Top 10s for 2006: Viktor Sjöberg

Eskju Divine
Heights
Imperial Recordings

Eskju Divine could have made it big if they came from England, they've got the same sound as lots of bands over here, most of them derived from a love of Radiohead, or lately - Coldplay. It's unexciting, uninspiring and highly unoriginal, "Heights" is a collection of bland songs that feature "emotional" vocals that sound pretentious. I don't mind music like this now and then, if it's done in another more interesting fashion. Eskju Divine just tread boring territory that's been treaded many times over and they're just bringing another plain offering to the table of dullness. No thank you, I rather eat in silence!
- Simon Tagestam

Frida Hyvönen
Live @ 93 Feet East, London, UK 12/06/2006

Perhaps a half-empty venue where too many people in the back are chatting away, might not be the ideal venue to experience Frida Hyvönen in concert, but this gig still didn't live up to my very high expectations. I thought the gig was going to be something amazing, I even tried to get a bunch friends to come along, so I found it quite unfortunate that Hyvönen seemed to lack that spark that could have turned the gig into something really good. She's got the material, but for her to be able to give them justice being alone just behind a keyboard, it takes a lot of skill, a skill that was sadly not present in its full capacity last night. The highlights of the night were "I drive my friend", "Once I was a serene teenaged child", "The modern", and a new song that I don't know the name of.
- Simon Tagestam

The Idealist
I am the fire
iDEAL Recordings

The Idealist, an ambient project of Joachim Nordwall, also of the Skull Defekts, threads relatively well explored waters of the likes of guitar-based ambiance, probably the most well known proponent of the genre being Fennesz. "I am the fire" is actually not that exciting in that there is nothing that I would qualify as new or exceptional in there despite the fact that it is well-done and honest. That said, the album is quite enjoyable on its own and makes some pretty interesting background noise but there is really nothing to grab my attention like many other ambient and dark ambient acts do.
- Simon Thibaudeau

Jens
If you've seen me lately please tell me where I've been
Goddamn I'm a Countryman Records

I'm glad getting this review out of the way, since it means I don't have to listen to this album anymore. Jens play basic alt-country, nothing special at all, even though some of the melodies aren't that bad. The vocals are the weakest point, they're way too plain to excite. Perhaps the odd song from this record would be ok, but I find listening to these eight songs in a row seriously boring, despite some duets with a girl and the odd flute playing. If you're of opinion that Wilco are way too experimental for their own good, you might want to try a bit of Jens out.
- Simon Tagestam

Johndoe
Dødvinkel
JHND

All of a sudden my life is revolving around things Norwegian; I'm currently obsessed with author Knut Hamsun, I've been listening to Johndoe constantly the last week and yesterday I even bought something Norwegian for my girlfriend for Christmas (can't say what, in case she reads this). Johndoe is very much my cup of tea - melodic punkrock that's highly infectious and it sounds like a mix between Håkan Hellström, Randy, and a less "spikier" mattias Alkberg BD, but sung in Norwegian. Can it get any better? Not sure what the lyrics are about, but they seem pretty normal to me. I'm definitely going to try and catch these guys live if I ever get the chance, I'm sure it's a riot.
- Simon Tagestam

Loveninjas
The secret of the Loveninjas
Labrador

Nikola Sarcevic, I'm taking back my 'most improved in 2006' award and bestowing it upon Loveninjas. Their debut EP "Keep your love" was utterly dreadful - a near-perfect embodiment of most everything I despise about tweepop. Let it be known: I do not hate this. Upon hearing the chatter about what a changed band they'd become with the release of the single "I wanna be like Johnny C", I figured I ought to give them a second chance. I'm glad I did because that song is fantastic - a shining pop marvel that harkens back to the time when alternative music was still known as college rock. Unfortunately, glimmers of the olden days still pop up now and again ("She broke his penis in two" for example) and the rest of songs rarely rise above mediocre status. Still, that's a heckuva lot better than I expected, so let me call it at 'inoffensive' and hope you understand I mean it as a compliment.
- Avi Roig

Moneybrother
Pengabrorsan
Hacka Skivindustri

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
Aure
Punos Sound

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

MP3: Peter Bjorn and John - Objects of my affection

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 m/index.php?article=257">another new batch of reviews and m/index.php?article=256">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 m/label.php?show=11">go here to learn more.
Now, back to the usual business of the day - today's mp3. m/index.php?story_id=1066">Like I did m/index.php?story_id=1067">in mid-September m/index.php?story_id=1068">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 m/index.php?article=257">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

mundane Sounds names Hello Saferide as one of their top picks of 2006: mundanesounds.com/2006/12/best-of-2006-part-two-new-faces.html" target=_blank>https://www.mundanesounds.com/2006/12/best-of-2006-part-two-new-faces.html

The video for Pluxus' new single "Kinoton" is now online: m/watch?v=36-8pDv1cB4" target=_blank>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: musikknyheter.no/news/1650" target=_blank>https://www.musikknyheter.no/news/1650