Hardcore will never die, but you will. New Mogwai album

On february 14.-15. 2011 the new Mogwai album Hardcore will never die, but you will is released. This is their first single Rano Pano

Rano Pano - Mogwai


In august 2010 they released a live film Burning directed by the by hyped Vincent Moon. And ... Vincent Moon is hyped for a reason.

I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead - Mogwai

Happy new year, 2010 is ending. What is the good song or video for ending times?

2010 is ending and new years eve is just a day away.

On a general scale I tend to follow Slovenian philosopher and cultural theorist Slavoj Žižek thoughts on western societies living in end times. I might be stretching it a bit if I use these thoughts as a metaphor for the celebration of new years eve and the music to go with it (if so, I'm preparing a celebration with quite a dystopian starting point).

On the other hand, ending is seldom definitive (set a side your own definitive ending by biological decomposition). Most of the time ending is setting new perspectives. And new perspectives are always (!) good. The new perspectives might be positive or negative, depending on the view point, but they are non the less new perspectives - ranging on a scale from radical creativity to revitalisation.

I'm not sure if I am killing the party not yet begun. So give us your perspective on the perfect song for ending times. It could be a good old classic or brand new - even avantgarde. I, or some one else, might play it tomorrow (or when we are getting fired from our jobs - you know, perspective)

New years eve or not, happy or not, here is a starting point to get your imagination crawling. But Happy New Year and let your party begin!

There is no ending - Arab Strap


Happy New Year - Abba


End times - Eels


It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) R.E.M.


Every party has a winner and a loser - Erland Oye


There is an end - Ronnie Spector


The new year - Azure Ray


Dance me to the end of love - Leonard Cohen

The 20 Worst Songs of 2010

I don't wanna write to much about the 20 worst songs of 2010, because they already did @ the blog section on Village Voice. It's honestly brilliant. List-stuff on blogs usually just are links and no effort. This is not. This is ranting at its finest. You can agree or disagree on the compilation, but one thing is for certain. The Village Voice guy hates these songs.

I can only spoil that Train - Hey, Soul Sister is THE worst song of 2010. Why? Listen to it! Numerous of reasons. One of them: It's pretty much the whitest song to ever have the word "soul" in it, and that includes Death Cab's "Soul Meets Body. Another: Train, you owe us 20 seconds of our lives back, and we owe All-American Rejects a cut of our vast F2K10 riches. And the ukulele. The fuck?

Read the piece on Train and the other 19 worst songs. It's worth it. What are yours?

Lone Pigeons Time Capsule

We are some that deeply miss The Beta Band. But luckily members of The Beta Band have released things on their own or in new constellations (fx The Aliens). One Beta Band member, Mr Lone Pigeon, released quite a lot. And thankfully Domino Records made his complete recordings available in a box with the title Time Capsule. And what a capsule.



A bit of Beta Band


And Pictish Trail doing a Lone Pigeon cover

Azure Ray will be touring Europe and promoting new record

Dream pop duo Azure Ray have abandoned their retirement and released Drawing down the moon. And in the beginning of 2011 they will be touring Europe. Recommended.

Still the best Christmas song

Just so we don't forget those of you who isn't following us on Facebook yet. Please do. But here it is, the best Christmas song. Well, I think is.

Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre

This is an album nothing short of great! I wasn't released in Europe until 2010. So for that reason it is neither on our 2009 or our 2010 Best of year-list. But it should have been on the 2009-list! Definitely! But then again in 2009 I didn't know Timber Timbre. Luckily I do now. So while waiting for my order of the self titled album by Timber Timbre I'll be enjoying these few videos. You should do the same.

Merry Christmas part 1

Christmas-songs is maybe one of the worst genres around. But heres the first of my few favorites!

The Official Indie Laundry Top Ten Albums of the Year 2010!

Finally it´s here.

1. The National - High Violet
2. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
3. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
4. Beach House -Teen Dreams
5. The Black Keys – Brothers
6. Robyn – Body Talk Trilogy
7. David Karsten Daniels & Fight The Big Bull - I mean to live here still
8. Silver Columns - Yes And Dance
9. The Scottish Enlightenment - St. Thomas
10. Broken Bells - Broken Bells

All Indie Laundry bloggers had The National on their list as the only album appearing on all lists. We should also mention Gorillaz, John Grant and Sufjan Stevens as artists that came close to the top ten. Last mentioned didn't make it because both the album 'The Age of Antz' and the EP 'All Delighted People' was nominated. And finally it shoud be mentioned that Malcolm Middleton was nominated for at live album, which is rare (Live in Zürich / Long, dark night)!
So this is what we can agree on liking at Indie Laundry!!!




