SHA-BOOM - MY HOME TOWN

"Time after time I've been running around"

Sometimes you just have to give into the cheese. I mean, look at the cover of this cd! Another Swedish bargain bin find, from what I can tell (and I didn't really care to delve any further) Sha-boom is a Swedish artist with some sort of late 80's back catalogue (I'm assuming this because The Race Is On is billed as his comeback cd). Correct me if I'm wrong Sha-boom fans (if there are any of you out there?). Anyways, the cd is advertised as heavy metal but it's more along the lines of Per-fronted Roxette mixed with Bon Jovi. The majority of the cd is pretty dumb but this song is incredibly catchy. One listen and I promise it will be lodged in your brain.

Sha-boom - My Home Town

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists!)

You may have to dig for it, but there is good music in the States as well!

Here, for you all, is a selection of great electo-pop/rock just now emerging from the US. String these four songs together and you have a great soundtrack to a summer evening.

THE HOURLY RADIO - CRIME DOES PAY

"Please turn away when I'm looking at you"

Here's hoping this band can find success stateside. This song sounds like something straight out of the eighties which means, of course, that it's fantastic. It's such a simple song and so incredibly catchy.

The Hourly Radio - Crime Does Pay

STEFY - CHELSEA

"She called me when you were kissin' so I could hear what I was missin'"

Imagine my surprise to see commercials on MTV promoting an eighties inspired electro-rock band! Of course, it's buried between rap and r&b promos, but it's still there. Stefy's debut album comes out in late August and this song is featured on the soundtrack to John Tucker Must Die (a sentiment I have to agree with). Great summer track. It sounds like Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" in the intro. Stupid band name, though.

Stefy - Chelsea

GOAT EXPLOSION - COME ON MAKE ME FEEL

"Let's set this house on fire tonight"

Those of you that downloaded the Elkland track awhile back will enjoy this one. Sadly, Elkland disbanded, but the lead singer Jon reunited with an old collaborator to form Goat Explosion. Luckily for us, the music is quite similar to his work with Elkland. There's a gorgeous synth line running through this song.

Goat Explosion - Come On Make Me Feel

ROCK KILLS KID - PARALYZED

"This feels like another dream"

This song reminds me of Keane mixed with the Killers. So, of course it's totally good. Their album "Are You Nervous?" is the only one that's been released out of these four bands and from what I've gathered (though I've only been back in the States for a few weeks) they're garnering some success from it.

Rock Kills Kid - Paralyzed

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists!)

Sound the trumpets!! I’m back!

During the past three months, I’ve gotten to live at an English boarding school (as a teacher, not a student), and travel to France, Wales and my ultimate dreamland… Sweden! I saw concerts from the glorious (and #1 in any universe) Ark, the Sounds, Whyte Seeds, Boy Kill Boy, the Feeling, Orson, the Automatic, and about twenty other bands. It was a great time and I officially am in love with Europe. Due in no small part, I’m sure, to the fabulous music that consistently comes out of the continent.

Oh, and speaking of music, how incredibly great to return to new tracks from the Killers (amazing) and Scissor Sisters (probably the best thing I’ve heard this year and completely worth the wait). September is going to be ridiculously cool with new albums from SS, Janet, Justin, Melody Club (not really new but a compilation album in the States, at least) and the Killers (well…Oct. 3rd, but close enough). Robbie’s comes out late September too, right?? It’s all way too exciting!

Check below for the first of my new posts!

UNIVERSAL POPLAB - EXTASY

"Kiss me way too high to care about it"

While in Stockholm, I picked this cd up in a bargain bin. I had heard their single, "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" and I thought it was lyrically clever and musically catchy, so I was curious what the rest of the album sounded like. Turns out, the cd's filled with catchy dance-pop goodness. Think Bodies Without Organs mixed with Le Sport. This song, while probably not my ultimate foavorite, is well suited for the summer. I love the fireworks sound effects!

Universal Poplab - Extasy

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists!)