All That Ever Mattered

Hello?

2012-01-11T21:43:00.001+01:00

It's been some time, eh?

I like this blog. I like music. I like you. So I don't want to give up on this thingy right here just yet. We'll see what 2012 brings.

What it brings today is a new song by The Shins. Which one can hardly call indiepop anymore, but then again who ever claimed that this was an indiepop blog? Other exciting news in sound today comes from Frankie Rose, over at Slumberland where you can listen to the new single. And there's more excitement over at Slumberland, because Neverever also release a new EP, which you can order here.

Update: The Middle Ones & Best Friends Forever in A'dam

2011-07-26T15:32:00.001+02:00

The location and time for this are now known: Wednesday August 3, 8 PM at Studio K in Amsterdam East (Timorplein 62).

Tickets are € 6,-.

See for more details the Studio K website.

July 11: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart in Amsterdam (again)

2011-07-04T23:41:00.001+02:00

Next week The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart will play at Trouw in Amsterdam. We're being spoiled! Is indiepop finally having a breakthrough of sorts in the Netherlands? Allo Darlin', Best Friends Forever, The Middle Ones and The POBPAH all in one year! We'll see but hope for more.

Not that The POBPAH would still be considered indiepop by many. Still, it's lovely music, isn't it?

More info (in Dutch) here.

Best Friends Forever & The Middle Ones to play in Amsterdam

2011-06-27T09:18:00.002+02:00

Good news (well, it's a month old) from The Middle Ones' tumblr website: The Middle Ones and Best Friends Forever are planning to tour Europe and there'll be a stop in Amsterdam on August 3. Keep an eye on The Middle Ones' facebook or Best Friend Forever's twitter for upcoming details. The Middle Ones are (originally) from Norwich (UK), Best Friends Forever are from Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA).

The Middle Ones call themselves lo-fi ramshackle indie pop/post folk/punk. Best Friends Forever call themselves dance-pop-punk / INDY-PUNK / 1960's pop punk / pop music... and who am I to argue? Let's go see on August 3.

The Middle Ones bandcamp
Best Friends Forever myspace

Almost home

2011-05-15T19:02:00.001+02:00

Quiet here, isn't it?

Not at all like busy New York City, where I've been hiding the past few weeks. Again, unlucky timing from my side has me going home to the Netherlands just a few days before the NYC Popfest kicks off. Ah well. I hope it's going to be fantastic for those who can be there.

Hopefully I'll get around to more exciting updates soon... I'll see you from the other side of the Atlantic in a few days.

Undercover poplover, part 25

2011-03-18T23:53:00.001+01:00

"This sounds a bit like goodbye
In a way it is, I guess
As I leave your side
We've taken the air
Take care,
Please take care"

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Last Dinosaur - Beat it
2. Yo La Tengo - Take care
3. Kenickie - Save your kisses for me

Update: The Pop! For Kids Project

2011-03-17T06:04:00.002+01:00

Remember how I told you about my new blog? This project has been going for a couple of weeks now, and has already resulted in some truly lovely songs. Important note: all these contributions are exclusive, previously unavailable songs, mostly especially written and recorded for TP!FKP. I'm obviously very proud that this is going so well so far. The name of the project may throw some grown-ups off initially, but I think all of these songs are thoroughly enjoyable, no matter how old you are.

Here are the links to the song contributions up to today:

Mascot Fight - Dance like robots
A Smile And A Ribbon - Honey bee
MJ Hibbett - Monster Island
Zipper - Tamagotchi
Doctor Ew - Goodnight, my day is done
Vom Vorton - The world is round
Monkey Swallows The Universe - Inspector Flamingo

If you visit the blog, you'll also find interviews with some of the contributing artists. Speaking of interviews, Tyo from the Indonesion band Sometimes Always interviewed me about TP!FKP for his Heart Fanclub Radio blog.

Garbo's Daughter

2011-03-16T15:32:00.005+01:00

Thanks to Xanthi's lovely mix I heard Garbo's Daughter for the first time, a couple of weeks back. In their bio they call themselves 'the last of the rock&roll innocents'. This is indeed rock&roll music, of the poppy, catchy, addictive kind. I don't quite know how I can do Garbo's Daughter's garagy popsound justice in a few lines, so I'll just say: I like it a lot.

Give the band a listen with the below downloads, or on their bandcamp website.

You can buy Garbo's Daughter's records at Floridas Dying, Surfin'Ki Records and Burger Records.

Download (right click, save as)
1. Garbo's Daughter - Private party
2. Garbo's Daughter - Nice girls don't explode

Why the sky is blue

2011-03-14T14:52:00.002+01:00

Franziska is in Utrecht with a friend. I'm outside with Sam, planting the hedera climbing plants against our garden's fence. Warm rays of sunlight tempt me to take off my coat, to make the work more practical. I hold a cup with little steel hooks in my hand.

"Sam, can you hand me the hammer?" I say.
"Hammer. Hammer!" he says.
"It's lovely weather, isn't it?" I say.
"Hammer!" he says.

I take one of the hooks and lead the plant's tranche through it so it will grow in the right direction.

"Can you hand me another hook?" I say.
"Hammer!" he says, while giving me a handful of hooks.
"Thank you sweety." I say.

We work together for over an hour, and all the winter's stress falls off my shoulders. I dig the last hole for the last plant.

"Shovel." he says.

Together we carefully water the new plants.

"Papa?" he says.
"Yes?" I say.
"Papa." he says.

We go inside. Papa, I think.
Papa. That's me.
It's really me.

---

From day to day time doesn't change anything.
Take a handful of days and still nothing has changed.
Then take a couple of those handfuls and suddenly everything is different.
How does this happen? Time can be a fantastic thing.

I don't have a lot to say today.

I just wanted to wish you a good day.
A happy springtime.
A lovely year.

A wonderful life.

Sarandon - Age of reason

2011-03-04T23:00:00.001+01:00

Three years after the provocatively/appropriately titled LP Kill twee pop Sarandon are back with their new full lenght Age of reason, on Slumberland and Odd Box Records. It's a concept album, even. Yes, really. It made me frown a bit when I read that, but it's good. The 33 minute story is about Big Trev, a man unhappy with his achievements in life and determined to now make a change. The album consists of some tracks where the story is narrated, and then the actual songs of course. I appreciate the effort of the story, but for me it's mainly about the music. And that's good. Really pretty good.

I've always loved Alan's running bass, Crayola's adrenaline-driven hooky guitars and Tom's high energy slaps all over his drums. Those are all back again, but even more sophisticated, as far as music this punk gets sophisticated.

If you like your music with a sharp edge and want your music to be for the heart, for the ears and even for the feet, you may not find many better albums to please you as much as this one right now.

Stream Big Trev here.

Pre-order this album here or (soon) here.

Let's Whisper - The shortest days

2011-02-28T23:58:00.004+01:00

After a couple of EPs Let's Whisper are now ready to conquer the remaining bits of our hearts as well with their first full length album, The shortest days, which is also the first full lenght release for the WeePOP! label. Of course we all know Colin Clary and Dana Kaplan from their solo projects and their other shared band The Smittens.

Both Colin and Dana have very distinctive voices, so there's no mistake we're dealing with a Smittens spin-off here. Not that this is a bad thing, of course, or that this means Let's Whisper is not a full band in its own right. The music itself is a little bit more bedroom pop, but in an upbeat enough way and with such a full sound that it never gets boring.

The album starts off great with two already familiar songs: California girls and one of the hightlights, All happy endings. All songs after that stay as warm and heartfelt as the openers, with their trademark harmonies and the hum-along-melodies. After two listens the three other songs that jumped out most directly at me were Meet me on the dancefloor, Snowy Sunday afternoon and what could be called their theme song, Let's whisper, but it's too early to really name favourites. Every second of the almost 37 minutes sounds like lovely, instant nostalgia. Like The Smittens, Let's Whisper feels like home. A very special achievement.

Pre-order The shortest days here.

Download (right click, save as)
1. California girls
2. Shortest days

Motel Mozaïque 2011

2011-02-22T21:51:00.002+01:00

From 7 to the 11th of April, this year's edition of Motel Mozaïque takes place, again in Rotterdam (the Netherlands). You can see the full program here, but the bands most worth mentioning here are probably Architecture In Helsinki, Belle & Sebastian, The Coral, Dum Dum Girls, José González, Josh Ritter and No Age.

3 x (not so) new

2011-02-09T22:10:00.001+01:00

There's real new, and there's new to me. And then there's new to me, and new enough to me to not have mentioned them here before. Reading back through this blog, I noticed it's been quite a long while since I shared some newer music with you. That's surprising (or lazy, call it what you want), because it's not like there's nothing worth writing about out there!

Looking through this week's playlist on my last.fm page I quickly came up with the following three that surely deserve your attention:

Cuffs (Andrew Churchman from Pants Yell!'s new band)
Chalk and Numbers (indiepop sixties style)
The History of Apple Pie (jingle jangle heartbreak pop)

If you've been living on the moon like me and have not listened to these yet, enjoy!

Undercover poplover, part 24

2011-02-08T00:08:00.001+01:00

"Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
'Cause there's a million ways to go
You know that there are"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Death By Chocolate - If you want to sing out sing out
2. They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (not Constantinople)
3. Rose Melberg - Devoted to you

New blog: The Pop! For Kids Project

2011-01-30T19:15:00.000+01:00

How old do you need to be to enjoy good pop music? I would say not very old. How many annoying children's songs does it take to drive a parent crazy? I would say not very many. As a parent, I've been surprised by how very little enjoyable music I can find made for kids. Simple, fun, catchy pop tunes for children seem to be extremely rare and hard to track down.

I think children deserve to have access to pretty music as much as grown-ups do. Since for most of us music is such an important part of our lifes, how amazing would it be to be able to actually enjoy good pop music together with a child? This is why I started The Pop! For Kids Project.

Pop! #1 by Drew Smith from The Bicycles was posted today.

Farewell, Slow Down Tallahassee!

2011-01-28T13:26:00.002+01:00

Sadly, Slow Down Tallahassee are now more, but their music is very much alive. Their last album 'Curly Cuh' is available for pre-order at Thee SPC, and a free download single is available on the label as well.

We'll miss you, SDT!

You can read my 2010 Slow Down Tallahassee interview here.

Download the single here

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart to play in Amsterdam

2011-01-02T00:30:00.009+01:00

Good news for us Dutch fans of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart! Their upcoming European tour includes an evening at Amsterdam's Bitterzoet, on february 27. See you there!

You can read my interview with the band here.

Oh, and of course a fantastic New Year to all.

New Just Joans EP

2010-09-14T12:40:00.001+02:00

The Just Joans are back with a new WeePOP! EP named Your pain is a joke next to mines. Their previous releases sold out quickly, so you may want to grab this one before they're all gone again. There's probably not a lot of music around that suits the rainy weather better. And if it really has to be fall, then why not provide it with a lovely soundtrack?

Download (right click, save as)
The Just Joans - Stuart had a dirty book

Changing trains

2010-08-30T13:40:00.003+02:00

The man with the eyepatch passes slowly. As much as I try, it's almost impossible not to stare ("What happened?"), until after a while my attention is drawn to a pretty young girl with a much too short skirt on. I notice where my eyes rest and force them away. The split second where I feel like a dirty old man comes and passes. I look at the clock. Still 18 minutes before the train is supposed to arrive.

I'm leaning against the wall opposite the Moonflower boutique at Amsterdam Centraal Station. I got my headphones on, The Smiths are playing. I watch a group of kids now, laughing, obviously excited about something. An older woman shakes her umbrella dry. Outside I can hear the thunder rolling.

Two friendly looking ladies walk up to me. I turn my music down. "Do you know where the train to Enkhuizen is leaving from?"

All these people live in their own moment, have their own story, their own destination. This is always true of course, but it's extra obvious in a place like a train station. Do you know that thing you sometimes do, where you try to look through other people's eyes? See things from their perspective? Or is that only me? It's quite a sobering excercise, I find.

Those that notice me at all, they see me leaning here. Just an avarage looking guy, unshaved for two, maybe three days. They don't see my financial worries. Messy hair from the wind. They don't see me missing my girlfriend and son. Blue shirt, black shoes. They don't see my migraines or anything else that may bother me. About 1.90m tall. They don't see the project at work that needs to be finished this Tuesday. I'm just a flash in the corner of their eyes. On a bad day this could possibly depress me, but right now it seems to put things in a healthy perspective.

In one of those rare moments of amazing appropriateness, my MP3-player is done with The Smiths, and Withered Hand comes on, singing:

"I try to see the world in your eyes
I’m insignificant
That’s my size
In the greater scheme of things I am nothing"

I sometimes have this tendency to make my own 'problems' almighty, to feel just that little bit too sorry for myself. The man with the eyepatch passes again. My hand moves to my own eye.

I breathe in. I look at the clock. Time to go. I breathe out. If he notices me, the man with the eyepatch sees a guy, walking away towards track 14b, now with a smile on his face and a feeling of acceptance is his eyes.

Nothing really happened in those 25 minutes in between trains. Nothing was solved, nothing achieved. Still I feel a bit like another person.

Life is just often so much better than it seems.

Allo, Darlin' in Amsterdam

2010-08-06T10:22:00.002+02:00

Allo, Darlin' will play in the Netherlands for the first time tomorrow, at Winston in Amsterdam. The show starts at 9 PM, also playing is Appie Kim. Afterwards the Future Pop DJs will make you dance.

Don't miss this (although I sadly will)!

Allo, Darlin' myspace
Winston Club
Appie Kim myspace
Future Pop DJs myspace

Undercover poplover, part 23

2010-08-01T01:55:00.000+02:00

"All that pressure got you down
Has your head spinning all around
Feel the rhythm, check the ride
Come on along and have a real good time"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Rose McDowall - Don't fear the reaper
2. The Corn Dollies - Le freak
3. Bart & Friends - Blue moon

New Belle & Sebastian

2010-07-14T00:30:00.003+02:00

This is a recording from this Monday's live show in Helsinki, Finland. You can watch the original youtube video I took this from here.

Download (Mediafire)
Belle & Sebastian - I didn't see it coming

Keep a secret / Dancing shoes

2010-07-13T12:46:00.001+02:00

Two of The Smittens, Colin Clary and Dana Kaplan, put on their Let's Whisper hats once again for a Summer release on WeePOP!

Speaking of The Smittens, Odd Box Records just released a Smittens remix album, which you can buy here.

WeePOP! records
Let's Whisper myspace
The Smittens website
Odd Box Records

Download (right click, save as)
1. Let's Whisper - California girls

Passion for water

2010-07-05T10:25:00.003+02:00

Two Liechtenstein posts in a row? Why not.

I've gone over a month without posting anything, but this new Liechtenstein can't go by without any attention here. This is the A-side to their soon to be released new single on Fraction Discs, and it's a song that suits the summery weather perfectly. The girls keep the quality level extremely high time after time. Download Passion for water below, put it on your portable player and go back out into the sun.

Is it as hot as it is here everywhere?

Liechtenstein website
Liechtenstein myspace
Fraction Discs

Download (right click, save as)
1. Liechtenstein - Passion for water

Saah-pair-lee-poh-pet!