The last one must be the number one music video without discussion!

Our top 10 for 2010 is on the way, but...

The list you all have been waiting for the past year is on the way. Wuhuu. Yes, you're right, it is of course the Indie Laundry Best of 2010, which probably has left you excited out of your mind the last few weeks (sleepless, drinking to much, unable to work, eat and other things deemed to obscene to mention here). Or not. Maybe you're just thinking "the indie what" or "not again". Well, either way, it should be here soon. But until then you can - depending on your perspective - get yourself calmed or excited with these more or less qualified lists at Meta Critic. Among others seems Deerhunter to be popular on the "Meta Critic" lists.



But do you reckon Meta Critic told you a bit to few news. Then you should take a look at The Pop Cop. Here you're getting told otherwise. The on Indie Laundry aforementioned Endor clocks in at number 2. Number one in the perspective of The Pop Cop is Admiral Fallow:



Admiral Fallow | Myspace Music Videos

Flowers in December - Mazzy Star - retro moment

I had almost forgot Flowers in December by Mazzy Star. But once again listening to Beach House I couldn't resist to spin their gauzy forebears a couple of rounds. It's a nice track. So slow. The single is from Among My Swan from '96 and was featured in the movie Wicker Park. It's a tune from another time, but well worth a listen again.

The Scottish Enlightenment. St. Thomas

Wrote about The Scottish Enlightenment in May 2010 when they released their Pascal EP. Because I liked it. And because it grows on you (which actually means that I didn't like it in the beginning). As a friend said to me: "Thank you for buying me The Scottish Enlightenment. I'm slowly realising how brilliant they are".

In september 2010 they released Little Sleep EP. We totally ignored Little Sleep EP here on Indie Laundry. God knows why (well, he doesn't, but some might).

Now The Scottish Enlightenment have stepped up a notch and released the full lenght album St. Thomas. I haven't got the time to do an in-depth review today, which it actually deserves. Because it is one of the absolute best records of 2010 despite all its flaws and faults - or precisely because of these, as it hopefully makes The Scottish Enlightenment wanna do even more and better songs and records. I cannot give them anything but all my endorsements because I am continually realising how good they really are.

Indie Laundry is now on Facebook

The updating on this blog has been sparse, but now we are back. We think we are! And are available to you on Facebook as of today. Please 'Like Indie Laundry' on Facebook and get our suggestions, links and general state of the nation updates.

If you are very friendly you might even suggest this to your friends!

Have a nice day!
Us at the Indie Laundry office

Fránçois and the Atlas Mountains for a saturday.

This is just a little writing (as in tiny) about someone we might hear much more about. Because there are rumours about Fránçois Marry. Great ones (well, I think. You may not).

But until I get just the slightest bit of confirmation, I will let the rumours rest in speculations. So just enjoy these few videos and get the weekend startet.

He has been compared to all kinds things, some more obvious than others (for example "as a lo-fi boy version of Isobel Campbell at her most yé-yé" (?)), released quite a few records with The Atlas Mountains, been a touring member of Camera Obscura and lots more. And there is lots more to come, I think. So enjoy

It is just getting better - David Karsten Daniels & Fight The Big Bull

A year and half ago we at Indie Laundy were quite surprised. David Karsten Daniels seemed to be lacking fans - if FB can be seen as a parameter for that kind of measurement, which hopefully it cannot, 'cos he is still lacking fans on FB. But if he really is in the lack of fans outside FB, we are (still) utterly surprised!

So if anyone would like to change their mind or just haven't taken notice of this giftet musician, you now have the reason to do so. His recent album "I mean to live here still", made in collaboration with the nine piece jazz band Fight The Big Bull, were recently named one of 2010's genre-defying album by NPR. The other four on NPR's list - that makes the honour even more clear - includes Clogs, The Young Scamels, Laurie Anderson, Sarah Kirkland Snider.

Magnificient live record from Malcolm Middleton

Speaking of Arab Strap. Malcolm Middleton just released a double live album. One acoustic. One with a full band. Both recorded during 2009, but on separate tours. For that reason they are very different.

Especially the acoustic one blows my mind. It was recorded at Oran Mor in Glasgow on the last night of the Long, dark night-tour. It is no less than magnificent. It has a really really great sound. It might even be one of the greatest acoustic live recordings I've ever heard.

