**The Music Thread of Swede**

[swede]

i dont know how well this will work, but i wouldnt mind a thread discussing music that isnt *mainstream*.. because i wouldnt mind getting into some new stuff n what not, so may it be metal, alternative or whatever... place some names in here, say what kinda music they play, maybe a link to their tunes n what not... that would be cool

i hope this thread doesnt stuff up like most others, please keep it to music, even debate bout bands as well... please no responses with crap we all know..

anyway a couple bands id like to throw out to you guys..

my bloody valentine... now these guys are freakin weird, only have one album called loveless, no idea where to get any tunes from. they have a lot of distorted guitars in their music and kinda tuned out singing.. not sure i can explain them properly, im sure hinny could do a better job at it than i can.. take some getting into but when ur there, they are very cool to listen to

primus - i know a few will know of them, but i dare say more people will not know them than do. they have an awesome bassist in les claypool... a guy who he is most similar to in the mainstream world would be flea from the chili peppers... their music is well, a bit strange also, but they have some wicked solo's, bass lines... they have influenced bands like incubus. id class them as alt-metal kind of band... anyone wanna jump in and explain these guys better than i have be my guest...again dont know any links i have most of their albums, a good place to start in my opinion is their live album "suck on this" try songs like "tommy the cat", "antipop", and "pudding time" they could be a good place to start

and for this first post ill end with an aussie band

rocketscience... they are from melbourne, and i think they are highly under-rated. the use of the organ adds to a unique sound.. i kinda call them a very new age doors.. but hey, im not sayin they are as good as the doors but they are a pretty cool band in my book. try and check them out if you can. good place to start with rocket science is their album "contact high". if ur downloading some songs... maybe "being followed", "economic decline" and "heavy traffic" could be a good place to start

anyway thats all for right now

cheers

[Hinny]

my bloody valentine... loveless, no idea where to get any tunes from. they have a lot of distorted guitars in their music and kinda tuned out singing.. not sure i can explain them properly, im sure hinny could do a better job at it than i can.. take some getting into but when ur there, they are very cool to listen to
Mmmmmm, Loveless. Excuse me, I just soiled my pants. I'll have to go change.

Ok, I'm back. I can't describe them any better than you. A very ecletic dichotomy between the wall of distorted sound that is Kevin Shields' guitar and his understated vocals. I was first exposed to them just a coupla years ago when I first saw Lost In Translation and heard Sometimes on the soundtrack.

I don't exactly have the most adventurous collection. It's a combination of the all time classics mixed with 90s alt-rock and 00s indie hits. I'll just pull out a couple from this last bit.

Sigur Ros- Agaetis Byrjun
Post-rock. Think of the term, and you'll likely get this image of pretentious dickheads making noise that defies music structure. It's not too far off the mark with the Icelandic act Sigur Ros- Vocalist Jonsi Birgisson wails in a self-made language he named "Hopelandic". The point is this album is so beautifully ethereal it convinced Thom Yorke and his Radiohead mates to move from OK Computer to Kid A. The clash of Jonsi's wailing, the massive guitar feedback, organ, wire brush drums, strings, horns, flutes and so many other things... it's guaranteed to be unlike anything else you've heard before. If a music fan complains about how "it's all been done before", obviously they've never heard Agaetis Byrjun.

From that, it's a 180 degree turn to...

Bright Eyes- I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
There isn't all that much adventure with Conor Oberst, compared to MBV and Sigur Ros. That's fine. It's not his intention to make adventurous music. The guy just wants to write damn good folk-pop songs, and that's exactly what we have here on this album. The guy is everything Ben Lee wishes he is but isn't. Possesses a damn fine gift to paint a picture of a clear story through song. You mightn't be able to grab at Loveless or Agaetis Byrjun on the first listen, both of which need a few listens before you can grasp their greatness, but with I'm Wide Awake, it shouldn't take much more than 10 seconds before that euphoric feeling of a great discovery hits you.

[Hinny]

Before I forget, not that I can, I just want to talk about my most unexpected find of all.

A few years ago, I was getting ready to watch my favourite show, The West Wing, back when Channel 9 actually gave it a chance at prime time. I switched on the tv, and as usual they were running ER over the scheduled time. That's when this wonderful tune came on. I knew the song like the back of my hand. It was Somewhere Over The Rainbow. The one thing that made it so striking was the way it was arranged and sung. By a Hawaiian named Israel Kamakawiwoole. As the credits went on, the song segued into the second part of a medley, Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World.

I still haven't bought a copy of the song on CD, but this one chance discovery just stuck there in the back of my mind.

[swede]

thanks man, ive been wanting to check bright eyes out for a while now... so now i got a place to start.

those songs i downloaded of sigur ros were pretty cool man, and i can understand that need a few listens, i only got 2 or so of em, they were pretty man, i might have to check the album out... cheers mate :)

[kerrysan]

well. i know this is not wanted from u metal heads so u can skip my post. but as this does fit into the category of not-mainstream and it is my all time favourite band...of all time, and that i love swede and feel the need to contribute to his threads, i would like to do my little schpeeelllll on:
The Early November - they are extremely emo, but now when you think emo i dont want you to think simple plan ok, think Jimmy Eat World. this is a good example as J.E.W. is T.E.N.'s major influence. they are slow rocky songs with sad lyrics. they start out especially slow and work into agonising (i wont say scream or you'll think of actual screamers) yells. i dont think you can get theyre cd anywhere in australia but their ep's are 'for all of this' and 'the acoustic ep' and the album is called 'the rooms too cold'. if you're into acoustics, download 'ever so sweet' and if you like the rockier side i suggest 'the course of human life'.
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business is the side project of the lead singer of the early november. these songs are even sappier. theyre pretty much all acoustic and very un-formatted. all their songs are great but um...i'll suggest 'the kindler burns' and 'whispering actually' because theyre the first ones that come to mind.
i know that not many people will like this music, but, yeah...now people will know what i'm talking about when i at least mention T.E.N....GO SWEDEY!!! perios

[Hinny]

I am most definitely not a metal head.

[swede]

thanks kez for ur post :) doesnt have to be metal or anything... just music that isnt played out there for everyone to hear.. im into finding artists like this, and i dunno, hopefully others will be also :) i did like a couple of those tunes u sent.

thanks champ :)

[swede]

an artist im very fond of... and was my big find when i was away in sweden... was a norwegian lady called ANE BRUN.

she is amazing

check out www.anebrun.com

she has a kind of folk sound to her music... i def recommend to anyone on this board. she sings in english also, so dont worry bout that..

[what]

Before I forget, not that I can, I just want to talk about my most unexpected find of all.

A few years ago, I was getting ready to watch my favourite show, The West Wing, back when Channel 9 actually gave it a chance at prime time. I switched on the tv, and as usual they were running ER over the scheduled time. That's when this wonderful tune came on. I knew the song like the back of my hand. It was Somewhere Over The Rainbow. The one thing that made it so striking was the way it was arranged and sung. By a Hawaiian named Israel Kamakawiwoole. As the credits went on, the song segued into the second part of a medley, Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World.

