Listmania! 2007 so far
An ever-increasing glut of new releases and an always-shrinking attention span means that it's harder than ever to keep track of all the music that is able to withstand the test of time. We can help! Yes, it's time once again for the feature that everyone loves to hate - the top 10 list. Okay, top 3s. We're only halfway through 2007, after all. So what has the collective contributing force of It's A Trap! been listening to the most these past six months? Read on!
- Avi Roig, Editor-in-Chief
Jonas Appelqvist:
- Logh – North (Bad Taste Records)
An album that crawls under your skin to move you in every way imaginable. Atmospheric, dark and gloomy, yet filled with hope and warmth. Pure magic. - Säkert! - s/t (Razzia)
Annika Norlin together with peeps from Isolation Years. Immediate success of course. And in dialect, which is a huge plus! - Laakso – Mother, am I good looking? (V2)
Needless to say, everything Markus Krunegård touches turns to gold (remember Hets from last year's top ten-list?). Indiepop at its best.
Nancy Baym:
- Isolation Years - Sign sign (NONS)
Lacks the high points of their previous records, but it's their most consistent and it spent most of January on repeat. - The Fine Arts Showcase - Sing Rough Bunnies (Adrian Recordings)
Just released and maybe I'll tire of it, but not yet. 30 minutes of delicious pop ditties sung by a man who really knows how to sing. Very tasty, but leaves me hungry for more. - My Midnight Creeps - Histamin (MMC Records/EMI)
Big loud swamp rock with massive guitars. Excellent music for falling on your knees and pumping fists in the air and some walls of sound that epitomize all that rock and roll should be.
Jason Christie:
- Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle (Adrian Recordings/Hybris)
It is zeitgeist. Everything about this is fresh. Not-a-jot of cynicism. Sweden's best act now. - Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing (Stand By Your Band)
Thankfully carving out a breezier side on the new disc. This year's surprise. - Laakso - Mämmilä rock (PEC FI)
Laakso are HUGE. Apparently took 45 years to make using a process more secretive than Iran's muclear program and as mental as the 'Sinner or a winner' bloke on Piccadilly Circus.
Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson:
- Aerial – The sentinel (Nomethod)
Released on the last day of the first month of 2007, and still, four months later, amongst my favorite records of the year. Aerial's dark symphony of guitars, the waves of sound breaking over the guiding hands of the drums and bass, both maintaining some form of structural integrity in the midst of the beautiful chaos, and yet still prone to their own skillful flourishes, finds me just as wonderfully lost in the dense layers of their compositions today as I was in the early days of this year. - Shout Out Louds – Our ill wills (Bud Fox/Merge)
Instead of building on the playful, sometimes brash narratives of "Howl howl gaff gaff", the newest effort from Shout Out Louds displays a far more complicated, mature, and powerful sound. It is rare that musicians evolve so noticeably in a record's time, and arguably even more surprising that a group's sophomore album so excels their debut, but "Our ill wills" proves that while it may be a rare accomplishment, it is one that can be achieved. - The Chrysler – The Benelux years (Flora & Fauna)
While not everyone's cup of tea, The Chrysler are, at least in my humble opinion, one the greatest indie bands around. "The Benelux years" outshines their previous efforts, which is no easy feat, and has already cemented itself as a record that will continue to grow on me as the months and years slip by.
Matt Giordano:
- Laakso - Mother, am I good looking? (V2)
This should be Laakso's international breakthrough. We'll just see if someone is brave enough to work with it. - Vapnet - Något dåligt nytt har hänt (Hybris)
This band just keeps delivering the goods, and it keeps getting better. - Montt Mardié - Clocks/Pretender (Hybris)
David Pagmar's second album is his vision finally coming into fruition.
