chaotisch und charmant

cream

2012-02-23T19:42:00.001-02:00

FIELD TRIP CREAM EP (Independent, 2012)

Field Trip is a band from Melbourne formed by 4 boys. It first caught my attention earlier this year with their first single 'You Make Me Sleepy'.
Last week (sooner than I imagined - and for my delight), an EP called Cream EP was released.
Four songs with a shoegaze - alternative 80's influence soaked into a languid and fresh take on surfpop and C86.
BAND TO WATCH! (That's right. In capital letters.)

Cream EP is available for free download on bandcamp.

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la historia de un artista (homenaje a daniel johnston)

2012-02-22T22:03:00.001-02:00

V.A. COLOREANDO A DANIEL JOHNSTON (LA HISTORIA DE UN ARTISTA)

We have the awful habit of labeling as crazy people that see things differently (ok, now I'm practically plagiarizing Apple's ad). What I mean is, we are unable to deal, as a society, with the outspoken, original and sensitive ones. The path we chose that led to our current social state has no space for meaningful, and multi-perspective exchanges. And that's our fault.

And from time to time, a particular crazy, misunderstood and lonely voice stands out and produce waves throughout a generation. The 80's and early 90's seemed to be Daniel Johnston's moment. Or maybe Johnston was the voice that better translated the young modern angsts of the 80's-90's kids. And let's be honest: few people embody the unadjusted, troubled and sensitive modern man as good as Johnston.

Last month, a compilation featuring bands from Spain and Latin America was released.

The project (free and non-profitable) was started by two guys from Granada (Spain) with an obvious admiration for Mr. Johnston. Throughout the 18 songs, we get unexpected covers and versions in spanish from an important - and quite underrated - group of contemporary artists from the spanish indie scene (or the indie scene in spanish).

COLOREANDO A DANIEL JOHNSTON (or Coloring Daniel Johnston) features consolidated indie darlings like Los Punsetes, Odio París, Alondra Bentley, Barcelona's greatest La Estrella de David and last year's latin sensation Las Robertas.
(Highlights to underground acts like Varaverde, Capitán Sunrise and Nine Stories).

The compilation is a fuzzy combination of guitar distortion and some pretty interesting and creative takes on Johnston's body of work. The album is part of a zine and is available for free on bandcamp.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://coloreando-a-danieljohnston.bandcamp.com/album/la-historia-de-un-artista-homenaje-a-daniel-johnston"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;La Historia de un Artista (Homenaje a Daniel Johnston) by Coloreando A Daniel Johnston&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

bandcamp facebook

2012-02-01T22:24:00.003-02:00

image part of my google earth study called The Another Earth Project.

MIXTAPE gone for the summer

2012-02-01T21:52:00.002-02:00

GONE FOR THE SUMMER A CHAOTISCH UND CHARMANT MIXTAPE

HERE'S TO THE TROPICAL, SUNNY AND BRIGHT ONES.
SUMMER IS A STATE OF MIND.

fairweather friends

2012-01-28T18:35:00.001-02:00

FERNS FAIRWEATHER FRIENDS (Independent, 2011)

Malaysian indiepop darlings - Ferns - are back with their second album 'Fairweather Friends'. It comes out almost four years after the acclaimed 'On Botany', that in 2007 created a languid, dreamy and atmospheric world where green gardens and fields were the scenery for an idyllic and deeply melancholic combination of indiepop, shoegaze delicacy and layers of sound contrastating with whispery vocals.
If 'On Botany' was an album for sunsets and contemplation, 'Fairweather Friends' is perfect for mid-afternoons spent in the middle of the city and where you can be surrounded by people.
It's great to see a band that left such a strong impression with their first album come back years after with songs that have their DNA and yet surprise you with new perspectives and colors.
'Fairweather Friends' keeps the fragility of delicate melodies of Ferns' debut album but this time the layers of instruments give space to a more clear, acoustic and urban aesthetic. My end of the year lists consider albums released between Novembers, that's why this album was absent in my 2011 list.
The release of their second album proved that Ferns is a band to watch, listen and feel. Their indie pop feels fresh and evocative.
You can stream their albums on bandcamp. Below, you'll find a link and how can you get the album.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://ferns.bandcamp.com/album/fairweather-friends"&amp;gt;Fairweather Friends by Ferns&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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if sopa was evil. acta is hell.

2012-01-27T12:25:00.002-02:00

stop acta

how i roseiviounessiously tipjilted the gevious on a sunday afternoon

2012-01-18T10:21:00.000-02:00

NIKO NIKO! HOW I ROSEIVIOUNESSIOUSLY TIPJILTED THE GEVIOUS ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON (self released, 2012)

Niko Niko! is the new project of Nickolai Nilsen, a norwegian musician formerly known as Princess Niko.
Princess Niko recorded lots of songs and released some of them on Cloudberry Records. Those who were lucky enough to hear all of them, were treated with fun and catchy pop songs and duets sang by Nickolai's "lows and highs".
Now, years after his last release, two new songs surface the web. Playful and fun are part of Nickolai's musical DNA, no doubt about it. Sappy... happy... indie pop! Welcome back, Niko!

You can download and listen to 'How I Roseiviounessiously Tipjilted the Gevious on a Sunday Afternoon' and 'Z' here.
(Unfortunately, Urort doesn't have an embedding option.)