I still haven't bought a copy of the song on CD, but this one chance discovery just stuck there in the back of my mind.

hey i think that song was in the end of 50 first dates aswell! that is an awesome song, i saw a guitar tab for it somewhere aswell...

a weird band i love is the dresden dolls- weird is the only word i can think of to describe them. a couple of their songs have had pretty high rotation on triple j- coin operated boy, and my favourite, girl anachronism

[kerrysan]

hey i think that song was in the end of 50 first dates aswell! that is an awesome song, i saw a guitar tab for it somewhere aswell...

a weird band i love is the dresden dolls- weird is the only word i can think of to describe them. a couple of their songs have had pretty high rotation on triple j- coin operated boy, and my favourite, girl anachronism
OMFG, ELLA GET IN HERE! U HEAR THIS!?? coin operated boy. sitting on a shelf, he is just a toy...dodododo. love it. only heard that one song, but now im tempted to get moooore.

[Caroline]

OMFG, ELLA GET IN HERE! U HEAR THIS!?? coin operated boy. sitting on a shelf, he is just a toy...dodododo. love it. only heard that one song, but now im tempted to get moooore.
oh shit. If I hear that song one more time I'm going to vomit, continuously. Somebody please remove the dresden dolls vocal chords and arms. Does anyone here like Pantera?

[what]

oh shit. if i hear any more pantera i'm going to vomit, continuously. someone removed their frontmans vocal cords and replaced them with poo. does anyone here like nikki webster?

[swede]

oh shit. if i hear any more pantera i'm going to vomit, continuously. someone removed their frontmans vocal cords and replaced them with poo. does anyone here like nikki webster?

oi this shit aint needed in the music thread!!!!! lol!!! nikki webster can go suck a *&#@

oh and by the way caroline, i listen to pantera, very cool. love cowboys from hell album, and vulgar display of power, then i think phil tries to scream far too much, but 100% proof is a kick your arse live album :)

hey caroline, do you listen to megadeath? or sepultura? anything like that... megadeath has dave mustaine who used to be in metallica on guitar, he shreds on it... pretty wicked sound. if u know pantera ud surely know sepultura, they are pretty intense. :)

[what]

i know swede i know... i'm sorry! pantera, yes i can acccept and acknowledge their musical abilities. i like their cover of planet caravan, i haven't listened to much else of their stuff? ok now i have another contribution. has anyone heard of The 5.6.7.8's? I first came across them, as many of you may have, in kill bill vol.1. they are an all girl japanese rock outfit, playing rock and surf style songs with funny japanese accents. they are hilarious. i suggest everyone checks out the songs 'bomb the twist' 'woohoo' and 'edie is a sweet candy'.

[swede]

oh well i know that song..

pantera are great, if you like any metal check out the following songs.. the art of shredding, cowboys from hell, walk, fucking hostile, domination.... and one of the best power ballads of all time... cemetary gates

[Hinny]

swede, buddy, there's no such thing as "one of the best power ballads of all time".

[swede]

swede, buddy, there's no such thing as "one of the best power ballads of all time".

hahahahaha well i really like it :(

[surrealist]

Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous - this group was the opener for Bright Eyes on his European tour - really amazing stuff. The singer (Jenny ??) has an amazing voice, very emotive and the band themselves manage to weave in and out of styles with such ease. Top picks - "I Never" "It's a Hit" and "Teenage Love Song" (not off the More Adventurous album though.)

Joan Osborne - Relish - Most people probably know Joan Osborne as the chick who sang that 'One of Us' song back in the 90s - this is actually the album that it came off. She has an amazing voice and really gives a bluesy, rocky edge to a lot of her songs. Also covered "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?" on the Standing in the Shadows of Motowon soundtrack. Joan Osborne is most definitely my favourite female singer, the woman can sing anything and make it sound damn amazing. At the moment I'm listening to her do a cover of Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine" and while I'm usually against people covering Otis songs - I gotta say she definitely does the song justice...Check her out, she is so much more than a one hit wonder!

Mia Dyson - Cold Water and Parking Lots - Mia Dyson just supported The Waifs on their last national tour so some of you might already know about her. I've seen her live twice and both times I've just been blwon away, Mia Dyson also has a really bluesy voice and can definitely write a sad song. Absolute champion of a person as well.

[what]

mia dyson ROCKS!!! i cant beleive i didnt write about her. i have her other cd, its awesome. saw her at a festival a few weeks ago, rocked my socks off! i love the song 'lonely'

[surrealist]

I really love 'Through this Town' - see my sig. but she also does a really awesome cover of this song called 'Willin'' by Little Feat. It's one of my absolute favourite songs and I was so stoked when she did it opening for The Waifs.

Out of her CDs, I probably prefer Cold Water a bit more cos I'm generally more into slower more countrified tunes, but I still love Parking Lots cos it seems a bit more upbeat and like she was in a better place while writing it than Cold Water.

[swede]

thanks heaps surrealist, ill see what i can do about following up on those artists :)

[swandive]

My absolute favourite artist is Ani Di Franco. Her popularity has been growing here over the last few years but still most people I speak to haven't heard of her. She is fantastic. Go to righteous babe records for a look, don't remember the exact address.
Cheers. :)

[swede]

ya ani aint bad, but i havent got into a lot of her stuff as of yet (there is just so much out there!!!) but ill be doing that as soon as i get a chance to! cheers for the post :)

--- if anyone is into old rock like led zeppelin, be sure to check out a band called TEN YEARS AFTER... they are mindblowing. that similar style of rock n roll :)

--- anyone who digs mellow powderfinger or something of the like may want to check out an album called "welcome to discovery park" by a band called "BRAD". id probably recommend more albums from these guys but that is all i have, im not sure if hinny or jaxx have any more then that or whether they have checked brad out as of yet. but id be sure to give them a chance :)

cheers :)

[Hinny]

--- anyone who digs mellow powderfinger or something of the like may want to check out an album called "welcome to discovery park" by a band called "BRAD". id probably recommend more albums from these guys but that is all i have, im not sure if hinny or jaxx have any more then that or whether they have checked brad out as of yet. but id be sure to give them a chance :)

cheers :)
Oh, you're not sure if I've checked out Brad, ey?

I had a game of pool with Mike and Regan at their 2002 Metro gig, had a chat with Jem over a beer, and met Stone and Shawn out the back, so I guess you can say I've checked them out :D

The opening band at that show was pretty good too. Evermore it was. At least two of the brothers must've been under 18 back then, if not all 3 of them.

[what]

Elliott Smith. One of his albums was a feature album a while ago on triple j. He is dead now, but his songs are really beautiful. some good songs are Angeles and Memory Lane. His website is http://www.sweetadeline.net/ and theres a good biography here: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5935899?rnd=1115015235750&has-player=true

[surething]

Hi babe.....NICE thread !


try this lot not sure if there is a sound bit on the site but i can send you some anyways have a look at " Queeen Adreena"

front women was in aband called Daisy chain saw awhile back and they were good too


www.queenadreena.com

[Hinny]

Mmmm, I like the look of the vocalist, but that website has an awful design.

