Streaming playlist: Singer/Songwriters, pt. 2
DATE ADDED : 02.08.04
LAUNCH : [stream no longer available]
01. José González - Hints
from the album \"Veneer\"
He's already taken Sweden by storm and it's only a matter of time before you see José's name everywhere. I thought I heard Nick Drake's ghost when I first heard this track on the \"Crosses\" EP. A prime example of there being truth to the hype: José's elegant fingerpicking and soft vocals are something special. The UK is next in line to fall under his spell and the US can't be too far to follow. Of all the artists covered, this is most definitely one of the top ones worth looking into.
02. Evil Tordivel - Where the sun never sets
from the album \"A fine young man\"
Norway excels at cultivating interesting artists like this. Evil Tordivel aka Petter Alexander Olsen resists all attempts to classify. Just when you think you've got him pegged, the next song comes on and throws you for a loop. He calls it \"kaos and pop\" himself and I think that might as well work. Sadly, his eclecticism also means his music can be a bit hit and miss, but never, ever boring. He's obviously very talented. Recommended for people who sometimes like their music to be quirky and maybe even a bit challenging.
This song shows Evil's more serious side and I think it's the kind of stuff that suits him best.
03. Tiger Lou - Sam, as in Samantha
from the \"Trouble and desire\" EP
Every new release from the Tiger aka Rasmus Kellerman shows tremendous growth as he gets stronger and stronger with his talent. Besides simply being an extremely charming individual, he's got a great ear for vocal arrangements. This track from his latest EP barely even scratches the surface of what he's capable of. That's why you need to hear his new album \"Is my head still on?\" Another one to keep your eye on.
04. Kristofer Åström - Leaving song
from the album \"Leaving songs\"
Kristofer was previously best known for fronting the indierock band Fireside before he branched out on his own. When he's doing his own thing, he gets to expose a whole different side of himself and his emotional vulnerability. Everything he does is very much in the fine Scandinavian melancholic musical tradition, especially the stunning \"Northern Blues\" album. He puts most so-called alt-country artists to shame. Most seem overly concerned with adhering to the stylistic trappings of the genre, but Kristofer has no use for such pretension. When listening to his music, you don't get the sense of someone trying to be something they're not or putting on airs. He simply is.
05. David & the Citizens - Glued to the light
live from P3
While they aren't strictly a singer/songwriter group, they are very much powered by frontman David Fridlund and his energetic, enigmatic vocals. This performance proves their inherent worth by stripping out everything except that which matters most: the lyrics and the song. My understanding is that the band truly shines in the live setting and while they're records are decent, the studio sessions have yet to truly capture them at their best.
06. Carpet People - A road leading into the sun
from the album \"More bad weather coming out of the rain\"
I won't rest until I feel like these guys get the respect they deserve. Another group that's not exactly under the singer/songwriter banner, but very much powered by the writing and vocals of frontman Anders Hellmans. While some bands build up walls of production between them and their audience, the Carpet People tear those barriers down so all you get is the raw, fragile emotional core. Their last album easily stayed in my top 10 all last year and I still think it's going to be a long time before I hear anything that can match it. At least until their next album.
07. Stina Nordenstam - So Lee
from the album \"This is Stina Nordenstam\"
I don't know how to go about summarizing the amazing talent of Stina Nordenstam. She's already pretty well known worldwide, but at the same time she really isn't. She doesn't perform live and she doesn't do interviews. All that we have is her fantastic music. I hear rumors of a new album on the way and I hope it's true.
08. Sergeant Petter - Urban dreams
from the album \"It's a record\"
Another dude from Norway who I confess I don't know much about, but I know this song is great. His latest album \"It's a record\" tends to be a bit too alt-country for my tastes, but fans of Wilco and such should definitely investigate further. And just like with Wilco, there's a couple exceptional songs that stand out and make Sgt. Petter an artist worth checking out. When he gets uptempo and lets himself rock out, it's unstoppable.
09. Uncle's Institution - 2003 (so far)
from the \"Everything a man can dream of\" EP
Another young singer/songwriter from Norway with loads of charm and a quirky sense of humor. Uncle's Institution is Egil Olsen of Norway and he calls his music 'sweet n sour' which is pretty apt. Oft compared to Eels, he manages to emote feelings of both silliness and melancholy. Not everyone can write a song like \"Santa Claus is gay\", after all. This track shows his sweeter and more reflective side. Whether goofing off or doing a Beatles-esque ballad, it's all good.
10. Isolation Years - Preacher/songwriter
from the album \"It's golden\"
Okay, these guys aren't exactly singer/songwriters either, but it's lyrically on-topic at least.
It took me about a year to really get into this record, so I've taken it upon myself to champion it. It deserves a second chance. IY take the best elements of Northern Sweden melodic rock and combine it with a dose Nordic and Russian folk for something that's truly special in the end. Undeniably one of the best bands in Sweden today, if not the world.