Radio INK - Who We Are Tonight

"I just wanna fly with my heart wide open"

When I think of Australian music, two sounds come to mind: folksy, sometimes aboriginal-inspired rock and bright, neon electro. They couldn't be more different, but this song definitely fits in the second category. I can't believe that I hadn't heard of Sydney's Radio INK before this week. The band has been releasing singles for a few years now, and they're all pretty fantastic. Think Kylie Minogue fronting a glossy pop band. This is pop music all buffed up until the sheen is almost blinding. It's remarkably polished for what's basically an indie band. The song itself is gently anthemic. None of that overused David Guetta-style production. This sounds more classic, with an emphasis on the melody and beautiful vocals. This is definitely a band to watch!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their singles here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Axel Algmark - Kyss Mig

"We're in love"

Though overall, this year's Melodifestivalen has been pretty disappointing, last week's songs were universally strong. Some of my favorites ended up being the ones that finished toward the bottom. In particular, I can't seem to get Axel Algmark's song out of my head. It's everything I love about Swedish indie rock. It has that peppy, string-laden jolt of energy to it, complemented by Algmark's gravelly vocals. It's also sung in Swedish, but that hardly matters, as the "wa ba ba ba ba, we're in love" bits pretty much capture the general vibe. Plus, "kyss mig" sounds almost exactly like its translation ("kiss me") when spoken. Most importantly, the whole thing is almost impossibly catchy. It's the kind of song you're already singing along with before it's even finished. And judging from his other stuff, this isn't just a one-off.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Crown Jewel Defense - Mandy

"It feels like the walls are closing in"

Saturday night, I went to the Darkness/Foxy Shazam/Crown Jewel Defense concert in Seattle. Though I love the Darkness (and they were great), it was all honestly about Foxy Shazam for me. They are, far and away, the best American band out right now. And what an incredible live act! That Eric Nally sure is a star. They were opening for the Darkness, but opening for them was a new-ish band called Crown Jewel Defense. They're more on the hair metal side, though there is a healthy dose of glam (they even had glitter guns!) in their music. I scored their newest EP, but I wanted to post a song that's not on it in the hope of prodding them to use this kind of 80's synth more often. In fact, my favorite part of Mandy is the new wave-esque opening. Unfortunately, the band have disabled embedding of the soundcloud streaming, so you're going to have to click on the link below to hear it.

Mandy

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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A Round-Up of Yesterday's Melodifestivalen

Because I missed the live heat yesterday, I've got to at least offer my thoughts somewhere!

* Best Heat of the year by a mile, and one of the strongest in recent memory. It pretty much made up for weeks of middling songs.

* I had a feeling Charlotte would end up fifth, though it still pisses me off. In any other heat she would have won. It's a great song.

* Among the non-qualifiers, I'm absolutely in love with Axel and Hanna's songs. I hope we get a full-length album of Nilsson-penned tracks from Hanna. Meanwhile, Axel's song was everything I love about Swedish rock music.

* Opa was a load of crap. The only bad song of the week, and deserving of its last-place spot.

* Sarah Dawn Finer covering Melody Club? AWESOME.

* I like Danny's song, but the guy annoys me. He comes across as being SO full of himself. I'm on team Loreen this year, 100%. Though it wouldn't surprise me if Danny ends up winning.

* I love Lisa's track, but I think it deserved Andra Chansen, not direct to the final. I wonder if she got more votes than Danny? Probably not.

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Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat Four - Preliminary Judging

From the sound of it, week four will likely be the strongest heat in a week year for Melodifestivalen. This is frustrating because it's also the only week where I will be out of town during the competition, which means I'll be scrambling to watch it later while trying not to come across spoilers beforehand. Also, it means no live blog tomorrow :(

(Listen to clips here)

Charlotte Perrelli - The Girl
Two time winner Perrelli comes back with what sounds like a strong schlager entry. It's instantly better than pretty much everything last week, though it doesn't sound like a full-on winner to me. 4.5/5

OPA - Allting blir bra igen (Everything Will Be Fine Again)
This is certainly an interesting shift in sound. It's not unpleasant, but doesn't seem to really go anywhere. In the context of the competition, it feels like a real oddball--and not a memorable one either. 2.5/5

Dynazty - Land Of Broken Dreams
I'm usually a fan of this type of hair metal in MF, but I'm not sure if I'm going to end up loving this or simply liking it. Still, it's a welcome shot of energy and will certainly do well. I'm holding out hope that the full version is even better than the clip. 4/5

Lotta Engberg & Christer Sjögren - Don't Let Me Down
Oh, how I detest Christer. Seriously, his voice makes me want to jump off a cliff. That said, I actually really like the melody of this. It's somewhat Abba-esque and the production is quite campy. I wish it was just the woman singing, though. 3.5/5

Hanna Lindblad - Goosebumps
The second song in this year's competition by my favorite writer, Tony Nilsson. That guarantees that this is going to be at least good. The way the clip's cut, it's hard to tell much more than that, but I'm liking the sound of the chorus for sure. 4/5

Axel Algmark - Kyss mig (Kiss Me)
I have no idea who this guy is, and this seems oddly indie to be in MF, but I don't mind it at all. I'm glad it's at least somewhat energetic. It's kind of weird that it switches from Swedish to English in the chorus, though. 3.5/5

Lisa Miskovsky - Why Start A Fire?
I've always liked Miskovsky, and she's a huge name in Sweden. I really love the drums in this clip and I think the chorus has immense potential to grow on me. There's no denying she'll do well. And I think, based on this clip, that she might just deserve it. 4/5

Danny Saucedo - Amazing
This is a big favorite to win the entire competition. I definitely like the sound of it better than last year's entry, which I didn't like at all. It's very anthemic, but I still think Loreen will end up having the best song this year. We'll see. 4.5/5

I'm calling Danny and Lisa or Dynazty for the final, with Charlotte and Lotta/Christer fighting for that last spot. Arrghh! Why put all the best acts in one week??