[James]

yep, as most of u know already, one of my fav artists would be Sarah Blasko. She is quickly rising to the likes of missy higgins, ben lee, and many more.

She has a bjork-ish feel to her music, that really sounds awesome.

Unfortunatelly, she has no forums up yet, which is a bummer, but there will be 1000s up soon.

any info about her go to:

www.sarahblasko.com

cheers.

[surething]

Mmmm, I like the look of the vocalist, but that website has an awful design.

do u mean the queen adreena site ??

the first page anit great but if u enter i think its cool

[swede]

yep, as most of u know already, one of my fav artists would be Sarah Blasko. She is quickly rising to the likes of missy higgins, ben lee, and many more.

She has a bjork-ish feel to her music, that really sounds awesome.

Unfortunatelly, she has no forums up yet, which is a bummer, but there will be 1000s up soon.

any info about her go to:

www.sarahblasko.com

cheers.

dude... dont mean to rattle on ur description.. but i would hardly call it bjork-ish... but yeh she is pretty solid... bjork = wayyyy weird, latest album has no instruments, on volcal chords, pretty insane.

and hinny, im very jealous. which album should i get next bud??

and thanks V for stopping by and posting out some suggestions :)

[Hinny]

Interiors. Shame is a bit up and down for me.

An oh, swede, don't know if you've seen this, but it's Tori Amos-related http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/apr05/20050429_toriamos.html

[swede]

Interiors. Shame is a bit up and down for me.

An oh, swede, don't know if you've seen this, but it's Tori Amos-related http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/apr05/20050429_toriamos.html

thanks man, i already checked it out... entered... and dont think i will win...

i personally hope my bro wins, cause he is a way bigger fan than me... i love her n all.. but tori to him is almost like pearl jam to me.. so yeh i wish him so much luck :)

im gonna go out n get interiors soon i think then, i love welcome to discovery park

[James]

dude... dont mean to rattle on ur description.. but i would hardly call it bjork-ish... but yeh she is pretty solid... bjork = wayyyy weird, latest album has no instruments, on volcal chords, pretty insane.

and hinny, im very jealous. which album should i get next bud??

and thanks V for stopping by and posting out some suggestions :)


k swede, ur right as usual.....
but u cant resist Sarah Blasko, shes awesome as!.

[surething]

ok so i'm putting this up for others more then u, u know why.....


Stina Nordenstam.....i think u guys would like her

gentile almost babyish voice V.laid back and soft.

www.stinanordenstam.com

[swede]

THANKS V!! they are killer :) i like it. she is pretty good, i think that others will dig her too

i think ksan would dig this kinda vibe :)

check her out people!

[nomore3x5]

theres an unsigned band in america that i love called Rainmarket.
Check out www.rain-market.com
and www.myspace.com/rainmarket
Rach

[James]

lol, they are pretty good.

not bad, never heard of em before though.

[Hinny]

Nick Drake.

What's there to say? The guy is a legend. He lived from 1948 to 1974, dying of an anti-depressant overdose. One of music's saddest tragic stories, the brilliance of his work was not understood until after his death, after a long history of depression and seclusion.

Starting with 1969's rich, melodic Five Leaves Left, and through 1970's folkie treasure Bryter Layter, the man's gift for crafting these sweet folk-pop tunes, written in the rarely used 5/4 time, seems like it should've been apparent to all. Except they weren't. Commercial success eluded him. His music could never be jammed into your average live set since the creativity he put into his songs meant that he would have to spend lots of time changing the tuning on his acostic guitar after each song finished.

Then depression struck. He went into seclusion, and wrote his true masterpiece, unfortunately also his swansong, in 1971's Pink Moon. Hauntingly beautiful has never been a more apt description. You can practically feel his depressed state through the stark mood that runs right through the album, but unlike the other two albums, the genius of his intricate finger-picking style on the acoustic was unadorned with anything else other than his voice.

For a style of music as conservative as folk, it's nothing short of amazing how Nick Drake managed to fashion out such a progressive approach to the craft. Just as amazing is how a Volkswagon ad which aired on tv 25 years after his death managed to get him the kind of respect he so craved for but could never secure during his lifetime. The title track of his last album, Pink Moon, was used on the ad. People rushed to the Volkswagon website, found his details, hit amazon.com, and the cult of Nick Drake begins.

[The Beekeeper]

My absolute favourite artist is Ani Di Franco. Her popularity has been growing here over the last few years but still most people I speak to haven't heard of her. She is fantastic. Go to righteous babe records for a look, don't remember the exact address.
Cheers. :)

Hey would love to hear your thoughts on her latest album because I was a little disappointed.... I've never been an enormous fan or anything but I feel this one is so different... I may not know what I'm talking about so you can tell me to shut up :o
I do love some of her older stuff though...love her songwriting :)

[swede]

Nick Drake.

What's there to say? The guy is a legend. He lived from 1948 to 1974, dying of an anti-depressant overdose. One of music's saddest tragic stories, the brilliance of his work was not understood until after his death, after a long history of depression and seclusion.

Starting with 1969's rich, melodic Five Leaves Left, and through 1970's folkie treasure Bryter Layter, the man's gift for crafting these sweet folk-pop tunes, written in the rarely used 5/4 time, seems like it should've been apparent to all. Except they weren't. Commercial success eluded him. His music could never be jammed into your average live set since the creativity he put into his songs meant that he would have to spend lots of time changing the tuning on his acostic guitar after each song finished.

Then depression struck. He went into seclusion, and wrote his true masterpiece, unfortunately also his swansong, in 1971's Pink Moon. Hauntingly beautiful has never been a more apt description. You can practically feel his depressed state through the stark mood that runs right through the album, but unlike the other two albums, the genius of his intricate finger-picking style on the acoustic was unadorned with anything else other than his voice.

For a style of music as conservative as folk, it's nothing short of amazing how Nick Drake managed to fashion out such a progressive approach to the craft. Just as amazing is how a Volkswagon ad which aired on tv 25 years after his death managed to get him the kind of respect he so craved for but could never secure during his lifetime. The title track of his last album, Pink Moon, was used on the ad. People rushed to the Volkswagon website, found his details, hit amazon.com, and the cult of Nick Drake begins.

its such a shame that people who are so creative have mental disorders... such a shame. ill check him out man

[James]

did someone say Ben Lee???


he's awesome.

[lozzy]

did someone say Ben Lee???


he's awesome.
WOOOT Ben Lee is the man!!
I'm going to see him on 19th May at my unibar :D YEAAAH

[Hinny]

My contempt for Ben Lee knows no bounds.

[James]

WOOOT Ben Lee is the man!!
I'm going to see him on 19th May at my unibar :D YEAAAH


me so angry right now.,.... :mad: :p

anywayz, hope u have fun there.

[swede]

My contempt for Ben Lee knows no bounds.

i dont like that guy either...

[what]

i dont mind ben lee's music, he just seems like he thinks he is some sort of a saviour to the music industry. pretentious twot!

[Hinny]

I don't mind that kind of attitude when they have what it takes to back it up.