Here's an interview I made with Niko in 2010.

soundcloud

you make me sleepy

2012-01-17T14:49:00.000-02:00

FIELD TRIP YOU MAKE ME SLEEPY (self released, 2012)

Blending shoegaze, lo-fi and indie pop, 4 boys from Melbourne (a.k.a. Field Trip) released a song on the first day of 2012.
'You Make Me Sleepy' has languid and mellow melodies, creating a dreamy - and far from sleepy - musical atmosphere.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://fieldtripmusic.bandcamp.com/track/you-make-me-sleepy"&amp;gt;You make me sleepy by Field Trip&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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love, tears & spiritual blessings

2012-01-16T22:51:00.000-02:00

KARIBEAN LOVE, TEARS & SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS (self released, 2011)

Karibean is a band formed by three guys from the east coast of Italy that in 2011, released a 5 track EP that could be described, at least, as timeless and anthemic pop.
'Gregorian Spring' is an absolute joy to the ears, bringing the best of the winter-ish 80's indiepop and soaking them into the 60's sunny melodies of The Beach Boys.
You can get Love, Tears & Spiritual Blessings for free on Bandcamp.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://karibean.bandcamp.com/track/gregorian-spring"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;gregorian spring by karibean&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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just for fun

2012-01-14T01:10:00.000-02:00

ALPACA SPORTS JUST FOR FUN (Independent, 2012)

Andreas Jonsson is from Gothenburg. He's the guy behind Alpaca Sports (fun name!) and 'Just For Fun' is his debut single.
He teamed up with producer Kalle von Hall and musicians from projects like Mattias Hellberg and the White Moose to create breezy indie pop with the swedish quality stamp.
As a first ever single, 'Just For Fun' accomplishes its mission to get you hooked and interested.
Listening to the single and its b-side, I feel that Alpaca Sports will, eventually, deliver a great - and nuanced - indie pop album.

JUST FOR FUN

I'LL NEVER WIN

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the national mall

2012-01-13T00:43:00.000-02:00

BLUEBRAIN THE NATIONAL MALL (2011)

Here's a new concept that makes the line between albums and apps thinner.

Hays and Ryan Holladay are from Washington, DC and created the first location-aware album. The album is an app based in GPS technology. I haven't heard it because it's only available for Washington and has nearly 3 hours of original electronic music covering 264 zones of the Mall. As the listener moves around, the music changes based on his location.

Ryan Holloday said in an interview for The Washington Post:

“It’s like a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ of an album. The music is fluctuating based on your chosen path.”

Last October, a second location aware album was released called Central Park 'Listen to the Light'.

FCTN's followed the process and created a short documentary.

Even though the album cannot be experienced by most of us, the concept is brilliant.

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sir, i am a good man

2012-01-11T17:27:00.001-02:00

LONELY TOURIST SIR, I AM A GOOD MAN INDEPENDENT, 2011

Paul Tierney is from Glasgow but is based in Bristol. A year ago, he released Sir, I Am A Good Man, his highly enjoyable debut album, available for download on bandcamp.
Actually it's an exquisite and brilliant collection of songs. Extremely strong when it comes to lyrics; profoundly touching when it comes to melodies.
(Mostly) acoustic tunes with strumming guitars accompanied by wise lyrics and gorgeous orchestrations (claps are included). The best example is 'Watch for the Sharks'.
An indie pop album that gets you for its vibrant melancholy and Tierney's ability to put thoughts into lyrics (his scottish accent just makes things even easier to fall for).
Achingly underrated.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://lonelytourist.bandcamp.com/track/watch-for-the-sharks"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Watch for The Sharks by Lonely Tourist&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://lonelytourist.bandcamp.com/track/prince-of-the-world"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Prince Of The World by Lonely Tourist&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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2011. BEST FOR GUESTS. 39 azure blue

2012-01-05T18:27:00.001-02:00

photo by Ellin Bandmann

Here's a late contribution to the BEST FOR GUESTS series. And it's a special one.
Tobias may be known for being part of Irene and Laurel Music but the highlight of his career is definitely his new solo project called Azure Blue.
By now, you already know that his debut album Rule of Thirds got into 2nd place in my list of best albums of 2011. It couldn't be different: in a year where electronic music often seemed overly produced, Tobias delivered an electro pop album like no other, shifting the landscape and turning oceans into skies.
Songs like 'Long Way Down' - with melodies that remind me of Sarah Records - and 'Chesil Beach' a calm, yet powerful and profound love song are meant to live forever.
Dreamy, oceanic, pop as good as pop can be and blue.

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Here's Tobias' lists featuring international and swedish albums and songs, videos, shows and movies.

