Sunday, April 26, 2009

Spotify Playlist 0918

http://open.spotify.com/user/surfcity/playlist/6uMSQmSIYAcrdU2QK3J4w6
This week’s list is a country-list with a combination of pure country and country rock that I like.

Teenage Bottlerocket – Warning Device (2008)


The second CD I’ve bought by this great pop-punk group. 13 songs, none of them more than 3 minutes (many of them less than 2 minutes), of absolute lovely pop-punk! Not quite as good as their first record (‘Total’) but still pure brain-dead fun! Being a fan of good pop-song with the speed, aggression and attack of punk music, this is the essence of what I like. Favourite tracks are ‘In the basement’ and ‘Totally Stupid’. This is a record that makes me happy. Recommended!

Rating 8/10

Available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Warning-Device-Teenage-Bottlerocket/dp/B0012Q3ZM6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1240741654&sr=1-1

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Spotify Playlist 0917

http://open.spotify.com/user/surfcity/playlist/0JbB5AMU2WimRYhIxFceMA

A collection of covers that I like. Not very consistent but good clean fun!

The Kills – Midnight Boom (2008)


The Kills is a group that has received very good reviews from critics that I usually trust with good taste. But after having listening through this record a number of times, my opinion is the same for this records as for the last I bought with the group (“Keep on Your Mean Side”) – I’m not impressed… Don’t know if I’m in a bad mood today, but this isn’t up to my taste and now I’m giving up on them.

Rating 4/10

Available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Boom-Kills/dp/B0012RCMO2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1240171051&sr=8-1

Dusty Springfield – Walk on by: The Greatest Hits (2008)


Even if I like female singers and girl groups from the 60’s, Dusty Springfield has always been a white spot on my map. Of course, I’ve heard “Son of a Preacher Man”, “Take another Little Piece Of My Heart”, “I just don't know what to do with myself” etc. but I’ve never bought any records. This double-CD collection with 45 songs gives a good coverage of her career. The songs mentioned above are great songs, but unfortunately this isn’t really me cup of tea. To much soul but without the ‘soul’ and to little pop for my taste. However. I’ll give the collection some time in the car to see if it develops.

Rating 5/10

Available from: http://ginza.se/Product/Product.aspx?Identifier=10323

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead: Live in Mexico City (2008)


My Chemical Romance is a group that I’ve missed but after hearing their version of Dylan’s ‘Desolation Row’ when the credits was rolling after ‘Watchmen’ (the best superhero/comic movie ever?!) I bought this record, which was recorded live in Mexico City in 2007. It’s a very nice live record with a number of nice songs. The beginning of the record with ‘Dead!’, ‘This Is How I Disappear’ and ‘The Sharpest Lives’ is magnificent. After this the record lose some momentum even if ‘Teenagers’ also is very good. However, to me this was a good introduction to the group and I will buy more records in the future.

Rating 6/10

The record is available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Parade-Dead-Live-Mexico/dp/B0012RCWZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1239820454&sr=8-1

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Mando Diao – Give Me Fire! (2009)


Mando Diao’s latest record continues in the same style as the previous. They have continued away from the very 60’s and Stonesque sound and toward their own sound. I liked ‘Never Seen the Light of Day’ a lot and this record continues in the same style. A lot of good songs including ‘Dance With Somebody’, ‘Come on Come on’ and ‘Leave My Fire’. If you have their previous records, this one contains no surprises and is a nice addition.

Rating 6/10

Available from: http://www.ginza.se/Product/Product.aspx?Identifier=10299

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Jesus And Mary Chain - The Power of Negative Thinking: B-Sides & Rarities (2008)


The new JAMC box sums up the career of this extraordinary group in the form of their b-sides and other rarities. However much has already been heard by the hardcore fans (especially if you have the “Barbed Wire Kisses” and “The Sound of Speed” records). Thus the box doesn’t add much more than showing that this is one of the greatest groups of all time and that their three first records probably is among my top-20 of all time. A box with 81 tracks of course covers many good songs including an excellent acoustic version of “Taste of Cindy” showing how good the pop-songs are behind all the white noise and feedback. Other good tracks are “Kill Surf City” and “Everything’s alright when you’re down” (excellent title on a song!).
Recommended to the fans!

Rating 8/10

Available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Negative-Thinking-B-Sides-Rarities/dp/B000TXNBDQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238913583&sr=1-3

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Raul Malo – Lucky One (2009)


A new solo record from the Mavericks’ singer. As with his other solo records, this is a very good one from one of the great voices of today. This one sounds more than a “Mavericks” record than his previous one, but since I like this group a lot this doesn’t matters even if I have liked the more varied sound on his previous solo records. All songs are good and includes a good mix of typical Malo/Mavericks songs.
Recommended!


Rating 8/10