2010-05-20T09:45:00.001+02:00

I mentioned Liechtenstein covering Clothilde's Saperlipopette in my 2008 interview with the band. At that point they'd been playing it in their live set a couple of times. Now they've finally decided to record this immensely catchy tongue breaker. Go have a listen on their myspace. While you're there, you may also want to hear a new original song, Strange ideas.

'Saperlipopette!' translates as 'Goodness me!' by the way, but you knew that of course.

You can download an MP3 of Clothilde's original in this 2007 post on Skatterbrain.

Liechtenstein myspace

Back To One Happy Island

2010-05-18T23:40:00.004+02:00

After some much-loved EP-releases, One Happy Island are now about to treat us on a first LP. The self titled album will be released on the excellent Odd Box Records in the beginning of June.

In advance of that LP, Odd Box offer us a free download single as a taster. The single features one song from the forthcoming album and one exclusive track (a Lonnie Donegan cover) that features special guests Horowitz. A unique combination, I'd say.

Don't miss it!

Unfamiliar with One Happy Island? Read my interview with the band here.

One Happy Island
Odd Box Records

Pleasant valley

2010-04-29T09:16:00.005+02:00

For months it was on their website under the header 'COMING SOON', but now it's finally out: the YAY! Records compilation Pleasant Valley. It's the first LP for the friendly label, and it's a nice overview for those of you who missed some of the 7" releases. For those who got all the singles they wanted there's nothing new here, but it's still an admirable collection of great pop (by Sea Lions, Catwalk, The Tartans, Maria, Pam & Teri, Watercolor Paintings).

Order the LP here

If you're interested in finding out a little bit more about some of the YAY!- artists, you can read my interview with Catwalk here and my interview with The Tartans here.

Once in a lifetime

2010-04-26T21:20:00.002+02:00

My son is turning 11 months old tomorrow. When we go out for a walk, almost everything is exciting. I try to introduce something new to him as often as possible, and that's stunningly easy. When not giving it much thought, I'm inclined to think bigger things, things that seem a bit special even to me: the animals at the farm, the playground, stuff like that. And of course he loves it. But a flower, a sparrow. A passing dog or cat. That's at least as new and exciting for him. If I didn't enjoy his amazement so much, I would almost be jealous; you can only experience something for the first time once.

Yesterday I took him for a walk in his stroller to the park, and I picked him a leaf from a chestnut tree. At first he wasn't too sure what to do with it. He put it next to him in his seat. Then, a few minutes later, he started looking at it again and touching, feeling it. After a while he accidentally ripped off a piece and shrieked with joy. Off came the next piece, and the next. Soon all he had left in his hands was the little branch in the middle.

I gave him another, similar leaf. It was still fun, maybe even more so, but without that surprise, without the first big excitement. On to the next new thing.

---

I'm 32 years old. In my daily life there's not a lot of pure excitement going on. I've seen everything, or take everything for granted. As much as I can enjoy the new flowers and leaves in springtime, it would be a stretch to claim that they excite me, or surprise me.

This weekend a 7"-shaped package arrived. Every time I see that on our doormat my heart beats a bit faster. I walked up the stairs to get to my turntable. I started unpacking the single with growing anticipation. I put the seven inches of grey vinyl on the deck, put the needle on the spinning record, leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. This is my moment. This is that unique once in a lifetime chance for a 30-something. Only this very first spin contains that uniqueness, the magical unknown, the anticipation, and I try to make sure it's not lost on me.

By the second, twentieth or fivehundreth time you hear a song you may love or hate it a lot more than you did that first time, but you can never repeat the magic.

It's so easy nowadays to download a song or an album from the internet. It's so tempting to quickly skip through a record to get an impression, or to give it a first spin while vacuuming the house. But I really try to restrain myself. Aging has quite naturally limited the opportunity to experience new things. One of the most wonderful things about music is the chance it provides to step back into the feeling of holding that chestnut leaf for the first time. The feeling of not knowing what will come, of not having an opinion ready. After ripping off the first pieces of leaf, analyzing it, judging it until left with the essence, the branch, you may come to the first decisions about pleasure, indifference or dislike. But it always happens in a unique moment of pure, incomparable 'once in a lifetime'.

---

"Papa", he says. "Papapapapa!". He throws away the leaf and we walk back home, refreshed, but with one less new thing to discover. With a strange, but good ache in my heart, my head fills up with music:

"Will you give me your hand so I can pretend
I'm holding it for the first time?
Let's do everything for the first time forever"

Download (Mediafire)
1. of Montreal - Let's do everything for the first time forever

Undercover poplover, part 22

2010-04-07T00:05:00.002+02:00

"Oh it gets dark, it gets lonely
On the other side from you
I pine alot, I find the lot
Falls through without you"

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Innocence Mission - Wonderful world
2. Jens Lekman & Tracey Thorn - Yeah! Oh Yeah
3. The Sweptaways - Wuthering heights

Not dead yet

2010-03-26T11:38:00.002+01:00

I was going through some old singles while cleaning up the office this weekend. Somewhere under a big layer of dust I found this, the 1991 single Not dead yet by the Bad Examples. Oh, nostalgia! Their 1991 debut album Bad is beautiful was probably the first non-mainstream album that I bought, and because of that one of those critical ear-opening moments in my music listening habits.

The Bad Examples vanished from my radar quite quickly (although I see they've released 4 more albums), but after listening to that single again last weekend I realised this is still really lovely indie pop (not indiepop) and I've had Ashes of my heart playing in my head ever since.

Download (Mediafire)
01. The Bad Examples - Not dead yet
02. The Bad Examples - Ashes of my heart

Interview: Bunnygrunt

2010-03-22T16:34:00.001+01:00

Towards the ending of 2009 Bunnygrunt released their album Matt Harnish & Other Delights, on Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records. Like I said in my 'review' of the album back then: "...this is hard pop, speed rock; there are even some serious guitar solos here. It's all rather fantastic too."

A few months and lots of hours of listening later, I still think it's a truly great and addictive album. It made me want to ask the album's namegiver, Matt Harnish, all about Bunnygrunt's yesterday, today and tomorrow. And, probably unsurprisingly, so I did!

Hello Matt! How are you doing?

Awesome!

Seventeen years of Bunnygrunt, or eleven if we substract the 1998-2004 break. Quite an achievement, I'd say! Do you remember how it all began? How did you meet, and why did you decide to start making music together?

Karen & I worked at different stores of the same record chain. Our two stores interacted a lot, Karen & I saw each other at shows a lot, we realized we had compatible musical ideas & blammo, the magic was born!

In your own experience, how different is 2010's Bunnygrunt from 1993's Bunnygrunt and its sound and motivations? What has changed, and what has stayed the same?

Well, none of us are in this full time any more. At our height we were on the road for 6-8 weeks out of the year, now it's a long weekend here & there, usually based around one of the US Popfests. Musically, Karen's switch to bass opened up a world of options we hadn't had in previous line-ups. The sound is a bit more free-form, though we still obviously love a giant multi-harmony chorus.

The sound on last year's Matt Harnish & Other delights is far removed from what anyone would dare to call twee or cuddlecore. I just read on your myspace that you actually sound like "Karen & Matt punching you in the face and touching your butt." I'll have to take your word on that. But seriously, you rock hard nowadays. Aren't you scaring away the pop kids? Do you notice reaching another crowd than some years ago?

I think we've probably scared away a couple pop kids, but we never really stuck to a strict Pop diet. Our earliest shows were with our young friends in political hardcore bands & our old friends in psych garage bands, so the whole "Pop" scene was never something we tried to exploit. We love playing the Popfests & will continue to do 'em til they kick us out of the club.

On the album the band is a lot bigger than just the two of you. Is Bunnygrunt oficially still just Matt and Karen, or do you consider the other players part of the band by now?

We have a full time drummer called Eric Von Damage, and a rotating cast of extra guitar players, depending on their availability. We vary from a 3 piece to a 6 piece from show to show.

I enjoyed the recording I found of your Blondiegrunt set on the Athens Popfest. I'm assuming you like Blondie, then? Are there any (other) bands that you consider influences, or just admire or enjoy for what they do? What was the kind of music you grew up with?

We're on a hardcore 70's "Classic Rock" kick these days. St Louis had/has one of the premier rock radio stations in the country, KSHE 95, and we recently learned a set of 70's prog & hard rock jams in honor of its influence on us. Oh man, it was sweet. Actually, it was The Sweet (see what I did there?), plus Argent, ELO, a few somewhat more obscure bands that only got real airplay in St Louis, like Doucette, Dust & Off Broadway. We've basically lost our minds.

Whatever happened to The See-Thrus? Excuse my ignorance, but did you ever release anything?

It was a case of remaining friends or remaining in a band. I think we made the right choice. No recordings, no nothing.

Matt, I read on your Bert Dax myspace: "I put out some records but I'm not really a label, I book some shows but I'm not really a promoter, I DJ sometimes but I'm not really a DJ, I love Christmas but I'm not Santa Claus... I just want things in St Louis to be cool." So, how cool are things in St Louis? What is the St Louis music community like?

Awesome! Lots of good bands (who unfortunately rarely try to get themselves known outside of St Louis), lots of good venues, cheap rent, cheap beer, creative ridiculous people. I love my hometown!

Wikipedia says: "Despite one of their songs being used in a major Hollywood movie, Bunnygrunt seem to be, whether deliberately or not, unbothered regarding commercial success." True or false? And while we're at it: how did your song (Season's freaklings) end up being on that Bad Santa soundtrack?

I don't think we've ever intentionally turned down fame & fortune, but we've never sought it at the cost of our souls, either. The Bad Santa thing isn't a very interesting story. Basically random chance. Cool, though, paid some bills for about a month.

The HHBTM website claims: "This isn't music for blogs, this is shout along live, loud, in the joyful moment Rock-n-Roll." Will we get a chance to shout along live with you in Europe as well in 2010? What else is coming up for Bunnygrunt in this new year?

I wish! There was tentative talk of a HHBTM package tour of England this summer, but it kinda fell through. Maybe in '11? Who knows what stupid stuff we will have come up with by then?

Thanks Matt! And thanks Bunnygrunt!

Buy Matt Harnish & Other Delights
Bunnygrunt myspace
HHBTM website

Download (right click, save as)
1. Bunnygrunt - The limits of Southern hospitality
2. Bunnygrunt - Hometown rockstar

Undercover poplover, part 21

2010-03-22T00:46:00.003+01:00

"It's five o'clock
And I walk through the empty streets
Thoughts fill my head
But then still
No one speaks to me
My mind takes me back
To the years that have passed me by"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Johan - It's five o'clock
2. Internet Forever - Walk of life
3. Mary Lou Lord - I don't want to get over you

Alex Chilton R.I.P.

2010-03-18T09:38:00.005+01:00

Alex Chilton, best known as the singer and guitarist of Big Star has died at the age of 59. Big Star's Thirteen has been at the #1 spot of my last.fm charts for the past few years. You can read all about Alex Chilton, Big Star and the Box Tops and all his lovely songs in other places. I'll just leave you with Thirteen.

Won't you let me walk you home from school
Won't you let me meet you at the pool
Maybe Friday I can
Get tickets for the dance
And I'll take you

Won't you tell your dad, "Get off my back"
Tell him what we said 'bout 'Paint It Black'
Rock 'n Roll is here to stay
Come inside where it's okay
And I'll shake you.

Won't you tell me what you're thinking of
Would you be an outlaw for my love
If it's so, well, let me know
If it's "no", well, I can go
I won't make you

Download (Mediafire):
Big Star - Thirteen

A new smile

2010-03-15T12:35:00.002+01:00

A Smile And A Ribbon will finally release their new single on Cloudberry Records very soon now! To make the waiting a bit more bearable, Cloudberry is so kind to make the A-side already available for free. Have a listen to Den Lille Havrue below.

Download (right click, save as)
A Smile And A Ribbon - Den Lille Havfrue

The School - Loveless unbeliever

2010-03-06T23:10:00.001+01:00

From the Elefant Records website:

"It’s finally here. The throne has been claimed. For years, all the fans of the best pop waited anxiously for that group that was going to occupy the space left between THE PIPETTES, LUCKY SOUL and BELLE & SEBASTIAN, heirs of the best pop from the sixties (THE SHIRELLES, THE RONETTES, THE SUPREMES...) and the best Scottish pop (CAMERA OBSCURA, BMX BANDITS...). But it’s finally here, “Loveless Unbeliever”, the debut album of THE SCHOOL."

Good news indeed! To make it even lovelier, there will be a limited edition of this album for vinyl lovers (on red vinyl).

The official release is planned for May. Time to get impatient!

Download (Mediafire)
1. The School - I want you back

Boring is the new exciting

2010-02-23T16:08:00.002+01:00

The bicycle ride from work to home is less than ten minutes. It's the only time I really have every day to listen to some music. Lately those almost ten minutes have been filled completely with The Kinks' You really got me on repeat. I'm not sure what makes me want to hear that old song so often suddenly. It fills me with the right amount of positive energy, I suppose.

Ten minutes a day is hardly enough to give any new music a serious chance. I've been listening a lot to The Garlands' side of the Atomic Beat Records single, but I've not been able to find the time, patience and energy to listen to a whole album. So it's been quiet here too, you may have noticed.

A quick personal update?

I got a promotion. My girlfriend's sister moved in with us six weeks ago. It's still snowing every other day. London's Popfest is happing this week and I can only dream about it. And last but not least, our baby is still waking up at least 5 times a night. I could really do with some boring, quiet days just for myself.

But life is good.

An hour to go at work. Right now the sun is shining.
My ride home will be nice for a change.

Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night

Northern Portrait - Criminal art lovers

2010-01-17T01:12:00.000+01:00

After two rather brilliant EPs (Fallen aristocracy and Napoleon sweetheart) in 2008, this was one of the albums I was looking forward to most in 2009. When I interviewed the band early last year, "sometime in May" was mentioned as the release date. Except, it was delayed. And delayed some more. And then it wasn't 2009 anymore.

But here it is, finally: a first contender for favourite album of 2010. The album almost feels like a golden oldie already: Crazy is on there, and quite some of the other songs have bee available on myspace or the Matinée website over the months. Add to that the overall timeless (but not dated) feel that's part of all of Northern Portrait's repertoire, and it's impossible to not love this album right from the start.

Buy this album
Northern Portrait myspace

Download (right click, save as)
1. Northern Portrait - New favourite moment
2. Northern Portrait - Crazy

The Hairs - Electric Virgin EP

2010-01-16T13:06:00.002+01:00

Another ace free Holiday Records treat! The Hairs are Alex of The Pains of Being Pure At Heart and Kevin of Knight School. Great band + great band = great band? In this case, indeed.

Download the Electric Virgin EP for free
The Hairs myspace

Undercover poplover, part 20

2010-01-13T22:54:00.001+01:00

"When this kiss is over, it will start again
It will not be any different, it will be exactly the same
It's hard to imagine that nothing at all
Could be so exciting, could be this much fun"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Belle & Sebastian - Comment te dire adieu
2. Ted Leo - Since U been gone
3. Voxtrot - Heaven

Interview: Slow Down Tallahassee

2010-01-06T09:08:00.004+01:00

Slow Down Tallahassee are Nicola Coleman (vocals, harp, keyboards, bass), Claire Hill (vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass) and Richard Butterworth (guitar) from Sheffield. I heard first about them in 2007, when they released their debut single So much for love. In 2008 they confirmed their greatness with the fabulous album The beautiful light. A split single with Standard Fare last year made sure I'm now thoroughly looking forward to their soon to be released second album. Nicola and Richard talk about that album, and their music in general. Like the band say on their website: "Listen loudly, and your ears will love you."