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A Look at the 2012 Academy Awards

As usual, I'm a complete nut when it comes to the Oscars. I try to see every nominated movie and definitely have my opinions. This year, having seen all the nine Best Picture nominees, I can safely rank them from favorite to least:

1. Hugo
(huge gap)
2. War Horse
3. The Help
4. Midnight In Paris
5. The Artist
(big gap again)
6. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
(can appreciate elements of the craft, but the movie wasn't for me)
7. Tree Of Life
8. The Descendants
9. Moneyball

BEST PICTURE

Will Win: The Artist
There's just no stopping its momentum. It doesn't matter that it hasn't been embraced by the public or that it's too slight or forgettable. It's been the frontrunner ever since it came out. The novelty hasn't seemed to fade. I can't say it's a bad movie at all (I actually really enjoyed it)... just not the best picture of the year.
Should Win: Hugo
Far and away the best picture of the year, it does all the Artist wants to do but on a deeper, more emotionally cathartic way. Even if you stripped away the excellent story and performances, the movie is simply gorgeous to look at. It's a technical marvel in every way but retains the feeling of a classic fable. There's a reason it reaped the most nominations this year.

BEST ACTOR

Will Win: Jean Dujardin
I think the Artist love will carry over to this category, though it'll be close between him and Clooney.
Should Win: Demián Bichir
Though I haven't seen his movie yet, I was delighted over Bichir's nomination and this is one upset that I'd love to see, if only for his body of work.

BEST ACTRESS

Will Win: Viola Davis
It's going to be close between her and Meryl Streep. I'm a massive fan of both of them, but Davis was in the better movie and is due to win.
Should Win: Viola Davis
Again, though Streep was amazing, Davis had the better movie. The real question here is, why was Tilda Swinton snubbed for her unforgettable performance in We Need To Talk About Kevin?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Will Win: Christopher Plummer
He's won everything so far. I don't see that changing.
Should Win: Christopher Plummer
I say this because I really have no stakes in this race. I've only seen two of the five nominated performances and wasn't particularly moved by either, so I'm going with the consensus.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Will Win: Octavia Spencer
The Help is going to dominate the acting categories, and rightfully so. She's won this award in pretty much every awards show so far this year.
Should Win: Octavia Spencer
Though I'm a big fan of both Janet McTeer and Berenice Bejo's performances, Spencer's was the most memorable.

BEST DIRECTOR

Will Win: Michel Hanazavicius
The novelty of the Artist will most likely carry him to a victory, though there are far more deserving nominees.
Should Win: Martin Scorsese
Again, best movie of the year. But even beyond that, the skill and knowledge it took to direct on such an epic scale (with 3d, to boot), makes this the easy standout in the category. I'd love an upset here. And it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

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Track-by-Track: Fun. - Some Nights

It seems like I had heard so much praise for Fun's last album, yet for some reason I never got around to checking it out. So when they came back with this new release, I was interested to delve in. After all, I love a good indie-pop record (especially the "pop" portion). Turns out that, for me, this is really an album of peaks and valleys. The peaks are amazingly high. If only it wasn't for the valleys (but honestly, even they aren't so bad).

1. Some Nights Intro - I don't rate intros as a rule, but if I did, this would get a high score. It perfectly sets the scene for the next track in a dramatic, melodic way.

2. Some Nights - Perhaps the album's finest moment. A rollicking mix of rock, gospel, pop and bombast, this track sets the bar so high that the rest of the album struggles to keep up. I'd like to see the band follow this track for future work. It really is powerful. 10/10

3. We Are Young - The big hit single. It's wearing on me a bit after hearing it so often, but there's no denying that galvanizing, anthemic melody. Janelle Monae is completely extraneous, but she adds an interesting element, I suppose. 10/10

4. Carry On - A nice ballad. Nothing earth-shattering, but I can easily imagine this finding success on the radio. The chorus strives for the same rousing singalong nature of We Are Young. It doesn't quite get there, mostly because the song's more subdued, but it's close. 9/10

5. It Gets Better - Back to uptempo. The production here's very interesting. Frantic, cluttered and a cool mix of electronic and acoustic. The verses don't do much for me, but I love the chorus. 8/10

6. Why Am I The One - The album's best straight-up ballad. Though it takes awhile to get to the hook, it's worth it because the harmonies are simply gorgeous. It has a real throwback sound in the best way. It sounds like a lost AOR hit from the 70's. 10/10

7. All Alone - The album's first real foray into hip-hop influenced production. There's a reggae vibe too. In fact, the entire track is a hodgepodge of sounds that shouldn't necessarily go together. And yet it all works. 9/10

8. All Alright - This is where the album starts to sag for me. This certainly isn't bad, but the melody and production just kind of plods along. It's heading for epic territory, but I'm not sure it gets there. Missing some oomph, maybe. 7/10

9. One Foot - This is a bit more experimental. Over a spare, (very) repetitive brassy beat, this song is much more "chanty" (yeah, I made up that word) than melodic. In other words, it's an experiment that I'm not sure entirely works. 7/10

10. Stars - My least favorite track. Personally, I find that the high vocal parts grate and I really don't like the vocoder/autotune choices. I realize it's intentional, but this just seems to meander along. And at nearly seven minutes, that's a lot of meandering. Honestly, take it off the album and you've got a much better listen. 5/10

11. Out On The Town - I can't believe this is only a bonus track, because it's as good or better than half of the songs on the actual album. It's not necessarily the most memorable of the bunch, but its solid pop songcraft is a welcome sound after that last track. 8/10

Album Grade: 8.3/10

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Lena Philipsson - Live Tomorrow

"I'm taking my life in my hands"

