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Friday, January 29, 2010

Star Pilots - I'm Alive


"I will walk the walk of life forever young"

Straight-up cheeseball dance for you today because, well... it's a Friday, and it's been a long day! Sweden's Star Pilots are coming off of a string of three fantastically overblown clubpop singles and now, after many months of waiting, we get to hear something new. As of now, I've gotta say this is the weakest of their singles. It's definitely got that huge Star Pilots sound, but the melody this time around is a bit lacking. And, let's face it, when it comes to cheesy pop music like this, the melody is key. Otherwise it ends up sounding far too much like everything else. Putting my quibbles aside, though, I still love this group's go-for-the-jugular, overblown sound. No one's going to accuse them of spectacular artistry, but that's not what this is about. This is about big for big's sake. Higher choruses, faster beats and a sense that you can do anything, even if it is only for a couple of minutes.

Star Pilots - I'm Alive by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their old single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Pony The Pirate - Psychopedia


"There's a thought, I don't think about it"

A brief sidestep from Sweden to Norway and yet another brilliant new band. Like Ginger Ninja, I'm not loving the band name, but I'm willing to look past that when the music's this strong. Pony The Pirate sound like Superfamily mixed with Royworld (remember them?) mixed with The Polyphonic Spree (remember them???). They have an enormous sound, due mostly to their 8 members, with bombast to spare. There's a strong choral element, sometimes to such an extent that the music feels like it's going to burst out of its confined space. They're finding great success in Norway now with their single Sing, but I like this--the opening track--even better. It's their best melody and has an energy to it that's impossible to ignore. There's so much stuffed into just under three minutes that it threatens to devolve into chaos. Luckily, the song's single-minded enough to contain it.

Pony The Pirate - Psychopedia by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

O'Spada - Time


"Try and tie me to the ground"

I am really stuck in Sweden lately. It's no surprise, of course. They are consistently the number one producer of good music, and lately there have been a ton of great new bands emerging from the country. O'Spada have released a couple of singles, this one being their first, in anticipation of an album later this Spring. They have an insanely funky sound, sort of like Prince if Prince was a girl (big stretch, I know). Back to the 80's, for sure, but an 80's genre that hasn't been as explored in the past few years as others. This track, in particular, has larger-than-life synths and a ridiculously catchy vocal flourish throughout the verses. It's just immense, and the kind of song that's impossible to forget once you've heard it. It's perfect for the Springtime. Just pure, feel good music. Singer Julie Spada is a real discovery, especially as she ramps up towards the end. Screw Duffy and Adele and all those overrated female belters. This is where it's at.

O'Spada - Time by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the singles here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Dyno - Above And Beyond


"You've gotta move and go beyond her"

I've got something very exciting for you all today. Sweden's Dyno are THE band to watch in 2010, mark my words. The guys have been kind enough to let me hear what they're working on, and I can safely say that they are creating the best debut album I've heard in quite some time. No joke. If you liked the EP, you've going to love the album. I've got an exclusive stream of one of the tracks today, the downright perfect Above & Beyond. The song begins as a moody electro ballad before segueing into a rapid-fire dance track with a chorus to die for. These guys know how to write big melodies. They're the kind of band where every track could be a single. Longtime readers of this blog know that there's a specific brand of pop music that I consider the best of the best. This ticks all the boxes and then some. Those lamenting the demise of the UK's Daggers (ie: me) need to check out these guys NOW. They're managed by the same people as Erik Hassle, and we all know how that turned out. 2010 is the year of Dyno. Remember where you heard it first.

Dyno - Above And Beyond by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to more here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Monday, January 25, 2010

Ola Joyce - Window Shopping


"You should be a model or the mistress of a politician"

I've been wanting to share this song for so long now, but haven't been able to find a HQ version to stream. This still isn't 100% there, but it's pretty close. Regardless, Window Shopping needs to be heard. Ola Joyce is a new Swedish singer-songwriter with influences that range from Rufus Wainwright to Prince to (in this song) Duran Duran. This is his debut single and the funkiest thing I've heard from him so far. An album is on the horizon, but for now we'll have to do with an EP (which, frustratingly, isn't available to buy outside of Sweden). While Window Shopping is undoubtedly the standout of the EP, with it's breezy synth-assisted pop smarts, there's another song he's been performing recently (Old Fashioned Heartbreak) which sounds just as good (and more importantly for him, like a smash hit). Definitely an artist to keep an eye on. I have a feeling Sweden's about to fall in love with him.

Ola Joyce - Window Shopping by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to more here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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