by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: El Perro Del Mar - Change of Heart (Rakamonie Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Taken By Trees - Watch The Waves (MP3)

There's a double-dose of Swedes in town: El Perro Del Mar and Taken by Trees are playing together tonight (2/16) at Le Poisson Rouge and tomorrow (2/17) Knitting Factory and both have good, new-ish albums out. I loved El Perro Del Mar's debut EP but found her first album a bit drowning in dourness, as if it was an audition for Peter Gabriel or something. Her voice has a sad quality to it already, the music doesn't need to wallow too. Which is why I think last year's Love Is Not Pop works so much better. Working with the Balearic-loving guys of Studio, the record is both lighter and more mysterious-sounding, and some of it you could imagine being used in an '80s Michael Mann film.

The same could be said for Taken by Trees' second album, East of Eden, which was recorded in Pakistan (also with some Studio help) and is a little more rhythmic and engaging than Victoria Bergsman's first post-Concretes effort (which I also liked). I don't know if "fun" is the right word for it, but it's definitely more playful. And I think I might actually like "My Boys" better than Animal Collective's original. She also covered Guns n' Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine" which became a modest UK hit.

More hot Swedish action tonight (2/16) at The Filmore at Irving Plaza with The Soundtrack of Our Lives who are one of my favorite live bands of the last ten years. Their latest CD, the double-disc Communion, is jam-packed with power chords, acid-rock, trippy ballads and psychobabble lyrics. Sure it's an amalgam of every great rock band from '67 - '73, but they do it so well and are so much fun to watch (windmills, stick-twirls, etc) that originality doesn't even enter the picture. If you've never seen them live, you should really check them out tonight.

If you can't make it to Irving Plaza because, say, you're home watching LOST but are free later, TSOOL are playing an acoustic set later at the official afterparty at Norwood Club in Chelsea. It's open to the public -- just print out this flyer. Doors are at 9:30 and Scary Mansion and Nico Vega are also on the bill. I'd imagine TSOOL will go on pretty late (more details below).

TSOOL will also be playing Noise Pop in San Francisco on Feb. 27 and we're giving away tickets here. Videos, flyers and dates below...

Continue reading "El Perro Del Mar, Taken By Trees & The Soundtrack of our Lives are here (all with 2 shows) - updated 2010 dates, MP3s"

DOWNLOAD: Anna Ternheim - You Mean Nothing To Me Anymore (live)(MP3)
DOWNLOAD: El Perro Del Mar - Change of Heart (Rakamonie Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Taken By Trees - Watch The Waves (MP3)

Anna Ternheim @ Bowery Ballroom in October 2009 (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

El Perro del Mar will be joined on her previously-announced February dates by fellow Swede and singer Anna Ternheim and Taken by Trees, who is another one-woman Swede, Victoria Bergsman (formerly of Concretes).

UPDATE: Anna is not on this tour. She was originally, but has been replaced by Taken by Trees.

Taken by Trees released her new album, East Of Eden, via Rough Trade in September. Included on that album is a cover/interpretation of Animal Collective's "My Girls" called "My Boys". Check out the video for that song below. "Watch The Waves" is a free download above. Taken By Trees plays a pre-tour show at Union Hall in Brooklyn on February 13th. Tickets for that are on sale.

All three (Taken/Anna/Del Mar) Both (Taken/Del Mar) then play NYC on February 16th at (Le) Poisson Rouge (tickets on sale) and February 17th at Knitting Factory (tickets on sale).

For New Year's, Anna posted a free live version of her song "You Mean Nothing To Me Anymore" recorded at Södra Teatern in Stockholm, November 27th 2009. MP3 of that above. Video below.

Robyn, another female Swedish artist, recently completed her first remix of another artist. Robyn's remixer alias is Rakamonie (same name as her 2006 EP). Her remix subject is El Perro Del Mar. Grab "Change of Heart" above. All dates and stuff below...

Continue reading "Taken By Trees (Victoria Bergsman), Anna Ternheim & El Perro Del Mar - dates, Robyn remix, Animal Collective cover"

El Perro del Mar, Swedish pop singer/songwriter Sarah Assbring, will be touring North America this February. Her trip has two NYC shows: one on February 16th at (Le) Poisson Rouge (tickets are on sale), and one February 17th at Knitting Factory Brooklyn (tickets also on sale).

Her last NYC appearance was a November 9th show at Webster Hall opening for Peter Bjorn and John. She was originally scheduled to play Joe's Pub that night, but it was bumped for the other show, which moved a day up and changed locations from Terminal 5.