INTERNATIONAL ALBUMS
FRANK OCEAN NOSTALGIA, ULTRA
JOHN MAUS WE MUST BECOME THE PITILESS CENSORS OF OURSELVES
DESTROYER KAPUTT
WU LYF GO TELL FIRE TO THE MOUNTAIN
M83 HURRY UP, WE'RE DREAMING
RUSTIE GLASS SWORDS
NICOLAS JAAR SPACE IS ONLY NOISE
DRAKE TAKE CARE
KUEDO SEVERANT
ONEOTHRIX POINT NEVER REPLICA
JEREMY JAY DREAM DIARY
KURT VILE SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO
CRAFT SPELLS IDLE LABOR
WASHED OUT WITHIN AND WITHOUT
HIGH PLACES ORIGINAL COLOURS
LIL WAYNE THE CARTER IV
THE WEEKEND HOUSE OF BALLOONS
CHAD VALLEY EQUATORIAL ULTRAVOX
ARCADE FIRE THE SUBURBS
WILD FLAG S/T
COLD CAVE CHERISH THE LIGHT YEARS
JAMES BLAKE S/T
THE WAR ON DRUGS SLAVE AMBIENT
GIL SCOTT HERON & JAMIE XX WE'RE NEW HERE
SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER THE PATHWAY TO TIRAQUAON 6
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE CEREMONIALS
FORD & LOPATIN CHANNEL PRESSURE
GIANNI ROSSI STAR VEHICLE (THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE)
TYLER, THE CREATOR GOBLIN
CUT COPY ZONOSCOPE
ZOLA JESUS CONATUS
HOLY GHOST! S/T
TORO Y MOI UNDERNEATH THE PINE
METRONOMY THE ENGLISH RIVERA
SIMIAN GHOST LOVELORN
SBTRKT S/T
THEOPHILUS LONDON TIMEZ ARE WEIRD THESE DAYS
SWEDISH ALBUMS
THE SOUND OF ARROWS VOYAGE
JONATHAN JOHANSSON KLAGOMUREN
KORALLREVEN AN ALBUM BY KORALLREVEN
ALEXIS WEAK TILL MINNE AV
THE AMAZING GENTLE STREAM
ROFFE RUFF BARRABAS
LONEY DEAR HALL MUSIC
MATTIAS ALKBERG ANARKIST
LO-FI-FNK THE LAST SUMMER
FLOWERS IN THE AIR S/T
ACID HOUSE KINGS MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU
ALF VI VILLE FöRäNDRA VÅR TID MEN DEN FöräNDRADE OSS
INTERNATIONAL SONGS
POOLSIDE DO YOU BELIEVE
JOHN MAUS BELIEVER
DESTROYER KAPUTT
LANA DEL REY VIDEO GAMES
M83 MIDNIGHT CITY
FRANK OCEAN SWIM GOOD
TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS GARDEN
GIL SCOTT HERON & JAMIE XX I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU
ZOO KID OUT GETTING RIBS
WU LYF WE BROS
BEYONCE I MISS YOU
LIGHT ASYLUM A CERTAIN PERSON
KURT VILE JESUS FEVER 192
THEOPHILUS LONDON WHY EVEN TRY?
JACQUES GREENE ANOTHER GIRL
COLD CAVE CONFETTI
RADIOHEAD LOTUS FLOWER
MOUNT KIMBIE CARBONATED
LIL WAYNE SHE WILL
KING KRULE THE NOOSE OF JAH CITY
FRIENDS FRIEND CRUSH
NEON INDIAN POLISH GIRL
TORO Y MOI STILL SOUND
PATRICK WOLF TOGETHER
METRONOMY THE BAY
SWEDISH SONGS
JONATHAN JOHANSSON STOCKHOLM
AIR FRANCE IT FEELS GOOD TO BE AROUND YOU
THE SOUND OF ARROWS NOVA
PEARL FICTION THE RUBY FEVER
DANTE RUNNERS
DET VACKA LIVET VILJAN (DAN LISSVIK REMIX)
PACIFIC UNSPOKEN (ANORAAK REMIX)
AMANDA MAIR DOUBT
KARL X JOHAN FANTASIES
DUVCHI TURTLEDUVS
ALEXIS WEAK TILL MINNE AV
KORALLREVEN HONEY MINE
PALPITATION IN FIVE YEARS (NIVA REMIX)
LYKKE LI I FOLLOW RIVERS (THE MAGICIAN REMIX)
NIVA DIRTY WATER
ROFFE RUFF FARVäL
LABYRINT ORTENS FAVORITER
SKANSROS FELIX
MONTY ALDRIG
ALF INGA TUNGA SKYAR #2
FLOWERS IN THE AIR TELL ME
AUTISTERNA SOV
BIG FOX CUT YOU OUT
HELL ON WHEELS BABY
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
PAUL MCCARTNEY BLUE SAY (dir. Jack McCoy)

THE SOUND OF ARROWS NOVA (dir. Mattia Erik Johansson)

DESTROYER KAPUTT (dir. Dawn Garcia)

BEST LIVE SHOWS
PRINCE WAY OUT WEST
THE ARCADE FIRE POPAGANDA
MORRISEY HULTSFREDSFESTIVALEN
HENRIK BERGGREN PEACE & LOVE
DOOM HULTSFREDSFESTIVALEN
STAR SLINGER HULTSFREDSFESTIVALEN
A-TRAK HULTSFREDSFESTIVALEN
JEREMY JAY STRAND
KURT VILE STRAND
FANNY STRAND
THE AMAZING LILLA HOTELLBAREN
CRAFT SPELLS DEBASER SLUSSEN
GIRL UNIT SLAKTHUSET
KORALLREVEN STRAND
WATCH OUT FOR THESE SWEDES 2012!
FANNY (Hybris)
NOONIE BAO (Hybris)
AMANDA MAIR (Labrador)
BEST FILMS
WINTER'S BONE DEBRA GRANIK
THREE TOM TYKWER
BLACK SWAN DARREN ARONOFSKY
MELANCHOLIA LARS VON TRIER
LET ME IN MATT REEVES
THE TRIP MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM
DRIVE NICOLAS WINDING REFN
BRIGHTON ROCK ROWAN JOFFE
BRIDESMAIDS PAUL FEIG

thingscanchange

2012-01-04T22:05:00.001-02:00

MADRAS THINGSCANCHANGE (self released, 2012)

First thing I listened in 2012. Still amazed.
Madràs is a band led by brothers Jeevan and Mathew based in Fort Worth, Texas. The band's name is a reference to their hometown Chennai, in India, formerly known as Madras.
Thingscanchange has 3 delicate post punk, bedroom pop driven songs. Less than 10 minutes of calm - almost ambient - tunes and nostalgia. 'Older', the opening track is absolutely gorgeous.
Jeevan and Mathew also play together in the band Fou.
You can find this and other releases on their bandcamp.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://madras.bandcamp.com/album/thingscanchange"&amp;gt;thingscanchange by Madràs&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

facebook bandcamp

2012-01-01T01:00:00.000-02:00

MIXTAPE. 2011 IN 45 SONGS

2011-12-31T15:02:00.001-02:00

(or roughly 2.30 hours).

