One of last year’s must under-rated album was Peter Bjorn and Johns Living Thing. Coming off the success of their breakthrough album Writer’s Block they made sure to alienate as many people as possible by throwing out the warm sound of that output and instead land in a colder, more detached and minimalistic landscape. On Living Thing the band steered away from easy to digest melodies of Writers Block favorites like Paris 2004 and Young Folks.
I struggled with that change at first but eventually grew to like their new sound as the songs started to settle, and even though there is a coldness creeping around, the band never forgot how to be blue eyed romantics (I Want You!), funny (Living Thing) and deliver of the most amazing pop anthems of 2009 (Nothing To Worry About). Peter Bjorn and John have always walked their own way and there is a lot to be said for that. In this video by Amsterdam Acoustics they turn It Don’t Move Me into a celebration of musical creativity aided by what must be one of the coolest pianos on the planet.
Below are two other noteworthy video from the people at Amsterdam Acoustics, one where one of my true artistic role models, Erlend Øye plays on an Amsterdam tram, displaying some of the cities stunning beauty when the weather is good (I forgot the weather could be good here!) and a beautifully toned down and melancholic version of Passion Pits normally over the top The Reeling. Thanks to Katharina and Antoinette for opening my eyes to these recordings.
2009 came and went like all years do, with a volcano of music washing over us in all kind of formats. I lost track for a while, went back, got tired of the new, sat long night listening to 2 Pac and wanting time to stop so I could catch up. But the time when you actually could keep up is long gone, there is not enough time for anyone to keep track of all those great tunes that crawl around the internet waiting for some hungry ears to explode into. This is not a list, just some comments on things I paid attention to at some point. I was suppose to make it better and longer but ran out of steam.
Best song title The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – This Love Is Fucking Right. Sweet indie pop that combines Belle & Sebastian cuteness with Jesus and Mary Chain distortion. It turns out sounding like a cheerful in love version of Swedish pop masters The Radio Dept.
Best falling in love song based on a European capital Camera Obscura – French Navy 2009 was the year that this Scottish outfit finally got the recognition they deserved, and with an album like this My Maudlin Career it was always going to be impossible for them to stay under the radar. Makes you want to book a trip to Paris even if it is on a Eurolines bus.
Best White Funk Whitest Boy Alive – 1517 It was early in the year when they played in a cold Berlin in front of a functionally dressed Berlin hipster crowd (see video above). The music was warm as a thick Norwegian sweater and the funk was whiter than Nordic milk.
Best lets turn everything into maximum Passion Pit – Moth's Wings This band annoyed many this past year. It is not difficult to understand why. With a high pitch voice and 1000 kilos of emotions in each song it takes its toll on the ears. But while Passion Pit became unbearable in the album format they occasionally got things right. This song, with its twisted electro chorus and confetti sound, did bring plety of smiles to my face.
Best British darkness epic pop White Lies – E.S.T. Having been dominated by Editors the past years, this year brought another black and white loving band when White Lies burst through with this magnificent heavy song with a chorus that is lethal in case you happen to hear it while jogging. Great Joy Division throwback. No idea how the rest of the album sounds like.
Greatest pop number Atlas Sound – Walkabout (feat. Noah Lennox) / Girls – Lust For Life I’m not even gonna write anything about these songs cause they are both so epic, and both define all that is good with a pop single that you just will have to listen yourself. I don’t believe that there are musts in life but if I would believe in it, I would tell you that you have to listen to these songs. You must listen to these songs. See, now I said it.
Between the 24th of February and 1st of March The Noise Pop festival is hosting shows in San Francisco. The Airport Line has picked out some bands which you might want to see in case you happen to be in the city during these days.
Ra Ra Riot - Made one of the best cds of last year, popmusic in the same vain as The Shins, Cut Copy and New Pornographers, very nice indeed. http://www.myspace.com/rarariot For a free download of the remix of their song Ghost Under Rocks made by Passion Pit, go here: http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/new-ra-ra-riot-ghost-under-rocks-passion-pit-remix_048181.html
St. Vincent - Arty singer with a very unique style, a bit similar to Regina Spektor with a mean guitarr, her song Marry Me is really sweet, an artist for people looking for creative female role models. Some of her stuff is a bit too much out there for my taste, but I am but a conservative Swede. http://www.myspace.com/stvincent
French Kicks - Their album Swimming is a bit weirdly produced, but the song Love In The Ruins is fantastic with it's Jens Lekman banjo and melancolic dreamy feeling. http://www.myspace.com/frenchkicks
Antony And The Johnsons - Seems a bit expensive, but given that he has maybe the most unique and powerful voices in modern pop history, it might be a concert to look into. A truly unique artist that some people hate, some call pretentious, but most people love, and probably cry to when they are alone. http://www.myspace.com/antonyandthejohnsons Here he plays his most famous song Hope There's Someone:
