Not really sure why Burning Heart Records didn't want to release Moneybrother's Swedish album. It seems idiotic to me, but who am I to judge, huh? Maybe they didn't think it would sell enough or something. The album consists of ten covers, all interpreted by Anders Wedin (aka Moneybrother) in Swedish, and one original song that features the Swedish rock legend Jerry Williams. It's an interesting premise and Moneybrother manages to keep it exciting most of the way through. Being a fan of Operation Ivy, "Jag skriver inte på nåt", with The Hives' own Howlin' Pelle, appeals to me a lot and so does "Under bordet" which is a cover of My Morning Jacket's "Off the record" (one of my favourite songs of 2005), even though these are not the strongest songs on here per se. Most of the tracks have got that Bruce Springsteen vibe that Wendin has embraced and plugged away at since his first single "Reconsider me". Now, I'd like for Broder Daniel's Henrik, Randy's Stefan, etc, to step up and release their own Swedish cover albums. Preferably within the next 3 weeks. PS: The album's title is a Swedish translation of "the moneybrother".
- Simon Tagestam
Plain Fade's last album, "Lies, sanctions and cruise missiles", was a little gem of post-rock forward thinking and how the genre's staleness could be nicely complimented by intelligent songwriting and beautiful arrangements. "Aure" takes the band even more forward, into territory where the songwriting is rich and complex and arrangements as elaborate as I have seen on any record I have heard. Plain Fade include instrumentation as varied as didgeridoo, electronic bleeps, crackles and noises, strings and horns for a singular purpose: making the songs go forward. This is a lot less rock and a lot more ambient than "Lies..." but it is also significantly more beautiful and interesting. Great record.
- Simon Thibaudeau
It's a big day here at IAT - the closer we get to the end of the year, the more special content I have for you. Not only do we have another new batch of reviews and a brand new top 10 from Viktor Sjöberg, we also have a brand new netrelease, my own slightly off-kilter way of saying "Season's greetings!" Scroll down a bit to download it from the column on the right or go here to learn more.
Now, back to the usual business of the day - today's mp3. Like I did in mid-September earlier this year, it's time once again to revisit some of the year's best songs and today I've got one for you from Peter Bjorn and John. Yes, "Young folks" is great and so is the more recent single "Let's call it off" but, as Jason attests to in his live review, it's on the ballads where the band truly shines. "Objects of my affection" is total heartwrenching way to open the album (there's a short intro track before it, but it's not a 'song' per se). The mix of nostalgia and bittersweet self-reflection in the lyrics couldn't be said any better: "I laugh more often now / I cry more often now / I am more me". If that doesn't affect you, I'm not sure what will. And even though I have said many times that I prefer last year's "Falling out" to "Writer's block", try not to read too much into it. "Writer's block" is great, but "Falling out" is a masterpiece. See the difference? Also, rumor has it that PB&J will finally make it over to the States around March (for SXSW no doubt), so hopefully we'll see some confirmed dates soon.
Look for more of my favorite songs from 2006 as the week progresses.
Peter Bjorn and John - Objects of my affection
The video for Pluxus' new single "Kinoton" is now online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36-8pDv1cB4
Earplug interviews Norwegian artist/producer Hans-Peter Lindstrøm: https://earplug.cc/68532
Norwegian singer/songwriter Robert Post will be releasing his new single "Gotta send a message" as a special limited EP featuring two brand new songs, two previously unreleased acoustic tracks and a couple old acoustic demos. It will come out on December 22 and will initially only be available in Robert's hometown of Aalesund plus a few "hand-picked" stores elsewhere in Norway. Look for a more proper wide release of a slightly different "Gotta send a message" EP in early 2007.
Musikknyheter.no lists their favorite Norwegian albums and songs for 2006: https://www.musikknyheter.no/news/1650
Music is My Girlfriend is offering up a Christmas single from Celestial for free download: https://musicismygirlfriend.com/index.php?id=65
New Loney, Dear tourdates:
01/12 - Eurosonic, Groningen (NL)
01/13 - Notting Hill Arts Club, London (UK)
01/14 - End Of The Road @ the Social, London (UK) w/IAT DJs
01/15 - Arts Centre, Norwich (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/16 - Komedia, Brighton (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/17 - Academy 2, Bristol (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/18 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/19 - Oran Mor, Glasgow (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/20 - Moshulu, Aberdeen (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/21 - Academy 2, Newcastle (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/22 - Academy 3, Manchester (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/23 - Barfly, Birmingham (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/24 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
01/25 - Scala, London (UK) w/The Boy Least Likely To
02/10 - ByLarm, Trondheim (NOR)
Look for a US tour for March/April to be announced soon.
Millencolin frontman Nikola Sarcevic will be doing a solo tour of Australia in February:
02/21 - The Zoo, Brisbane (AU)
02/22 - Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast (AU)
02/24 - Annandale Hotel, Sydney (AU)
02/25 - Annandale Hotel, Sydney (AU)
02/27 - Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (AU)
02/28 - Waves, Wollongong (AU)
03/01 - Green Room, Canberra (AU)
03/02 - The Corner, Melbourne (AU)
03/03 - Enigma Bar, Adelaide (AU)
Parasol/Hidden Agenda has posted info/mp3s for the upcoming Thirdimension acoustic live album "Before the end begins": https://www.parasol.com/labels/hiddenagenda/aha086.asp
The official release date is February 20.
Plain Fade