Swedish pop diva Lena Philipsson has a brand new album out. Amongst all the obligatory Swedish-language dance tracks is this gem, a cover of Laleh's already excellent Live Tomorrow. The song was recorded in conjunction with the TV show Så Mycket Bättre (So Much Better), where well-known artists put their own spin on other well known artists' songs. Wouldn't it be awesome if we had a show like this in the US? It would be even more awesome if it resulted in a recording like this (or September's Mikrofonkåt two years ago). The energy in this track is what's been missing from a lot of Melodifestivalen entries this year. By the time that backing choir comes in at the very end, we're in pop heaven. Also included on the album is her deliriously catchy single, Idiot.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Fun. - Some Nights

"I could use some friends for a change"

Fun.'s new album comes out this Tuesday and I think you should all check it out. I can't vouch for all of the tracks, as I think the album sags towards the end, but there are some definite standouts. The group has scored a surprise hit with We Are Young, which seems to have taken the obligatory "rock hit" slot for 2012 (because apparently America's only allowed one per year... last year was Foster The People). It's a great track, and definitely deserves it. Ditto to Why Am I The One, which has one of the most gorgeous harmonized choruses I've heard in awhile. But it's the title track that immediately captures your attention. The glorious gospel/country/Queen opening is enough of a treat on its own. Then the beat comes in and the song transforms into a rollicking anthem. I wish the entire album would have followed this template!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat Three

Back again for round three! The song previews haven't gotten me particularly excited, but I'm willing (and hoping) to be surprised.

No crazy boyband intro this week... sad. Instead we get a pronunciation lesson/song? Is that what I'm seeing??

Mattias, Andreas and Molly seem to have won the audience applause before the performances start. I wonder if that will translate into votes.

YOUNGBLOOD: If they get through, it won't be because of the song (or the singing). I just think this is a missed opportunity for something that could have been really good. As is, it's just average. And what the hell is a "youngblood love"? Is it similar to a "manboy"? Kempe's just making up his own language.

MARIA: That noise she made in her intro video was scary! I wish I could drum up any kind of reaction to her song, though. I guess I like the candles? I think this might just win for most boring 2012 MF entry so far.

MATTIAS: Okay, so I said this sounded intriguing yesterday when I heard the clip. It's not quite what I hoped it would be, but it's still my favorite so far and it think he might easily steal Youngblood's votes.

LOVE GENERATION: Those are quite the outfits they've got. I like the verses much better than the chorus, but this is still better than I'd expected. I have a real hard time warming up to these girls for some reason. They just seem so generic. That said, this song is better than last year's. Performance still needs some work, though.

CAROLINA: She's got a Robyn haircut! I actually don't hate this. I know a lot of people would disagree, but I've just got a feeling that this is making top 5, if not further. I could be completely wrong, but the staging is good (and simple), she has a nice voice, and the song is pleasant.

ANDREAS: He's a MF veteran, which explains why he's got the best song this week. That's kind of a sad realization, because it's not like this is a future classic or anything. It's hard not to see this going through, though.

MOLLY: She kind of looks like Miley Cyrus. This isn't really my thing, but I think it'll get the most votes today. She's loved, the lyrics are personal/emotional, and it's a nice ballad with simple, effective staging.

BJORN: This is a weird one. I don't see how it would work outside of Sweden, as the understanding of the spoken bits has to be at least somewhat important to enjoying the song (I'd imagine). I do feel like I'm attending some weird faith-healing church or something, but I like how odd this is. In fact, it could wind up being my favorite of the week. He's gotta stop with the clapping, though.

MY PREDICTIONS: This is a really hard one to call, and not because there are a lot of strong entries. Most of them are equally mediocre, actually. I'm thinking the top five will be Molly, Andreas, Bjorn, Mattias and Carolina, though either group could sneak in I suppose.
TO FINAL: Molly and Andreas
ANDRA CHANSEN: Mattias and Bjorn
(though I'm not particularly confident in these!)

TOP FIVE: Andreas, Mattias, Molly, Youngblood and Bjorn
I'm really shocked that Youngblood got through with that dire song. Not too surprised with LG getting 6th. I think I speak for most in saying that they just aren't breaking through, personality-wise.

**If Youngblood get kicked out, not only will my prediction be right, but I'll be happy with the results.

**Best track (besides Loreen, obviously) out of those older "losers" they're showing? ... Christian Walz "Like Suicide" - underrated, for sure.

**This interval act is just weird. I've never heard the original track, though. It was from the year before I started following MF. I'll have to check it out.

**First through to the final - Molly. As predicted. At least we've got another girl in the final.

**More results - Youngblood and Andreas to Andra Chansen (that's surprising on both!) and Bjorn to the final. I'm a bit surprised that Mattias didn't get through (as were the audience... I half expected boos), but his song wasn't that great. Of course, Youngblood's track was downright bad, and they still got through over him, despite being mostly unknowns. Weird.

**Can I say that I'm actually happy that Mirakel got through to the final? Not embarrassed by that at all. The audience seems pissed, though.

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Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat Three - Preliminary Judging

Will this year's winner be in Heat Three of Melodifestivalen? Listening to the clips, probably not -- though my opinions will likely change when I hear the songs in full.

