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: Memory Tapes - Bicycle (MP3)

The intial lineup for Noise Pop 2010, which takes over San Francisco February 23rd to March 1st, has been updated. Newly announced acts include Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band (with Cornelius, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon), The Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative performance, !!!, Harlem, Deerhoof, Memory Tapes, The Fresh and Onlys, Scout Niblett, Far (Reunion Show), The Mumlers, P.E.E (Reunion Show), Mirah, Laura Gibson, Nico Vega, Japanese Motors, Princeton, Free Energy, The Growlers, Nurses, Magic Wands, The Lonely Forest, The Hot Toddies, Tempo No Tempo, Judgement Day. The full current lineup is posted below.

Tickets and passes for most of those are on sale now. Tickets for Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band (with Deerhoof) on February 23rd and the Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative shows go on sale on Sunday, January 10th.

Memory Tapes, chillwave Jerseyan Dayve Hawk, is one of the acts scheduled for the fest. He's going to be in the UK for a short run of shows this January, and he's confirmed that US dates and a European tour are forthcoming. The song "Bicycle" off his debut, Seek Magic, is above. The album is being re-issued on Feb 8th, "with an exclusive 48 minute 4 track CD2 through Urban Outfitters and digitally exclusively via iTunes".

UPDATE: Memory Tapes is opening for Atlas Sound at The Bell House on February 3rd. Tickets are still on sale.

More info on Noise Pop 2010 below...

Continue reading "Noise Pop expands 2010 lineup - updates include !!!, Far, Yoko Ono & Memory Tapes who is touring soon "

Shout Out Louds & Rosebuds @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - Oct 25, 2007 (CRED)

Bjorn (pre-DJing at Hiro Ballroom) and plenty of other Swedes were in attendance at the Shout Out Louds show at Bowery Ballroom last night (Oct 25). That's why it seemed strange that the only surprise special guest that joined the Swedish band on stage was one of their label-mates from North Carolina - The Rosebuds (a band who graced the very same stage just over a week ago). The Rosebuds didn't actually do very much - just some barely-noticeable backup singing on a song, and some dancing and shaking. It was a tease actually - I was hoping they'd grab the instruments, and bust into some songs of their own.

The show itself was okay - Shout Out Louds are good, but not super exciting. Emusic's review of Our Ill Wills sums up the main thing I got out of it....

If it does not already exist, let us now initiate a genre called Cure-core, a collection of bands who nick proudly and brazenly from the catalogue of R. Smith. Let us also quickly clarify: in no way is this a bad thing. Instead of taking cues from the smeared-mascara mope of early albums like Faith and Pornography — as so many before them have done — the Shout Out Louds shoot straight for 1987's Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Their version of "Just Like Heaven" is called "Tonight I Have to Leave It" and it opens their second album on an impossible high. It's got the commanding stateliness of an overture, sweeping and sun-eyed and jubilant. [emusic]

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds, Rosebuds @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics"

Sweden’s finest indiepop quintet, Shout Out Louds, return to North America this fall for a month-long tour in support of their sophomore full-length, Our Ill Wills. The tour will kick off October 6th at the LA Weekly Detour Festival and run through November 3rd in Dallas, with two nights in New York City.

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds & Johnossi - 2007 Tour Dates"