Here's a collection of great songs from 2011. Lots were left out.
(tracklist inside the player)

Chaotisch und charmant's Cloudcasts on Mixcloud

2011. 50 ALBUMS

2011-12-30T12:40:00.003-02:00

In a year where law makers and the entertainment industry made more pressure than ever to try to regain some power against piracy - therefore make independent artists life harder, we also had more mediums and ways of sharing and distribute music blossoming. Major allies of independent music - sites like Soundcloud and Bandcamp - became, once and for all, vital for artists and listeners while more ways of accessing music (user radios, podcasts) gained popularity. I believe we passed the halfway point of a cultural movement that is going towards a highly personalized way to release and consume music.
Tomorrow I'll say a few things about albums and artists from the list below. Also, highlights and a podcast with 45 songs from 2011.

50 THE WAR ON DRUGS SLAVE AMBIENT secretly canadian
49 RAINBOW ARABIA BOYS AND DIAMONDS  kompakt
48 VARIOUS ARTISTS A TRIBUTE TO CLUB TROPICANA VOL. 2  beko dsl
47 HONG KONG IN THE 60S MY FANTOMS  proper songs
46 RADIATION CITY THE HANDS THAT TAKE YOU  apes tapes
45 YOUTH LAGOON THE YEAR OF HIBERNATION  lefse
44 SUMMER CAMP WELCOME TO CONDALE  moshi moshi
43 YOUNG GIRLS YOUNG GIRLS  home skool
42 ROMANTIC STATES A SHELL IS BORN  self released
41 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA  fat possum
40 COMET GAIN HOWL OF THE LONELY CROWD  what's your rupture?
39 MOUSTACHE OF INSANITY ALBUM OF DEATH fika
38 HUNX AND HIS PUNX TOO YOUNG TO BE IN LOVE  hardly art
37 JESPER LUNDAGER DYEING LILIES BRIGHTER COLOURS self released
36 SCATTERED TREES SYMPATHY roll call
35 THE FOREVER PEOPLE THE FOREVER PEOPLE self released
34 EGIL OLSEN KEEP DREAMIN - KEEP MOVIN ellersoul
33 NICK CAMILLO AD INFINITUM a little bit weird
32 THE BILINDA BUTCHERS REGRET, LOVE, GUILT, DREAMS  self released
31 CULTS CULTS columbia / in the name of
30 GENERATIONALS ACTOR-CASTER park the van
29 JINJA SAFARI LOCKED BY LAND cooperative music
28 BART & FRIENDS STORIES WITH THE ENDINGS CHANGED  lost and lonesome
27 LA SERA LA SERA  hardly art
26 VIOLENS NINE SONGS static recital
25 MATES OF STATES MOUNTAINTOPS  barsuk
24 CODE PIE LOVE MEETS RAGE  flagless
23 MANEL 10 MILLES PER VEURE UNA BONA ARMADURA warner
22 BIG TROUBLES ROMANTIC COMEDY slumberland
21 SECRET CITIES STRANGE HEARTS  western vinyl
20 DESTROYER KAPUTT merge
19 ACID HOUSE KINGS MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU  labrador
18 CRAFT SPELLS IDLE LABOR  captured tracks
17 HEHFU MUSIC FOR MY BROKEN EARS  bleeding gold
16 KALLE MATTSON ANCHORS parliament of trees
15 SWTHRT COMPACT DISC  self released
14 LITTLE JUNGLES WUT'S GOIN THRU YER HEAD self released
13 THE SOUND OF ARROWS VOYAGE skies above
12 SEAPONY GO WITH ME hardly art
11 VARIOUS ARTISTS ONE YEAR OF ORIGINAL MUSIC FROM FEBRUARY RECORDS  february
10 GOLD-BEARS ARE YOU FALLING IN LOVE?  slumberland
09 SEA LIONS EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEA LIONS  slumberland
08 FAN MODINE GRATITUDE FOR THE SHIPPER  daniel 13
07 LA ESTRELLA DE DAVID MARACAIBO  canada
06 THE CITY AND HORSES WE WILL NEVER BE DISCOVERED  paper garden
05 LA BIEN QUERIDA FIESTA  elefant
04 TENNIS CAPE DORY fat possum
03 EAST RIVER PIPE WE LIVE IN RENTED ROOMS  merge
02 AZURE BLUE RULE OF THIRDS  hybris / matinée
01 FRENCH FILMS IMAGINARY FUTURE gaea

2011. TOP 30 SINGLES+EPs

2011-12-28T20:24:00.001-02:00

I think 2011 was an exciting year when it comes to singles and - specially - EPs... I can tell that I was more excited coming up with this than the list of best albums. Not that there weren't amazing albums in 2011, but to go back and see the amount of great EPs was very satisfying and pleasurable...
There were so many great new artists that released music as singles or EPs. The popularization of Bandcamp and Soundcloud also was a major contribution and I had spent my share of time wandering through those sites, looking for new artists. As a result, 19 of the 30 releases listed below are self releases.

