Even though I like most my rap urban (read Jay-Z, Nas, Kanye West), wicked (Lil Wayne, Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A.) or minimalist (Clipse, Pharrell) there is also room for some old school stuff in airportlines playlist. So tonight me and my French associate are putting on the same clothes as everyday to roll down to Paradiso and the sold out concert with CunninLynguists, the Kentucky underground (debatable) rappers with a smell of grits, a distaste for bling and a love for weed. Amsterdam seems to be the perfect venue for this eclectic group that sample everything that sound old and souly. Expectations are high, get it, high, ok, sorry.
Then I will bike home and listen to the fabulous new album by the literary pop nerds in Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career which recently was hyped in a Pitchfork review so maybe it's finally time for this wounderful pop orchestra, who inspired me to name one of my first short stories Books Written For Girls after the title of one of their songs, to finally reach a bigger audience.
Maybe you thought that Peter Bjorn And John were a one hit whistling wonder. Well, I forgive you for thinking so, but you were always wrong. The Swedish three pieced orchestra is getting ready to hit back after their monumental album Writers Block, and they're doing it sounding like Lykke Li's Breaking It Up (Bjorn produced her debut album Youth Novels, so you should not be that surprised) mashed up with Teddybears Stockholm. The two first tastes from their forthcoming album shows that they've clearly lost their mind, in the same good way as M.I.A.s clothing always did. The videos for Nothing To Worry About (above, containing Japanese Rockabilly gangsters in black doing choreographed dancing) and Lay It Down (containing ironic dancing with face masks in basement party) shows that the band still have a killer sense for what is contemporary (funny videos on youtube) and still know how to put together a pop song, with Nothing To Worry About being especially impressive with it's big beat and fuck you attitude, not so common in Sweden (excluding big mouthed The Hives).
On the 26th of March they grace Amsterdam and Melkweg with a visit, I've got tickets, you should come too. Last time I saw them here, fall of 2006 in Paradiso's small hall the base player seemed stoned and talked about Skellefteå AIK, a Swedish hockey team, in Swedish.
Later in the week I will write about Brussels and yell at corporate leaders and their lack of communication understanding. It will be great.