Hello Slow Down Tallahassee! You're about to release your new album. What can we expect?

Nicola: Yes we finished recording our second album just before Xmas. It just needs mastering now, and then it's ready to go. And I suppose we need artwork too. I think it's an improvement on the first album. The arrangements are occasionally more complex and/or adventurous, and the vocal melodies are stronger I think. There are still a couple of 2 minute pop blasts included though. Lyrically Richard and I wanted to expand on the characters we wrote about in the first album. To finish telling their stories, because we found them so compelling. This album is shorter too. Only 12 songs this time.

When, how and why did the three (or four, if we still count Rachel Hedley who left the band after recording the first album) of you decide to start making music together?

Richard: Well, all four of us used to work together at The Leadmill nightcub in Sheffield years ago. So that's how we knew each other. Nicola, Claire, and myself formed a band with two other Leadmill pals that lasted 2 or 3 years called Wisconsin Death Trip. When that band ended we simply carried on because the songs kept coming and we asked Rachel to join.

On your previous album and singles you made fuzzy rock 'n roll, with often grim lyrics, but somehow managed to keep that fresh pop feel in even your darkest songs. Which makes the strange mix of influences you mention on your myspace actually quite accurate: from Britney Spears to Leonard Cohen, and from Madonna to The Breeders. How did you arrive at this sound?

Nicola: Britney, Leonard Cohen, Madonna and The Breeders are just some of the many artists that have inspired and entertained us along the way. We didn't specifically choose to combine 'dark' lyrics with pop music. It just happened that way. The lyrics need to be the way they are because we don't want to be dishonest.

You also mention Henry Darger on your website as one of the inspirations for your music. One of his stories is The story of the Vivian Girls, which obviously brings another current rock 'n roll band to mind. On the other end of music, I know someone like Sufjan Stevens also mentions him as an influence. Are there any bands that you feel an affinity with, in sound or presentation? Do you feel part of some sort of scene or community?

Richard: I really really like Telepathe. Even though they make electronic dancey type music it sounds very organic and honest and emotional. And I find that inspiring so I suppose I'm influenced in that way. Sheffield has a vibrant music scene. Claire is in two other brilliant bands called The Nature Set and The Bon Bon Club. So she probably feels more connected with the scene than Nicola and myself. There's another band in Sheffield called Party Horse who we like a lot.

How did that great split single with Standard Fare come about? I'm never sure how these things work… is it just the label that combines the two bands on one release, or do you have a say in that? Will we find these songs on your new album as well?

Nicola: The split single was Thee SPC's idea. They just asked us if we were okay with it. And we were! Angel of Death and Tricks will both appear on the next album.

How are your songs usually born? If I understood this correctly, it's the two of you who write the lyrics, which often seem to be extremely personal. Isn't it strange for Claire to sing them?

Richard: Nicola or I will bring the skeleton of a song to rehearsal and we build on it until it's finished. The lyrics are important but we're not that precious about them so it's easy to give them to Claire to sing. We trust her by now.

What do you do in your lives when you're not busy with Slow Down Tallahassee?

Nicola: When we are not busy with Slow Down Tallahassee we are busy busting our asses working in our crappy jobs, doing the school run, trying not to slip on the ice, smoking, day-dreaming, gawping at STUFF on the internet, sleeping, etc.

What's coming up in 2010? A big mainstream breakthrough? Lots of touring?

Nicola: 2010 will see the release of our next album which we will promote to the best of our ability. Sadly I doubt we will ever infiltrate the mainstream. But this is probably for the best. The mainstream is Florence and the Machine and Little Boots and Bat for Lashes. They're not our peers. They fucking suck. Maybe its better to exist under the radar, where there's more freedom.

Thank you, Slow Down Tallahassee!

Slow Down Tallahassee myspace
Thee SPC

Download (right click, save as)
1. Slow Down Tallahassee - The beautiful light
2. Slow Down Tallahassee - Limbs

The Garlands / The Sugarplums split 7"

2010-01-05T09:48:00.002+01:00

After months of anticipation and over a year after Atomic Beat Records' last release, here it finally is: The Garlands / The Sugarplums split.

The Garlands is Christin Wolderth and Roger Gunnarsson (Nixon, Free Loan Investments) from Sweden. The Sugarplums are three boys (Luke Spicknall, Alex Jones and Skatterbrain's Matthew Edwards) and one girl (Rachel Shallue) from Baltimore, USA.

Needless to say this is exciting news. 300 numbered copies, so be fast! I won't be surprised if this one is going to go quick.

Buy the 7" here
The Garlands myspace
The Sugarplums myspace

Ring out the old, ring in the new

2009-12-30T10:00:00.000+01:00

We visited my grandmother last week, for the first time with our Sam.
She is 87 years old, he is 7 months old.

She is so busy dying, he is so busy being born.

When I looked at my grandmother, so old, so tired, so confused, and then looked at my son, so young, so eager to discover, so alive, I got one of those rare lumps in my throat. You know the kind: it tells you that you're sad, but at the same time it tells you you're happy and especially lucky.

Scarily, it also made me realise that nowadays I often behave more towards the way my grandma feels than the way may son feels. Obviously not in such an extreme way, but somewhere in this year suddenly I seem to have passed that invisible but dangerous line that seperates young people from old people.

What? Hey, I'm 31!

I know. I know. You're old when you decide to be. Or, no. You're old when you decide not to keep doing new things. You're old when you stop discovering.

In 2010 I'll put a lot of effort in giving myself a huge kick up the butt. Bear with me until I find my way back please. I don't want to be old yet.

That's a start, right?

Have an exciting new year everyone, full of wonderful discoveries of all kinds.

Cats On Fire - The Hague

2009-12-28T18:33:00.000+01:00

I'm coming out of my Christmas hibernation for just a minute to point you in the direction of the new and free single by Cats On Fire on Cosy Recordings.

Download here (follow link)

Undercover poplover, part 19

2009-12-15T11:18:00.000+01:00

"Well, she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen mister can't you see I got to get back
To my baby once more"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Pianosaurus - The letter
2. Jesus And Mary Chain - My girl
3. The King Of Luxembourg - Happy together

The Raveonettes - In and out of control

2009-12-07T09:25:00.002+01:00

The point of having a weblog is to bring music to the attention of people. There's a lot more satisfaction for all parties involved to be the only one or one of only a few to recommend a certain band or release. To be the thousandth blog to say something trivial about a record seems mostly pointless, no matter how much I love that record.

When the new Reveonettes album arrived, I played it for the first time and immediately liked it a lot. I didn't consider writing about it though. Then I played it for the tenth time and I loved these songs so much. All over the web there were other sites recommending In and out of control, so I didn't have to. By the time I played this for the hundredth time I realised this is possibly my favourite album of the year. So here you go, I can't resist any longer:

In and out of control is a fabulous pop album, and if you didn't listen to it yet you should.

The Raveonettes website
The Raveonettes myspace

Download (right click, save as)
1. The Raveonettes - Suicide
2. The Raveonettes - Last dance

Interview: Pants Yell!

2009-11-29T22:06:00.002+01:00

I showed my feelings towards this band already a couple of weeks ago, when I wrote a bit about the new album. No need to add a lot to that from my side: Pants Yell! are fantastic. Let's hear what the band's frontman Andrew Churchman has to say instead.

Hello Andrew! Can you please give us a short history of the band so far? How did the three of you meet, and why did you decide to start making music together?

I began writing songs under the name Pants Yell in 2001 while a senior in high school. In 2003 Sterling and I, along with our first drummer Carly, began playing as a proper band. We all met at art school. We started playing music together because Carly was the only drummer I knew. Sterling saw our first show and wanted to be a part of the group so he joined as a keyboard player but soon took up the bass. In 2006 Casey joined the band as our new drummer.

New album Received Pronunciation is out this month on the legendary Slumberland Records. On their website the label calls itself your ‘spiritual home’. Do you feel that way too? How did you end up releasing this album on Slumberland?

Yes, we do feel that Slumberland Records is our spiritual home. They have been one of my favorite record label since I was a teenager and we've been hugely influenced by the bands they've put out. I think we're a perfect fit for the label.

Is it true that Received Pronunciation will be the final Pants Yell! album? If so, why?

Yes, this will be our final album. I want to end the band on a high note and not drag on. This is our fourth album - that's a good number for an indie-pop band.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the album? I notice you’re still an impressive and subtle storyteller. I also notice the horns and strings that coloured the previous album have gone. How did the songs and sound for this album come about? And how did you choose the title?

I wanted this album to be sparse and a little rawer. I wanted it to sound like us playing in a live in a living room, but with a coupel of extra guitar players. I was very influenced by the Sea and Cake album The Biz. It just sounds like a bunch of dudes playing music in a basement. The album title comes from Jessica of the Would-Be-Goods accent.

Your last album was called Alison Statton. On your myspace there’s a little video message from Alison Statton herself. How did that happen? Did you ever consider asking her for recording a song together? I’m sure it’d sound rather great!

You know what, I never thought of approaching her to record a song together - that's a great idea!

That video was taken by some friends of ours in Paris who went to a Young Marble Giants gig and had her tape that message. They posted it on the internet to surprise us. It was a big surprise.

Apart from the already mentioned Alison Statton and her Young Marble Giants, what kind of music did you grow up with? Do you remember what music did make you want to be in a band yourselves?

I grew up listening to Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Polvo - lots of indierock. I started getting into indie-pop when I began high school - Belle & Sebastian, Aislers Set, Felt. Nirvana was the band that made me want to be in a band myself. Kurt Cobain made me want to start playing guitar. I got my first guitar when I was 10 years old and the first song I learned how to play was Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Pants Yell!’s own music stands out for being so… elegant? Ooh, that sounds a bit boring, doesn’t it? That’s not at all what I mean though. ‘Subtle’ might be a better word. It seems like you deliberately hold back in your way of singing and playing to draw attention to the flow of the words and melody. Are you never tempted to be more raucous?

Yes, we get much more raucous live. I think it's a nice dynamic to have the album and the live show be two different things.

Sorry, but I need to ask: what’s the story behind the name Pants Yell!?

There is no story - I just liked how the two words looked together. I've always been a fan of band names that start with P.

What’s coming up for Pants Yell! in the coming year? Can we hope for a European tour?

Well, we've announced that this is going to be our final record so we will be disbanding in the spring, but we will be playing plenty of shows before that time and will more than likely have a 7" single being released in the spring as well.

Let's hope the end of Pants Yell! won't be the end of you making music. I'm looking forward to hearing about your next project in the future. Thanks Andrew!

Pants Yell! myspace
Slumberland Records
Soft Abuse

Download (right click, save as)
1. Pants Yell! - Cold hands
2. Pants Yell! - Kids are the same
3. Pants Yell! - Magenta and green

Undercover poplover, part 18

2009-11-26T08:14:00.002+01:00

"Sometimes I feel I gotta get away
Bells chime, I know I gotta get away
And I know if I don't, I'll go out of my mind"

Download (mediafire)
1. The Motorcycle Boy - His latest flame
2. Les Calamités - The kids are alright
3. Mo-Dettes - Milord

The Ballet - Bear life

2009-11-25T11:50:00.001+01:00

It's been a couple of years since The Ballet released their impressive debut Mattachine!, which has been out of print for a long time. Now finally there's new album Bear life, released November 21.

Still very melodic, still very gay, still very Stephin Merritt. In short: still very great.

Buy Bear life
Buy Mattachine! from iTunes

The Ballet website
The Ballet myspace

Download (right click, save as)
The Ballet - The house on fire (from Bear life)
The Ballet - I hate the war (from Mattachine!)
The Ballet - In my head (from Mattachine!)

Been hiding

2009-11-24T23:35:00.003+01:00

Website NYCTaper has an ace and excellent recording up of the already legendary set at the Slumberland 20th Anniversary Concert, where Linton performed Henry's Dress- and The Aislers Set songs backed by the Crystal Stilts.

"The biggest surprise at the Slumberland 20th Anniversary Concert at Bell House on Saturday was the completely unannounced appearance by Amy Linton, who performed three of her songs backed by JB, Kyle and Andy of Crystal Stilts. While technically not an Henry’s Dress or The Aislers Set reunion, the brief set was raw and fun."

Let's hope Linton loved this as much as we do, and picks up performing and recording soon.

Setlist November 14, 2009:
01 Introduction
02 You Killed a Boy For Me (Henry’s Dress)
03 Banter/tuning
04 Target Practice (Henry’s Dress)
05 Banter/tuning
06 The Red Door (The Aislers Set)

Download here (follow link)

Free Motifs

2009-11-15T00:25:00.000+01:00

I know I just wrote about Holiday Records a very short while ago, but now they've got a release by The Motifs up:

"Beautiful reworkings of classic Motifs songs plus a brand new one! They are probably the best and certainly the most precious band in Australia."

The Motifs myspace
Download here (follow link)

Undercover poplover, part 17

2009-11-09T07:29:00.003+01:00

"Remember the other day
I would call, you would say
"Baby, how's your day?"
But today, it ain't the same
Every other word is "Uh huh", "Yeah, okay""

Download (Mediafire)
1. of Montreal - Spanish dance troupe
2. The Hidden Cameras - Say my name
3. Eels - Altar boy

The Blanche Hudson Weekend

2009-11-07T13:25:00.001+01:00

Still sad about the end of The Manhattan Love Suicides? Well, so am I of course. But here's The Blanche Hudson Weekend, The Manhattan's Caroline and Darren with friends. Lots of fuzz, lots of 60s ghosts, lots of raw and pretty tunes. Well, at least three so far.

Their debut 7" single, The Letters To Daddy EP, is available for pre-order on Squirrel Records now.

Order here

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Blanche Hudson Weekend - Crying shame

Interview: Zipper-Cremallera

2009-11-05T09:55:00.008+01:00

Maria, David and Oscar from Madrid, Spain, are responsible for some of the most addictive and danceable pop songs of the last few years. It's been a while though since Zipper-Cremallera released 11, their fantastic debut album. I thought it was time to get to know the band a little bit better, and to see what they're up to.

Hello Maria! Can you give us a short history of the band? How did you meet? When and why did you decide to start a band together?

We met at the university in 1996!! At the beginning we were four and have changed second guitarist twice. Finally, the three of us decided to go on together as a trio. Oscar plays the drums and sings a little, David plays the guitar and sings backing voices and I play the bass guitar and normally sing.

I know it’s silly, but it’s still unclear to me what your actual band name is. Is it Zipper-Cremallera? Or is it Cremallera in Spain and Zipper for us English speakers?

Yes, both mean the same and it’s true that we decided to change the name to Zipper-Cremallera when we started to sing in both languages. At the beginning we only sang in English. But now, the meaning could be different. Perhaps in the future there could be two projects…

Like you just said, you sing in both Spanish and English. How have the reactions in Spain been? Are you a bit popular?