But don't be fooled, Zurich wasn't cheered down while I was listening to it. For example it seems like I've lost the ability to leave the repeat button alone on A brighter beat. So dive in and catch a listen until next year, when his new project Human Don't Be Angry sees the light of day - probably. It is highly recommended

New record from former Arab Strap singer Aidan Moffat (and Bill Wells)

Aidan Moffat got a Twitter-acount yesterday and promised to do philosophy and self promotion soon. Today you could read on his Twitter: "Advertisement: The 2nd trailer for my (and Bill Wells') new album features sperm and a stripper!" Philosophy or self promotion, judge for yourself. But I guess it is interesting in some unexplainable way. Or maybe it is quite explainable. We'll see, next year.

New sports by Silver Columns

New Silver Columns video by Kieran Evans. Great fun!

Orange Juice - Rip It Up

Grant Lee Buffalo reunite!!

One of my favorite bands ever are going on a reunion tour - so far in the U.S. and in London. Please come to Denmark. Would be fantastic to see them again - been many years since I first fell in love with them at Roskilde Festival in the midt-nineties! Heres a couple of my favorite tunes. Classics!

Neil Young - Love & War

Dazed & Confused

Will your tongue wag so much when I send you to hell?

Important rock!

Endor and their self titled debut album

Endor (Mark Church, Richard Ferguson, Calum Johnston & David McGinty) is a slow starter. Getting good reviews years ago for their ep's, reckoned to be more talented than Frightened Rabbit, it should take to the middle of 2010 before we saw light of a full blown album. But the wait has given us a stately and well played pop album drafting not at least on more or less obvious elements from jangle-pop and their native scottish folk-rock tradtions. It's a good album that slowly grows you and deserves the repeat button on your music player. I will be looking forward to the follow up and hoping (being my only critic) that David McGinty finds the real potential and spectra in his seemingly potent voice.

Take a listen or buy at bandcamp

Arab Strap and thank fuck for Withered Hand

I the light of the reissue of Arab Straps first albums they made this quite funny promotion video. Could it be a hint of more to come? Well, we just have to wait and see.

Speaking of Arab Strap. Malcolm Middleton posted "Thank fuck for Withered Hand" on his twitter. What he was thinking of by this comment, I can only speculate. But I reckon it can only be positive. The Scottish troubadour Withered Hand sets a beautiful middleground between new scottish folk and acoustic americana. He could be compared to a lot of musician from either side of that dualism. I will do neither and just let you decide where to put him - if he should be categorised at all. But thank fuck for Withered Hand. His myspace

Wings/Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed

This is only a reminder about one of McCartneys finest individual moments. It's hard not to cry as a little toddler to this tune. This stuff is rock solid and will be remembered 100 years from now.

Rozi Plain . You can see my boat

A beautiful intermezzo for a quite time at Indie Laundry

Warning about Beach House at Roskilde Festival - tip #1

Warning: Don't catch Beach House at Roskilde Festival 2010! Or at least read on to learn about another great act, playing in another tent at the same time!

We will the next days post a couple of small VIP-tips for the upcoming Roskilde Festival. News you can use!

Right now everybody is planning which acts to catch when. This mini-guide will ensure you maximum fun with maximum musical input.

And why not start the guide with a warning about Beach House. We absolutely love their third album Teen Dream, but this act is set to play at Pavilion saturday at 19.00. The problem? Well the stage is the smallest of the stages at Roskilde and you can be absolutely sure that this tent will be hot as hell and not as airy and relaxed as the sound. Another argument - at least if you live in the Copenhagen area - is that Beach House will play one more concert in Denmark this year. At the venue Vega 12. of november.

 So why not do something else, which could be tres cool?

Drag your drunk body to the largest of the tent, same time, Green Stage 19.00. Catch Bad Lieutenant. This band consists of former New Order lead singer Bernard Sumner and guitarist Phil Cunningham, along with Jake Evans of Rambo and Leroy.

As you all are aware New Order combined post-punk and electronic dance. If you take a look at this setlist Bad Lieutenant it's the place to be if you're into one of the absolutely most critically acclaimed bands of the 1980s. I mean, Joy Division AND New Order music from Bernard Sumner? The band Bad Lieutenant has one album out and it's not bad either, even though I personally like New Order better. Well. This was tip #1!

World Cup music

The World Cup is only one day away and I think it is something we should mark here at Indie Laundry. What better way to do that than looking back at the best football song ever - New Order's 'World in Motion' from 1990, featuring vintage rapping from Watford, Liverpool & England star John Barnes. And of course the insanely catchy 'EN-GER-LAND' chorus.

May the best team win.