(Listen to clips here)

Youngblood - Youngblood
A lot of folks were saying this had a chance to win, but hearing this clip, I'm not sure. It's basically Manboy, but less catchy. The chorus is actually kind of stupidly repetitive, and not in a good way. Still, I'm willing to give it a chance. 3/5

Maria BenHajji - I mina drömmar (In My Dreams)
If Sonja's ballad didn't get through last week, I don't see how this has a chance. It's the same thing, but worse. Its title is even similar. I can't really drum up any interest in this one. 2/5

Mattias Andréasson - Förlåt mig (Forgive Me)
This clip intrigues me. I'm not sure if I'm going to like this or not, but at least it's a little different. I like the rapid-fire lyrics, but wish that the production had more heft. His high profile should help him out, even if the song isn't perfect. 3.5/5

Love Generation - Just A Little Bit
I was no big fan of their entry last year, but this sounds a little better. I like the rock edge, but I just want a little more ("just a little"? haha) oomph from these girls. They still feel so manufactured. 3.5/5

Carolina Wallin Pérez - Sanningen (The Truth)
Pleasant, but that's about it. I can't make out much of a hook, but oddly I can see this doing alright. It fills that pop/jazz category that voters seem to like so much. I just can't tell much from this clip. 2.5/5

Andreas Johnson - Lovelight
He's never not made it to the final on a solo performance. And unless voters get complacent, I see him getting there again. Based on the clips, this is the best so far this week. It's got a real Robbie Williams feel to it and thank god it's not another ballad! 4/5

Molly Sandén - Why Am I Crying?
Another strong contender, though this preview underwhelms. I expected the song to have more energy. It sounds very much like a Jordin Sparks album track. Ugh. Where's the schlager? 2.5/5

Björn Ranelid ft. Sara Li - Mirakel (Miracle)
What. The. Hell? This is just too weird. Without speaking Swedish, the spoken verses are lost on me and just sound silly. The hook has potential and I like that it's a dance track, but I've got absolutely no idea what's going on here. ?/5

Not a particularly strong heat, I'm afraid. In fact, it's down there with the first week, especially since there's no Loreen. It's also an incredibly hard week to call. That Mirakel song is a total wildcard. Either the novelty of it will catch on or utterly fail. Right now, I'm thinking Andreas is a sure bet for the final, with Youngblood, Mattias, Love Generation, Molly and maybe Carolina biting his heels. But then there's that Mirakel thing. Who knows?

*I'll be live blogging tomorrow throughout the show, so be sure to check back for my thoughts (and to see if my predictions come true)

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Caotico - Into The Beat

"Destroy my heart and soul"

Caotico are a great example of how awesomely Swedish bands combine pop and indie. Their breakthrough single, Brains Out, guaranteed that I would be following them for quite song. The follow-up, while excellent, was in a very different vein, but now we're back to upbeat pop music. Into The Beat reminds me of effortlessly cool Swedish bands like the Tough Alliance and the Legends. It's not overly polished, but it's got that pop core to it. A simple, effortlessly catchy hook melds with a herky-jerky drum beat and propulsive production. It confirms everything I knew I liked about the band and gets me pumped for the release of their first album, which (conveniently) is out next week!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Darin - Nobody Knows

"Can you feel my heart?"

Darin just keeps getting better. To be honest, though I really enjoyed his third album and the first two have their moments, it wasn't until his fourth release, 2010's Lovekiller, that I was truly won over. It's an odd thing, too, because that album was nearly all ballads. I'm usually a pretty uptempo guy, but the melodies were too awesome to resist. Nobody Knows, his new single, is definitely not a ballad. But he's infused that excellent pop melody with some truly epic dance production. It's like he took everything that's awesome about him as a pop artist and threw it into one amazing single. It's a statement of worldwide intent, and deserves that level of recognition. Few pop artists improve with age. If the upcoming album is as perfect as this single, Darin will be the definite exception to that rule.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the last album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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#1 Hits From Another Planet turns 6!

Today marks the sixth anniversary of this blog. That's just under 2,000 posts. This past year has seen some notable professional changes for me with the publication of my first young adult book (and the subsequent writing of the follow-ups!), but I'm proud that the blog has still been going strong the entire time. And rest assured, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!

I was trying to decide on a fun, different post to celebrate the occasion today. I write about music I love everyday, but I don't write nearly enough about music I love to laugh at. I'm a fanatic when it comes to campy old pop music videos. Seriously, nothing's funnier to me. Here are a few of my favorites (of many) to brighten up your day:

Armi & Danny - I Wanna Love You Tender


The granddaddy of them all. I am so obsessed with every frame of this wonderful video. The dance moves, the Ken doll-esque posturing of Danny... it's simply one of the best things ever put to film.

Tommy Seebach - Apache Boy


Horrific. This is what happens when Ned Flanders decides to form a band. It's like a car crash. You simply can't look away.

Baltimora - Jukebox Boy


Those pants/trousers! The rainbows! The facial expressions!

Maywood - Late At Night


I have this dance memorized. Enough said.

Others to check out:
Vivien Vee - Give Me A Break (the dance moves!)
Teach-in - Ding A Dong (a prostitute's anthem... bonus points for pronouncing "big hit" like "bigot")
Belle Epoque - Bamalama (Planet Of The Apes: Part Two - Attack of the Golden Chain)

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Jedward - Waterline

"I know this is bound to go down as the big one"

Jedward are the luckiest guys in pop music. I mean, at best, they're a novelty act. Their increasingly abrasive personalities eclipse any talent they might have, and their hair just keeps getting higher and sadder. Yet, people keep giving them amazing, awesome pop songs. Last year it was Lipstick, and this year it's Waterline. It just gets better and better. They're competing to represent Ireland again in Eurovision, and if there's any justice this song should see them on their way to Baku in May. Waterline is perfect, anthemic pop. Its simple and celebratory melody takes me back to what Eurovision used to be (I'm thinking Abba, Bucks Fizz, etc). It's undeniably lightweight, but all the better for it. Personally, I would have never expected the guys to record something this fantastic. I can't stop listening to it. I mean, that chorus! I was surprised to find that it wasn't written by Tony Nilsson, as it echoes his work quite closely -- that whole massive, 80's pop hook thing. You don't hear it nearly enough in this day and age.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the first album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat Two

Round two is upon us, and it promises to be more exciting than last week! Who will make it through? Three minutes until the fun begins...

