - Where we used to be heroes

We are the Storm resent being labelled emo and I can't say I blame them, but I gotta call 'em like I see 'em. Obviously they don't want to be lumped in with modern neon/hairband travesties like Brokencyde or even Panic & Action's artist roster, but that stuff isn't emo to me. I'm using the term in a more old-fashioned sense, meant to conjure memories of bands like Embrace or Fugazi, or as in We are the Storm's particular case, the 90s Midwest scene with acts such as Promise Ring, Texas is the Reason and so on, bands that they actually own up to liking. I'm not much of a Sunny Day Real Estate fan myself, but admitting their influence is hardly an embarrassment. This is emphatic rock music with ambitions of grandeur. "Where we used to be heroes" is more than a Broder Daniel homage, it also incorporates the sounds of bands such as Last Days of April or Sounds Like Violence. It's a strong debut, so all I can say is: keep singing your heart out. It's working.

As mentioned before, the band's entire EP is available for free download here.

We are the Storm - Where we used to be heroes