torsdag 6. november 2014

Patty Loveless - You Don't Even Know Who I Am

Sometimes country songs are the simplest yet wisest songs of any. There's nothing spectacular or even very dramatic about Patty Loveless' 1995 hit "You Don't Even Know Who I Am" (from the 1994 album When Fallen Angels Fly), but it's a totally unpretentious song about a married couple that has long since fallen out of love with each other, sung from both points of view. It doesn't exactly hurt that it's a very pretty song too, a great ballad sung by Loveless in her amazing voice. This is classic country music.

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Crosby, Stills & Nash - Carried Away

"Carried Away" is a beautiful piano ballad written by Graham Nash for the 1977 Crosby, Stills & Nash album CSN. It's a short, reflective meditation on the elusivesness of life itself, with some gorgeous harmonies to back it up. Simply a stunning song.

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Bryan Ferry - Soldier Of Fortune

November 17 sees the release of Avonmore, Bryan Ferry's first album of new songs since 2010's Olympia. The 10 track album includes the recent Todd Terje collaboration where Ferry did a guest spot on a take on the Robert Palmer classic "Johnny & Mary", and of course also recent single "Loop De Li". Now a third track from the album appears called "Soldier Of Fortune", a slow-moving, lovely ballad on which Johnny Marr turns up with a beautiful acoustic guitar pattern. Mark Knopfler also appears on the album, as well as Flea, Nile Rodgers, Ronnie Spector and others. I think we may be on for a real treat with Avonmore. Let me also mention that I saw Ferry perform live in Oslo less than two weeks ago, a great show featuring lots of Roxy Music stuff and some of his very best solo tracks. Ferry is 69 years old, still sounding like he's in his prime.

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tirsdag 4. november 2014

Chvrches - Dead Air

Oh joy! Scottish electronica trio returns with a brand new track commisioned for the new Hunger Games movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1. "Dead Air" is once again a beautiful pop song fronted by Lauren Mayberry's astounding voice that somehow manages to sound chilly and ethereal and genuinely warm at the same time. Is Chvrches the best current synth-pop band? I think so.

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Listen to the new Röyksopp album in its entirety now

Norwegian electronica duo Röyksopp claim that the album The Inevitable End will be their last. They will still record music, but not focus on the traditional album format. Of course it remains to be seen if that will actually be the case, but with the new album title they certainly lay down a good foundation for the claim. Anyway, the album is released on Monday, but can be streamed in its entirety on Spotify starting today.

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mandag 3. november 2014

Music To Make You Smile - mørketidsspesial

I've compiled a new playlist for Norwegian streaming service WiMP, featuring 100 songs that should make you smile. It helps during the winter months, trust me. Below is the text I wrote in Norwegian (Hello, Google Translate!) and of course a link to the actual music.
Mørketid, schmørketid... Høstmørket er her, og snart er det enda dypere vintermørket over oss. Det betyr ikke at vi bare trenger å fyre opp i peisen, åpne rødvinsflaska og mure oss inne med dystre og melankolske låter med for øvrig utmerkede artister som Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell eller Nick Cave. Vi går like gjerne i motsatt retning.
De siste tre årene har jeg lagt ut temalisten Music To Make You Smile på forsommeren for å feire den lyse, fine tida - med til dels florlett, happy feelgoodmusikk. Men så slo det meg at det kanskje er nå vi trenger noen musikalske lykkepiller for å holde den kalde, fine tida på en armlengdes avstand. Det hender jo at det er litt OK.
Av de 100 låtene på lista er de aller fleste udiskutable feelgoodlåter, men jeg har også lagt inn noen få sanger som er mer melankolske og dvelende - og triste. Det disse likevel har felles er at de er såpass positive og oppstemte at de fortjener en plass her. Så hvis du stusser over at Lars Beckstrøm synger om bekjente som dør i "Drøm" eller at fortellerstemmen i Fountain Of Waynes vakre "Hackensack" låter litt sørgmodig når han synger til barndomskjæresten, er det altså en tanke bak.
Nok om det. Nå er det bare å skru på musikken og la solskinnet falle inn i øregangene dine. Her er mer enn seks timer med udiskutabel glede i Music To Make You Smile-redaksjonens eksklusive "mørketidsspesial". Kos deg!
Listen (WiMP)