Her upcoming dates, which run from Philly to California, are posted below. There's also a collection of videos including the new official video for "Change Of Heart," EPDM singing with PB&J live, an in-store performance, and an interview that susses out her newest album's Last Tango in Paris inspiration (and also addresses its short length) below...

Continue reading "El Perro del Mar - 2010 tour dates & a bunch of videos "

Peter & Bjorn @ Cake Shop in August (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

It was 10 years ago this November that Peter Morén, Björn Yttling and John Eriksson decided to form a band called "Peter Bjorn And John". On November 21, 1999 the band had their first rehearsal. Now, to celebrate the fact that they are still playing together after 10 years, PB&J are going to do a special "surprise birthday tour" in select cities around North America.

The Surprise Birthday Tour was originally just a tour. What it means is that PB&J are now planning guests and "surprises" for each stop. In Philly last night (11/8), the band brought out guests "spank rock, amanda blank, rose and the alien with the beer baby bong!" Another prize is the chance to sing and/or whistle "Young Kids" on stage with the band. More details below.

In August, Peter Bjorn and John supplemented their two Depeche Mode-opening shows with a pair of small NYC club shows at Cake Shop and Rockwood Music Hall.

Details and poster for PB&J's 10th anniversary tour and updated tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Peter Bjorn & John are 10 (they are?) - adding surprises on current tour (which is at Webster Hall tonight)"

by Andrew Frisicano

If looking for a way to see some of CMJ's top bands without a badge or tickets, three stores - Sound Fix, Other Music and Apple Store Soho - are all offering free in-store performances through the week.

Other Music in Manhattan hosts El Perro Del Mar tonight (10/20 @ 8pm). El Perro - real name Sarah Assbring - was to play a Joe's Pub show on November 9th. That's been canceled. She's opening for Peter, Bjorn & John this November - their Nov. 10th show was moved from Terminal 5 to Webster Hall and bumped a day earlier (now Nov. 9th).

If you're out today (10/20), El Perro Del Mar will be DJing (4-5pm) at Pianos this afternoon. Perhaps she'll spin something from her new record, Love Is Not Pop, which is out today (there's some nice dance remixes on at the end of it).

Also at Other Music, The Very Best play a daytime in-store (noon) on Thursday (10/22), which is probably less than 12 hours after they play (Le) Poisson Rouge's Green Owl CMJ showcase on Wednesday night with Theophilus London, Violens, Grandchildren, Ninjasonik and Nat Geo Music (the late show after LPR's New Amsterdam/Cantaloupe Recs showcase).

At Sound Fix (all shows 7pm), Antlers play a short acoustic set on Wednesday (they also play a BV showcase tonight, 10/20, at Music Hall of Williamsburg), and Cymbals Eat Guitars (at BV Pianos party Saturday afternoon) perform on Thursday. Tonight (10/20) at Sound Fix, you can catch Brooklyn's own Bell. More dates below.

At the Apple Store Soho, the extremely busy the xx play on Thursday and Portugal. The Man on Friday. More details below.

Speaking of the xx's busy schedule, let's just go through it: They're also at Mercury Lounge on Wednesday (10/21), Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday with School of Seven Bells (now sold out) and a late-night Tribeca Grand party on October 23rd with FIXED's DJ JDH + Dave P (RSVP).

If you're after the Antlers and the xx together in one convenient spot, they're both playing a late-night NME CMJ party on Thursday, October 22nd at The Delancey with We Are Enfant Terrible, Reni Lane, Yes Giantesses and Ultra Violent Lights. The xx are the "special guest" on that show.

All times for the CMJ in-stores, tour dates and details are below...

Continue reading "CMJ in-stores @ Apple Store, Sound Fix, Other Music & other shows w/ El Perro Del Mar, Very Best, Antlers, xx & more"

Peter Bjorn and John @ Webster Hall in April (more by Tim Griffin)


Oops! Peter Bjorn and John's November 10th Terminal 5 show has been moved down to the smaller Webster Hall one day earlier (November 9th). El Perro Del Mar and Brooklyn (via Japan)'s The Suzan open the show. All T5 tix will be honored, and some are still on sale too.

El Perro Del Mar was supposed to play Joe's Pub on November 9th, so that was also canceled with this change.

The Suzan...

"was formed by two Japanese girls, RIE(Guitar) and SAORI(Vocal) in the summer of 2003. They had been sicking and tired of recent Japanese POP idol music. So they decided to produce their own songs and bring the movement and revolution to the music scene of not only Japan but also the world by their sound."