It depends on the year or moment that we’re going through. When we started, there were many Spanish bands that sang in English, then it changed and these bands were criticized and now, it’s changed again and there's a mixture. We’ve just been doing what we felt at each moment all these years. We’re not very popular in Spain, though, but have some good true fans (I could tell you all their names).

You were picked up by Cloudberry, WeePOP! and Liliput. Was it you who found the labels, or did they find you? Is the independent 'DIY' spirit of these labels important to you, or are you secretly hoping for a big record deal in the future?

Cloudberry and WeePop! found us thanks to myspace. And we’re very thankful to them because many people from all the world know us thanks to them. And Liliput Records is (or was) a Spanish little record label in Spain. But, it was dissolved last year, so we’re completely free again. But thanks to them too we've released our first long album in Spain.

To be honest, I’m not very aware of a lot of Spanish bands or a Spanish pop scene. Is there a community or scene you feel part of? Which other Spanish bands should we be paying attention to?

There's not really a huge pop scene right now. There are some bands that do similar things and we like them like Papa Topo, Linda Guilala, Indienella or M.A.L. You should listen to them.

A quote from your website: “We’d like to be the soundtrack of a really stupid happy moment of your life. One of those moments that won’t last in your memory for having been decisive for your future but you’ll vaguely remember it as one of the best from your past.” Can you tell us about one of those moments from your own life, and what music brings back that memory?

For example, David can't stop listening to Bicycle ride by the Swedish band The Never Invited To Parties, and I remember when I had to study for the exams that I always found more interesting to translate every song by Talulah Gosh...

Speaking of memories: what was the kind of music you grew up with? When was punk or indiepop introduced into your lives?

We grew up with the Spanish 80's pop music. Later, in the high-school we started to delve into British indiepop bands, we shared our cassettes with new discoveries to each other and finally myspace has opened our range of countries, especially Sweden.

First you played the London Popfest, and then Indietracks. It’s been an exciting year for the band! Do you like being on stage? What’s been your favourite performance so far?

We're very lucky for playing in both festivals. The London Popfest opened our door for the Indietracks and it's been amazing. We really love our English audience. I think we've played more times in England this year than in Spain. It's funny, but we feel more comfortable there. Our favorite performance was also at the London Popfest. The venue was completely full, it was sold out!! (though it's not a very huge place...) And we shared stage with Amelia Fletcher!!

It’s been a little while since your last release. Can we expect anything new sometime soon? Have you been writing or recording new songs?

In fact, we're recording 11 new songs right now. We think they'll be finished by the end of November. Some of them are going to be for a vinyl with Cloudberry Records, some of them for another vinyl with the Scottish record label Bubblegum Records and the rest of them, we will see...

Thank you Maria!

Zipper-Cremallera myspace
Cloudberry Records
Embajada de Liliput
WeePOP! Records
Bubblegum Records

Download (right click, save as)
1. Zipper-Cremallera - Former friends

Pants Yell! - Received pronunciation

2009-11-02T19:15:00.001+01:00

Pants Yell! are one of those rare great bands that come out with a good debut, and then keep getting better with each subsequent album. So good even, that their third, Alison Statton, was my #1 album of 2007. Now here's the fourth, Received pronunciation.

I've just hit the 'order' button on the Slumberland website half an hour ago, so I can't tell you a lot more about this than the very obvious: New Pants Yell! On Slumberland! I'm excited!

Buy this album here
Pants Yell myspace

Download (right click, save as)
1. Pants Yell! - Cold hands

We need a holiday

2009-10-13T22:41:00.011+02:00

If you're the kind of person who pays attention to these things, you may have noticed a link to Holiday Records in my list of links down there somewhere on the left that's been there for a couple of months now.

"in these troubled times things have become so complicated. music is too exciting. you deserve a break and we're going to give it to you! we know you don't have any money, neither do we!"

It's not only free music for everyone; it's good free music for everyone.
Have a look around.

All good things take effort

2009-10-06T11:39:00.002+02:00

We were talking about music (of course we were).

We were watching MTV for a bit and again we were amazed by how little it seems to take to be on TV. It made us feel a little bit sad. Then we browsed the Internet. We were overwhelmed by how many amazing artists are hidden somewhere in this world. We were overwhelmed by how many amazing artists will always be hidden somewhere in this world. It confused us more than a little when we tried to link the rubbish on TV and the goldmine out there, somewhere.

We thought about it for a second.

I remembered my interview with Pete Green. He said: "There's no point getting your knickers in a twist about the charts. Industry music is no more relevant to the indiepop movement than Baroque chamber music or horse racing. What we do and where we are now is wonderful and I'm just about completely joyous about the whole thing. (…) We've got a beautiful scene with everything we need."

And Pete's right of course. We shouldn't be saddened by what's on TV; we can turn it off without any effort.

To be honest, a big part of the joy of music is the experience of discovery, of digging in that mine yourself. To get ridiculously excited when you find that diamond. To have that little secret, that knowledgde about something so beautiful that no one else you know knows about. Sometimes, when your diamond, your little secret, through mechanisms that will probably always stay a mystery, suddenly gets a lot of attention in the 'real' world, it's secretly even hurting a little bit, isn't it? Think Belle & Sebastian. Think The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, even.

I stumbled upon Sibylle Baier's website and smiled at this part, written by her son: "Sibylle will most likely never see this site. She is really quite perplexed by all the attention that her music has gotten (after over 30 years). My father keeps telling her about all the pages and articles that are out there, but she, though smitten, prefers to hear about her accolades through the eyes and ears of her family. The web makes her dizzy, I think."

I imagine a future world, say 2030 (I'm 52). The world discovers The Smittens, Pants Yell!
The press rave about Liechtenstein, Pocketbooks.

It's ok. We've had them to ourselves for long enough by then.

The web makes me dizzy too. Dizzy but happy, and so, so grateful.

Download (Mediafire)
1. Sibylle Baier - Tonight
2. When I was 12 - Make believe hearts
3. Rose Melberg - Things that we do

Undercover poplover, part 16

2009-09-25T08:30:00.002+02:00

"On white horses let me ride away to my world of dreams so far away.
Let me run, to the sun. To a world my heart can understand.
It's a warm and gentle wonderland.
Far away, stars away."

Download (Mediafire)
1. Trixie's Big Red Motorbike - White horses
2. Jesus And Mary Chain - Surfin' USA
3. Sambassadeur - La chanson de Prévert

One night in Phitsanulok

2009-09-23T11:30:00.002+02:00

4 years ago

Although it's 8 PM it's still hot and humid at the Bangkok bus station. We've got 390 km ahead of us. It'll be a 7 hour drive to Phitsanulok. We have spent the first three days of our five-week vacation in Bangkok and are ready to travel up North, impressed by the capital city but eager to leave its smell and chaos behind us. We tip our guide for the day and get in the bus.

The first thing I notice is the karaoke TV for entertainment. The second thing I notice is that we're the only tourists. The third thing I notice is that our front row chairs leave no room at all for my legs. It's going to be fun.

"Here we go", I state the obvious. "Yes", my girlfriend says. My girlfriend and I, we've been together for about four years at that point. We don't need a lot of words. We're good together. We love each other so much. We do. We do.

Do we?

A couple of days before our flight from Amsterdam to Bangkok we got the excting news that the appartment that we wanted would be ours by the time we'd come home. Now, while the first hour of our bus trip slowly passes by, I find myself daydreaming about that future. Our future.

"There's a school around the corner", I say. "Nice, for our children." I'm joking, but only a little bit. We've talked about having children, one day. I expect another absent minded "Yes" from my girl. Maybe even a somewhat more interested "Mh hmm". None of that though.

"Dennis", she says. Something in the tone of here voice makes me snap out of my daydreamy state. The bus is dead silent. Even the sound of the karaoke has been turned off now; all you see on the screen are the neatly dressed up Thai people, silently singing while the little ball skips over the undecipherable words. We've got over six hours to go, every minute further from Bangkok. Every minute further from home. Nowhere to go. "I don't want to be with you anymore."

4 weeks ago

The doorbell of our new house in Almere rings. I put my son on my arms and walk towards the door.
"Honey, she's here." My girlfriend walks down the stairs.

"Here we go", I state the obvious. "Yes", my girlfriend says. My girlfriend and I, we've been together for about four years at that point. We don't need a lot of words. We're good together. We love each other so much. We do. We do!

I open the door and look my ex-girlfriend in the eyes. "Hello!"

We have a good afternoon together, all of us.
I look at my ex-girlfriend.
I look at my girlfriend.

"There's a school around the corner", I say. "Nice, for our children."

I look at our son.
I look at my girlfriend.
I look at my ex-girlfriend.

"Thank you," I say.

4 days ago

A colleague of mine mentions her travel plans.
"Thailand. Have you been there?"

Thailand. The most confusing weeks of my life.
The biggest possible heartbreak ever.
Exhausting, in every way.

"Yes. Yes, it's wonderful." I say.

It's brought me nothing but good things.

4 hours ago

The dog barks.

I lie awake in bed.
I turn around.
I turn around again.
The events described above go quickly through my head.

Life is strange. No, actually: life is quite perfect.
People are strange.

Once I start writing the post you're reading now, I already know I'll be my same old sappy self. I just tend to get a bit too sentimental like that. Usually re-reading a piece like this before posting it stops me from actually clicking that 'post' button.

But I thought I'd keep this one.

Tada Tátà

2009-09-17T11:00:00.005+02:00

When you're a couple of months late, other blogs have written about a band at the right time, while you just recently fell in love with them… to blog or not to blog?

Well, here I am. Tada Tátà deserve all the attention they can get.

Tada Tátà are two girls from Umeå, norhern Sweden. I'm never very good at accurately describing a sound, but to my ears they sound a bit like a mix between Pianosaurus and early Tilly & the Wall. That's just to give you an idea; obviously you should listen to the songs to appreciate their unique quality.

While summer is slowly fading away, Tada Tátà keep memories of blue skies and warm days alive with their sunny pop songs. Or - the way they put it - they make you feel like "...when you had too many cakes and you feel like you have to barf but... the moment just before that when everything's still tasty, delicious and really really sweet."

The Tada Tátà EP was released earlier this year and is available on Cosy Recordings.

Band myspace
Buy this EP

Download (Mediafire)
1. Tada Tátà - Hit the wall

Free Loan Investments - The last dance

2009-09-15T00:02:00.003+02:00

A new Free Loan Investments release! Their Last Dance EP is now available on Magic Marker. I have never heard any of the five songs before, and am genuinly excited about this 7". It should be the perfect warm-up for Roger Gunnarsson's new band The Garlands, who are about to release a 7" on Atomic Beat Records.

Buy this here

Download (Mediafire)
1. Free Loan Investments - Kick his balls out (from Ever been to Mexico?)
2. Free Loan Investments - Hard to smile (from Youth will understand)

Jóvenes y Sexys

2009-09-14T08:45:00.001+02:00

Jóvenes y Sexys is a duo from Caracas, Venezuela. They make quiet but sparkly, folky pop, with pretty harmonies and enchanting melodies. Their sweet Bruno EP is available for free download on last.fm and their myspace.

Download (right click, save as)
1. Jóvenes y Sexys - El Reloj
2. Jóvenes y Sexys - Divine hammer (Breeders cover)

Bunnygrunt - Matt Harnish & Other delights

2009-09-13T18:13:00.001+02:00

Do you remember how Bunnygrunt hated to be called twee? Cuddlecore? No? Oh. Anyway, it's 2009 now (not the early '90s) and Bunnygrunt have a new album out: Matt Harnish & Other Delights, on Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records. Listening to this album the above discussion seems ridiculous, unlikely even. This is hard pop, speed rock; there are even some serious guitar solos here. It's all rather fantastic too.

Matt Harnsih, Karen Ried and friends fill all 10 songs with great harmonies, black humour and an amazing pace. It's what made Bunnygrunt addictive in the past, but this is definitely the next level. Listen to album opener 665 & 1/2 won't do below and you'll see what I mean.

Buy this album here
Bunnygrunt myspace
HHBTM website

Download (Mediafire)
1. Bunnygrunt - 665 & 1/2 won't do

Undercover poplover, part 15

2009-09-05T14:20:00.000+02:00

"Well hold still now darlin'
Hold still for God's sake
Cause I got me a promise
I ain't afraid to make"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Cats On Fire - Your woman
2. Eux Autres - My love will not bring you down
3. Bunnygrunt - Silly girl

Rose Melberg - Homemade ship

2009-09-04T19:18:00.001+02:00

Where It's At Is Where You Are and K Records finally bring us one of the most anticipated (by me, at least) albums of the year, the new Rose Melberg (of solo-, Tiger Trap-, the Softies- and Go Sailor-fame). I haven't heard a single note yet, but based on all her previous work I'm quite confident about its brilliance.

From the K website:

A small masterpiece, Melberg uses just a guitar and vocals on Homemade Ship (with occasional harmony vocal and piano work provided by Larissa Loyva of The Choir Practice and P:ano), offering helpful and insightfully delicate lyrics to perfectly ease out of sorrow and into contentment. At the forefront, her voice holds a warmth and generosity that adds strength and hopefulness to her aching lyrics.

Rose Melberg myspace
Buy from WIAIWYA
Buy fom K Records

Download (Mediafire)
1. Rose Melberg - Cast away the clouds
2. The Softies - Me and the bees
3. Tiger Trap - Words and smiles
4. Go Sailor - Long distance

Crazy little thing called life

2009-09-03T19:00:00.006+02:00

I clock out around 5 PM, hop on the bike and start my 8 minute ride home. The streets of Almere are empty. The parks of Almere are empty. I see one older guy walking his dog; a girl's voice sounds in the distance but I don't see her. An exciting city this is not.

While I get off my bike, having arrived at our garden's fence, my neighbour greets me. He's a friendly, retired Surinamese guy. "Hello neighbour," he says. "Hello neighbour," I say. I park my bike in the shed and walk towards the back door of our house. Some birds quietly fly away, their activities temporarily interrupted by my walking past; a repetition of our daily routine. A very exciting neighbourhood this is not.

I unlock the door and walk into our livingroom. It's quiet. I take off my shoes, and soundlessly continue towards the hall. Standing at the bottom of the stairs I start hearing some sounds seeping through. My girlfriend singing a song. My son practicing his first careful baby laughs. "Honey? I'm home..."

When I'm halfway up the stairs somehow I'm reminded of yesterday's post on this weblog and the name of my blog in general. It comes and goes immediately, but it's in my thoughts for a reason: All That Ever Mattered. Not a lot in my life rings more true than the past tense in that name. All that ever mattered doesn't matter that much anymore. All that matters didn't matter before.

I'm such a boring grown up. I love it right now as much as I hate it sometimes.

I finish my walk up the stairs and enter the bedroom, with the lyrics of an old Zita Swoon song going through my head.

"Hey man
You shouldn't be worried
About the good nor the bad
or all them stories
Just slowly point your life
In the right direction
And live it up to the max of true satisfaction"
I said: "Hey
My life is OK"

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Flatmates - This thing called love
2. The Lucksmiths - Self-preservation

Stop! In the name of love

2009-09-02T12:18:00.005+02:00

The last three or four interviews intended for this weblog that I sent out via e-mail (after an initial "Sure Dennis, that'd be lovely! Thank you for asking us!"-reaction from the band) I never got back. I haven't been to a concert for over a year, and it's been so much longer since I've seen what anyone would dare to call a popshow. I haven't even found the time to sit down at home and listen to more than two songs in a row in the last five months. I don't know one person in my 'real' life who likes the music I love. I don't have the money to buy any records anymore. I do, but shouldn't.