[swede]

I don't mind that kind of attitude when they have what it takes to back it up.

thats it... i remember him saying once he is easily the best song writer going around! LOL!

[The Beekeeper]

thats it... i remember him saying once he is easily the best song writer going around! LOL!

Are you serious? kinda arrogant if you ask me...and untrue!
That song that was out recently...Gamble Everything for Love..sorry but that put me to sleep...not in a good way..

[swede]

Are you serious? kinda arrogant if you ask me...and untrue!
That song that was out recently...Gamble Everything for Love..sorry but that put me to sleep...not in a good way..
definitely wasnt a fan of that tune... nor his tune that came out afterwards!

[lozzy]

dunno if you guys knew this, but apparently Missy made a guest appearance with Ben Lee at the south by southwest thingo, and sang backing vocals for "Catch My Disease" :D

[swede]

dunno if you guys knew this, but apparently Missy made a guest appearance with Ben Lee at the south by southwest thingo, and sang backing vocals for "Catch My Disease" :D

we never said that missy wasnt foolish ;)

[lozzy]

we never said that missy wasnt foolish ;)
i wasn't suggesting that Missy thought Ben Lee was good.... I was just stating a random fact ;)

[swede]

i wasn't suggesting that Missy thought Ben Lee was good.... I was just stating a random fact ;)

and i was just stirring trouble ;)

ahh ur tops queen loz!

[surething]

what about Kristen Hursh !!!!! we haven't talked about her yet swede


she is cool, i have 3 albums but "hips and makers" for me is the bessst

swede , babe, please tell me u know her.


for anyone else.......she is one of the sisters from the Breeders, more crazy like Tori Amos but V.good

[James]

dunno if you guys knew this, but apparently Missy made a guest appearance with Ben Lee at the south by southwest thingo, and sang backing vocals for "Catch My Disease" :D


cool, didnt know that as such.

[swede]

what about Kristen Hursh !!!!! we haven't talked about her yet swede


she is cool, i have 3 albums but "hips and makers" for me is the bessst

swede , babe, please tell me u know her.


for anyone else.......she is one of the sisters from the Breeders, more crazy like Tori Amos but V.good



nah i dont know her sorry babe! let me in on some of the good stuff :)

[surething]

ok spelling mistake it's :::::::::: Kristin Hersh

and she's ready when u are Tomo

[swede]

ok lets see how she goes...

[Fredina]

I don't mind ben Lee for some background music, but he does come across as a pretentious wanker. Did anyone see him on Rove last night 'they play Missy Higgins on the radio and that's the way I like it'

[Tribal_Drummer]

I don't mind ben Lee for some background music, but he does come across as a pretentious wanker. Did anyone see him on Rove last night 'they play Missy Higgins on the radio and that's the way I like it'

yeah i seen it... wasnt sure if he was having a go at her though?

because after he said that he said 'they dont play me on the radio, & thats the way i like it'


anyway, his whiny little voice annoys the shit out of me.

[Fredina]

I thought it was 'nd they play me on the radio' Maybe that's only on the album versoion!!! Was that new buffallo doing the background music?

[Tribal_Drummer]

hmm i dunno... havent heard the album version... yeah i think it was new bufallo... when he said they play new bufallo on the radio
& thats the way i like it he looked back and pointed at them i think?

[The Beekeeper]

swede - Those songs you sent me were awesome!!!!! Thanks
Now i'm depressed....why can't they release it???? That's just plain wrong!!! Tammin Sursok can get released, but Fiona Apple can't..... what a crrraazzy world we live in!
I swear...todays music industry is an embarrassment

[swede]

swede - Those songs you sent me were awesome!!!!! Thanks
Now i'm depressed....why can't they release it???? That's just plain wrong!!! Tammin Sursok can get released, but Fiona Apple can't..... what a crrraazzy world we live in!
I swear...todays music industry is an embarrassment

yeh its a disgrace... ill send u some more soon, maybe after im back from lunch with my dad. i think better version of me could be a single! i dont know what sony is thinking... my bro bought a t-shirt from freefiona.com that says..

"hey sony, how bout them apples" or something like that lol! its mad

[The Beekeeper]

yeh its a disgrace... ill send u some more soon, maybe after im back from lunch with my dad. i think better version of me could be a single! i dont know what sony is thinking... my bro bought a t-shirt from freefiona.com that says..

"hey sony, how bout them apples" or something like that lol! its mad

That's cool... I would so get that!
Better Version of me is awesome! Definitely single material.... I don't think the songs are hugely different from the When the Pawn songs... so I don't understand why they don't release it...in fact the songs are better...ah well

[swede]

That's cool... I would so get that!
Better Version of me is awesome! Definitely single material.... I don't think the songs are hugely different from the When the Pawn songs... so I don't understand why they don't release it...in fact the songs are better...ah well

its ridiculous... im still baffled as are the trillions of fiona fans, hence the freefiona.com stuff... they have been going crazy bout it, tryin to force sony to give it up and release the bugger

[crouton]

I'm sure i've heard of Fiona Apple, but can't think what she sings, did she have a well known single out?


Ok here's my recomendation...I know this band is well known in UK, but in my experience a lot of people here havent heard of them... Keane. They are a great band (well in my opinion), i got their album "Hopes And Fears" about 8 months ago, and i love it.


Swede - any particular song by Brad that you would recommend?

[The Beekeeper]

Does anyone else like the Foo Fighters new song - The Best of You? I quite like it and I'm not a huge Foo Fighters fan

[The Beekeeper]

I'm sure i've heard of Fiona Apple, but can't think what she sings, did she have a well known single out?


Ok here's my recomendation...I know this band is well known in UK, but in my experience a lot of people here havent heard of them... Keane. They are a great band (well in my opinion), i got their album "Hopes And Fears" about 8 months ago, and i love it.


Swede - any particular song by Brad that you would recommend?

Criminal was a pretty popular Fiona song a while ago.. heard of it crouton?

[swede]

I'm sure i've heard of Fiona Apple, but can't think what she sings, did she have a well known single out?


Ok here's my recomendation...I know this band is well known in UK, but in my experience a lot of people here havent heard of them... Keane. They are a great band (well in my opinion), i got their album "Hopes And Fears" about 8 months ago, and i love it.


Swede - any particular song by Brad that you would recommend?

hinny would be ur man more so than i for this, but a couple tunes i really love are...

brothers and sisters, shinin', and revolution...

but yeh they are a couple id suggest, but hinny may come in and give better ones..

also ive heard a lil keane, not sure if i like them though, i may ask my friend if i can borrow her cd so i get a better idea.

and bee.. i think its ok, but nothing too great, generally i like foos live but album they are only ok for me

[swede]

oh and limp is kinda famous i think, shadow boxer... fast as you can...

mmm they u might have heard of...

and she does a cover of the beatles tune... i think tis called across the universe

[Hinny]

Bright Eyes- I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Oh, I just have to keep going back to this gem, over and over.

The song Landlocked Blues... I don't think I've loved a song with the traditional pop song structure this much since Pearl Jam's Given To Fly in '98.

Sigh.