Continue reading "Peter Bjorn & John's Terminal 5 show moved to Webster Hall -- The Suzan opening, playing Fool's Gold CMJ (flyer)"

Peter Bjorn & John @ MSG on 8/4 (more by Tim Griffin)

Peter, Bjorn and John are still on their Depeche Mode-supporting tour that brought the band to NYC for two large shows at Madison Square Garden, and two smaller ones at Cake Shop and Rockwood Music Hall. When they return again, they have now confirmed that it will be during their promised November tour with El Perro Del Mar, and that it will be at Terminal 5 on November 10th. Tickets go on presale today (Aug 12) at 11am. General sale starts Friday, August 14th at noon. All dates below.

One day before that gig, on November 9th, El Perro Del Mar will play a headlining show at Joe's Pub. Tickets are now on sale.

A video of PB&J at Rockwood (doing a super-subdued version of "Amsterdam") and clips of El Perro Del Mar are below...

Continue reading "Peter Bjorn & John & El Perro Del Mar dates (T5 & Joe's Pub)"

El Perro Del Mar @ Bowery Ballroom (more by Bao Nguyen)

Sweden-based El Perro Del Mar, known informally as Sarah Assbring, is set to release her third full-length album Love Is Not Pop (The Control Group) on October 20, 2009. Following the album release, El Perro Del Mar will be supporting Peter Bjorn and John on their North American tour in November. Further details on those dates are to come.

El Perro Del Mar has confirmed a pair of headlining shows for NYC and LA in November. One of those will be at Joe's Pub on November 9th. No ticket info yet. All dates below.

The first two singles off EPDM's new record (which came out in April in Sweden) are currently streaming on her Myspace. Two are also embedded in videos below.

Album art, tracklist, a note from Sarah about the record, two sample tracks and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "El Perro Del Mar - new album coming, upcoming shows include Joe's Pub & an unannounced Peter Bjorn & John tour"

photos by Bao Nguyen

El Perro Del Mar

joined on stage by Lykke Li

Bao told me that...

Lykke Li's affectuous pop paired with her bouncing dance moves were the highlight of the evening. El Perro Del Mar ended the Swedish Invasion night with an inspired, yet less energizing set. It wasn't until Lykke Li came back to join her for a couple of songs that the energy came back to fill the room.

Continue reading "Lykke Li & El Perro Del Mar @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics"

photos by Bao Nguyen

DOWNLOAD: Anna Ternheim - To Be Gone (MP3)

The gloomy Swede, starved for sunlight, is a cliché, she insisted. It takes resolve not to mention that the cover photograph for Ms. Ternheim's American debut, "Halfway to Five Points" (Decca), features the singer-songwriter with her head bowed, standing beneath a sky of blackening clouds. But we've only just met.

"Some part of it is true, of course," she said. "I don't know why, but all Swedish folk music has that melancholy to it. Also, there's a lot of melody to Swedish pop music while not as much rhythm. There's definitely a color to the Nordic music. We don't surprise people. It's like, I'm the Swedish singer-songwriter girl from Sweden in the north, singing sad melancholic songs!" [NY Sun]

Continue reading "Anna Ternheim @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics, MP3"

Lykke Li @ mahiki 20th Feb 2008 (Max Tollworthy)

Although watching the below video made me like Lykke Li a "little bit" less, I still think catching her with El Perro Del Mar and Anna Ternheim in the intimate setting that is Joe's Pub seems like a worthwhile endeavor.

Continue reading "Lykke Li - Joe's Pub show on sale, street corner video"

This May, three of Sweden's most talented women - El Perro Del Mar, Lykke Li, and Anna Ternheim - are embarking on a two week North American tour together.

El Perro Del Mar, known informally as Sarah Assbring, will be releasing From The Valley To The Stars, the follow-up album to her self-titled US debut which won raves from fans and critics alike, on April 22nd. The album is a 16-track opus, chock-full of non-traditional folk songs that explore the world at large.

Lykke Li is one of the most internationally buzzed about Swedish artists at the moment. She just recently released her critically acclaimed debut album Youth Novels (produced by Bjorn Yttling, of Peter, Bjorn, John), in Sweden and will see the single for her incredible song "Little Bit" released by Moshi Moshi in the UK this week. There will soon be US release announcements from Lykke Li.

Anna Ternheim, one of the most appreciated and accomplished Swedish solo female artists, will join the tour as a very special guest. The singer songwriter will make her US album debut with Halfway to Fivepoints, released by Decca on April 22nd.

Continue reading "El Perro Del Mar, Lykke Li, & Anna Ternheim - Tour Dates"

Speaking of icy (kidding!) Swedish singer-songwriters, El Perro Del Mar is coming out with a new album....

Continue reading "El Perro Del Mar - "From The Valley To The Stars""