Is it realistic to still try to maintain a music weblog?
Am I turning into an old man?
Is any of this important?
Or interesting?

Hmmm.
No. Maybe. No. And... nope.

Do I still love music? Pop? Life?

Definitely. Yes, and yes!

There is enough to write about, but life and love keep getting in the way.
Which is a good thing, in a way.

The main motivations to start this weblog were to keep myself updated with interesting music, to practice my English writing skills and to practice some writing in general. All those motivations still stand (and all still need improving). So I guess I'm not done yet.

Ehm... so, tell me what's new? Send me records?
Mixtapes? Zines?
A time machine?

A good day for shopping

2009-08-26T22:51:00.000+02:00

I'm so behind on things I'd want to write about! There are enough interesting releases; I just don't have the time. Here's a quick shopping list for recent things I've loved, and I think you will too.

Out for a while, but still available on 7" vinyl and 3" CD is this unique WeePOP! release, where The Smittens & The Just Joans both present one new original song and a cover of one of the other band's songs. Four winners.
Buy here

Not too long after the grower You're alight 7", Eux Autres return with four new songs on the Strangled Days 10", released on the charming WIAIWYA label. Very highly recommended!
Buy here

Slumberland keeps 'em coming. This Blue genes 7" is a great first release by this very promising band. Listen to the MP3 below for an impression.
Buy here

The Parallelograms have split, but their music is still alive. Three more future bubblegum-punk classics coming your way on one pretty 7". A worthy farewell indeed.
Buy here

A new Horwitz CDR on This Almighty Pop, with three new songs as pretty as the packaging.
Buy here

Voxtrot's suprising return to form, with the Berlin without return 7".
Buy here

Download (right click, save as)
1. The Champagne Socialists - Blue genes
2. Horowitz - Winona
3. The Parallelograms - Dream on Daisy

Searching For The Now Again

2009-08-13T07:53:00.002+02:00

Slumberland Records is (finally!) continuing their ace Searching For The Now split single series. The idea is simple: two great bands, one great single, and a bunch of often exclusive songs on beautifully coloured 7 inch of vinyl. After a few months of waiting, here are number 5 and number 6:

SFTN5: Liechtenstein & The Faintest Ideas
SFNT6: The School & George Washington Brown

Buy these here.

Download (Right click, save as)
1. Liechtenstein - This must be heaven
2. The School - And suddenly

Standard Fare

2009-07-14T22:35:00.008+02:00

I'm so late with writing this. A couple of months ago I read Sam's interview with Standard Fare. It was a little while after their 7" split with Slow Down Tallahassee had arrived, I think, but I was in the middle of moving into a new house and everything, and there was no time. It's months later now, and the wires of my record player still haven't found an outlet in the house. Shame on me.

But anyway. I started listening, via this wonderful internet thingy, and I fell in love. And that's the only reason for this post here right now: to share the love. Better late than never. I don't feel like I need to add anything. Download the song below, listen to some more on last.fm or on their myspace, and read the aforementioned interview if you like.

You can still buy the single at Thee SPC
The band also have a track on Life Has It In For Us, which you can order here.

Download (Mediafire)
1. Standard Fare - Philadelphia

New Hidden Cameras

2009-07-12T14:55:00.001+02:00

The Hidden Cameras return! First, at the end of next week, there'll be the In The NA EP, and the new album Origin:Orphan is set for a September 22 release, both on Arts&Crafts.

Listening to the new song posted below (Walk on), a heavily orchestrated and dark piece of music, it would seem that the Cameras take on a new direction. They call the album their "...most spirited sounding record to date."

I can't help but hope there'll be still plenty of good old uptempo tunes as well, because an album full with this sound would give the happiest man a nasty headache. It's not bad, just damn depressing.

The Hidden Cameras website
The Hidden Cameras myspace
Arts&Crafts

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Hidden Cameras - Walk on

Eux Autres: You're alight 7"

2009-06-23T23:46:00.004+02:00

One release I was really excited about finding in my mailbox after coming home from the USA was this, the new Eux Autres single. It'd be my first time to to hear the band with added members Yoshi Nakamoto (The Aislers Set, Still Flyin') on drums and Nevada on keys. After two addictive albums, my expectations were quite high.

And is it good to hear these New Autres! Both songs are lovely. Only 250 copies were available, and that was a little while ago, so be quick to order this pretty see-through 7" at Bon Mots Records if you want to get your hands on one.

For more info on the band read my interview with Heather from last year.

About a boy

2009-06-04T01:08:00.004+02:00

Our Sam is exactly one week old today.
He sleeps, he eats and he poops;
he's fantastic.

My time here in the USA is hectic to say the least. I'll take time for the post that he deserves once I get home and got some rest.

To love someone so much that you've only met one week ago, isn't that crazy?

Download (right click, save as)
1. Moofish Catfish - Are you a boy?

It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)

2009-05-08T10:57:00.002+02:00

There's absolutely nothing extraordinary about today. The weather is a bit grey. Work is busy as usual. Still, there are only a couple of days like this one in your life.

I woke up this morning, alone, in my bed in our new house. I had breakfast and coffee, alone, and checked my e-mail. I tripped over my suitcase on my way to the bathroom, got ready and hopped on my bike to work. A morning like every morning for most of the past few years. What's different about today is purely in my knowledge that I will never again have a morning like this in my life.

Tonight I'm on my way, suitcase in hand. I'll have an early flight tomorrow morning, destination New York City. Destination fatherhood. In a couple of weeks time, when I return to the Netherlands, this house will be a home for me, my girlfriend, our son, and a dog. Nervous? Me? But it's all good, of course.

Wish me luck.

Download (Mediafire)
1. Parker Lewis - The only loving boy in New York
2. Let's Whisper - All happy endings
3. Frank Wilson - Do I love you (Indeed I do)
4. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - 103

Undercover poplover, part 14

2009-05-04T18:05:00.002+02:00

"Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Yo La Tengo - Sweet Dreams (Are made of this)
2. Evan Dando - How will I know?
3. BMX Bandits - Edelweiss

Liechtenstein: Survival strategies in a modern world

2009-05-02T21:16:00.001+02:00

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart? Northern Portrait? Yes, I'm excited about those debut albums this year. But nothing beats my excitement for this: Liechtenstein's Survival strategies in a modern world.

The CD will be out at Fraction Discs at the end of this month. To make things even better, the album will also be released as a 10", together with Slumberland Records. All 9 songs are brand new and previously unreleased. You can download Roses in the park below, but don't forget to listen to All at once, the album's opener, on the band's myspace.

New to Liechtenstein? Read my interview with the band here.

Liechtenstein website
Liechtenstein myspace
Fraction Discs
Slumberland Records

Download (Right click, save as)
1. Liechtenstein - Roses in the park

Interview: Cheap Red

2009-04-29T22:57:00.009+02:00

Three weeks ago I first wrote about this great new band Cheap Red. Of course everyone knew quite a bit about Boyracer, and to most Kanda was also not unknown. The information on Cheap Red itself was quite limited though. I decided to find out more, and who'd be a better source of information than Stewart Anderson himself?

Hello Stewart! First, to get it out of the way: on your myspace it says Cheap Red is Akina and Arland formerly from Kanda and Stewart and Jen formerly from Boyracer. Does this mean those bands have really completely stopped existing now? Is Cheap Red intended as a long-term project, or a one off thing?

Stewart: No, not a one off - we have a few shows planned. And we already recorded a new single. Boyracer is done though. It just got too frustrating to continue to release records I thought were the greatest I have ever made that no-one would ever hear. We don't have any distro for 555 recs as of 2003, and can't even sell 100 copies of anything at this point. I can't speak for Kanda, but I think they are done too.

Influences: Judas Priest and the Marine Girls. Ehm, really?

Stewart: Yes. Absolutely two of our favourite bands. We cover Breaking The Law as Cheap Red and have covered several Marine Girls songs as Boyracer.

Do you see Cheap Red also a bit as a mix of your previous bands, or did you try to aim for something completely different?

Stewart: It started with us recording 4 cover versions whilst Akina and Arland were visiting, with each of the 4 of us singing lead vocal on one track. We then quickly wrote and recorded another 8 or 9 songs in the following 2 days that became the full length. The intention was everyone gets to sing some, but musically there wasn't a fixed idea or direction as such. It just happened. Of course some of it will sound like our previous efforts but I think overall it's quite different due to the combination. Certainly gentler than Boyracer, but a bit grittier than Kanda.

Your debut cd will be a double, no less than 27 songs. The second disc will consist of 13 remixes. By whom? What can we expect to hear there?

Stewart: Well, I dont want to give too much away, but the remixes are pretty swell featuring: Bracken (Hood), Kid606, Sisterhood Of Convoluted Thinkers, DJ Downfall, Teamforest, The Declining Winter (Hood), James Earthenware, Patrick Vidro, Steward, King Prussia, Simpatico, Fingernail, and Jib Kidder.

Two married couples, how very rock & roll! Do you still feel punk, whatever that may mean? What does a day 'on the road' look like for you? Is cheap red wine involved at all?

Stewart: Well we don't tour anymore but I certainly still drink alot. We gave up touring in 2005 - we just lost too much money trying to do it, so we decided to have a baby instead. But we're still very punk. How more punk can you get running a record label that hasn't broken even on anything for 5 years? Well, actually, that isn't punk, just stupid... but I do believe in the DIY ethic and have firmly adhered to it over the years. I don't think we'll ever manage to tour as Cheap Red unless suddenly we become well known, but I don't think will happen, which I'm completely fine with. I've been releasing records since 1991 so I'm very realistic at this point. I'm very proud of the Cheap Red songs though. And we've been asked to do shows, so if the circumstance allows us we're up for it. Myself and Jen run a cattle ranch out here in the painted desert, so its hard to find time inbetween cattle works to make music.

Any chance you'll come over to play in Europe one day?

Stewart: If anyone wants to fly us over, sure.

Thanks Stewart! First the lucky people at the San Fransisco Popfest will have a chance to see Stewart & co play. If you're around, don't miss it.

Cheap Red myspace
555 Recordings

Download (Mediafire)
1. Cheap Red - Let's start a riot

Stop your sobbing

2009-04-27T14:04:00.002+02:00

Work. I don't write about that often, do I? That's probably because it's so unimportant to me. Work to live, not live to work and all that, you know what I mean. I suppose that goes for most of us. But here I am, another Monday at work.

I don't mind the work itself so much. It's quite a bit below my level of eduction so it's often somewhat mind numbing, but I knew that when I accepted this job. I won't complain about that. But the people! There's not a lot more tiring than listening to people complaining, is there? So complaining about people complaining might be even worse. I apologize in advance. But.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARHHHHHHHHHHHHHG!
Shut up, shut up, shut up! Shut. Up.
Shut up? Please?
Shhhhh.

You know, I never say that. So that felt nice.
Actually, I've tried in the past - in a much more diplomatic way - but people do not necessarily like you better for it. Strange, I know.

Isn't it amazing what people can complain about? If you find the energy to complain about what so and so did on a Friday night, you must be among the luckiest persons on earth. If you can't stop nagging everyone about how a certain piece of clothing was not as good as you expected, you should go out and celebrate. You obviously don't have any real problems.

That's probably not true though, is it?
And that's what fascinates me.

Download (Mediafire)
1. How Many Beans Make Five - Learning to keep my mouth shut
2. The Housemartins - I bit my lip

Indiepop in Holland

2009-04-15T14:22:00.007+02:00

It's funny (although not funny) how I think indiepop, write indiepop, and listen to indiepop on an almost daily basis, but that there's no indiepop in the Netherlands. At all. Well, The Cuties. But that's it, as far as I know. Where are all the hidden Dutch popbands and popfans?

If there's no community, create one. So, in my search for those very few people in the Netherlands who share a love for indiepop, I started a last.fm group, here:

http://www.last.fm/group/Indiepop+Nederland

At the moment, there are only six members, but that's already five more than I expected!
Who knows one day... Amsterdam Popfest 2013?

Undercover poplover, part 13

2009-04-09T08:00:00.002+02:00

"Allez hop! T'occupe t'inquiète
Touche pas ma planète
It's not today
Que le ciel me tombera sur la tête
Ou que l'alcool me manquera"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Thee Headcoatees - Ça plane pour moi
2. Dear Nora - This will be our year
3. Strawberry Switchblade - Jolene

Please Rain Fall Records

2009-04-08T09:00:00.001+02:00

Stephen from the please rain fall blog started a brand new label. But it is, as his label website states 'a different type of record label'.

Stephen: "Please Rain Fall Records is an attempt to build a like-minded community. It is a CDR label. There is no charge for any of the releases. I looked around and saw paypal buttons and requests for debit / credit card details. I didn't like what I was seeing. That is not my world. Just e-mail me to say hello and supply your address details, and I will send a CD. In exchange, you then send something back. This could be a story, a drawing, mixtape, something you've knitted.. anything. Use your imagination."

Isn't that a fantastic concept? The first release on PRF is out now and features songs by The Cudgels, The Proctors, Oporto and Endless Bob Brown.

You know what to do!

Cheap Red

2009-04-07T09:11:00.004+02:00

A quick post to let you know about the brilliance of Cheap Red. Cheap Red is Jen and Steward from Boyracer with Akina and Arland from Kanda. One great band + one great band = an even greater band? Maybe. The songs they've got up on their myspace are certainly very promising.

We'll have to impatiently wait another few weeks for their debut (double!) CD, which of course will be out on Steward's own 555 Recordings of Flagstaff AZ.

Cheap Red myspace
555 Recordings

Download (Mediafire)
1. Cheap Red - Let's start a riot

A beat, a guitar and a bucket of paint

2009-03-24T21:33:00.003+01:00

I've been sleeping in the new house for a few days now. In the evenings there's lots of work to do. Painting, building the kitchen, moving stuff around... things like that. Nothing beats a good intrumental as a soundtrack to this kind of work.

I just painted the heater pipes with these little diamonds playing in the background. Next? Maybe some Ventures or Dick Dale. It's all good.

It's been a bit quiet here on this blog lately, maybe. As you can tell I'm very busy and will be for a while. If you get bored, send me a mixtape with your favourite instrumentals... I've still got a lot of painting to do.

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Beat Poets - Surf's up
2. The Lorimer Sound - Block party
3. Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers - Egyptian reggae
4. The Treble Spankers - A man called curse
5. Link Wray & His Ray Men - Rumble

Interview: Northern Portrait

2009-03-20T16:35:00.002+01:00

Since the Summer of 2007 the Danish trio Northern Portrait has been on a mission to make beautiful sophisticated indiepop music. This resulted in two fantastic EPs in 2008. First there was the lovely surprise debut The Fallen Aristocracy, soon followed by the equally sensational Napoleon Sweetheart. No wonder expectations for the upcoming album are high. Next month the band will start playing their first live shows ever. A good moment to ask singer and songwriter Stefan Larsen what this band is all about!

Hello Northern Portrait! You’ve been working on your debut album Criminal art lovers. How is that going? Do you already know when we can expect it to be released? Can you tell us something about the recordings on it?