30 THE FANTASIES EARTH LIFE  self released
29 LA OLA QUE QUERIA SER CHAU EY BONITA, GUSTAN DE VOS TODOS MIS AMIGOS!  self released
28 LENZIE MOSS WHERE EAGLES DARE self released
27 BURNING HEARTS INTO THE WILDERNESS shelflife
26 YOUNG WRISTS FUCKED UP IN THE HEAD self released
25 DANIEL RODIN ANOTHER TOWN  self released
24 UNIVERSE CARRIZO PLAIN  self released
23 LITTLE CHORDS LITTLE CHORDS self released
22 DOM FAMILY OF LOVE astralwerks
21 DELAY TREES BEFORE I GO GO self released
20 WONDER BEAR AVALANCHE absent fever
19 THE SORRY SHOP THANK YOU COME AGAIN self released
18 STAND UP AGAINST HEART CRIME LOST IN TIME AND SPACE  self released
17 ECHO LAKE YOUNG SILENCE  no pain in pop
16 BURNING GOD LITTLE NOTES ON BEING SNOWBLIND  nabovarsel
15 AN INTRODUCTION TO SUNSHINE SNOW TIRE eyes four
14 HEART-SICK GROANS LOOK!!! THESE THREE PAINTERS OF HITS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN  self released
13 KARIBEAN LOVE, TEARS AND SPIRITUAL BLESSING  self released
12 LA OLA QUE QUERIA SER CHAU OJALA QUE ESTE VERANO NO NOS MATEN  self released
11 PURE X YOU'RE IN IT NOW  light lodge
10 WE, THE MODERN AGE! EP 2011  self released
09 DIRTY GOLD ROAR autumn tone
08 RADIOSEVEN RADIOSEVEN self released
07 COMPUTER MAGIC ELECTRONIC FENCES white iris
06 THE PANDUHS CATCH A WAVE  self released
05 FLAG WHITE LET GO  self released
04 FRENCH FILMS GOLDEN SEA*  gaea
03 AIR DROPS EP  self released
02 STAND UP AGAINST HEART CRIME STAND UP AGAINST HEART CRIME  self released
01 KIDS ON A CRIME SPREE WE LOVE YOU SO BAD  slumberland

*from 2010 but discovered in 2011. Too good. Had to mention.

PERSONAL FEELINGS
1 KIDS ON A CRIME SPREE released an EP that in 10-15 years, will be a classic. People will always return to it to get the feeling of this moment. It captures and translates the musical spirit of our times. It isn't the EP I've heard the most this year, but I feel it has a different weight (and by weight I don't mean importance or relevance).

2 STAND UP AGAINST HEART CRIME was the discover of the year. First release was a self titled EP with a minimal-wave, aseptic, melancholic and futuristic collection of songs and then when I thought I knew or had their music figured it out, the band comes up with 2 marvelous songs with warm guitars and dreamy melodies.

3 Electronic music was best heard in EPs this year.
3.1 AIR DROPS released a piece of art in form of bits with evocative and profound sounds; probably one of the releases that most 'spoke' to me.
&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://airdrops.bandcamp.com/track/prince"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Prince by Air Drops&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
3.2 FLAG WHITE brought us the richest landscape of electronic dreams, culminating in a song called Alaska - the romantic digital anthem of the year.
&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://flagwhite.bandcamp.com/track/alaska"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Alaska by Flag White&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
3.3 RADIOSEVEN gave us one of the most compelling combinations of space station futurism and pop music of 2011.

4 KARIBEAN released GREGORIAN SPRING, a timeless and anthemic indie pop song that fills my heart with joy. Simple melodies and far-from-over-produced songs can't go wrong.

5 COMPUTER MAGIC is going to be big. 2011 proved that.

6 LA OLA QUE QUERIA SER CHAU is a band from Argentina and its freshness is absolutely addictive. Unpretentious summery tunes. One of the bands I wanted the whole world could listen...
&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://laolaquequeriaserchau.bandcamp.com/track/bonito-disfraz"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;BONITO DISFRAZ by LA OLA QUE QUERIA SER CHAU&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
7 THE SORRY SHOP is from Brazil and comes from my homestate, Rio Grande do Sul. ABOUT KINGS AND QUEENS I alone makes this EP a must listen of the year. Beautiful and urban as few things heard this year.

2011. BEST FOR GUESTS. 38 fernanda schneider

2011-12-28T15:05:00.000-02:00

Concluding our BEST FOR GUESTS is Fernanda, my other roommate. Before she entered my life I was quite a mainstream pop kid. She used to give me mixtapes with artists that I had never listened and that sparked a discovery flame that led me to go and really look for new music and get to know the indie scene. Ultimately, that spark led me to create this place.
She has a collection of musical instruments, including a ukelele, maracas and a few keyboards/synths... every now and then I hear she crafting lovely melodies in her bedroom.
She has a great collection of books on feminism and gender bender culture.
In 2012, she'll be showcasing her dancing skills on a remake of Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights' iconic video and her cat - Amora - will be THE viral cat of the Internet.
The idea for this special came from her. She has a blog that I think she should write more.

blog last.fm

TOP 5 POP CULTURE ITEMS OF 2011 ACCORDING TO FERNANDA

1. ANOTHER EARTH, by Mike Cahill and THE FUTURE, by Miranda July – whatever, I’m quoting: “Reality is always formative. It is not a mere ‘here’ and ‘now’... reality is always a process of actualization of potentialities. It is no less ‘real’ or ‘objective’ in terms of what it could be... [than in terms of] what it is at any given moment.” Murray Bookchin said that, and that’s it: these are films that find their narratives in the potentiality of things.

2. KALINDA SHARMA, from the Good Wife – I had never watched The Good Wife until this year. I made up for it by watching all of its two first seasons in less than a month. It’s OK. Actually it’s pretty smart and nuanced. But the best thing about it is Kalinda, a laconic, bisexual, badass investigator with leather boots and a very idiosyncratic scale of values. Addictive.

3. FRENCH FILMS, TENNIS and CRYSTAL STILTS – their albums (IMAGINARY FUTURE, CAPE DORY and IN LOVE WITH OBLIVION, respectively) were, for me, the best of this year, no contest. Most of these were recommendations from Felipe, knowing that I would love them. These end-of-year lists are always so subjective that I always wonder what I should write to defend my choices. I guess my quest for new music is just a quest for the same old feeling that listening to a great new song gives me. That’s it… I just like songs, and theirs are awesome!

4. THE HONEY BADGER video – surely by now everyone and their mom watched this video and might be sick of it. But I don’t care (I don’t give a shit), because it’s brilliant, and because pretty much all of its sentences became part of our vernacular at home.

