Music from a year

As I've mentioned in an earlier post, there're many lists of best albums for the year 2011 currently being published. I'm not much for making lists of albums, I'm more into collecting songs I like and love and following the bands and artists that are close to my heart. However, I think I should mention some albums that have made my 2011 so much better and of which I am glad that I'm not without.

A part from the reissues of Suede's five studio albums and the fourth solo album from Brett Anderson, which is better than I had hoped for, there are some albums, and bands, that I am honoured to have been listening to, and seen live on two occasions. With no one better that the other, I really love these three albums:

Invasionen - 'Saker som jag sagt till natten'
Foster the People - 'Torches'
Austra - 'Feel It Break'

Other good music from this year, according to me (and I have surely forgotten some), in no particular order:

Lamb - '5'
Other Lives - 'Tamer Animals'
Dum Dum Girls - 'Only In Dreams'
Masquer - 'Cover My Face As The Animals Cry'
Zola Jesus - 'Conatus'
Anna Calvi - 'Anna Calvi'
PJ Harvey - 'Let England Shake'
Visions of Trees - 'Sometimes It Kills'/'No Flag'
Visions of Trees - 'Siren (Novocaine)'/'Sience of Hate'
Lana del Rey - 'Video Games'/'Blue Jeans'

Additionally, I'm sure there're lots of tracks and albums that I haven't discovered yet...

Have you discovered the deluxe edition of Austra's 'Feel It Break'? It includes some of the great "b-sides" from the singles, like 'Identity'.

Crash About to Happen

The video for the new single off Brett Anderson's album 'Black Rainbows' is a montage from the gig at Koko, London on October 12. It seems like it was a fantastic show.

This song is one of my favourites off the album, just listen to it!

Words from the past

One of the best music magazines that have existed in Sweden, if not the best, is POP. It's now many years since it ceased to be published, however, some years ago a website was created to make it possible to relive this magazine and the music era of its time.

POP #2 April 1993

POP #9 October 1994

There are still material left to be published on the site Pop vi minns, but two of my favourite articles are now there to be read. The subject for them is of course Suede and the articles were written by Andres Lokko in 1993 and 1994.

Read about the meeting with the lead singer of a, in 1993, well talked about band in [POP #2] Suede and then their rendezvous the following year when Dog Man Star was about to hit the record stores, in [POP #9] Suede.

These articles are of course in Swedish since POP was a Swedish magazine. However, if you don't know the language maybe Google translate can be an aid for you?

Intriguing music

Firstly, if you haven't read about Brett Anderson's 13 favourite albums in The Quietus, do so: There's a song playing: Brett Anderson's favourite 13 albums. Many of the albums he has chosen are real pearls.

Let's stay in the U.K. Yesterday I stumbled upon something I hadn't heard before and the more I listen to it the more I like it. Something about this music make me think about Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and PJ Harvey, and I also come to think about Twin Peaks, the latter I cannot understand why. Maybe it's because I saw some episodes of that intriguing tv-series the other day, or maybe they have something in common that attracts me? I'll think about that. And I will keep on listening to Anna Calvi. Too bad I'm not in Stockholm tomorrow when they'll be playing at Debaser Slussen. Here's 'Suzanne and I'

Black Rainbows

I listen. What I hear is a beautiful voice surrounded by the slightly distorted rock music that I like. I hear a naked and romantic soundscape upon which the sad voice falls. I hear the singer, whose voice I love, break through a mix of nostalgia, contemporary and timeless music.

I listen all day long. I listen at night, as I wait for my eyelids to become heavy. I listen, and I want more.

I got my copy of Brett Anderson’s new and fourth solo album, ‘Black Rainbows’, by mail this Friday. It was eagerly awaited. The snippets of the songs that I had previously heard had made me very interested and I knew this album would be special.

signed cover art

After these few days it’s difficult to say that some songs have become favourites already. However I must admit that I feel something special for ‘Unsung’, ‘Crash About to Happen’, ‘This Must Be Where It Ends’, and ‘Possession’.

Now I wish that I get at chance to hear these songs live, but yet it doesn’t seem so.