Hanzan:
- Säkert! - s/t (Razzia)
I never got Hello Saferide. Sure, it was charming, but never blew me away. Säkert! however has made me laugh, cry, blush. It's made me angry, happy, nostalgic, sometimes all this during the same listen. Brilliant. - Eldkvarn - Svart blogg (EMI)
The alcohol-drenched romantism of "Fulla för kärlekens skull" alone could almost have earned Eldkvarn a place on this list. Thankfully the rest of "Svart blogg" is amazing too. Cathartically personal, "Svart blogg" is one album I didn't think I'd love. But clearly do. - Familjen - Det snurrar i min skalle (Adrian Recordings/Hybris)
Shamelessly playful electropop that should be the soundtrack to everyones summer (and autumn and winter). Familjen holds the Scanian flag high, presenting some of the best Swedish electronic pop in a long time.
Nick Levine:
- Robyn/Kleerup - With every hearteat (Meatboys mix)
Massive track added onto the UK release of Robyn's album. However, the Meatboys mix is far superior to the original. - Those Dancing Days - demo
The Swedish buzz band of the year so far. Definitely one to watch out for in 2008. - Kalle J - Vingslag 7" (Unga Hjärtan)
I don't know much about Kalle J, but this song incorporates oodles of feel good vibes and is shaping up to be one of my anthems of the summer.
Kevin Renick:
- Kate Havnevik - Melankton (Continentica)
One hell of a swirling, self-assured, orchestrally dramatic singer/songwriter debut, this outing by Norway's latest female wunderkind is a gem, and "New day" is among the best songs of the year. - Rumskib - s/t (Darla)
As a fan of ethereal shoegaze when it's got real heart and style, I was mesmerized by the work of this Danish duo. Dreamy, melodic and beautifully produced songs featuring the voice of Tine Louise Kortermand. - Dungen - Tio bitar (Subliminal Sounds/Kemado Records)
Another dose of immacutely rendered, fuzzed-out prog from the dazzling mind and chops of Sweden's Gustav Ejstes. Remarkably free of fat and not cowering in the shadow of its highly acclaimed predecessor.
Avi Roig:
- Aerial - The sentinel (Nomethod)
#1 with a bullet. An album I loved wholeheartedly from the very first moment I heard it. - Kristofer Åström - RainawayTown (Startracks)
Older, wiser and with a new backing band to match. This is a record that will sound just as good 10 years from now. - Maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm just me (Razzia)
A toss-up between this and Säkert!. Behind the indiepop hits (Maia's "And I found this boy" vs Annika's "Vi kommer att dö samtidigt") hides two deeply touching records, Maia edges out slightly ahead due to my sadly lacking Swedish skills.
Christian Stenbacke:
- Sounds Like Violence – With blood on my hands (Burning Heart/Deep Elm)
Andreas Söderlund is nothing more than pure genious. No matter if he plays with his collegues in Niccokick, produces Hello Safreride or goes back to the basics with neo-hardcore band Sounds Like Violence, everyting reeks with his presence. "With blood on my hands" is the most definite angst-ridden, panic-strucken, anxiety-filled record you'll come a cross this year. - Shout Out Louds – Our ill wills (Bud Fox/Merge)
Shout Out Louds may have gone The Cure, but I don't really care. Great music is always great music, no matter what, right? Beacuse "Our Ill Wills" is certrainly great music. I doubt that you'll ever hear a more well-crafted popsong than "Impossible" for a long time to come. - Isolation Years – Sign sign (NONS)
It was a very close call between Isolation Years and Kristofer Åström, both artists have put out two insanely good records this first half of 2007. The choice finally fell upon "Sign sign", a record filled with the sweet and emotional, almost charitable, popmusic that has become the distinguishing mark of the lads from Norrland, Sweden.
Simon Tagestam:
- Säkert! - s/t (Razzia)
Ace melodies and lyrics make this the best album of 2007, yet. - The Tough Alliance - New chance (Sincerely Yours)
What a comeback! - Lovekevins - Vs the snow (Songs I Wish I Had Written)
Clever indie pop with a lot of warmth and humour. A personal favourite.