5. GIRLS TO THE FRONT - THE TRUE STORY OF THE RIO GRRRL REVOLUTION, by SARA MARCUS – this is actually from last year, but it was the very first book I read this year. It chronicles the stories of a lot of bands I liked, especially as a teenager. But to call it a chronicle makes it sound like it’s just history and, well, it is, but I also felt incredibly inspired and moved by this book. Moved as in the verb, to move. It made me want to do stuff, anything really.

But since this blog is about music, here you go: my top 30 songs (in alphabetical order)

1 BRAVE IRENE NO FUN
2 CRYSTAL STILTS RADIANT DOOR / FLYING INTO THE SUN
3 DIRTY GOLD NORTH
4 EGIL OLSEN DO IT YOURSELF
5 FAN MODINE MEET ME AT THE END OF THE LINE
6 FRENCH FILMS CONVICT / ESCAPE IN THE AFTERNOON
7 GENERATIONALS GOOSE & GANDER
8 GIRLS HONEY BUNNY
9 GIRLS NAMES I COULD DIE
10 GOLD-BEARS ARE YOU FALLIN IN LOVE?
11 HEART-SICK GROANS SURFER FRIEND
12 HUNX AND HIS PUNX KEEP AWAY FROM JOHNNY
13 IS TROPICAL LAND OF THE NOD
14 KAKKMADDAFAKKA DRØ SØ
15 KATE BUSH WUTHERING HEIGHTS (OK, an exception – not exactly released in 2011. But I’m obsessed with it!)

16 KIDS ON A CRIME SPREE DEAD RIPE / SWEET TOOTH

17 LCD SOUNDSYSTEM ALL I WANT (LONDON SESSIONS)

18 LA BIEN QUERIDA QUERIDOS TAMARINDOS

19 LADY GAGA BORN THIS WAY

20 LITTLE JUNGLES DRIVE YERSELF CRAZY

21 MATES OF STATE BASEMENT MONEY

22 THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART BELONG

23 PALMS ON FIRE BIRDS IN A SUPERMARKET

24 SASKATCHEWAN DREAMBOAT

25 SEAPONY GO AWAY

26 THE STROKES UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS

27 TENNIS LONG BOAT PASS / MARATHON

28 TUNE-YARDS POWA

29 THE WAVE PICTURES LITTLE SURPRISE

30 THE VANDELLES GET AROUND / MY TIME

2011. BEST FOR GUESTS. 37 leonardo la terza

2011-12-28T05:10:00.000-02:00

As we reach the end of the 2011 BEST FOR GUESTS special, we arrive home.
Today, I'll be featuring my roommates - Leonardo and Fernanda - and their choices for 2011.
Let's start with Leonardo. An avid writer, reader and the go to person of the house when the subject is movies and pop culture in general (specially music, as you'll see below). Oh, he's also becoming quite popular among witty twitter users in Brazil.

twitter last.fm

"Here's some singles I feel like writing something about, which doesn't make them better than those I'm not saying anything about at the bottom but just motivated me enough to actually type some words about them. They're all amazing.

BRITNEY SPEARS I WANNA GO
This is the type of track Britney sounds most comfortable with (upbeat, hi-NRG fun). She's almost squealing in the pre-chorus ('shame on meeee/to neeeed releeeease'), and she's singing this material -rather generic, admittedly- with such enthusiasm you can't help but move along with her. And when those whistles kick in, you're already dancing. Loved it.
Other honorable mentions from "Femme Fatale": "Till The World Ends", "Hold It Against Me" (one of the most underrated tracks she's ever done), "How I Roll", "Trip To Your Heart", "Criminal".
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE SHAKE IT OUT
It's a beautiful song all over, but what made me love it is the emotion Florence Welch puts into the verses (especially "tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground"), as well the gorgeous chorus and the way it builds to its wordless climax, as if she has succumbed to the overwhelming percussion and beat.
FOXES YOUTH
This caught me by surprise. There's something vulnerable about it, like the singer is somewhat unsure of herself. It begins with a synth-line and starts building from there, like it's slowly gaining confidence and then as if she's eager to get something off her chest. It's done beautifully. And I love how it comes to a halt during the bridge, like a mood shift.
LADY GAGA BORN THIS WAY / THE EDGE OF GLORY
Like all of Gaga's "Born This Way" album, they were designed to be big, and by big I mean REALLY FUCKING BIG. The momentum achieved in both these great songs is so huge it could leap off buldings and fly away. "The Edge Of Glory" gets so worked up at one point that a sax solo enters the proceedings to avoid the song from collapsing under its own weight, a similar feeling you have while listening to "Born This Way", with its suspenseful, urgent strings in the beginning suggesting both a storm coming and the moments before a birth, and then exploding with immense exuberance.
Other honorable mentions from "Born This Way": "Heavy Metal Lover" (if this song is released as a single next year, and I hope it does, it will probably be somewhere in my top 3), "Scheiße", "Americano".
LANA DEL REY VIDEO GAMES
I find it difficult to describe a feeling about this song. It's chilly the same way it's affecting. It is sung with tenderness but it could be just sarcasm, judging by some of the lyrics. I think it's that hard to define vibe that makes it mysterious and special and, for me at least, makes it linger. Either way, it remains a great, high drama tune.
NICOLA ROBERTS BEAT OF MY DRUM
I didn't enjoy the album "Cinderella's Eyes" as much as I'd anticipated, but it had its moments. For me, it either hit the mark or missed it completely. This track I enjoyed right away. It comes on with cheerleader chants as Nicola commands us to dance to the beat of her drum. And then a giant drum beat makes its way into the song during the middle 8, proving she's determined about it. It all feels a little like Nicola stated while making the video for this song, 'A little bit wrong and a little bit right at the same time' and that's how usually the best surprises in pop music happen.
Other honorable mentions from "Cinderella's Eyes": "Lucky Day", "Gladiator".
SELENA GOMEZ & THE SCENE LOVE YOU LIKE A LOVE SONG
It's a case of Selena Gomez raiding Kylie Minogue's vaults and snatching this track for herself. It's not quite the slow burner Kylie would've probably turned it into, but this will do. Selena is no Kylie (she's barely Hilary Duff), and she sings this without much character, but there's something steaming in the production, as if it's pulsating for release, that makes this worth listening over and over again.
THE SOUND OF ARROWS WONDERS
I usually have a problem making 'top [insert number here]' lists because the first positions are always too hard to decide. This list is alphabetical, but if I had to pick a song to be at the top "Wonders" would probably be it. From the moment you first hear the synth-line you suspect it's going to be huge, and then you're sure of it. If the lyrics suggest at first a lost love, the meticulous and gorgeous production elevate it to something more. It is hard to pin down a certain emotion, because it sounds intimate and euphoric and melancholic all at the same time, but that actually makes it even more special for me. Bonus points for the spectacular video.
Other honorable mentions from the album "Voyage": "Into the Clouds", "Magic", "Ruins Of Rome", "Longest Ever Dream", "Conquest", "Nova", "There Is Still Hope", "Disappear" (actually, the whole thing, really)