Roskilde warm-up: Local Natives

I didn't know these guys before I checked the Roskilde line-up. At first they looked to hip-I-got-a-moustache-animal-afro-indie to my taste. But after a few spins I get really sucked into the charm in these songs. I imagine they could deliver a wonderful afternoon-show at Roskilde! Try it out!

The Late Great Fitzcarraldos - chill with it!

My social network is of the highest possible quality. Therefore I will not hesitate to recommend The Late Great Fitzcarraldos. They sound like stuff you want to have on the iPod this summer while drinking cocktails and relaxing in the sun. I bet that description would fit quite a lot of bands, so I'll just add that this is stripped down DIY-tunes, which are absolutely enjoyable. They have recently played a tour with Efterklang.

Check the The Late Great Fitzcarraldos out on MySpace and listen to the Submarine Sessions from ThirdEar (recommended)

Arcade Fire talks new album, leaks new singles

Everybody loves - or at least likes - Arcade Fire, it seems. I understand that. Their two albums are of very high quality - blending a rather straightforward rock style with quirky, even haunted lyrics, production and vocals. (There is no 'but' here, if you expected that)

Amazingly, their third album 'The Suburbs' could very well be their finest ever. That is the impression I get when listening the double a-side single, the Canadians spat out this week. Lend your ear to this, if you haven't already done it!

MP3: Arcade Fire – “The Suburbs”

MP3: Arcade Fire – “Month Of May”

(courtesy of One Thirty BPM)

Roskilde warm-up: Robyn

Swedish indie pop darling Robyn is putting the fun back in pop music and she has the dance moves to go with it! She is preparing a huge 2010 with three album releases. The first - 'Girl Talk pt. 1' - hits the stores just in time for her anticipated return to Roskilde Festival.

Indie Laundry saw her fabulous show two years ago - her best ever, according to herself. Be sure that we will be there this year as well. And with tracks like 'Dancing on my own' among her new material, the tent is bound to be cooking! Great tune, stunning production.

Robyn 'Dancing On My Own' (Official Video) from Robyn on Vimeo.

Heliopause: Electronic experiment gone wrong - the interactive version

A fun little possibility for you to make your own mix of Electronic experiment gone wrong by Heliopause. Good song, simple technics, lots of possibilities. Try it here.

"Stones in Exile" - Rolling Stones anno 1972

There is a new documentary on the making of the Rolling Stones classic 'Exile on Main St.' coming out soon. And yesterday, the album itself was released in a deluxe remastered version including a 10-song bonus disc. Yummy!

"Mick needs to know what he's going to do tomorrow. Me, I'm just happy to wake up and see who's hanging around. Mick's rock, I'm roll." - Keith Richards on the difference between Mick Jagger and himself.

Silver Columns - Cavalier

So the date of the release of Silver Columns debut album YES AND DANCE is closing in on us (31-5-2010 on Moshi Moshi). And it is with excitement that it's nearing, since the hype about Silver Columns has been going on for quite awhile. And when we get YES AND DANCE in the our player a more firmly comment will be made here. But Hot Chip will be getting a run for their money, as some expects. And (now) knowing that Silver Columns are consisting of The Pictish Trail and Adem the hype isn't unfounded. But for now take a listen to their single Cavalier (being released on monday the 17th of May) + a few others things, incl. Joe Goddards remix of Brow Beaten.

Dislike is a good thing - The Scottish Enlightenment and Pascal EP

Being at the edge of dislike can be a good thing. Especially if it's music this scepticism is provoked by. Because if so, you're are bound to listen to it again and again, over and over, until you reach some kind of clarity of this "dislike" (or at least I am). During the session of repeated listening, the good parts are due to take over if they really prevails the bad and instead reveals the qualities of the music. Over the last few days The Scottish Enlightenment have had their turn in my dislike-session, but are now turning me around towards the positive. As the second song of the Pascal EP proclaims (with another perspective): If you would just try a bit harder. I've done - and do - and my likening is on the rise. But so it often is when the starting point is an underplayed lo-fi-ish slow-core (for me anyway). But take a judge for yourself - which I recommend you do.