**It's funny watching this BSB/Nsync opening medley and realizing that all of these songs were written and/or produced in Sweden.

**Judging from applause before the show, Ulrik and Timoteij have this in the bag, with Thomas biting at their heels.

Here we go!

ULRIK: As expected, this is better in full. I don't see any way this guy is not going to the final. He's like a younger, more relevant Andreas Johnson. His live voice is EXCELLENT. I wish the song was just a little better, but this is a great start to the second week.

TOP CATS: Ugh... here comes the annual rockabilly entry. But surprisingly, I like this a lot more than I thought I would. The lead singer's voice sometimes sounds a bit like Billy Idol. I'm thinking they'll finish either in fourth or fifth place, but you never know with this genre. They have a lot of energy.

SONJA: Oh my... what is she wearing in her entrance? She looks like she's from Middle Earth! I know some people are going to love this song, and it's fine for what it is, but these big ballads just aren't really my thing. I think this would be great as a dance track, though! As it stands now, I started tuning it out about halfway through...

ANDREAS: He's got a bit of that Eric Saade "Manboy" dancing in this performance! I really like this song, but I think it's too subtle for MF. It lacks a certain amount of flash. Plus, Alcazar members going solo don't have a good history on this show. Still, great pop song. Love the strings.

TIMOTEIJ: It's like Kom, part two! I'm not sure it's quite as instantly excellent, but I am still loving this. If there's any justice, they'll be taking one of the final spots. The audience seems to be digging it, too.

DAVID: He's got a song written by my favorite Swedish songwriter, Tony Nilsson, so there's no way this can suck. I wish it was a different performer (Ola would kill this), but I still really love the energy here. I could see a surprise 3rd or 4th place finish. (But this is one time I wish the lame lyrics would have been in Swedish so that I wouldn't have understood them)

MIMI OH: I am loving Mimi's entrance. I'm not sure the performance lived up to it, though. The song's great, but I think for an artist that's this unknown, she needed something a little less lightweight. But weirdly, I could see this becoming one of my favorite MF '12 songs, melody-wise, when all is said and done.

THOMAS: For some reason, Thomas has always creeped me out. It's the combination of hair, face and robe. This isn't a bad song by any means, but it's not one of the best tonight. His profile should assure that he gets something, but will it be a ticket straight to the final? I don't know. With the confetti and everything, he's already got that winning air. But I think he's got some strong competition.

PREDICTIONS: This is a hard one! I'm going with my gut, here.
To Final: Ulrik & Timoteij
Second Chance: Thomas & David (just a feeling, though it could also be Top Cats or Mimi Oh, I suppose. Or even Sonja, though I don't think that song was strong enough)

** Thomas Di Leva looks RIDICULOUS sitting in the green room with that robe on.

TOP 5: Thomas, Top Cats, Timoteij, Ulrik & David. Do I know how to call them, or what?? Surprised that Mimi got last place. I thought it would have gone to Andreas, honestly.

** Hmm... now if we can knock out Top Cats, we've got a really strong top 4 this week.

** So, weirdly, I think the expendable "5th place" will be going to either Top Cats or Thomas. Could be wrong, but I think David has incredible momentum going right now. He could even go direct to the final.

** More "losers" from years past for us to vote on! And they're great! Magnus's, BWO's and Ola's songs are amongst the best MF tracks of all time!!

** This "Elektrisk" performance is much more interesting than last week's cover. And there was a bit of Melody Club in it!!!!!!!! That's pretty much my highlight of the whole show, right there. They should do this sort of mash-up every week. The only bad part? The rapper.

** Most votes and direct to the final: Ulrik! Not surprised in the least. I'm not the hugest fan of the song, but I love Ulrik, so I'm 100% on board with this. Will David get the second spot? I'd prefer Timoteij, but I'm not sure how this is gonna go.

** More results: Top Cats to Andra Chansen. Lame. Timoteij also to Andra Chansen. This is a surprise. They deserved better. And finally, David is the second to go through to the final! This is also a surprise, and just shows what an energetic performance can do. The real question is... even though he didn't get the *most* votes this week, will he gain more momentum? If the audience's reaction is any gauge, he could do it.

** Let us start the campaign now to get Timoteij through Andra Chansen and to the final.

** All in all, I'm pleased with three out of four of the competitors in the Final. I still say this year is Loreen's to lose, though.

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Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat Two - Preliminary Judging

It's time for a sneak peek at Heat Two of this year's Melodifestivalen. Will it be better than last week's (mostly) dire offering? I hope so! As always, my opinions will likely change when I hear the songs in full.

(Listen to clips here)

Ulrik Munther - Soldiers
Well, it's good enough. Honestly, I was hoping for more, though I have a suspicion that this will improve upon full listen. But from the sound of this one minute clip, he's got better songs on his album. 3.5/5

Top Cats - Baby Doll
Oh god, this is like that stupid The King song last year. Luckily, it sounds better than that one, but I'm just not a fan of this rockabilly stuff. I hope that the big names in this heat will prevent them from going further. 3/5

Sonja Aldén - I din himmel (In Your Heaven)
I know she's well loved for her 2007 entry, but I was never that big of a supporter. This kind of wet balladry just isn't my thing. And this doesn't sound as melodically strong as that 2007 hit. 2/5

Andreas Lundstedt - Aldreg, Aldreg (Never, Never)
Now, I believe Andreas also competed in 2007. Back then he had a weak song, but I think this is much better. In fact, I'm really digging this clip. We'll see how it sounds in full, but I love the electro vibe I'm getting from this. 4/5

Timoteij - Stormande hav (Storming Sea)
These girls were such a pleasant surprise two years ago, and this sounds like it could repeat that. I'm not sure it's quite as good as Kom, but so far it's my favorite clip of the Heat. 4.5/5