[swede]

Oh, I just have to keep going back to this gem, over and over.

The song Landlocked Blues... I don't think I've loved a song with the traditional pop song structure this much since Pearl Jam's Given To Fly in '98.

Sigh.

ive been listening to it, a couple times actually.. i think its ok, but hasnt made its mark on me yet, ive got a feeling in a few weeks it may.

[surrealist]

The song Landlocked Blues... I don't think I've loved a song with the traditional pop song structure this much since Pearl Jam's Given To Fly in '98.

I think I prefer Lua - don't get me wrong Landlocked Blues is a great song, but it was really Lua that got me into the album and Bright Eyes altogether - plus this verse has always really spoken to me for some reason:

"I've got a flask inside my pocket, we can share it on the train,
And if you promise to stay conscious I will try and do the same,
We might die from medication but we sure killed all the pain,
But what was normal in the evening by the morning seems insane."

Conor Oberst is seriously a fucking genius. Hands down the best songwriter of our generation.

[Soul_Surfer]

Hey guys,
Just stumbled on this thread and there's some awesome artists listed in here. Just downloaded some Ane Brun and she is bloody great. very impressed! Have you guys heard the unreleased (**runs up to sony and stabs them in the eye for being such LOSERS***)fiona apple cd 'extroadinary machine'... got a really good copy of it off a friend - I think its fantastic (not as good as Tidal, but that is the bomb!, but better than when the pawn). fiona apple rocks. enough said.

anyway, i wanted to add some artists:
- Ash Grunwald (http://www.ashgrunwald.com/) If you havent heard of him, check him out. He's a blues inspired one man act and was Aus blues vocalist of the year in 2003. I think you need to see him live to really grasp what he is about, but he does heaps of slide and uses a foot tamborine and stompbox and produces chilled out music. You can download songs from his website, and i recommend checking out 'good morning memphis' and 'whispering'.

-Sekiden (http://www.sekiden.com) are a 3 piece brissy band who recently supported Sarah Blasko on her tour. They've been described as pop/newwave, so at first i thought they wouldn't be my style... but they put on a great show, are a really tight band, and their music is pretty damn good.
listen to their songs here (http://www.boompa.ca/sekiden/media.cfm)

Halfday (http://www.halfday.com.au) are another brissy band. These guys have an indie-pop style and have some pretty funny songs - songs to check out: 'i feel fine', 'turn me on', 'you make me want to clean my room' had pretty good airplay on triple J awhile back, and 'my life in a jar' is one of their newer releases. check them out.

[swede]

yeh, ive had the fiona apple album for a while, they had it posted on www.freefiona.com i personally really enjoy it, also i might be a person who enjoys when the pawn more than tidal...

as for ur bands missy_crazy, thanks for the selections, when i get the time ill be sure to give them a listen :)

also, ane brun is just awesome, i think she is like the female version of neil young. very talented... very talented indeed :)

[cirrol]

*has heard some of ane brun*
*likes her*
*needs to get some of her off swedey*
*please swedey?*

[LoDouble U]

one of my fave new UK bands at the moment are the Kaiser Chiefs
Didn't like em at first but now I think their album is grrrreat!:D

Kaiser Chiefs (http://www.kaiserchiefs.co.uk/)

[cirrol]

Crap wrong thread.

[swede]

*has heard some of ane brun*
*likes her*
*needs to get some of her off swedey*
*please swedey?*

u know where i live...

yeh thats right

drive round n get some of her stuff

[Tribal_Drummer]

I think I may have mentioned him ages ago in another thread, but anyway here goes...

Jez (http://www.theofficialjezsite.com)
http://img273.echo.cx/img273/122/jezmediaphoto046aw.jpg

Hailing from Byron Bay in the beautiful north coast of NSW, Jez is a hard working guitarist/singer/song-writer,
& passionate live performer. Jez is driven by a devotion to rythym and melodic experimentation. Percussive guitar,
stomp-box and strong smokey vocals make for a big, full sound from this dymanic and intimate performer.

Jez has built a strong following in Byron Bay as well as tours such as: The Hopetown, Bar Broadway, The Metro
(at ABC's "Long Way To The Top" launch), The Punter's and Bar Open.

Jez has supported a wealth of Australian bands including: Midnight Oil, The Waifs, The Celibate Rifles, The John Butler Trio,
Renee Geyer, The Cruel Sea, Tex Perkins, Mick Hart, The Beautiful Girls and more. He has appeared at Victoria's Queenscliff Festival,
Brisbane's Valley Fiesta, & Byron Bay's Blues & Roots Festival.

To date, Jez has released two full-length cd's ("Jez" & "Pickles Hinder Slumber").


To hear Jez's music, go here (http://theofficialjezsite.com/content/standard_c1.asp?name=Sounds) :)

[what]

haha. u fixed the photo. ok people, tribal is right, you should check out jez. he has an awesome stage presence too. people who like john butler trio will most probably enjoy jez. reprezent foos

[Tribal_Drummer]

what did ya mean about fixing the photo mate? im confused :confused:

[what]

oh, it didnt work for me when i went on the page, it was an angry box. now it works somehow?

[Agatha]

I have already given these guys a plug in another thread but i think they're ace and there just starting to get things together and I want them to do really well

SOLLA SOLLEW
www.purevolume.com/sollasollew (http://www.purevolume.com/sollasollew)
Its only a mini-site but you can stream three of their tracks. Lightyears is my fav.

[swede]

im glad there have been so many suggestions... i just picked up a whole lot of bands from a dude at uni, i hope that they are pretty decent

[kerrysan]

jeeeeeeez. this thread seems to be booming. well done swede. i must admit that i have not been following but i have been listening to this band and thought....i MUST tell someone about this!!!!!

DENALI. i dont know much about em. they were recomended to me by a friend and i only have three songs. the ones i have are hold your breath, lose me and french mistake. GET INTO IT!!!! cos theyre fuckin awesome!!!!!

[Hinny]

I'm reserving my money for the West Wing season 5 and Scrubs season 1 dvds, but the next album I'm getting will be Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

10 out of 10 on pitchfork. That's got to mean something, right?

[:: katie b ::]

Mmmmmm, Loveless. Excuse me, I just soiled my pants. I'll have to go change.

Ok, I'm back. I can't describe them any better than you. A very ecletic dichotomy between the wall of distorted sound that is Kevin Shields' guitar and his understated vocals. I was first exposed to them just a coupla years ago when I first saw Lost In Translation and heard Sometimes on the soundtrack.

I don't exactly have the most adventurous collection. It's a combination of the all time classics mixed with 90s alt-rock and 00s indie hits. I'll just pull out a couple from this last bit.

Sigur Ros- Agaetis Byrjun
Post-rock. Think of the term, and you'll likely get this image of pretentious dickheads making noise that defies music structure. It's not too far off the mark with the Icelandic act Sigur Ros- Vocalist Jonsi Birgisson wails in a self-made language he named "Hopelandic". The point is this album is so beautifully ethereal it convinced Thom Yorke and his Radiohead mates to move from OK Computer to Kid A. The clash of Jonsi's wailing, the massive guitar feedback, organ, wire brush drums, strings, horns, flutes and so many other things... it's guaranteed to be unlike anything else you've heard before. If a music fan complains about how "it's all been done before", obviously they've never heard Agaetis Byrjun.

