8.29.2008
Lykke Li
Omg, she's so pretty.

I always knew Sweden could produce good indie rock. Shout Out Louds, The Knife, Peter Bjorn and John, and The Radio Dept are prime examples. Now Swedish indie pop makes a statement with the likes of Lykke Li. Her debut album, Youth Novels, was released in February of this year (produced by aforementioned Peter Bjorn and John) and it is the shit. Li's sweet girlish voice coupled with her beyond catchy melodies and quirky instrumentation results in pop gem after pop gem. Her first single, "Little Bit," released in 2007, resounds with her haunting, youthful vocals and lyrical sincerity. For one with merely twenty-two years of life under her belt, her quality of music and words can be paired with a musician with far more years of experience. To know her album was recorded three years ago, at the age of 19, is a complete jaw-dropper.

The amazingly talented Lykke Li is touring extensively in the next few months, ending in her hometown:

Sep 5 Bestival Isle of Wight
Sep 19 Razzmatazz Barcelona
Sep 20 Moby Dick Madrid
Sep 22 AB Club Brussels
Sep 23 Nouveau Casino Paris
Sep 24 Paradiso (Upstairs) Amsterdam
Sep 26 Roter Salon Berlin
Sep 27 Ubel & Gefährlich (Reeperbahn Festival) Hamberg
Sep 29 The Plug Sheffield
Oct 1 Scala - SOLD OUT London
Oct 2 Concorde 2 Brighton
Oct 5 Glee Club Birmingham
Oct 6 Thekla Bristol
Oct 8 Academy 2 Liverpool
Oct 9 Cabaret Voltaire Edinburgh
Oct 10 The Duchess York
Oct 19 Black Cat Washington, D.C.
Oct 20 Music Hall of Williamsburg New York
Oct 23 Paradise Boston, Massachusetts
Oct 24 Mod Club Toronto, Ontario
Oct 25 Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois
Oct 28 Richards on Richards Vancouver, British Columbia
Oct 29 Neumo's Seattle, Washington
Oct 30 Doug Fir Portland, Oregon
Nov 1 Independent San Francisco, California
Nov 3 El Rey Los Angeles, California
Dec 10 John Dee Oslo
Dec 11 Vega Copenhagen
Dec 12 Kägelbanan Stockholm

mp3 Let It Fall
mp3 Dance Dance Dance
mp3 Little Bit


Lykke Li's convulsive video for "Little Bit"

[Lykke Li's Official site][Lykke Li's Myspace]

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Soyea I will be back in Baltimore this Sunday. Baltimore shows I plan on attending: Hot Chip, Tegan & Sara, Built to Spill, Iron & Wine.

Soyea the presidential election is getting as heated as ever. Check out Obama's acceptance speech last night here.

Soyea I got a Chocolate (Verizon's free phone). These beaches don't let you add your uploaded music as ringtones. I guess you have to download Audacity AND Lame AND Bitpm to make your own. There must be an easier way. Give me an easier way.

Published at 3:46 PM by Alina.
4 comments
8.27.2008
[Carmensita]
"Ay tu primo colorado con barba camburada y lleno de ballena inclinadose al sol."

I love the idea of coming back with something old and unsurprising...

How long has this video been out now? A month? I even got a perfectly prompt heads up about it's release from the kind people at Spinner back when it was first released. I'm afraid I've become a very lazy blogger, and though I tell you all the time how I plan on fixing that, I think I really might just mean it now. I've got lots of downtime this year thanks to a horribly gappy schedule, and lucky for you, I've gotta do soooomething. Anyway, here you have it. Devendra Banhart's amusingly cheesy, Bollywood-inspired video for Carmensita!


"Carmensita"


From Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (all songs are right click - save as):
Carmensita
Shabop Shalom

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Otherwheres - A thanks to photographer Lauren Dukoff for having such...interesting photos of Devendra that I could use...

Otherwheres - Matt over at You Ain't No Picasso shares some new Final Fantasy...

Otherwheres - Covert Curiosity shares a bit about Nas...
Published at 12:58 PM by Brad aka Penguin.
0 comments
8.07.2008
[The Virgins]
"You've got a lovely way with words, must be the way you see the world. It's just the way you see the world."

Now just who are they trying to fool with that moniker? I imagine their events come complete with a whole line of front-row groupies flipping their hair into my face as they sexy dance. Regardless, whether you consider it believable or not, these guys are New York-based quartet the Virgins, and they're damn catchy. Now I'm not sure what to think of a band that's furnished the entire soundtrack to an episode of Gossip Girls, but they've also done rounds on Entourage so...redeemed? What I can say with confidence though is that the Virgins play perfectly pure pop. It's got such a groove laid in. You're bound to move to them, and if you've already started listening, it should be no wonder as to why the whole front row would be their sexy dancing, hair-flipping selves. If the bass line to Rich Girls doesn't get you moving, then I'm not sure I like anymore. Lose it with the Virgins...

Various Songs From The Virgins (all songs are right click - save as):
Rich Girls
One Week of Danger
Love Is Colder Than Death [EP Version]

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Sorry No Otherwheres For This Post Guys!
Published at 9:58 AM by Brad aka Penguin.
0 comments
8.05.2008
[Bikini]
"We fell in love the middle of June. The sky was blue, blue, blue as the sea. Two lovers cross the middle of June, and it was easy."

With the altruistic motive of making all women in the vicinity feel sexier (and thus making all men in the area feel equally better), Canadian duo Johnny Pen and Aaron Aujla make up the scantily-membered two-piece that is Bikini. First meeting each other in their younger days while passing some time in detention, Bikini came about soon after the two passed some more time together in a Montreal cafe in 2007. With a long future in mind, the boys are taking their time with new releases. Building a repertoire on pretty much two releases, Bikini released an eagerly anticipated first EP, Concerning the Number 7 and Your Love, early last month. According to their myspace, they sound like sex - sure, I can see that. Compare them to their peers if you must - Hot Chip, the Presets - these guys are just doing what comes naturally to 'em. Give an ear and put on Bikini...

Various Songs From Bikini (all songs are right click - save as):
Tonight
1234 [Feist Cover]
Oh Girl Get On The Floor

Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres For This Post Guys!
Published at 9:58 AM by Brad aka Penguin.
1 comments