Some other singles that although I'm not saying anything about are totally great as well so you should go ahead and listen to them;

ADELE ROLLING IN THE DEEP / SOMEONE LIKE YOU
CAGE THE ELEPHANT SHAKE ME DOWN
COCKNBULLKID YELLOW
CUT COPY NEED YOU NOW / BLINK AND YOU'LL MISS A REVOLUTION
DAVID LYNCH GOOD DAY TODAY
ERIC SAADE POPULAR
FLORRIE I TOOK A LITTLE SOMETHING
FOSTER THE PEOPLE PUMPED UP KICKS
NEON HITCH GET OVER U
PATRICK WOLF HOUSE / TOGETHER
QUEEN OF HEARTS SHOOT THE BULLET
SKY FERREIRA 99 TEARS
RIHANNA WE FOUND LOVE (feat. CALVIN HARRIS)
ROBYN CALL YOUR GIRLFRIEND
SLEIGH BELLS RILL RILL
THE SOUND OF ARROWS MAGIC
ST. LUCIA WE GOT IT WRONG
TAKE THAT BEAUTIFUL
TARYN MANNING TURN IT UP
WILL YOUNG JEALOUSY

I would also like to give a shout to the really nice CHEMICAL BROTHERS' HANNA score, though it technically doesn't have any proper 'song' or 'single'.

DARK HORSE AWARD
BLACK EYED PEAS JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH

I'm of the opinion that proper credit should go where it is due, even if the artist/band in question is almost always a recurring suspect in your Pop Music Offender List. I'm not much fond of the BEP's music and you will not find me listening to them to unless something weird is happening and, for me, "Just Can't Get Enough" is that weird thing, like somebody asked them to be "a little more Japanese". It features a sweet, quiet chorus, and begins leisurely, as if they're just playing with some ideas. It eventually develops into something bigger, but just when you fear it's going to burst into their usual club-hammering beats and ruin the whole mood it suddenly ends, which I thought was so. totally. weird.

2011. BEST FOR GUESTS. 36 neil vento (the panduhs)

2011-12-27T23:34:00.000-02:00

The Panduhs is a 3-piece band from Northern California that was born from the ashes of a hip hop act.
In 2006, with the combination of synths, guitars and super fun lyrics, Neil and Frank started to write under-3-minutes surf pop songs about beaches, love, friends and keyboards.
Lively, sunny, danceable as hell and I-don't-get-why-so-underrated.
Release after release, they've become more addictive and sugary awesome. Catch a Wave is their latest EP and features fours 2011 gems.

facebook soundcloud twitter interview

"These videos are 2011 for me. All of these videos are actually local bands from the San Francisco-Oakland area. I really enjoy all of these artists and I hope you do too!

HUNX AND HIS PUNX CRUISING

NOBUNNY

SHANNON AND THE CLAMS SLEEP TALK

GIRLS HONEY BUNNY

A1 CHARIZARD (POKEMON THEME SONG)

2011. BEST FOR GUESTS. 35 bart & friends

2011-12-27T17:36:00.000-02:00

Bart & Friends is a band from Australia formed in 1998 and fronted by Bart Cummings.
I'd say the band is a super band, because it's formed by members from some of the greatest indie bands from the past 15 years. I'm talking about The Lucksmiths, The Cat's Miaow, Hydroplane, Black Tambourine, Fred Astereo, The Shapiros, The Pines, Summer Cats, The Zebras...
They make short pop songs with a breezy, early 90's feel; with a musical aesthetic and timeless melodies that sure have appeal among indiepop kids everywhere.
Their latest album 'Stories with the endings changed' was released by Lost and Lonesome (owned by band member Mark Monnone, previously from The Lucksmiths).
ps: how can one not love a musical project that has Pam Berry involved?

info interview (cloudberry cake proselytism)

"Bart & friends

Mark, Bart, Scott, Louis, James. (Pam inside at her crafting table)

BART'S MOST LISTENED TO BANDS

THE AISLERS SET
so jealous Mark got to play with/see them last month

THE MIDDLE ONES
amazing songs, beautiful lyrics and incomprehensible vocal arrangements

THE SUNNY STREET
if my copy of their new cd had arrived sooner they would’ve easily been my most listened to band of 2011

BROADCAST
was extremely fortunate to see their second last show in Melbourne. Ive never missed someone i never met so much

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
every song i write is a bad reworking of Sunday morning