From that, it's a 180 degree turn to...

Bright Eyes- I'm Wide Awake, It's MorningThere isn't all that much adventure with Conor Oberst, compared to MBV and Sigur Ros. That's fine. It's not his intention to make adventurous music. The guy just wants to write damn good folk-pop songs, and that's exactly what we have here on this album. The guy is everything Ben Lee wishes he is but isn't. Possesses a damn fine gift to paint a picture of a clear story through song. You mightn't be able to grab at Loveless or Agaetis Byrjun on the first listen, both of which need a few listens before you can grasp their greatness, but with I'm Wide Awake, it shouldn't take much more than 10 seconds before that euphoric feeling of a great discovery hits you.

i love it !! i just came across em too the other day, my friend sent me a song called 'arc of time' - i love it ! hinny's a fucking champ in my books ;)

[:: katie b ::]

James Blunt - and his album 'Back to Bedlam' is the best. Just stumbled across him, check him out!

[lozzy]

I have already given these guys a plug in another thread but i think they're ace and there just starting to get things together and I want them to do really well

SOLLA SOLLEW
www.purevolume.com/sollasollew (http://www.purevolume.com/sollasollew)
Its only a mini-site but you can stream three of their tracks. Lightyears is my fav.
i'm liking this :)

too many cds to get and listen too!! there should be more hours in the day

and w00t!! for jez :D :D

[lozzy]

jeeeeeeez. this thread seems to be booming. well done swede. i must admit that i have not been following but i have been listening to this band and thought....i MUST tell someone about this!!!!!

DENALI. i dont know much about em. they were recomended to me by a friend and i only have three songs. the ones i have are hold your breath, lose me and french mistake. GET INTO IT!!!! cos theyre fuckin awesome!!!!!
i listened to hold you breath. pretty good ay

[swede]

I'm reserving my money for the West Wing season 5 and Scrubs season 1 dvds, but the next album I'm getting will be Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

10 out of 10 on pitchfork. That's got to mean something, right?

isnt it pretty damn hard to get 10 out of 10 there?

hold on thats what ur saying.. LOL nevermind :)

[bri]

Lot of interesting new bands on here (well new to me anyhoo) Really like what I've heard from ane brun so far. Gonna try a few others too like the sound of bright eyes maybe look for them next

[Hinny]

isnt it pretty damn hard to get 10 out of 10 there?

hold on thats what ur saying.. LOL nevermind :)
I know that the following albums also had scores of 10.0

Radiohead- OK Computer
Radiohead- Kid A
The Flaming Lips- The Soft Bulletin
Bonnie "Prince" Billy- I See A Darkness
Pavement- Slanted & Enchanted
Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins

I'd be surprised if there's anymore than 10 titles with the perfect score.

[swede]

I know that the following albums also had scores of 10.0

Radiohead- OK Computer
Radiohead- Kid A
The Flaming Lips- The Soft Bulletin
Bonnie "Prince" Billy- I See A Darkness
Pavement- Slanted & Enchanted
Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins

I'd be surprised if there's anymore than 10 titles with the perfect score.

i really like the soft bulletin and OK computer... Kid a i havent heard too often and the others i dont know..

[cirrol]

*wanders through thread*

[da_lozmeister]

*sleeps*

[swede]

the last 2 points are silly...

neways the dude that jen has been sending to me is pretty good... a guy called "jez"

check him out foo's

[lozzy]

the last 2 points are silly...

neways the dude that jen has been sending to me is pretty good... a guy called "jez"

check him out foo's
yeah jez is awesome!! i just downloaded his album the other day. ima go buy it soon. he's a but like JBT you reckon?

[swede]

yeah jez is awesome!! i just downloaded his album the other day. ima go buy it soon. he's a but like JBT you reckon?

yeh a lil bit...

i found that some of the tunes sound a lot like acoustic led zep tunes... pretty damn cool i think.

so yeh, fans of jbt, led zep, maybe even acoustic tea party fans also... maybe interested in checking him out

[what]

werd. i havent been paying attention to this thread. but youse should check out The Grates. they've been getting airplay on triple j for a few months... a few songs are Message, Sukkafish, Wash Me, and Trampoline, all off their ep The Ouch The Touch. they have a really cool sound- remind me a bit of the dresden dolls with all their craziness. check out http://thegrates.com/ to wander around and listen to their music!
heres a pic:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/jennifek/TheGrates.jpg

[Tribal_Drummer]

you've gotta check out both of jez's albums! the first self-titled is different to pickles hinder slumber... but still amazing.

also he is in the process of his 3rd studio album :) woooooo! just needs to be mastered, a mate of mine runs jez's website & i was chatting with him a couple of weeks back.


jez also plays in a band called 'Boneyard'.
i guess you could say its the harder/heavier side of him...

'boneyard'
'The boring thing to say is this band sometimes sounds like a rocked up John Butler Trio, sometimes Black Sabbath. The obvious thing to say is the singer sometimes sounds like Jim Morrison and sometimes like Bon Scott. The intelligent thing to say is this band is about catharsis. “We’re propulsive, energetic, loud, laughing, political, passionate, horny, heavy.” And free.'



WOOOOOOO im going to see boneyard play on sunday night :) & then jez next saturday aswell... so stoked! :D


also you can catch him supporting The Beautiful Girls august nation tour.
http://theofficialjezsite.com/content/tours.asp?name=GigDates

[lozzy]

how good is it that he's supporting TBG?!? ima go see him at yallah, w00t! :D

[cirrol]

Swedey, whats your opinion on Sarah McLachlan?

[coin_operated_girl]

werd. i havent been paying attention to this thread. but youse should check out The Grates. they've been getting airplay on triple j for a few months... a few songs are Message, Sukkafish, Wash Me, and Trampoline, all off their ep The Ouch The Touch. they have a really cool sound- remind me a bit of the dresden dolls with all their craziness. check out http://thegrates.com/ to wander around and listen to their music!
heres a pic:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/jennifek/TheGrates.jpg


omg omg omg omg omg the grates r sooooo awesome. i thought i was the only 1 who luves them!!! im not alone!

[swede]

Swedey, whats your opinion on Sarah McLachlan?

i have one album, she is pretty good, i am about to start listening to another couple actually. i think you would dig her. i know that bee loves sarah mc with a passion, she will be able to tell you more bout her. i think you should give her a whirl :)

[what]

omg omg omg omg omg the grates r sooooo awesome. i thought i was the only 1 who luves them!!! im not alone!
fuck yeah.

