Top 10s for 2006: C-J Larsgården (A Perfect Friend, Pacta Sunt Servanda)

MP3: Samuraj Cities - Saturday night is never fair to everyone

I wasn't the only one impressed with the Samuraj Cities demo (see my original post m/index.php?story_id=805">here). Imperial Recordings (José González, Eskju Divine) wasted no time and quickly swept them up for their roster. The music is still quirky and lofi and imbued with that fantastic, dark sense of melody that made me appreciate the band in the first place. "Saturday night is never fair to everyone" doesn't quite reach the same level of despair as say, Broder Daniel, but it comes close. The vocals are more weary than anguished - just like as with yesterday's song from The Alpine, the song's protagonist is sick and tired of the same old shit. The approach is completely different, but the sentiment is the same.

Samuraj Cities - Saturday night is never fair to everyone

Today's top 10 comes from IAT.mP3 artist C-J Larsgården of Pacta Sunt Servanda, also of the duo A Perfect Friend with singer/songwriter Thomas Denver Jonsson: m/index.php?article=265">[click here]

Finnish post-rock masters Plain Fade have posted their old demo discs for free download: https://www.punossound.net/plainfade/index.php?goto=releases
"Datura" was the first track I heard from these guys and it completely blew me away so of course this stuff is all very highly recommended.

Check out Teemu from Fun's solo project Electric Retard: m/er/" target=_blank>https://www.noisecorewalze.com/er/

Popmatters reviews Lemonator: matters.com/pm/music/reviews/8400/lemonator-at-the-presence-of-great-beauty/" target=_blank>https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/8400/lemonator-at-the-presence-of-great-beauty/

Digitalmetal interviews Amon Amarth: metal.com/interviews.asp?iID=7909" target=_blank>https://www.digitalmetal.com/interviews.asp?iID=7909

The release of Larsen & Furious Jane's next album has been pushed back to 2008, giving the band all of 2007 to build a new studio, write music and record.

Check out Sophie Rimheden's new Xmas single with rapper CK under the name iSH: media/ish/index2.htm" target=_blank>https://www.huglife.se/media/ish/index2.htm

Pitchfork names The Knife's "Silent shout" as their top album of 2006: media.com/article/feature/40007/Staff_List_Top_50_Albums_of_2006/page_5" target=_blank>https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/40007/Staff_List_Top_50_Albums_of_2006/page_5

Don't forget to check out m/index.php?article=archive&filter=top">all the recent top 10s that have been posted over the last few days. We've also got a report posted from last monday's Tack! Tack! Tack! show in London with David & the Citizens and Laakso m/index.php?article=262">right here.

Norwegian noiserockers This Sect are offering up the new song "Oh ballerina" as a free download: m/2006/12/distress-signals-preview.html" target=_blank>https://www.thissect.com/2006/12/distress-signals-preview.html

Saint Thomas' new record "There's only one of me" will finally get a UK release on January 8 via YesBoyIceCream Records. Listen to a preview track at myspace: myspace.com/yesboyicecreamrecords" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/yesboyicecreamrecords

Bassist Andy has left Victims so now the band will continue on as a trio with frontman Johan taking on low-end duties.

Tobias Fröberg reports that his album "Somewhere in the city" will be released in France via Pias and in Australia via Shock Records. He'll also be embarking on his first UK headline tour in February and you can get dates here: m/index_live.html" target=_blank>https://www.tobiasfroberg.com/index_live.html
Look for a video for the new single "God's highway" to be released soon along with a new version featuring gospel chorus backing vocals.