David Lindgren - Shout It Out
I love this! His vocals sound a bit ropey, but this is the blast of pop/dance energy I've been waiting for. I have no idea who this guy is, but I'm delighted that the tempo has been brought up a notch. 4.5/5

Mimi Oh - Det går för långsamt (It Goes Too Slow)
Better than almost everything last week, but I'm still waffling on this one. I like the sound, but the melody's failed to grip me right off the bat. It could be more of a grower. This entry will depend on the performance, I think. 3.5/5

Thomas Di Leva - Ge aldrig upp (Never Give Up)
The big name in the competition this week. This is actually better than I thought it would be. It's still not my favorite of the week, but I'm happy it manages to be a little galvanizing and anthemic. I kind of wish it was in English, though. 4/5

On first listen, this is MUCH better than last week. I'm not sure there's a song as good as Loreen's Euphoria amongst the competitors, but the general quality is much more in line with what I'd expect from MF. My early predictions? Ulrik and Thomas through to final, though Timoteij could sneak in. For second chance round, I'm thinking Timoteij and Sonja or Top Cats, though this Heat is far more difficult to predict than last week's. That makes it fun again!

*I'll be live blogging tomorrow throughout the show, so be sure to check back for my thoughts (and to see if my predictions come true)

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One Direction - I Should Have Kissed You

"How do you feel about me now?"

Prepare yourselves, American readers. I've long since predicted One Direction world domination (in fact, I've been predicting it since they were on X-Factor in 2010) and, with the release of their first US single next week, it's all going to kick off. I've really enjoyed hearing What Makes You Beautiful on American radio. It's so rare that any UK artist/band this poppy crosses over. (On a similar note, while I've been 100% sure of 1D's success since they were formed, I'm pleasantly shocked that The Wanted seem to be making waves over here). Forgetting the US, though, the guys are already on their third UK single. Its b-side, the wonderfully catchy I Should Have Kissed You, continues their streak of excellent radio pop. All of their b-sides thus far have sounded like singles. The consistency is just remarkable. If they keep this up, they're gonna be unstoppable.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the "American" album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Movie Review: Chronicle

Chronicle

With Chronicle, 2012 has its first great movie. It's easily the most exciting, watchable action/sci-fi film in months. What first-time director Josh Trank was able to accomplish on a shoe-string (at least by Hollywood standards) budget is so cool that it borders on unbelievable.

The story will be familiar to most who have watched any superpower origin tale. More specifically, the script owes a great debt to pioneering 80's anime classic Akira. Three teenagers, one of them weaker, more socially awkward, and ultimately more disturbed, start to develop mysterious powers after an incident outside of a party. Andrew, the younger/weaker of the three (played by the pitch-perfect Dane DeHaan) finds he's able to control his newfound abilities to a greater and more impressive extent than the others. But, due to circumstances not entirely under his control, the powers prove to be too much for him. And thus, we have conflict.

While the story's familiar, the execution is startlingly fresh. Sure, the "found footage" genre has been around for awhile, but until now, I'm not sure it's ever been exploited to its full potential. Viewing this incredible story through an everyday lens gives the film a naturalistic feel and makes the effects all that more shocking, real and... well... fun. And honestly, "fun" is what this movie's about. Not that it's super happy or anything, but it's certainly a jolt of guerrilla film-making. In a world of polished studio action movies, this feels more like a couple of (ridiculously creative) storytellers playing around. Of course, it helps that they've got a taut, wonderfully human story at the core. For as awesome and exciting as the set-pieces are, Chronicle doesn't take the easy way out. Its characters feel real and completely sympathetic. In other words, it's really got a bit of everything for everyone. And at just under 90 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome. What more could you ask for? A-

QUICK VERDICT: Must Go

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Pearl Fiction - Run

"We're running fast through the night"

Pearl Fiction is the solo project from one of the singers of defunct Swedish art pop band Zeigeist (remember them? It's been years since I first wrote about them). As a solo artist, Pearl's music reminds me of an experimental Prince album. It's like he's taken songs like "Kiss" and steered them into all sorts of directions. It's not the kind of album that hits you directly the first time, but I think it rewards repeated listens. This is the single, and it's just gorgeous. The hook is lush and simple, and the production reminds me of Fleetwood Mac records from the 80's. It's the kind of track that deserves to move from the confines of indie appreciation and find a wider audience, especially on Swedish radio.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Ulrik Munther - Fake It

"Maybe it's just my wounded pride"

So, Sweden's Melodifestivalen is back for another year and the first heat was extremely underwhelming (though, the more I hear Loreen's winning song, the more I think it could be the ultimate winner. It's really excellent). This Saturday should be more interesting, and Ulrik Munther is one of the reasons. I wrote about Munther ages ago, back when he was still a young hopeful. Now he's a big hit in Sweden. In fact, his first album shot straight to number one. In some ways, it would be easy to call him the "Swedish Justin Bieber". Both are teenagers, both rose to fame (more or less) through the Internet and youtube, and both play instruments/possess more musical talent than their genre demands. Munther, though, goes for a more mature, rootsy rock sound and has the voice to do it. He's like a one-man Hanson. And, I think we really need to keep our eye on him in next week's competition. He's had reality show experience before, but more than that, he's going to appeal to many voters. He's got the tween vote and the mother vote, as well as the "credible," guitar-playing vote that saw Anna Bergendahl (undeservingly) win a few years back. If the song's right, he could take this competition. I'm expecting a ballad/midtempo, but I'd love something upbeat like this track. I especially love the anthemic production and driving chorus. Honestly, though, most of the songs on his album sound like they'd do well in the context of MF. I don't usually cheer on this singer-songwriter stuff, but I feel some odd connection to Munther's journey through popstardom. I guess a big reason is that he writes damn good pop songs and deserves the success.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their previous albums here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat One

The live blog is open! Will we get a nice stream and good results this week? We'll see...