Live session

Did you listen to Absolute Radio tonight? Whether or not you did, you can listen to and watch Brett Anderson's live session on Geoff Lloyd's Hometime Show here!

A part from the interview with Brett the guys played 'Crash About to Happen', 'Brittle Heart' and 'Unsung'.

Brittle Heart - again

And some interesting facts about it from the Brett Anderson forum.

Brittle Heart

The new single and video from Brett Anderson is to be found at nme.com. And here's a short read about it.

Black Rainbows sampler

If you haven't come across it yet, here it is: a clip with samples from Brett Anderson's forthcoming album 'Black Rainbows'. It sounds really good!

the fourth & the fifth

I've been away from home for a while but when I got home the deluxe editions of Head Music and A New Morning were waiting for me in the mail. As with Suede, Dog Man Star and Coming Up, my copies of these remastered albums are signed by the band.

...open up my heart and see what's inside

...and it moves with the underground

the third

Today I got my copy of Coming Up (remastered) [deluxe edition]. It arrived faster than I'd expected it to, a nice surprise. The album is signed by the band: Brett Anderson, Mat Osman, Simon Gilbert, Richard Oakes and Neil Codling.

whatever makes her happy...

the second

I'm holding the beauty in my hands; the re-mastered deluxe edition of Dog Man Star.

While waiting for the delivery I saw the promo video for it that was posted on Suede's video channel and their facebook page and I must say that it was such a tease. How can you not want to buy this beautiful and intriguing thing after seeing that?

Well, I pre-ordered mine a while ago and now I got it in my hands. As with 'suede' I got a signed copy, which pleases me, I must admit.

I close my eyes, and I'm losing myself to it...

The same day that I was at the wonderful dogmanstar concert in London, something interesting was posted on the Suede forum: Mr Anderson’s thoughts on the album, track by track. That is, the idea behind the tracks and the process of writing. Some people find this interesting and like to read about it, others don’t. If you belong to the former, and haven't read it yet, I recommend you go by the forum to read about Dog Man Star, track by track by Brett.

the first

Today I finally got mine; my copy of 'suede' (remastered) [deluxe edition]. And, it's signed by the band of its time, i.e. Bernard Butler, Brett Anderson, Mat Osman and Simon Gilbert.

 

I smile, and it's taking me over...

Black Rainbows

New solo material out in August.
Keep August 15 and September 26 in mind.

Suede - Dog Man Star - Coming Up

I'm currently counting the days, almost hours, until the gigs at Brixton Academy this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Amazing it will be, I'm sure of it!

Here's an article from Beat; an interview with Brett.

Brett on Jools

It's a very short interview, but you get to see the reissues, that's something.. How I would love to have them now...

Words

"But I'm confident there will be a sixth Suede album. I am. I am going to put all of my energy into making a fantastic record. And when I put all of my energy into something, it tends to happen."

This quotation is of course from Mr Anderson, and you can read the whole interview done by BBC America here.

Suede: Slightly restless euphoria, yet another interview with Brett. This one is different though, it's about music, art and more... and I like it.

Time

It's time; soon it's time for yet another fantastic energy boost. It's time for every cell of the body to be loved; it's time to feel alive.

On Wednesday night I'll be singing, I'll be dancing, I'll be smiling, I'll be crying.

On Thursday morning I won't feel as heavy hearted as I was after the Albert Hall, 'cause on Tuesday I'll be in London, again, for yet another show.

Tuesday night will be magical.

What will happen thereafter, I don’t know?


Brittle Heart (BA)

In the airwaves

Within a week's time there have been two opportunities to listen to the song seen performed live in the youtube clip below. Q Radio has aired an interview with Mr Anderson and along with it Unsung was played. It wasn't the final version of the song, since the music for the forthcoming album hasn't been mixed yet, but it’s an interesting recording to listen to.

The show has been aired twice and won’t be aired again (?). However, as with many things played through the web, one can still listen to it. And, if one likes to read some thoughts about this and find some information on the interview, you should go by the forum at Brett’s website.

Unsung