[what]

i have one album, she is pretty good, i am about to start listening to another couple actually. i think you would dig her. i know that bee loves sarah mc with a passion, she will be able to tell you more bout her. i think you should give her a whirl :)
OmG!???>!!! my*mum just randomly put on sarah's album afterglow or something! i cant believe i haven't gotten somewhat obsessed yet? its good. i have always liked sarah but not that much. she good ****s. :eek:

[:: katie b ::]

ms mclachlan is the bomb. surfacing is a great album - building a mystery kicks ass.

afterglow is good - esp. fallen and stupid.

buy it ppl's, or rot in hell. :)

[Hinny]

Last night I downloaded Sarah covering Gloomy Sunday (aka The Hungarian suicide song). Haunting. Highly recommended.

[swede]

today i finally went out and i bought dave matthews band - live at red rocks, and frig i love it to death. i couldnt decide between that album and dream theater's latest release "octavarium" and well, so i bought them both, ill listen to octavarium on my drive to my nanna's i heard the first song and it was decent, pretty good actually :)

also hinny, can you send me that cover please when we are on msn next? that would be awesome

[Angel]

Last night I downloaded Sarah covering Gloomy Sunday (aka The Hungarian suicide song). Haunting. Highly recommended.
Sarah Brightman did a fantastic version of that song.

Have a few artist links, all great stuff here:

Gilli Moon (http://www.gilli.net/) - A very groovy alternative pop artist. Well worth the listen.

Amy Vee & The Virtues (http://www.amyvee.com/) - Most of ye missy fans may hook on to this lass.

Lambretta (http://www.lambrettamusic.com/) - Swedish Rock Band. some of you may have heard the songs 'Bimbo' & 'Creep'

Mortiis (http://www.mortiis.com/) - Now this guy is interesting. Ex bassist to metal band Emperor who began creating ambient music, then moved on to Darkwave/EBM sort of stuff, now into Industrial music.

Shell Lee (http://www.shell-lee.com/) - Give her a shot. Great song writer.

That will do for now laddies and lassies...

[:: katie b ::]

Last night I downloaded Sarah covering Gloomy Sunday (aka The Hungarian suicide song). Haunting. Highly recommended.

my dad's hungarian....

[JOLENE]

umm not sure if anyone has mentioned him before, too many pages to read through

but gavin mcgraw is amazing. i think anyone who loves missy will love him too (unless of course you only love missy for her body :D ) .. anyway I think she was opening act for him while over in america .. i think

hang on i totally have the wrong name here. . ooh its Gavin degraw lol .. makes a difference when you search on yahoo for him!!

Anyway go here www.gavindegraw.com to check him out and see what you think.

[Tribal_Drummer]

everyone needs to hear this album...

Emiliana Torrini - 'Fisherman's Woman'

http://www.alwaysontherun.net/emiliana2.jpg

if i wasnt so tired i would explain why... but damn, so fucking beautiful.

[what]

TRIBAL!!! I LOVE YOU!!
haha. emiliana torrini really is da bomb, homies.
she has a concert on fabchannel.com
i told someone about it and they were bored though.

[maiizhigh]

umm not sure if anyone has mentioned him before, too many pages to read through

but gavin mcgraw is amazing. i think anyone who loves missy will love him too (unless of course you only love missy for her body :D ) .. anyway I think she was opening act for him while over in america .. i think

hang on i totally have the wrong name here. . ooh its Gavin degraw lol .. makes a difference when you search on yahoo for him!!

Anyway go here www.gavindegraw.com to check him out and see what you think.

i stumbled across him one afternoon late last year while wagging school with my friends in favor of a picnic of fresh fruit on the grass in the middle of anywhere, he was playing a free concert at fed square. he was really nice, invited us along to another one of his gigs.. i couldnt go though :(

[kerrysan]

Down There At The Pawn Shop!

[surething]

so Mr. Swede did u listern to the Ricki Lee Jones song ??? what did u think AND did u ever listern to the Queen Adreena tune ?????

[swede]

most likely, but dont remember it

[surething]

great

[swede]

ill go and listen to it now again

[swede]

ok, i already knew the ricki lee jones song, whats the queen adrena song called cause im struggling to find it

[surething]

well i was supriced when u said u hadn't heard of her.

i think the QA song was "I adore you.

can't belive u sometimes !! u give me such a hard time if i dont listern to stuff u send me, but when the shoes on the other foot !!!!!!!!

later xx i'm off to play with SENROCK

[swede]

i had heard them, i had just forgotten them.

listening to the other now, ill come n join u guys in a moment

[surething]

so how was QA, i thought u would like em coz she has a good voice and alot of their stuff is slower then that one but they have that gitar thing going on to !!!

[swede]

yes it wasnt a bad tune that one, thanks V

[Choppy]

Liz Costello is awsome!

[surething]

Here's one you may not know ! Mark Mulcahy - fathering !

[Tribal_Drummer]

Dom & Kasper

http://www.mp3.com.au/img/artist/Dom%20and%20Kasper_RESIZED.jpg

http://www.mp3.com.au/artist.asp?id=21609


Artist Description

Asking Dom and Kasper to describe their music is an impossible task: short of reeling off a genre list including folk, indie, reggae, blues and funk, the best description they can give is a broad grin and ‘acoustic roots’. Dom Cooley is a versatile musician whose songs range from grooving reggae rhythms to emotional ballads, and his own distinctive musical style is laced with diverse influences of Ani di Franco, Bob Dylan, Damien Rice, Bob Marley and Ben Harper. Dom generally brings the more laid back side to things, whilst Kasper “brings the funk” as it were. With his main influences being Sly and the Family Stone, James brown, anything Motown and generally grooving, which makes for a great mix.

After several years of song-writing and becoming fairly well known on the Brisbane roots music circuit as a more vocal audience member, Dom made the move to the other side of the microphone in August 2004, supporting Loren at Milton’s Alley Bar. He has since become a regular favourite at the Alley Bar, as well as Brisbane’s Verve Café Bar and Fortitude Valley’s Troubadour.

When Dom first started playing regular gigs around Brisbane, he enlisted the help of local drummer and percussionist Kasper Skou. Dom and Kasper are popular supports in Brisbane and beyond, and have supported Loren (QLD), Mick Hart and his side project Monkeyboy, Nathan Kaye (QLD) and Marcus Bancroft. Recent gigs include Verve Café Bar, Upfront Club, Maleny QLD, Byron Bay’s Great Northern and Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel, NSW. Dom and Kasper also ventured on a short tour to Perth, which included a support spot with Carus and the True Believers at Fremantle’s Norfolk Hotel.

The duo are in the process of recording several studio tracks for release later in the year, and have extensive touring planned for this year: February and March see Dom and Kasper teaming up with friends Mick Hart and Angus Diggs for Monkeyboy’s New South Wales tour, and there are plans for tours of Western Australia with Nathan Kaye and Perth-based band Toby and Code Red later this year.

Between them, Dom and Kasper create an amazing stage presence, which draws in and ignites an audience. Captivating lyrics, amazing vocal talent and uplifting beats ensure that their popularity will continue to rise.

[Cactus]

Hey,

I read about half the posts. Saw that Mia Dyson was mentioned! She's an absolute genius!
Glad to see Ash Grunwald mentioned aswell. He's wicked. I have 2 CD's, one live and one not. The studio recorded CD doesn't even begin to do him justice! The Dolphin song is the best live! Saw him at Falls and Blues n Roots.