PAM BERRY'S TOP FIVE SOUNDS TO CRAFT BY IN 2011

AMOR DE DIAS STREET OF THE LOVE OF DAYS
stitching hooded corduroy cape for lulu's BFF daisy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pernfors88/6386065893/

LOVE FOREVER CHANGES
making valentine's day gingham buds for ava + lulu

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pernfors88/5475148000/

STEREOLAB MARGERINE ECLIPSE
printing easter cards for spring fling craft fair
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pernfors88/5602901474/

LAURA CANTRELL KITTY WELLS DRESSES
embroidering the girls' drawings onto lauren's tea+cakes birthday tablecloth
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pernfors88/5720114574/

GO-BETWEENS BELLAVISTA TERRACE
printing covers for second hangover lounge EP

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pernfors88/5565646453/

SCOTT STEVENS' TOP 5 LP'S OF 2011

WAX IDOLS NO FUTURE
MIKAL CRONIN S/T
VERONICA FALLS S/T
WIDOWSPEAK S/T
GOLD-BEARS ARE YOU FALLING IN LOVE?

JAMES DEAN'S TOP 5 AUSTRALIAN SONGS OF 2011 NOT BY ANYONE IN BART & FRIENDS (because they would fill the top 5)

1. LOWTIDE UNDERNEATH TONIGHT

2. THE SAND PEBBLES DARK MAGIC

3. THE TWERPS BLACK EYES

4. ROYAL HEADACHE REALLY IN LOVE

5. TERRIBLE TRUTHS PATTERNS

2011. BEST FOR GUESTS. 34 warren chan (ferns)

2011-12-27T01:19:00.000-02:00

Ferns is a band from Malaysia. Their sound is ultra dreamy, warm, filled with Chan's whispered, relaxing vocals and an astonishing collection of beautiful melodies soaked in delicate reverbs.
Pure, pure, pure heartfelt and heartwarming indie pop.
In 2007 they released On Botany, the best album of that year. A few days ago, their second album - Fairweather Friends - was released. Pretty sure you'll see it on the best-of-2012 list of this blog and a few others.

facebook twitter bandcamp soundcloud

ALBUMS

1 OJ LAW YESTERDAY IS A DISTANT DREAM (link)

It's hard to believe that a Malaysian one-man-band has been releasing such quality pop music in obscurity (and completely for free) as long as this guy has. But it looks like this is the year that Law breaks out with this killer collection. Imagine Dave Fridmann's ear for production intricacies melded with the songwriting and vocal chops of Prince, Buddy Holly, Brian Wilson & anyone else from your favourite record collection.

2 DUM DUM GIRLS ONLY IN DREAMS (link)

The year that "spectorgaze" finally outgrew it's lo-fi ghetto, thanks in large part to Dum Dum Girls' new effort. The songs are immediate and strikingly brain-adhesive. And free from the mush of previous releases, vocalist Dee Dee reveals voice that grips you. Hard.

3 MATES OF STATE MOUNTAINTOPS (link)

American indie pop's finest couple deserve a medal for being around as long as they have, raising a family AND still making quality tunes that put younger, trendier bands to bed early.

4 WILCO THE WHOLE LOVE (link)

A return to form for some, but in my opinion, Wilco are never off-form. This album, however finds them at the right balance of pop sophistication and passionate performances.

5 BRITISH SEA POWER VALHALLA DANCEHALL (link)

Overlooked because it was released early in the year, BSP's latest proves that they're always an interesting, crazy proposition even when making populist music. These songs could be simultaneously stadium anthems or stuff you go bonkers raving over in your undies.

2011. BEST FOR GUESTS. 33 remi (the sunny street

2011-12-26T02:49:00.003-02:00

The Sunny Street started as a duo/couple formed by Remi and Delphine in 2006.Their first songs were written/recorded between packing and goodbyes while moving from France to England.
Their songs could be best described as idilic, easy listening, escapist bedroom pop. They have a exquisite delicacy and romantic atmosphere that one could feel in a vast, empty field or alone with headphones while sitting in a park.
So far, they have releases on Lavender, Cloudberry, Slumberland and their latest album 'Hidden For Decades' shows a more upbeat side of the band and it was released via Plastilina Records.

facebook tumblr bandcamp soundcloud

"It's been difficult to pick because I listen to all the new stuff months and sometimes years after they released... I am rubbish.

These 5 songs have been important to me this year and this morning in particular (you know how these things change all the time) and I am a bit of a cheat because two of them are taken from reissues.

Right here is:

THE DRUMS HOW IT ENDED

YELLE QUE VEUX-TU?

DISCO INFERNO THE LAST DANCE

THE WAKE ON OUR HONEYMOON

DEVON WILLIAMS REVELATIONS

2011. BEST FOR GUESTS. 32 ben klein (wonder bear)

2011-12-25T01:06:00.000-02:00

Wonder Bear is Ben and Daisy, teenagers from NYC.
Despite the young age, they have consistently released extremely mature and creative songs, experimenting with music in a very fresh, texturized and original way.
Blissful bedroom pop with an enchanting, mysterious and sometimes haunting fairy tale atmosphere.
They have 5 singles/eps released. The latest is Avalanche, released under Absent Fever.

bandcamp facebook

ps: after Ben's albums of the year, you can get a mixtape he made!

ALBUMS

1 JAMES BLAKE JAMES BLAKE (link)

2 DRAKE TAKE CARE (link)

3 NICOLAS JAAR SPACE IS ONLY NOISE / DON'T BREAK MY LOVE (link)

4 SHLOHMO BAD VIBES (link)

5 BLU NOYORK! (link)

BEN'S MIXTAPE

And here's a link to the mix I made:

http://www.mediafire.com/?p62874askm9zebs

It's called Slow Songs for Small People Driving Big Cars. A mix of some songs from 2011 and some older ones. Hope you dig it.