**Aw, clips of Swingfly and Sanna from last year! Probably my two favs, all said and done.

**And a reminder that Sweden nearly won Eurovision last year. If only.

**The balloons go up and we've got our new hosts. I know Sarah in the middle, but who are the other two? Is this the first time where the hosts have all been women?

**Judging by applause at the beginning, Dead By April and Loreen have this all sewn up, with the Moniker possibly challenging.

Alright, here we go. Up first:

SEAN BANAN: This is not starting out promisingly at all. I think he's trying to be funny. Are the bananas his shtick? Weird that they don't have prerecorded intros this year.
Now that the performance has started, I have to say that this is just bizarre. And not in a particularly good way. Who the hell would vote for this? That hook should have gone to a different artist, and with (I'm assuming) different lyrics. Quite possibly the worst opener ever.

ABALONE DOTS: These intros are so bad. SO awkward as they're dancing to the stage. This song is bad in the opposite way that the last one was. It's incredibly dull and lacks a strong hook. Their voices sound nice, but in the context of this show, it just doesn't work. I think my suspicions were right yesterday when listening to the clips online. This is one weak heat so far. Polite applause at the end.

THE MONIKER: He wears the weirdest costumes, doesn't he? I love the drums in this and the verses. I'm not sure about the hook quite yet, but it's easily the best song so far. The lyrics are kind of dumb, and I'm not sure about the video effects used to make him look like he's on TV. Because, well... he is on TV. Right now, I'm calling Andra Chansen for this one.

AFRO-DITE: They've got the first non-awkward entrance because they're totally playing it up. Their dancing could definitely use some polish (totally out of sync at parts), but I guess that's part of the nostalgic charm. The song's not bad, but it's not outstanding either. The whole thing feels oddly amateurish and messy, which is surprising given their pedigree. Still, it's a worthy Andra chansen winner at the very least.

DEAD BY APRIL: They've got to be the clear favorites this week, right? And honestly, I can't believe it. The song's not particularly good, though I do like the instrumental bits. That one guy has got to stop vomit-screaming through it, though. If this wins the whole thing, I will be so irritated.

MARIE SERNEHOLT: Poor Marie. Full of confidence, and she's paid her dues (even hosting), but I can't help think that she's not getting through today. And what was with that odd shot of her closing her eyes, looking like she was about to cry in her intro video? It's quite the catsuit she's got on tonight. But this song just doesn't feel strong enough. It's not even as good as her last entry, which didn't get through either. Is it just me, or does this heat feel weirdly lifeless so far? All the dancing seems like they're sleepwalking through it.

THORSTEN FLINCK: I can't even describe how awkward these intros are this year. I know I'm writing it again and again, but this time when the cameraman got the timing wrong, it made it even worse! On paper, this should be the act that appeals to me least. As it stands, I can't really form any opinion about it. It's just kind of... there. I feel like I'm not even hearing the song as it's playing. That it's just background noise outside or something.

LOREEN: Here comes Loreen to save the show (I hope). She looks like some kind of dark swamp witch (in the best way possible) and, unlike so many others, she's actually working the whole intro bit. And, she has the best track and performance of the Heat by the clearest margin I can imagine. Seriously, this is what's been missing today. I hope she gets more votes than Dead By April. It's going to be a fight between the two, I think.

MY PREDICTIONS:
To Final: Dead By April, Loreen
Andra Chansen: The Moniker, Afro-Dite
Possible Upset:Sean Banan, if people are wanting something stupid

EDIT: I'm not sure what's going on with this host's song. Is there going to be a real interval act this week? I'd like one. Especially if it ends this bit.

EDIT: Top 5: Thorsten, Afro-Dite, Sean, Loreen and Dead By April. Wow! The Moniker knocked out! As well as Marie and Abalone Dots, who got almost no cheers. Marie looks SO pissed.

EDIT: Double wow. Moniker got the least votes! Marie just barely missed out on the top 5 (as usual).

EDIT: If Sean goes through... I DEPLORE him, even if his song wasn't the worst of the bunch. I just can't even look at his face without wanting to slap it.

EDIT: Is that supposed to be Margaret Thatcher in this skit? probably not, but it reminds me of the Iron Lady. haha!

EDIT: I love these clips of "rejects" from past years. Most are better than any of this week's songs!!

EDIT: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives? What an odd choice for interval act. I haven't listened to these guys in at least six years!

EDIT: Wait? Is this song about Jesus?!?

EDIT: Oh, wait again?? Is this a cover of the Dilba song?? No way. It doesn't even sound like it.

EDIT: Highest number of votes and direct to the Final is... Loreen!!! COMPLETELY the right decision. Could we be looking at the winner of the whole 2012 competition? I wouldn't be totally surprised.

EDIT: Thorsten to Andra Chansen? Wow. Sean to Andra Chansen too. God, I'm going to have to see him again. But at least he's gone for now. Which means, Afro-Dite are out and Dead By April take the second final spot, as predicted. They could very well end up being the worst act in this year's final. At least Loreen beat them in the votes, meaning they probably don't have a chance of winning in March.

EDIT: I don't like this DBA song any better the second time. All in all, this was the worst single Heat since I started watching in 2007. The only way to go is up, right? Looking forward to some of next week's acts.

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Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat One - Preliminary Judging

It's that time of year again, folks. Melodifestivalen is back and I'm raring to go. As always, I'm going to give my preliminary thoughts on Fridays, based only on the one minute previews that SVT has given us. but remember, my thoughts can (and sometimes do) change once I've heard the entire thing and seen the performance.

