by Demetri » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:38 pm
01. Blonde Redhead "23" - Super dreampop on the classic 4AD label. Check out the title track, "The Dress," "Spring By Summer Fall," and "Silently." If you thought Misery Is A Butterfly is good, well...prepare yourself.
02. Stereo Total "Paris-Berlin" - So chic! Tres bien. Singing in French, German, and English, this is perfectly crafted quirky pop. "Miss Rebellion Des Hormones," "Plastic, and "Lolita Fantome" are highlights for sure.
03. New Young Pony Club "Fantastic Playroom" - Cross The B-52's with Gang of Four, and there you have NYPC. Some of the best basslines going right now. Listen to "Ice Cream," "The Bomb," and "The Get Go."
04. Club 8 "The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming" - What an unexpected treat! This Swedish band is the sh*t. Best tracks include "Whatever You Want," "Football Kids," and "Heaven." Just this side of twee and even better. More like The Carpenters with splashes of ABBA and Belle & Sebastian.
05. Freezepop "Future Future Future Perfect" - If you grew up on elecronic '80s like I did, you'll love this band. They're like a mix of early Depeche Mode with newer influences like Le Tigre. Standout tracks are "Less Talk More Rokk," "Pop Music Is Not A Crime," "Do You Like My Wang" and "Brainpower."
06. Marsheaux "Peek-A-Boo" - These chicks from Athens take a new twist on nu-electro. I predict good things for them! Listen to "No Sense" (a la Visage), "What A Lovely Surprise" (a la Depeche Mode), "Dream of a Disco" (a la A Flock of Seagulls), and the killer remake of New Order's "Regret"...which, dare I say is better than the original.
07. Prototypes "Prototypes" - Fun French pop is where it's at. "Who's Gonna Sing," "Medicalement," and "Tir Aux Pigeons" are sweet tunes for your iPod. I discovered this band because their song was used for an Apple commercial apparently.
08. Band of Horses "Cease To Begin" - I heard the buzz about this band, but I didn't believe it until I heard tracks like "Is There A Ghost," "No One's Gonna Love You" (a real tearjerker), and "The General Specific." One of the year's best indie rock albums, for sure.
09. Peter Bjorn and John "Writer's Block" - This is really a superb album all around. In this case, you SHOULD believe the hype about this of-the-moment Swedish act! Just listen to "Young Folks," "Up Against the Wall," and "Amsterdam" for starters. There's more where that came from.
10. The Lovers "The Lovers" - OK, so I have a thing for French pop! I admit it. You may recognize "Crik Crak" from the McDonald's coffee commercial. Better yet are "French Kiss (Striptease Mix)," "La Le," and "Ne Worry Pas" among others.