Stefan: Hello Dennis. The recording of Criminal Art Lovers is going quite well, though a bit slowly - we can't really wait to have it finished. We hope and expect it to be released sometime in May when we're going to England and America.

The songs on the album are a natural step ahead for us. People who've enjoyed our first two EPs will easily recognise the sound, but still it's developed quite a bit. And of course since it's an album there's gonna be a much wider variety of songs than on our previous issues.

Things seem to go fast for the band. Less than two months after forming the band you were signed to Matinée Recordings, who released two stunning EPs within the year to very positive reviews. Now everyone is eagerly waiting for the album. "It’s no surprise that nothing works the way I wanted to," you sing in Waiting for a chance. Is it now though, just looking at what’s happening to Northern Portrait? To use one of your other song titles: What happens next?

Stefan: You're quite right; things seem to have been going rather quickly, and we are very pleased about that. We've all been in bands where nothing worked the way we wanted it to. Last year was very interesting for us indeed, and this year will probably be just as exciting. Our plans are to release an album, record a song for an upcoming Matinée compilation, prepare and maybe release a new EP and the play as many concertos as possible.

The three of you have known each other for a very long time; Michael and Stefan even since you were children. How did you develop from just being friends to being Northern Portrait? What can you tell us about your previous band, Morris?

Stefan: I've been in bands with Michael since we were ten, so music's always been part of our friendship. Northern Portrait was more of a coincidence than anything else. Michael and I had something called The Mirror Lounge, which was a musical idea that we really enjoyed ourselves. We did actually record an album of songs called Les Elegantiers which can be found on iTunes and such places. It's quite different from Northern Portrait, but I still enjoy it greatly. Northern Portrait came about when one day I discovered a simple demo recording of what became our first song Crazy, and decided to record it. At that point it just seemed completely natural for the three of us to form a band.

Morris was very much a live band. The name isn't, believe me or not, in any way inspired by Morrissey, cause none of us had heard of him then. We were very close friends, and had a good time. Some of the songs were brilliant, but we never made a single recording I can bare listening to. It's really painfully dreadful. Well, perhaps one or two of our last recordings are alright now that I come to think of it.

"I know she’s got a million dollar face, but this will not excite me. Though it is so clear that she’s so pretty, I’m tired of the way she’s selling out. I want something that’s real and perfectly genuine." Just a few lines from your lovely song I give you two seconds to entertain me. My search for 'something that’s real and perfectly genuine' is what led me to indiepop, and so, ultimately, also to you. When and how did you become aware of and interested in music outside the mainstream?

Stefan: Actually, I've always been listening to music that wasn't come il faut... When my entire class were listening to Vanilla Ice, I was listening to The Beatles or Roy Orbison or something. It wasn't until the Britpop thing happened in the mid Nineties my musical taste became comtemporary. I loved Suede and Pulp and many other groups of that time. I still do, actually. It was those bands that led me to indie pop, of which I'm quite thankful...

In 2008 Monocle Magazine singled out Copenhagen as the 'Most Liveable City in the World'. No, I had never heard of the magazine before either. But anyway, still. How does music contribute to that liveability? I think I must admit that the only other pop group I know from Copenhagen are The Raveonettes, and they don’t actually live there anymore. Are there more Danish bands we should be aware of? What can you tell us about Copenhagen and its music scene?

Stefan: Hmm. I like Copenhagen and I like living and working here, but what I don't like is definitely the music scene in general. Maybe I'm just being ignorent, but there's so much rubbish out there. Right now things seem to be changing a bit in favour of my personal taste, though. If I may recommend one band it certainly is Champagne Riot. And if the readers are interested in Danish music, my personal fovourites are Lars Hug and Loveshop.

For Buffet Libre’s cover project Rewind you recorded a version of Cliff Richard’s Some people. Not exactly the most exciting song to choose! It’s surely one of the duller songs in Cliff Richard’s output, and that’s saying something. I know what I’m talking about; my mom is a big fan. How did you end up recording this particular song?

Stefan: Well, the deal was that we had to choose a tune from the Eighties. We thought about it for a long time, and had many strange suggestions floating around. When the deadline was worryingly close we had to make a decision, and Some people seemed like a good choice to us. In my opinion it has a wonderful melody line, it's a terribly dull recording and is one of those songs that don't get too much attention. And then I don't think people expected that song from us. Our version was completed within a couple of hours, and I really quite like the result.

You’ve been quite generous so far with making some of your music available for free online. How do you feel about this still very new way of reaching a public? Do you consider the quickly developing universe of myspaces and weblogs a positive development? Did it help you? How do you find out about new music yourselves?

Stefan: There's no doubt that certain weblog editors have played a leading part in what's happened to us. Morten Stützer from the hits-in-the-car blog was the first to write about us, which definitely inspired us to record some more songs quickly afterwards. Myspace, weblogs and other internet activities have without any doubt been very helpful for us in trying to reach an audience.

I don't spend very much time finding new music myself, but sometimes I do discover something great, like Japan Air, for instance.

I understand you’ve had some problems reproducing your sound live with just the three of you, which is why it took so long before you starting playing live. I understand you’ve finally started doing shows now. You’ve found a satisfying solution then?

Stefan: Well, the main reason for our delayed concert debut is that we haven't payed too much attention to that part of being in a band. We've concentrated on recording and have also been busy doing other things. We're now just about ready to play our first gig, which is gonna happen in Hamburg. On stage we are going to be a quintet, with Jesper Bonde on guitar and Caspar Bock on bass.

I wanted to finish this with what is of course easily the most important question of all: what ingredients go on the perfect pizza?

Stefan: Eggs and chili should be standard ingredients.

Thanks Stefan!

Northern Portrait myspace
Matinée Recordings

Undercover poplover, part 12

2009-03-05T23:28:00.000+01:00

"When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favourite things
And then I don't feel so bad"

Download (Mediafire)
1. Blueboy - My favourite things
2. All Girl Summer Fun Band - Look of love
3. Belle & Sebastian - Rivers of Babylon

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart to play in Utrecht and Amsterdam

2009-03-04T16:12:00.000+01:00

This June The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart will play two shows in the Netherlands:

07 jun 2009: Ekko, Utrecht
08 jun 2009: Paradiso, Amsterdam

I won't be there, since I'll be in New York waiting for my girlfriend to give birth. Which should be good as well of course. But I can't help but be a bit disappointed, and jealous of you, the lucky ones who will make it.

Don't miss this!

A good day for shopping

2009-02-26T18:10:00.009+01:00

First there's the highly anticipated Flight paths by Pocketbooks, out now on How Does It Feel To Be Loved?

Pocketbooks website
Buy this album!

And then there's We come with friendly purposes by The Wendy Darlings, out on Lostmusic Records. 200 numbered copies only!

The Wendy Darlings myspace
Buy this album!

Last but certainly not least, you can now pre-order Every little thing counts, the new Colin Clary on WeePOP!

Colin Clary myspace
Buy this album!

Sex Clark Five

2009-02-25T18:22:00.018+01:00

Next to all the various mysterious and difficult-to-explain reasons for liking a certain band, song or album, there's always this one intuitively recognizable feeling that has to be there after listening: for the songs to leave me wanting more.

Sex Clark Five's rather classic album Strum & drum! is definitely one of those records. The longest of the twenty songs clocks in at 2:43 and most are much shorter. Obviously being short alone doesn't make a song great, but for their 1987 debut SC5 managed to record mostly tunes with great melodies and hooks that won't quit. A lot is happening: some surf, beat, jangle, punk et cetera, all mixed together as infectious pop.

Sex Clark Five was a band formed in Huntsville, Alabama in the mid-'80s, at the time of recording this album consisting of singer and songwriter James Butler, guitarist Rick Storey, drummer Trick McKaha and bass player Joy Johnson. Strum & drum! is a collection of infectious and often somewhat politically charged songs, with some not annoying hints of humour mixed in.

After this first jangly pop explosion, things didn't necessarily get much better for the band. The subsequent albums I've heard have their moments, but this is clearly where you want to start.

Does anyone know if they're still going?

Download (Mediafire)
1. Sex Clark Five - The men who don't know ice
2. Sex Clark Five - Alai
3. Sex Clark Five - Valerie

The coincidence of love / The love of coincidence

2009-02-23T23:22:00.001+01:00

Did I ever tell you about how I met my girlfriend?

I realise it's not of much interest to you. But I've been thinking about it a bit after this recent post in which I shone my negative light on those website statistic thingies, and I realised that that was not completely fair. Because without one my life would have been extremely different right now!

I'll quote myself just this one time:

"Then, after a while, I made the mistake of installing a website traffic counter. You know, one of those things that keep track of the amount of people visiting your website and the URL where they're coming from."

So, you know, that's what I obsessed about for a little while. Which made it easy for me to notice that suddenly my blog was getting quite some visitors from a forum called Bowlie, where someone had linked to a post I'd written about some of the live covers Belle & Sebastian had done. Wanting to leave a reply, I registered at the forum, choosing as a lazy username the initials of my then blog: RITH.

"What did I win and what did I lose?"

Well, shortly after I joined the forum, this girl at the other end of the world joined it too. For unclear random reasons, she chose my stupid username to click on first thing after she joined, leading her to my profile. She said hi.

Flash-forward four years. The Bowlie forum does not exist anymore, but this girl will soon give birth to my son.

Aw. Yes. Yes, I know. I'm sorry. That's a much too long introduction to a short message.

What I really meant to say, is that sometimes I get blown away by how the tiniest of things, the most insignificent seeming decisions, the most forgettable of moments... how those often turn out to be the ones that completely turn your life upside down. Every little moment can have enormous impact; you just don't know it yet. It makes life very exciting and also a bit scary.

Now think for a moment. Are you going to download these songs or not? Careful now. Take another second. Yes? No?

Either way, I might just have changed your life completely.

Sorry/You're welcome.

Download (Mediafire)
1. Klaus & Kinski - Flash-back al revés
2. Daniel Johnston - True love will find you in the end
3. Girlfrendo - Surprise, surprise

Undercover poplover, part 11

2009-02-20T20:20:00.002+01:00

"I ain't lookin' to block you up
Shock or knock or lock you up
Analyze you, categorize you
Finalize you or advertise you"

Download (Mediafire)
1. The School - And suddenly
2. Shonen Knife - Top of the world
3. Po! - All I really want to do

The Kinks

2009-02-19T20:45:00.001+01:00

Of course there's nothing new I can say about The Kinks. I'm not going to try. It just needs reminding every now and then how great they were. So here's an easy post!

Who wouldn't want to hear You really got me or Waterloo sunset at the climax of any indiepop disco? Who's not waiting for the day an Indiepop Tribute To The Kinks album is released? Who doesn't have at least a handful of happy childhood memories connected to one or more Kinks songs? Did I say childhood? No need to limit it to that. This music still makes me happy every time.

Unlike The Beatles, to name just another band, not all Kinks' classics have been played to death, while they easily wrote as many.

On a better day, I could have said all kinds of beautiful things about this. Today this'll have to do: I bloody love The Kinks.

Here's just a very few of my long list of favourites.

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Kinks - Stop your sobbing
2. The Kinks - I'm not like everybody else
3. The Kinks - Too much on my mind
4. The Kinks - Nothin' in the world can stop me from worryin' 'bout that girl

Interview: The Smittens

2009-02-17T18:09:00.011+01:00

The Smittens. The name that the Burlington, Vermont quintet chose for themselves perfectly describes both the band's approach to music and the way indiepop fans over the world have come to feel about them: deeply affected by love. Their enthusiasm is always contagious, both live and on their records. Their third album The Coolest Thing About Love, released on Happy Happy Birthday To Me towards the end of 2008, is their best to date and one of the best twee indiepop albums of the decade. The lovely harmonies, clever and sometimes surprisingly dark lyrics, strong instrumentation, and above all the great variation make it stand out above their already great previous efforts. Dana Kaplan (guitar, keys and vocals), Max Andrucki (keys and vocals), Holly Chagnon (drums), Colin Clary (guitar and vocals) and David Zacharis (bass) once again prove that 'twee' does not need to be an insult and can mean a lot more than just having a cute sound.

Hello Smittens! This past year you released your third album, America chose a new president, The Smittens played at Indietracks, a hurricane killed 80,000 people in Burma, CERN started and stopped using the Large Hadron Collider while recession fears frightened the world and brilliant indie labels seemed to pop up everywhere. What will you remember most, looking back?

David: The UK Tour, playing two shows with Tullycraft, releasing our third record. 2008 also seemed to be the year of the outdoor show for us. We played on the outside stage at Indietracks, outside downtown Burlington at the Discover Jazz Fest (I KNOW! It was like Dylan going electric at the Newport Folk Fest), In the Half Shell at Battery Park in Burlington. The Battery Park show was fun because we had a mosh pit that consisted of preschoolers and pumped up toddlers. 2008 was also the year of the engagements. Dana asked her girlfriend Katie to marry her and I asked Holly.

Dana: Here are a few highlights: my first niece (biologically speaking) was born, little Dylan Samantha Cohen. She has made this year over-the-top precious and sweet, and has helped to continually keep things in perspective in terms of the important stuff in life. The sense of curiosity that a new baby has is rather amazing to watch unfold. Also, my partner Katie and I got engaged (a term I was in fact reluctant to use for a while given the heteronormative culture of marriage that we did not automatically want to take on nor feel we fit into). Anyway, it just so happened that we sealed the deal right before I left for the UK, and she was able to come over and join us for part of that 2008 summer tour a week or two later... it was a fantastic way to celebrate, and we were able to spend a few days post-tour gallivanting around Brighton, a quirky and sweet seaside town with awesome sunsets and campy, kitschy gay culture that I romanticized ever since hearing Ballboy sing Olympic Cyclist. Through a number of experiences including my mom's previous battle with cancer, being a part of the Smittens, our current economic situation, et cetera... I have come to realize that you can't take things for granted or assume they will just be there, so make it count and if you are going to go for it, go for it fully! Oh yeah, and no doubt I will remember election night, sitting around the living room with some dear friends watching as our country made history by electing President Obama into office. I also graduated with my Masters degree in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies this year, went to Arizona, and Jamaica in addition to The Smittens UK and US shows, had The Coolest Thing About Love come out, and the Let's Whisper six song EP, Make me Smile (released on WeePOP!). It's been a wonderful year.

Holly: 2008 was a great year. Touring the UK was a dream come true. Always always remember Indietracks and the energy and excitement of the crowd. It was an amazing experience. Our album coming out after working on it for so long and hard was a big accomplishment this past year. Of course I will always remember the day David asked me to marry him. That was a great day.

Max: I'll remember being in South Africa when my friend's father, a high court judge, made a ruling that led to Thabo Mbeki being removed from the presidency there. With my research focusing on South Africa, it was pretty amazing to be witnessing that moment in history from so close in. And of course I will remember playing and being at Indietracks — that fantastic weather and fantastic atmosphere. The rest of the UK tour was pretty awesome as well. In fact the whole, extended summer of 2008 was a blast - punctuated by bits of work. Seeing fantastic theatre and dance at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa; seeing whales so close to the rocky beach in the Western Cape; getting up early and walking the whole length of the Ice Cream Race with my friend Katy in Islesboro, Maine; eating and drinking until late in the outdoor cafes on Church Street in Burlington; picking blueberries and thrift-shopping with my friend Rachel in upstate New York; eating fish and chips on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow. I was also overjoyed that my dear friend Jen got a kidney transplant last Valentine's day. That was an amazing moment when I got her call at 6 in the morning.