Spotify

Listen to the new Rumer album in its entirety now

Rumer's brand new album, Into Colour, is released next Monday, but you can stream it through the Guardian website starting today. This is her second collection of original songs, following debut album Seasons Of My Soul (2010) and the covers collection Boys Don't Cry (2012). The singer whose voice has been likened to that of Karen Carpenter has a very good ear for intoxicating melodies, and it's just so good to have her back.

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søndag 2. november 2014

Jim Stärk - Morning Song

Norwegian pop band Jim Stärk is a vehicle for singer/songwriter Einar Stokke Fadnes. His ability to write exceptional pop hooks can be heard in "Morning Song", lifted from Morning Songs, a 2004 release that apparently is the best selling EP in Norwegian history. That particular EP is also worth listening to due to an awesome cover of Townes Van Zandt's "Like A Summer Thursday" that I think exceeds the original. But for now, here's "Morning Song".

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Bee Gees - You Win Again

What a lovely song! Then again, it's Bee Gees, so why shouldn't it be? The brothers Gibb always had a knack for wonderful melodies, and those harmonies are almost unequalled in pop music. To some the production of their 1987 hit "You Win Again" may seem dated, but I have to say I love it.

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lørdag 1. november 2014

The 50 best songs of the 1950's

Well, the madness finally continues, but has been decimated. A friend of mine pointed out that he would look like a poseur if he compiled a list of 100 songs by different acts from the 1950's, and the same goes for me. 50 songs on the other hand is no problem, so here you go, playlist in WiMP and all. Enjoy the feast!

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1. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
2. Peggy Lee - Fever
3. The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
4. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me
5. Elvis Presley - That's All Right
6. Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line
7. Sam Cooke - My Foolish Heart
8. Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues
9. Little Richard - Lucille
10. The Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
11. Buddy Holly - Rave On
12. Jacques Brel - Ne me quitte pas
13. Dion And The Belmonts - A Teenager In Love
14. Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea
15. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps - Be-Bop-A-Lula
16. Marty Robbins - El Paso
17. Ray Charles - What'd I Say (Parts 1 & 2)
18. Jesse Belvin - Goodnight My Love
19. Erroll Garner - Misty
20. Dinah Washington - Mad About The Boy
21. Louis Armstrong - La Vie En Rose
22. Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire
23. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put A Spell On You
24. Louis Prima - Buena Sera
25. Bill Haley & His Comets - (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock
26. Miles Davis - So What
27. Hank Williams - Hey Good Lookin'
28. Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes
29. Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love?
30. Frank Sinatra - You Make Me Feel So Young
31. Chubby Checker - Let's Twist Again
32. Sidney Bechet - Dans les rues d'Antibes
33. Tennessee Ernie Ford - Sixteen Tons
34. Bob Grabeau/Disney Choir - Bella Notte
35. Little Anhony & The Imperials - Tears On My Pillow
36. Nat King Cole - Autumn Leaves
37. George Jones - White Lightning
38. Richie Valens - Come On, Let's Go
39. Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser
40. Roy Orbison - Ooby Dooby
41. Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight
42. The Isley Brothers - Shout (Parts 1 & 2)
43. The Platters - Only You (And You Alone)
44. Dean Martin - That's Amore
45. John Coltrane - Blue Train
46. Harry Belafonte - The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
47. Barbara Pittman - I Need A Man
48. The Champs - Tequila
49. Mitch Miller - Theme From The River Kwai - Colonel Bogey
50. The Five Satins - In The Still Of The Night