Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s just that I glimpsed something beautiful in a flashbulb moment once, and perhaps mistaking it for prophecy have been seeking its fulfillment ever since.
- Lester Bangs
I am sad and disappointed in myself for having written this band off as a fluke after their huge hit 'Lovefool'...that super catchy ditty from the Romeo And Juliet Soundtrack.
I was SO wrong. So much substance here. Nina Persson and company have put out a handful of great records since then...'Turismo' and 'Super Extra Gravity' are especially nice.
Here is my all time favorite Cardigans track...dig the words:
The Cardigans 'I need Some Fine Wine, And You Need To Be Nicer'
I hereby bestow the great honor of 'Swedish artist of the week' to Dungen(pronounced Dun yen) this time around. They are probably the only Swedish in my collection that sings EXCLUSIVELY in Swedish. Usually I am a lyrics guy, drawn to the words moreso than the music...but I have no idea what is being sung here, but I love it. Love both albums I have in fact...and loved both times I saw them live...sometimes. ignorance really is bliss.
Most people, when talking about wanting to go to Europe mention Paris, London, Venice, Madrid maybe...I want to to to Stockholm. Or maybe Zürich. There has to be studies done to see how a country the size of Texas puts out such a disproportionate amount of amazing music...anyone want to sponsor my research? Please drop me line if you are a rich and insane philanthropist...thanks in advance.
This week I will immortalize the Swedish band Mando Diao in blog form. FUN FACT: The band name means nothing, it apparently came to band member Björn Dixgård in a dream...who says musicians are flaky?
Here is a cool live clip of my favorite MD song, 'God Knows'
Yes...there ARE that many great artists in Sweden. I assure you, I will run out of weeks before I run out of good Swedish born music. I unofficially launched this new feature last week with my nod to Jens Lekman. But this...this is really the coming out party for 'Swedish Artist Of The Week'
And the honor of being first goes to Nicolai Dunger...a great singer/songwriter from Pitea, Sweden. He has already released 11 albums and EP's....this one is from my favorite, 'Here's My Song You Can Have It...'
...or my email is anyway! Hey, it's me Blair...the Certain Songs staff of one. I just do this for the love of the music and am in no way trying to rip anybody off, so if you are an artist or a record label and you are not happy that I am promoting your music, or you want me to take a song down, just shoot me an email and I will most definitely oblige.
And please support the artists I post here in whatever way you can if you do download a song...go to a show, buy some merch, buy an album...these songs are the soundtrack to my life and I just love to share them. But I can only do that if the insanely talented artist responsible for said songs are able to eat.
I also love hearing new stuff...so any submissions can also be sent to my email, I will try my bestest to listen to everything and get back to you all...peace,love,rock n' roll.
csmusicblog@gmail.com
Monthly Mix Tape
Mission Statement
I guess you're old enough to know. Kids out on the east coast. Roughly twenty years old. Got coaxed out by a certain perfect ratio. Of warm beer to the summer smoke. And the meat loaf to the billy joel. Certain songs they get so scratched into our souls.
She goes low on the seats when she gets high in her car. She looks shallow but shes neck deep in the steamy dreams of the guys along the harbor bars. She's pulling out her shirttails and jacking up her socks. Stern and stoned and confident, coming up towards the jukebox. Born into the only songs that everybody finally sings along. B-1 is for the good girls. It's only the good die young. C-9 is for the making eyes. It's paradise by the dashboard light. D4 is for the lovers. B12 is for the speeders. And the hard drugs are for the bartenders and the kitchen workers and the bartender's friends. And they're playing it again. Ellen Foley gives us hope. Certain songs they get scratched into our souls.
I guess you're old enough to know. Kids out on the west coast are taking off their clothes. Screwing in the surf and going out to shows. They get high and ride around in gtos. I guess you're old enough to know. CERTAIN SONGS THEY GET SCRATCHED INTO OUR SOULS. - The Hold Steady