Colin: 2008 was so crazy for us, I feel like it was a bit of a blur, really! I think our summer trip to the UK and especially Indietracks was the clear highlight of the year. We made a lot of new friends all over. Getting to play a little bit with Darren Hanlon was pretty awesome. Becoming part of the WeePOP! family really brought many smiles into our lives, too. I also feel totally excited that there's a club night in Glasgow that took its name from one of our songs - and David did the fliers for it, too! We love Glasgow! If you are ever there, make sure to go to the Half My Heart Beats disco night!

Your press release says you formed on a whim at a party in 2002. How should I picture that? Were you friends already? Did you make music before that, individually or in different bands?

David: We were friends before that, but the band brought us closer together. Colin was in a ton of bands before The Smittens, a list too long to name. I had never been in a real band, Dana and Max had a duo called The Archibalds.

Dana: I just remember being in Chang Mai, Thailand and getting an e-mail from Max in a random internet cafe that had a link to www.smittens.com with his exclaiming that they had formed a band. I went to the site and was totally Smitten, and a wee bit jealous! That was when I saw David's drawings for the first time. When I came back to Vermont I was invited to sing one of the original songs Max and I wrote together as The Archibalds (I hate Vermont), and the rest is history.

Holly: I had known Colin as a musician around town for years and seen his bands play. I was friends with him and David and also I had become friends with Max through a mutual friend. I knew Dana too through the same friend. I had heard that David, Colin and Max were putting together a band and might ask me to drum. A few weeks later they asked and I said yes and the rest is history.

Max: The party story is a bit of a simplification, and other band members can correct me if I get any details wrong. You have to remember the context, which is Burlington, Vermont, a very cool but very small city - with a tightly knit group of kids who liked cool music, arts, politics, et cetera. So we all kind of knew each other from around and had for years. I had always wanted to play some music and was frustrated about the very un-twee, and rather masculinist, music scene dominant in Burlington at the time and wanted to be in a band that was poppy and included girls and queers. I was sick of going to shows and watching boring boys on stage, basically. Dana and I had lived together beforehand and had written a couple of songs - her on guitar and me singing and on percussion and played as The Archibalds at at least one embarrassing queer open mic session, but nothing much ever came of it and then Dana went off to travel around Southeast Asia for a year. As I remember it, there was a New Years Eve party (2001-2002) where people in my house threw a fantastic party, and Colin played some cover songs and I ended up singing along. Holly was also playing around on the drums that night. Colin called me up, said he liked my voice, and we learned some songs and ended up playing a couple of shows, him playing guitar and me singing songs I'd/we'd written, also a little bit with our other friend Rachel. Colin and David were roommates, and I was becoming better friends with David at that point as well, discovering our shared love of My Favorite and lots of other bands. He was already recording bands, and when Dana came back to Vermont because of a funeral, recorded me and Dana playing 2 Archibalds songs. Dana went back to Thailand, but at some point that winter - I actually can't remember the exact moment - we all decided that David, Colin, and I should start a twee band, and, brainstorming about who could be a good twee drummer, remembered how Holly (who we'd all known) was a dancer and how she'd jammed out on drums at the New Years party and asked her to drum. We formed a band and played a few shows - including opening for My Favorite when they came to Burlington. Then Dana arrived back from Thailand, and we quickly decided she needed to join the band. The line-up has never changed since then. Our first show as a 5 piece was in September, 2002. Actually it was on September 19, which is National Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Colin: David and I were living together before the band got started and he would help me record songs on his 4-track and on his computer a lot. And I had known Holly for a number of years, but I didn't know Max or Dana until I met them through David when he invited them over to record a couple Archibalds songs. Some time later, after seeing Max sing at a party I offered to be his band - someone wanted him to sing at a party - and I said I would learn what songs he had and help him put together a few more so we could perform. After that went well, we repeated this at one of my other shows, me on danelectro guitar, Max on vocals and our friend Rachel sang with us a bit, too. After that David decided it should be a full band and bought a bass and joined and he and Max invited Holly - or suggested that we collectively invite her, which we did. I think that's how it went from my end - I remember one day while I was writing sad songs I kept talking to David on the phone as he was driving with Max - and one call was like - what do you think of the name Snowpants? and I was like "cool!" and then a little while later they called back and were all "fuck Snowpants! How about The Smittens?" That was the name that immediately seemed perfect for us! We wrote and learned some songs so we could play a show and then Max got Dana to come back and we all agreed that she so belonged in the band and she said yes and we've been playing and writing and working together ever since! I have been in a lot of bands over the years and I knew David and Holly from meeting at shows over the years.

Seven years down the line, you've released three albums, made friends worldwide and are one of the most loved twee pop bands in history. Satisfied? What should happen next?

David: Sweden.

Colin: Seven years? Yikes! Time flies, I guess. I am really happy that some folks seem to like to listen to our music and come to our shows – and making friends all over is a wonderful side-benefit. I'm not sure what comes next - I generally always am looking to what's next - and for us in the near future that looks like recording a single for WeePOP! and trying to make a new video and then sorting out what to record for our next album - I always want to make another album - I love getting to listen to something new we've made after we are done working on it. We really do owe quite a few places a visit, so I think more touring, too. The West Coast of the U.S. is something we've been scheming to do for a while and we keep trying to visit Sweden, too. I don't know what 'should' happen next, but I am really looking forward to making our next album. We also have a few other recording projects in the works - so we definitely have a lot on our plate - there's going to be a HHBTM anniversary this summer, so we may be recording something else new to commemorate that event as well. This spring we are planning to fly out for the San Francisco Popfest - so that will be our first West Coast show - and hopefully return for Indietracks again this summer.

Dana: Shoulds are tricky. I don’t think there is a cookie-cutter equation of what we should do next, though we all have some great ideas and hopes. One thing leads to another opportunity which leads to another, and suddenly we've accomplished more than we ever thought we would when we started out. I am totally satisfied and thrilled with all we've done, but I always want more too. If we didn't want more, well, then we'd probably be done. But every time we get together to practice or play shows or get a fan writing us an e-mail, it's totally fueling, and keeps the fire going. On my current wish list is a tour in Australia and an animated Smittens video.

Holly: There are more songs to be written and played. I would love to make another video, it's in the works. Keep touring to places we've not been before in the states as well as abroad.

Max: I am not too into thinking about it linearly. We all have lives that are very full and are all really proud of what we've done with The Smittens, and I think that each time we do something new it's exciting. It's also true that it can become a rat race where you become addicted to more and more success and end up never being satisfied with what you've done, and I think that's definitely a trap to avoid. I think we have such a bond that I expect that The Smittens will live on for a long time to come in different ways, but I personally have no 'goals' to achieve with it. If I ever had any they were achieved long ago, in terms of just making music that people got something out of. Obviously touring new places is cool to achieve - but what I have learned is that actually things like that are totally within our - and anyone's - grasp if you just work on it and make it happen.

I read somewhere that you're in something called The Green Movie. What's that about? Are The Smittens going to be movie stars as well?

David: Local Vermont Film Maker John O’Brien was making a documentary about the kids at the 'Greenest High School in the Country' down in Orange County Vermont. They asked us to play the prom. It was fun, it was in a barn. I believe the film is still in the works. There is a preview for it here.

Dana: I do think that we have this Monkeys/Archies-esque thing going on based on the drawings and dolls David does of and for us. Suddenly there is a strong visual representation to go along with our sound, and it gives us a different kind of package.

Holly: I love to perform and making a film around our music and image would be great.

Max: Not sure what has become of it, but filming it in 2005 was one of the craziest memories I have of being in the Smittens - literally playing at a high school prom in a barn, powered entirely by alternative energy, with entirely local food, and kids wearing recycled outfits, all of whom had arrived by sustainable transport. And man, teenagers just have so much ENERGY! I think we played every song we had twice over and they still danced like crazy the whole time.

Colin: Well, we aren't the stars of the movie - we're more like The Yardbirds were in Blow Up - the band at an event in a scene in the movie - but I would love to see it someday! I bet we'd be wiling to be in a movie! We more often drive around in the van imagining who would play us in a movie about us if there was one - that game always makes us laugh!

We do have some music in another independent film called The Graduates, but we haven't seen the movie yet - so we hope it's awesome! They have more info about the film here.

Your latest album is called The coolest thing about love. The coolest thing about love might be that it produces sincere moments of true passion, between people or as a form of art. My guess is that one of the reasons people love The Smittens so much is because they can feel the sincerity of the love put into the music. How do you put those songs together? What makes a Smittens song a Smittens song?

Colin: Thank you so much! Sometimes we will all be in the same room with whomever's singing or playing and we remind each other to sing with a love thought in our hearts - kind of like answering the telephone with a smile - to get the most sweet feeling into each track! A lot of how we work involves us taking turns trying out our ideas and building off of each other's enthusiasm and inspiration. I don't know how a song gets to be a Smittens song, but what makes a Smittens song a Smittens song is generally the interaction of all of us around the idea and execution of a the song - something dreamy and something enthusiastic, too. During any given Smittens recording session, the idea is generally to transform the songs into Smittens songs by thinking about them as Smitten-y songs as we make them. Almost like the intent gives the recordings some thing extra. I definitely think we try to make the songs go with each other - making an album, well, once we get a few songs down, that's when it starts to take shape and when we start to see what the album feels like and that's when we start deciding what else should go on the album to compliment those. Kind of like tasting something you are cooking and then adding things to taste. Maybe.

Dana: I think each song has its own story in terms of how it came to be, and often times what we play live turns into something different when we sit down to record it. We've each done some song writing on our own, sometimes we play pass the sentence where we all play a certain chord progression and then take turns singing a line (Capucine was written that way), sometimes Colin or Max or I will say "hey gang, this sounds like a Smittens song... what do you think?" Generally speaking we all have to feel some sort of connection to the song in order for it to be a go, whether that be based on the melody, the lyrical content, et cetera... Then we all get to put our own stamp on it, and voila! We've cycled through different equations, like at one point many of our songs were politically-based, we went through the phase of let's put an organ on everything we record, or handclaps, or harmonies, or everything has to be cheery... and those elements are still found throughout many of our songs, but we also try to work from the angle that anything can be a Smittens song, so as not to stunt our growth as performers or writers.

Max: I think there are definitely unspoken limits over what can and can't be included in Smittens songs. Like, you know, no vibrato singing, and no dissonant chords, et cetera. But for the most part when it's all of us just putting bits in the way we feel comfortable doing it, then the end product, the combination of all of it, just sounds Smittens.

What was the kind of music you grew up with?

David: Growing up I listened to The Beatles and my sister's Squeeze tapes then I moved more towards punk and indierock. In college I became an indie snob.

Dana: I grew up listening to the oldies, all the time. My parents have a great record collection and have totally influenced my ear with all sorts of things from Harry Chapin and The Angels to Peter, Paul and Mary, and Diana Ross. I have a sister who is five years older than me and so I always listened to whatever she was listening too - for a while it was lots of old school hip hop and then turned more into Simon & Garfunkel and They Might Be Giants. I wont lie, I went through a BIG Phish phase in highschool - we're talking about 40 live shows... that was before I had any inkling I would end up in Vermont.

Holly: I grew up with The Beatles, The Archies and The Zombies as a young kid. Then when I was older I got into bands like The Pixies, Björk, Mazzy Star and My Bloody Valentine. I've always had a soft spot for pop indie bands though and still love The Archies which I think shaped a big part of music style preferences.

Max: My parents listened to almost exclusively classical music when I was growing up, although my mom was an early 60s Greenwich Village folkie, and sang in an a cappella doo-wop quartet for much of my youth (as well as in a classical chorus). Also my dad is a professor of theatre so I grew up going to plays and sitting in on his rehearsals all the time. That influenced me a lot in terms of understanding how to put on a fun, inclusive, non-pretentious, professional-ish performance. Sometimes my parents would put on a Bob Dylan or Shirelles record, but most of the time it was Robert J. Lurtsema on public radio, all the way. I was a late-bloomer in terms of coming to pop music, and we didn't have cable TV or anything until I was a teenager. I think I first got into alternative music like R.E.M. and They Might Be Giants early on in high school. Then I had an obsessive Sonic Youth phase in my late teens, which I guess eventually somehow segued into riot grrrl, and then into Yo La Tengo, Magnetic Fields, Holiday, My Favorite, and other pop stuff that was going on in New York in the late 90s.

Colin: My mom had some good records to listen to and generally whatever was on the radio - I didn't have much exposure to independent music until I was in high school and heard things like The Smiths and R.E.M. and They Might Be Giants and The Dead Milkmen. When I got to college, I got involved in a lot more music because of the radio station there and also WRUV, our local independent college radio station. Those are places that really played things that I heard for the first time. I listened to the White Album a lot when I was little - that and Introducing The Beatles - those were the two that my Mom had.

The Smittens recently recorded a cover of The Angels' My Boyfriend's Back for the HHBTM singles club. I know in the past Colin also covered among other songs Ritchie Valens' Donna. If you could go back in time and claim any song as your own, which one do you wish you had written?

David: There are millions of songs I wish I'd written.

Dana: Anything by Lesley Gore.

Colin: There are far too many! Letter Never Sent (Trembling Blue Stars) just popped into my head, but I would also be happy to have written Hushabye (Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman) or Grass Stains (Jacob Borshard) - but at the same time, would that have the effect of erasing the version that I heard and that affected me so much? I guess I am pretty happy with the ones we've written. Generally any time I hear something completely brilliant that sounds simple and obvious I jump up and wonder "why didn't I write that song?", but I can't complain too much. I'm glad the songs I love exist at all.

Holly: Anything Zombies.

Max: Maybe Diana Ross' Love Child.

In your press release you call yourselves a 'DIY twee pop explosion'. How important is that do-it-yourself aspect to you?

David: We wouldn't be here if we didn't do it ourselves. We have handled every aspect of the being a band ourselves. We have some help along the way, but 85% of the work has been us.

Dana: It's what makes us us. It makes it all real and keeps us that much more connected to the things we accomplish, whether that's sitting around for a night and making buttons or recording songs or booking tours. We wouldn't be a band were it not for the philosophy that we can do it ourselves.

Max: It's mostly important in that you don't have to wait for anyone to do it for you, or for anyone's approval, or for a contract to be signed, or whatever. You just get on with it. If you think it's good, you record it, you release it, you promote it, you set up the tour, et cetera. You make friends and contacts and trade favors. Which can be a HUGE amount of work, and expense. But it actually gets done, which is the most important. It also helps to be part of a scene that's as small, closely knit and supportive as indiepop. Because you always know who to get in touch with and know they share a similar aesthetic and ethic and will, hopefully, be psyched about what you're doing.

Holly: We've done much on our own and it's gotten us where we are today. It's a part of the process and connecting with the community around us.