Umm have I already posted here?

How bout Holly Throsby? She's great. Album I have is called 'On Night'. Its mostly just ehr and the Guitar. Beautiful, soft, dreamy voice. I guess it's kind of Folk.

Josh Rouse - Dont actually know much about him. But love his music. Think he's american. Ah I cant really classify it in a category. Its really great though.

Jeff Lang - Bluesy
just bought his album 2 days ago. It's great.

GO THE WAIFS, Ben Harper, Xavier Rudd, Beautiful Girls, Ma Dyson, Damien Rice, Ryan Adams, Radioead..

Cactus

[what]

me and ksan dig holly throsby.
yes.

[Hinny]

Hols is nice. Can't really think of another word to describe her.

[Fredina]

Did u go c Jeff Lang on Sunday cactus?

[Hinny]

I love the way Bernard Zuel from the SMH writes his reviews.

Exhibit A: Inga Liljestrom

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/07/27/ingawhitest_wideweb__430x274.jpg
All that jazz ... Inga Lijestrom hasn't always ploughed the terrain inhabited by Portishead and Bjork

Space-age singer moves on
July 28, 2005
Inga Liljestrom has been to Hellgrind and back, writes Bernard Zuel.

Brace yourself before reading on. One critic described Inga Liljestrom's music as "complex, multilayered, richly orchestrated songs [which] merge a neo-jazz sensibility with crisp Scandinavian-inspired minimalist lyricism, and evoke an intimate world, simultaneously cinematic in scope and dripping with potent audio-visual symbolism."

If that means absolutely nothing, don't worry, you are not alone. Hearing this read to her, Liljestrom is flummoxed. "That might describe my music; it might just fill it up," she says. "It would be nice maybe to leave some space for someone to interpret it for themselves."

Space is something there is plenty of in Liljestrom's music. Slow and heavily atmospheric (it could be the soundtrack to a moody film noir), the songs on her recent album Elk conjure all sorts of images. And assumptions. Which may explain why so many people are certain they "know" Liljestrom.

With a name and music like that she's clearly an ice queen (she's actually dark of hair and eye); as it's obvious from the album title she's from the cold far north (close, but more like Bellingen than Bergen); and she must be some gloomy minimalist singer living in a garret (she works in a futon shop in Newtown and laughs often).

What's more, she hasn't always ploughed this territory so recently inhabited by the likes of Portishead, early Goldfrapp and, in some ways, Bjork.

Liljestrom began singing jazz standards, falling in love with Billie Holiday, and studied jazz for four years. But after a move to Sydney she took up with the film composer Felicity Fox and they formed Hellgrind, an abrasive art-rock outfit equal parts Led Zeppelin and Tori Amos whose two leads often performed in wigs and '50s swimsuits and aimed to startle the eyes and gut as much as the ears.

"Did we scare you?" she chuckles. "We were scaring ourselves at that stage. For me it was quite difficult to sing over and be heard so I was longing to sing more sensitive music."

The answer was a home-recorded album called Urchin, which was never formally released, and finally Elk, which was rapturously received last year as it began to filter through both the alternative scenes and the broader world. She even played a gig at the Opera House, something Hellgrind never quite pulled off.

Not that Liljestrom has become Delta Goodrem. Her next show will take up some of the themes of the Opera House performance, which was called Audio-Noir. Along with film footage playing in the background, there will be flamenco dancers and "a lady doing some aerial work".

Trapeze and "neo-jazz sensibility with crisp Scandinavian-inspired minimalist lyricism". Should be a hoot.

Inga Liljestrom plays at @Newtown on August 24. Her track All Of This can be heard on the free jazz CD sydneyjazz in the Herald on Saturday.

[Hinny]

Exhibit B: Sigur Ros
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/07/29/sigurros_wideweb__430x206.jpg

Sigur Ros ... (from left) Kjartan Sveinsson, Orri Pall Dyrason, Jon Thor Birgisson and Georg Holm.

Weather or not, they're cool
By Bernard Zuel
July 30, 2005

Critics may struggle to describe the music of Sigur Ros, but they know talent when they hear it.

In Iceland, the people are short, wear furry hats over their pointy ears and talk in a thick accent not unlike that of a Cornish farmer. Breakfast is penguin, lunch is herring and dinner is penguin stuffed with herring. They don't drink anything but hooch and they definitely don't laugh.

Of course, it's not true, though the music of the Icelandic band Sigur Ros might lead you to imagine it thus. It is all vast musical vistas of plunging guitars, beds of synths and electronic rhythms, with the keening voice of singer Jon Thor Birgisson coming across like a lost child in an empty field. Something like the moon crossed with one of those documentaries about the Arctic. Reviewers have been known to waffle on about how such and such a song is like the crunch of icebergs running into each other, or barren landscapes being caressed by sweeping winds.

Mock all you like, but you try talking about music made by a band whose last album comprised eight untitled tracks and was known as a whole as ( ) after its artwork. A band whose lyrics are not even in Icelandic but in a language of sorts made up by Birgisson called Hopelandish. A band whose bass player, Georg Holm, is almost gnomic in his answers.

Holm speaks in a clipped accent that is almost parody and he is polite enough. But when asked, for example, whether the image we have of Iceland from the music of Sigur Ros would be an accurate one, he says: "I don't know; it's hard to say. It could be something the four of us would be the last people to know. It's not something we think about."

Birgisson has been similarly oblique when asked about the language of his lyrics and even the spirituality some people feel is evoked in the music. "When I am writing, Georg makes a bass line and I make a melody with my voice, without lyrics, although it sounds like words later," Birgisson told a Spanish magazine. "I mean, we don't sit down and start scribbling words in Hopelandish. In fact, Hopeland doesn't exist and neither does its language. We called it that way after our song Von ['hope'] and it became a snowball after that.

"Do you find our music spiritual? Then it is spiritual. It is a little complicated for us to talk about this issue. There are people who interpret our music in that way. Other people feel deeply sad and they cry. People can even start laughing hysterically."

Well, that clears things up, doesn't it? But then, that indefinable element is one of the attractions of Sigur Ros. After all, you don't always have to have things explained; what it evokes in you is what matters.

"That was the concept with the last album: to let people make up their own minds about what it was about, experience it by themselves," Holm says.

"We provide the colours and the frame and you paint the pictures, in a way. But with the new album we're filling inside the frame, as well."

Will Sigur Ros heard live be vastly different from what we hear on record, then?

"I think we like to [be] slightly different because we'd be bored. A lot of things we do on record are hard to reproduce."

Unless they bring along a lot of equipment and a lot of people, and maybe David Attenborough to explain it all.

"We will be bringing a lot of equipment," Holm confirms. "But only a few more people."

Keeping the numbers down matters to Holm. He suffers from demophobia, a fear of being crowded in by people.

"When I have space to breathe, it's fine," he says.

If we meet him, should we stand back and give him some room?

"No, it's fine."

Sigur Ros perform at the Enmore Theatre on Thursday at 7pm.

[swede]

interesting stuff mate, cheers