SRVC Paris #1
Swedist act Boat Club will be heading to Paris with folks from their label for a showcase at Le Tigre on February 18. Details at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=271809671892
Label: Service
http://www.srvice.com/
Reviews: Ikons - s/t / Jens Lekman - Nights falls over Kortedala / The Embassy - A compact disc including the Embassy / Cat5 - Play this loud/Sexy CDS / The Tough Alliance - The new school / The Tough Alliance - Holiday EP / The Embassy - Wearing our pop art hearts on our sleeves EP
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Viewing posts 16-22 out of 22Reviews: Ikons - s/t / Jens Lekman - Nights falls over Kortedala / The Embassy - A compact disc including the Embassy / Cat5 - Play this loud/Sexy CDS / The Tough Alliance - The new school / The Tough Alliance - Holiday EP / The Embassy - Wearing our pop art hearts on our sleeves EP
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Jens Lekman
Nights falls over Kortedala
Service/Secretly Canadian
This must surely be one of the most eagerly awaited albums of the year, not just for me but for a lot of people out there. I was a little scared to listen to it at first, fearing that it wouldn't be as good as I've so intensely wanted it to be. At first I was a bit confused, I thought the album was too much about clever instrumentation and sampling, but then after a few proper listenings (i.e. not on the bus while reading the paper) the songs started to appear for me out of the hodgepodge of different sounds, and it all made sense. Most of the tracks on "Night falls..." are simply pretty (and quite bombastic) pop songs, despite all the odd samples, use of instruments etc. The thing that got me hooked on Jens Lekman was his fabulous and quirky lyrics, and the lyrics on this album are probably his best ever. Some of the choruses Lekman's penned for this album are simply stunning, his songwriting skills are just getting better and better. There are a couple of tracks that I'm not overly keen on, but then three or four songs on here are already classics, as far as I'm concerned, and the more I listen to the rest, the more the album seems like another Jens Lekman solid release that you'll love and treasure. Sweet, reliable and sure to pick you up, just like a good cup of coffee - Jens Lekman's back and he's still fantastic!
- Simon Tagestam
The Embassy
A compact disc including the Embassy
Service
This sounds like bad karaoke over lost Pet Shop Boys b-sides. The songs aren't that great and the vocals are positively atrocious. While their shtick might be mildly entertaining at times, their music is not. Maybe someday we can all look back at The Embassy and have a good laugh, but for now I ain't having it.
- Avi Roig
Cat5
Play this loud/Sexy CDS
Service
Pretentiousness aside, this is almost a perfect slice of pure (somewhat) subversive pop with sexy lyrics and vocals. They look like a female version of labelmates The Tough Alliance, but their music is much less indie and way more pop. Fun stuff.
- Simon Tagestam
The Tough Alliance
The new school
Service
Last year, The Tough Alliance released a couple of EPs that were so good that it almost makes me cry to think about them. I haven't longed to hear an album by ANY band like I longed for "The new school", since perhaps Oasis' stinker "Be here now". It was stupid of me to have such crazy hopes though, since no album ever released would be able to live up to these insanely high expectations. The album is very good, it contains a lot of excellent songs, don't get me wrong, but it also makes me wonder if perhaps TTA, like their label comrade Jens Lekman, work better on EPs than on full-length albums. Now, after initial disappointment, I've invested my confused hopes in the possibility that "The new school" is a grower.
- Simon Tagestam
The Tough Alliance
Holiday EP
Service
The Tough Alliance, the tough ass band that carry baseball bats in their photos and sings about how Coca-Cola runs in their veins, have now on their second single penned a super catchy love song. Right now, I'm looking forward to The Tough Alliance's album more than anything else. Their electropunk has taken me by storm and if there's a more interesting band in the whole wide world, please tell me. This EP also consists of a fine cover of Primal Scream's "Velocity girl" and some sort of weird interlude.
- Simon Tagestam
The Embassy
Wearing our pop art hearts on our sleeves EP
Service
Is Service totally determined to only sign acts with the worst vocals ever? I just don't get it. The music isn't so bad - it's your standard Göteborg-style pop with keyboards. "Flipside of a memory" reminds me a bit of Tears for Fears on the instrumental passages. But man oh man, the singing on the first song "Instructions" is so out of tune and awful, I almost thought it was a joke. Nobody really thinks that sounds good, do they?
- Avi Roig