Colin: I think that things oftentimes don't happen for you unless you do them yourself - and that for us, we like to let folks know that it is possible to make something awesome with your friends if you just take the time to do it. We love working with our friends and getting help, too, so we're not standoffishly doing this ourselves, but it is how we do most of what we do. It does keep you more in touch with what you are doing if you have a hand in it. Part of what we try to spread is the idea that anyone can do it - and we encourage other folks to go and make and do things, too. I guess it's mostly important because it is how we function.

How difficult is juggling all your other projects and The Smittens, and give each the attention it deserves? Speaking of that, what are all your current active projects?

Dana: For me, it's not that hard. My other main musical project, Let's Whisper, is a bedroom pop duo made up of myself and Colin. Let's Whisper started during a bit of a heavier time in my life with a long term relationship ending and my mom's period with cancer. I had written a few less 'Smitten-y' songs and it was a way for Colin to get to play different guitar parts from what he was doing with The Smittens. I also write a few songs that I just end up recording myself as Dana Julie Kaplan (nothing released as of yet), and that's been a neat way for me to learn more about how to record and try some different sounding things on my own. Everything gets funneled to where it seems to fit best, and in a way, the various projects help to cross-promote all of our music. When it comes down to it, The Smittens were my first, and you know what that means... My heart will always belong to them and they always get first pick at any of my songs they want!

David: Most of my other projects are nonmusical, so that allows me an easy separation. Right now Kevin Alvir from Knight School (and formerly of Lil Hospital) and I are talking about doing a graphic novel together called I am your band.

Holly: It's a matter of priority and what needs getting done gets done. The Smittens are just a part of my life so it's not so much a juggling act as a way of life.

Max: I don't really have any other music projects on - though I sometimes talk about it with people. But I am doing a PhD in the UK, so that does rather make things difficult in terms of giving things attention. I am lucky that we've managed to somehow work it out and continue with the band. I haven't lived full-time in Burlington since 2004 actually, but I feel like The Smittens are actually better than ever. It does involve a lot of travel (and expense) for me, but I really enjoy getting out of Leeds and visiting, and luckily my academic schedule is pretty conducive to being able to take enough time to tour, record, et cetera. I hope to be returning to the US in the next year, which should make it all a bit easier! But having survived this challenge, I feel confident that geography, and the career choices we make, won't be too much of an obstacle to keeping The Smittens going in the long term.

Colin: Scheduling is always hard when you have more than one person involved, so trying to make plans with 5 people is that much harder. It's not impossible though! We make time for each other because we like to do the things we do and we respect each other's other relationships and jobs and priorities. It helps that we think of The Smittens as a family, because we know that we are all important to each other and are committed to our dream of making this music together. My other active project is lately primarily Let's Whisper with Dana, which is currently working on our first album, though we had an ep out on WeePOP! last summer called Make Me Smile. It's more of a low-key get together and record duo project, with dreamy and sweet songs which we've been working on for a few years. I also make solo Colin Clary recordings and have a new EP coming out on WeePOP! at the end of this month called Every Little Thing Counts. And I sing for My First Days on Junk, but that band has only played one show thus far. It's my friend Steven Williams' shoegaze/feedback band. Colin Clary and the Magogs are on indefinite hiatus - just because everyone is so busy with other projects and such. I hope we make another record someday, though.

When not making music, what do you like doing most?

David: I draw and make dolls.

Dana: I am a sucker for reality TV, to be honest, but I don’t have cable, so it doesn't consume much of my time. I love to travel, go for long walks either with Katie or my headphones, have friends over for craft days and dinner parties with lots of red wine present for either... I tried knitting once but that didn't stick. I love to skype with lil Dylan, I'm a fan of listening to This American Life, and these days, it's all about planning a rockin' wedding!

Holly: I love to dance! I was a dancer and performer for years before The Smittens ever formed. I take dance class and perform when I can. Dance parties at my house are a regular event. Like Dana and Katie, David and I are also in the midst of wedding planning.

Max: I really like cooking dinner for people and drinking wine and hanging out and having a good time. Also going out dancing, to the pub, to shows, et cetera. I read a lot, and I enjoy my intellectual life in human geography. I spend a lot of time in South Africa, which is where my research is based, and I love being there, and traveling around in general.

Colin: I like to listen to music, play strategy games, and go to the movies or read. I really like eating snacks and dancing slow in the kitchen with my girlfriend, too!

The indiepop community seems more alive then ever. Do you notice this as well? How do you find out about new music yourselves, and how do you feel about the whole internet music download revolution?

David: I read a lot of blogs, the indiepop list, talking to friends. I used to be a Deejay at WRUV in Burlington and that was a great way of getting new music.

Dana: I rely on David and Max and Colin and Holly to tell me about new artists and songs to check out. The digital age is a mixed bag in that less people get to hold our album in their hands, but more people get to listen to our songs through their computers and headphones. It's one of those 'shit or get off the pot' scenarios... it's happening and we can either hop on board or miss the opportunities. It's fascinating to grasp just how many have access to us. I remember when our video for My Favorite Dream was chosen to be on Myspace's 'top video of the day' and we had over 10,000 people watch it in the course of 24 hours. Wild.

Max: It's funny from my perspective because I think it really started to take off in the UK just about as I arrived here (in 2005). So I didn't know what it was like here before, but I have had the sense that there has been a lot of momentum recently, and I've really enjoyed meeting indiepop people here and going to gigs in Leeds, Manchester, and London, and it was so cool to be able to draw on some of those connections to book our UK tour last year. It's amazing, just from Facebook, to see how many UK and North American indiepop people know each other, and how many US bands have been touring over here and vice versa. That idea of an international pop underground seems to be becoming a reality (at least for a few bits of the world). I did have a feeling a while back that indiepop as I originally knew it from the mid/late 90s seemed to be dying out, or just freezing in time, so I’m overjoyed that it has all this new energy and new blood in it, while still remaining a friendly, generally unintimidating subculture.

Colin: I have been totally into last.fm for the past year - I love it because I can hear songs from bands from all over that aren't getting played on the radio around here - it's such a useful tool for learning about new music being made and old songs you never knew! It is lovely to know that kids really far away can hear our songs rather easily, too - just in terms of getting the music to the people and our songs in their heads. When we visited the UK last summer I think we were all blown away by how strong and vibrant the community is over there, compared to in the US. And that the kids there knew our songs and could sing along! The US is fantastic, but everything's so spread out here that it's harder to get a good concentration of indiepoppers all in the same place to really see and feel it! So we connect to the community from a distance sometimes as well! I love the whole looseknit-closeknit thing!

Thanks guys! There's a lot to look forward to already again. For example: both The Smittens and Let's Whisper will be playing at the London Popfest next week. How I wish I could be there!

Band photo by Serita Lewis.

The Smittens website
The Smittens myspace
Happy Happy Birthday To Me
Dangerfive Records
WeePOP!

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Smittens - One hundred roses (from The Coolest Thing About Love)

Download (right click, save as)
1. The Smittens - Doomed, lo-fi and in love (from Gentlefication Now!)
2. The Smittens - Stop the bombs! (from A Little Revolution)

This love is fucking right! Or is it?

2009-02-16T17:10:00.004+01:00

A long time ago, I started a weblog about music. The name was Revolution In The Head, and the main initial motivation was to force myself to stay informed about new music myself. By writing in English about bands I loved, as a nice bonus I practiced my language skills a bit as well. Things went well for a couple of years and I enjoyed what I was doing. Then, after a while, I made the mistake of installing a website traffic counter. You know, one of those things that keep track of the amount of people visiting your website and the URL where they're coming from.

Inexplicably, I started to care about that.

Slowly but gradually I shifted from posting because I wanted to, to posting because I wanted to keep the visitors coming. Why? I have absolutely no idea. What did I win and what did I lose? It didn't last long. With that wrong motivation the result was not often pretty, or worth reading, or fun writing.

Without having given it hours of thought, I can think of about four reasons to start a weblog about indiepop music. The most obvious reason is probably the same reason why people have been writing traditional fanzines for decades: the writers love the music, and like writing about it. Then, secondly, it might be for promotional reasons: the bloggers want more people to know about the music that means so much to them. Of course this reason often comes in combination with the first. Thirdly, there's a chance that some bloggers want to show off a little bit. They're proud of all the music they know or own, and want other people to be aware of that. Finally, there seems to be a portion of bloggers who post only for the sake of posting, who post just some MP3-links, sometimes with an added copied text from sources like the All Music Guide. The main motivation here seems to be to increase website traffic and to obsess over statistics.

I can't know any of this for sure, of course.

The reason I started this ramble is because I sincerely wonder what's the point in having a blog if you can't even put the effort in of showing the slightest bit of personal enthusiasm for the music you make available for free downloading. Where is the real satisfaction in just seeing your website counter go up? How do you benefit in having people not pay for music? Don't tell me you're fighting the system. Or do, actually. That might be an interesting take on things.

This post is not a rant against people posting links to free MP3s of complete indiepop albums. Honestly. That's for another day, perhaps. I don't necessarily object to people downloading albums. I'm not a hypocryt; I do that as well. But indiepop lives by the grace of passion. The whole indiepop community only exists because people are willing to put in their love and try to enthuse others with that spark. So if you want to be part of that, if you want to contribute to that it's really not that hard. Even if you decide to post a complete album, don't you want to tell us why you post it, why you love it, where we can buy it?

Look at me. I'm not a writer. I don't know a lot about indiepop. I just clumsily try to tell you what I like. I'm not very good at what I do. I don't claim my blog is better than any blog out there.

But I'm having fun.

I'm not telling you what should be fun for you. I can't, even if I'd want to. But I'm sincerely curious. Where is the satisfaction or fun in just posting a link and leaving it at that?

Everything's for sale (new Liechtenstein)

2009-02-13T22:20:00.004+01:00

Liechtenstein, probably the best current band around, have a new three track CDR out.

Everything's For Sale is available on the Drill Building label through Fraction Discs. You know you want it. If it's anything nearly as brilliant as the previous two singles, you just know you want it.

Liechtenstein myspace
Fraction Discs

Crayon

2009-02-11T12:03:00.004+01:00

Pre-Tullycraft Sean Tollefson and Jeff Fell were Crayon, together with third member Brad Roberts. Between 1990 and 1994 the Bellingham, Washington band released a handful of singles and one official full length album, Brick Factory.

For those of you who think Tullycraft too twee, Crayon might be just the thing. Not that the twee elements were not included in the lyrics already (although none of the later so favourite obscure music references), but a big difference with the Tullycraft-sound is the combination of those lyrics with heavily distorted guitars, veering towards punk. Some people called it cuddlecore, but hmm. Let's just call it addictive.

The three immature mini-classics below are all from Brick Factory.

Download (Mediafire)
1. Crayon - Chutes and ladders
2. Crayon - Pedal
3. Crayon - Knee-high Susan

New Just Joans EP

2009-02-09T15:40:00.001+01:00

In the interview last month Just Joan David already announced it, but now it's actually available for pre-order: the new Just Joans EP Love and other hideous accidents on WeePOP. I know a lot of people kicked themselves for missing the previous EPs, only realising their brilliance after they'd sold out. Don't say I didn't warn you this time. The release date is February 14, but pre-order now!

David, about the EP: "We were thinkin' of calling it 6.9 Love songs, cos it has quite a Magnetic Fieldsy feel. Is all songs of lost love and heartache... but there are a few disco bangers on it too!"

While you're ordering anway, WeePOP!'s also got the new Mexican Kids At Home EP available right now. They're ace too.

The Just Joans myspace
WeePOP!

Undercover poplover, part 10

2009-02-06T20:00:00.002+01:00

"The world was on fire
No one could save me but you
Strange what desire
Will make foolish people do"

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Raincoats - Lola
2. Dolly Mixture - The locomotion (live)
3. The Royal We - Wicked game

And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife

2009-02-02T10:53:00.003+01:00

I've been busy.

I've hinted at it in previous posts, but now it finally seems I can be quite sure about it: I've bought a house. If nothing unexpected goes wrong in these few coming weeks, the house in the little picture is ours by springtime. It's going to be a big change, from my two-room appartment on the third floor in Amsterdam to a complete corner house with a garden in Almere. From living alone to living with a partner, a child and a dog.

Am I growing up or what?

Almere is one of the youngest cities in the Netherlands: 65 years ago there was nothing but water here. The Flevopolder was finished in the early 1940s, the first house was finished in 1976 and Almere became a municipality in 1984. It's quite a change from the 1000-year-old Amsterdam, in almost any aspect.

Our neighbourhood is called the Muziekwijk, with streets like the Beatlesweg and the Rolling Stonesstraat. It's wishful thinking to hope to find some indiepop-related streetnames, but hey, I still like it as it is.

If you're ever around, come visit. We'll have a garden party!

Download (Mediafire)
1. Pants Yell! - The not-so city life
2. Detroit Cobras - C'mon over to my house
3. Dragonette - Get lucky

The Bicycles

2009-01-26T11:58:00.004+01:00

Remember The Bicycles? A couple of years back the Toronto quartet (back then a five-piece) dropped their mix of bubblegum pop and garage rock on us for the first time, with their successful debut album The good the bad and the cuddly. Now they're back with another collection of short, energetic and strongly varied pieces of pop with their second album Oh no, it's love on Fuzzy Logic. On the one hand this variation might mean you won't like every song style as much as the other, but on the other hand you certainly won't be bored and even with the less favourite tracks you'll have to admit the songcraft is admirably strong and catchy.

If I very critically pick through the album I still end up with two big handfuls of hugely contagious moments of indie power pop brilliance where vocal harmonies compete with the strong and varied instrumentation for the biggest applause.

The Bicycles website
The Bicycles myspace
Fuzzy Logic Recordings

Download (Mediafire)
1. The Bicycles - Oh no, it's love
2. The Bicycles - Won't she be surprised

Knight School

2009-01-25T18:15:00.002+01:00

In their interview of a couple of weeks ago The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart tipped Brooklyn threepiece Knight School as one of the new bands to watch. Were they right?

This month Knight School have their debut album The poor and needy need to party out on Lostmusic Records.

This is distorted indiepop of the deliberately lo-fi variant that seems to be making a glorious comeback lately, supported by much praised releases by for example Crystal Stilts and caUSE co-MOTION. And yes, The POBPAH were right indeed. Knight School's music fits right in with the quality and sound of the aforementioned bands, adding their own brand of hooks and pop charm, almost casually skinnydipping in a pool of golden melodies. 14 passionate blasts of pop in 24 minutes; no second thoughts, no looking back. And why would you, if you know it's right?

Looking on the band's myspace for information you'll only find this:
K N I G H T S C H O O L i s t R A D! ! ! ! !

It's enough because it's true.

Knight School myspace
Listen to the album at last.fm
Lostmusic Records

Download (Right click, save as)
1. Knight School - Pregnant again

Daydreaming about sleeping

2009-01-22T23:25:00.003+01:00

There's only one word to describe the state I've been in this week: zombie. I haven't slept a wink. And indeed, my mind is on the blink. I sat down tonight for a long post about God (don't ask), but instead I ended up staring at my screen for five minutes, quite blankly. I'll take the easy way out now, and try again after some weeks of sleep.

Here's some music to keep you awake.

Download (Mediafire)
1. Dum Dum Girls - Don't talk to me
2. Hot Lava - Apple+Option+Fire
3. Second-Hand Furniture - That's where he blew your head off