(Listen to clips here)

Sean Banan - Sean den förste Banan (trans: "Sean the First Banan")
What an odd choice to kick everything off. The verses sound oddly amatuer, but that chorus is certainly catchy. Of course, it's catchy in more of a campy Dschinghis Khan way than a credible pop song way. Of course, given the confines of Eurovision. This could be a good thing. Right now, it could go either way. 3/5

Abalone Dots - På väg (trans: "On my way")
So boring. This sounds incredibly old-fashioned and "local folk festival." I'm a little afraid that the voters will take to it, but from this clip I can't really distinguish any sort of hook. Maybe in full it'll be better. 1/5

The Moniker - I Want To Be Chris Isaak (This Is Just the Beginning)
It's certainly not as jaunty as his entry last year, but I see this getting through on name recognition alone. I don't hate it, but there's nothing really drawing me in from the sound of this clip, either. 3/5

Afro-Dite - The Boy Can Dance
This feels like the real start of the competition. I'm not sure it's really the best example of this genre, but at least there's some energy! I like the production a lot. The melody? We'll see. 3.5/5

Dead By April - Mystery
Quite a left turn for the competition. It seems as if these guys' popularity is going to allow them to sail through, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I don't mind the singing parts, but that monstrous shouty part? LAME. I just find this whole genre to be pointless, immature and--quite honesty--noise pollution. 2/5

Marie Serneholt - Salt & Pepper
I didn't expect such a swinging sound from this. It kind of sounds like Le Kid's entry from last year. As with Marie's last entry, I'm not sure the song is strong enough to push her through, but it's certainly a nice departure from the last contestant! 3/5

Thorsten Flinck - Jag reser mig igen (trans: "I rise again")
A classic, "mature" sounding Swedish rock ballad. There's always one of these types in the competition. Hopefully it will only be one. Actually, though, this isn't so bad. It's melodically dull, yes, but it's not terrible. 2.5/5

Loreen - Euphoria
Thank god! This feels like the only song worthy of going to the final. Loreen broke through last year, and this should see her sail through to the final. It's hard to get the full effect from the sample, I'd imagine, but I definitely get the hint of an epic club tune. 4/5

Honestly, from the sound of these samples, this is going to be the weakest heat of Melodifestivalen that I can remember. Nothing's really hitting me over the head with its brilliance, which kind of sucks. maybe the full songs will be better. As for now, my expectations are set at "low." Who I think will go through? Dead By April and Loreen, with The Moniker and Afro-Dite fighting for the second chance round.

*I'll be live blogging tomorrow throughout the show, so be sure to check back for my thoughts (and to see if my predictions come true)

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The 10 Best Singles By... Madonna

Madonna will be performing at the Superbowl this Sunday (as if any of you didn't already know that), so I thought it was the perfect time to submit her discography to the Top Ten treatment. She's an interesting one. While I can appreciate her work and am definitely a fan, I've never felt a connection with her like I have with some other pop divas (ie: Janet Jackson, Kylie Minogue). Still, at seventy-five singles and counting, it goes without saying that I could easily have expanded this list well past ten.

10. Music (2000) - The toughest spot on the countdown, because this was battling with several other singles, some much more iconic. But ultimately I chose this because I think it's the best representation of her early 2000's output. And, as silly as it all is, it's actually aged quite well.

9. Vogue (1990) - One of her most iconic songs, and ultimately I think it suffers from that a bit. Still, taken on its own merits, there's simply no denying the melody and sound. To me, this is the last release of her greatest, late 80's era.

8. Borderline (1984) - A highlight of her early output, it's all about the sugary melody here. Free from gimmicks or production flourishes, it's just a great pop song.

7. Live To Tell (1986) - The first track on the countdown from her greatest pop album, this was the most mature ballad listeners had heard from her at the time. Even today, it's still incredibly beautiful and affecting.

6. Material Girl (1985) - Her first perfect music video and one of the most instantly catchy hooks of her career. When thinking of early Madonna, this is what comes to mind for me.

5. Ray of Light (1998) - After a muddled output in the 90's (in my opinion), this was the track that brought her career roaring back. Combining elements of her early work (the massive hooks and bright production) with the artistic experimentalism that would define this period of her evolution, it was the perfect musical statement.

4. Hung Up (2005) - Madonna and Abba. It could have gone horribly wrong. But that sample, coupled with the song itself, easily became the highlight of her 00's output. If only she would have continued in this vein for the rest of the decade!

3. Papa Don't Preach (1986) - Her first major foray into exploring social issues in her singles. But -- and this is key -- that seriousness didn't stop the song from being incredibly melodic, 100% pop and timeless in production. One of her absolute best.

2. Open Your Heart (1986) - '86 to '90 were her best years, by a mile, and this was part of the reason. Quite simply, it's a perfect pop song. It would sound great anywhere, anytime.

1. Like A Prayer (1989) - Like the past two songs, it's perfect pop. What elevates this slightly is its wild ambition, both in the music video and the song itself. Choirs, guitars, religious overtones and a new found vocal maturity all add up to her most riveting single.

So there you go! But here's the thing, no list is complete without hearing what you think! Leave your top ten Madonna songs in the comments!

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The Darkness - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us

"You were pulling my hair"

Earlier today, the Darkness revealed their comeback single. I'm thrilled that they're back, though it doesn't really feel like they left since Justin Hawkins' side project Hot Leg sounded so similar. Still, I've always had a soft spot for the band and can't wait to see them performing with Foxy Shazam later this month in Seattle. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us (wouldn't it be awesome if it was a cover of the Starship song?) has the classic Darkness sound to it. It's short, at well under three minutes, and honestly took me awhile to get into. It feels incredibly slight for a comeback single, but as the melody begins to click, it becomes exactly what I'd hope a 2012 Darkness would sound like. Hopefully, the upcoming album will expand on this sound and offer something a bit meatier. I have faith in them, for sure. Right now I'm just going to enjoy this teaser.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their previous albums here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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