Castanets - "Texas rose, the thaw, the beasts" dripping from my speakers

"Texas rose, the thaw, the beasts" by Castanets is just amazingly lovely. Castanets (aka Raymond Raposa) plays his music like a folk musician being evaporated into the future on the back of nostalgia, riding the possibilities in all its glory and downfall with his pockets filled with natures and cultures stimulants. I know that labeling music with meaningful tags is notoriously difficult, but some would name his music freak folk or New weird America. That actually doesn't give him enough credit. So instead think of the possibility that Pink Floyd, Vic Chesnutt and Bonnie Prince Billy is over for dinner at Portisheads - with the Geto Boys looming in the distant attic - then you might hear, dripping from the window, a vertiginious folk-hopping psychedelic space-rock. Until that happens just load "Texas rose, the thaw, the beasts", and let it drip from your speakers.

Worn from the fight (with fireworks) mp3

Indie Laundry releases Spotify Collaborative Playlist - Ideas for Music

If you are using Spotify we would like to invite our readers to collaborate on our playlist 'Indie Laundry - Ideas for Music'. The idea is simply to share, explore and have fun. We will add new tracks and edit the list. There are not many songs right now, but share your taste!

No rules, only good music. Please collaborate! Indie Laundry: Collaborative Playlist on Spotify - click!

The National - video Bloodbuzz Ohio and Apartement Story

We wrote about The National on this very page more than 3 years ago. We have to do it again because their new album High Violet is highly recommendable. As well as boxer was one of the absolutely best albums of 2007 High Violet is the most anticipated album of 2010.

As Pitchfork puts it: Six drinks in, tired of your coworkers, wishing you could just go home and laugh at sitcoms with someone? Maybe get laid? The National's got your back.

People are going to be saying this a lot about High Violet, but the record really is sounding more and more like the perfect balance between the anthemic moments on Alligator and the more pensive Boxer. Personally we had to awesome experience with this band, live @Amager Bio and Roskilde 2007. Again this year they will be at Roskilde Festival.

Today they released the video for the first single off the album. It's Bloodbuzz Ohio with the magnificent chorus ("I still owe money/ To the money/ To the money I owe") where Matt Berninger addresses the familiar, harrowing financial burdens of adulthood.

Also listen to Bryan Devendorf's drumming - it's absolutely some of the best stuff around right now.

I've also put the video for Apartment Story here. It's one of their very finest indeed.


Link containing lots of The National goodies - click


Bloodbuzz Ohio

The National - "Bloodbuzz Ohio" (official video)


Apartement story

Schoolboy doing Lady Gaga

"This guy must get all the 6th grade bitches" Some schoolboy teaching Lady Gaga a lesson. Impressive. Only fail is that he choose Lady Gaga.

Orchestra of Jenno

Orchestra of Jenno is musician producer composer Jenno from Copenhagen playing all instruments and making beats mixed up with symphony orchestra.

After years of playing and producing for other bands and artists his debut album is now ready to come out.

Jenno has produced for a lot of artists in Denmark and his solo project honestly sounds too good not to spend a lot of minutes with. I think I would like to go to a concert with this guy - it sounds weird in an odd way!

Go to Orchestra of Jennos Facebook-page or visit him on his MySpace Page

Keith Richards - Umano non Umano - 1969

Eat your heart out Jonny Greenwood. That is indeed Keith Richards in Mario Shifano’s 1969 film Umano non Umano.

M.I.A Born Free - disturbing ginger material

I almost vomited while having breakfast this morning. I was checking the new M.I.A Born Free video and I havn't really seen anything as intriguing or disturbing for a long while.

First of all the song in it self is pretty cool. It's a punk rock rebel anthem with M.I.A raging against the system over a sample - Ghost Rider by no wave legends suicide. We like Suicide! The song will be featured on her album due to be released 29. june.

Second of all the video for this anthem is packed with hardcore action. And a simple message. Way too obvious. The message is like a song we heard a million times - just with an intelligent scripted twist. But it's very well executed, super intense and a bit to vivid at certain points.

So, we are supposed to be disturbed by the story and the political comment. But are we? There are people wearing USA flags in these scenes shooting and harming people who look a certain way. The redheads in the scenes could really be anyone of the people USA is harming around the world. To me it's the intense editing, the music and the twisted setup which makes the Born Free-anthem a well done experience more than the overkilled message.


For the full screen experience go to http://miauk.com - or just watch the Vimeo below



M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Roskilde warm-op Part 2

What a sensation! One of my all-time favorites back from the teenage days - Prince - has been announced for Roskilde. He will play on the last day, and I expect an unforgetable closure to this summer's Roskilde Festival. The video is my favorite Prince tune in an Eels-edition!

It was 40 years ago today

...or last Saturday, to be precise - that Paul McCartney officially confirmed the inevitable break-up of The Beatles. That concluded an unbelievable journey that saw the fab four evolve from talented crafters of catchy, yet naive pop hits to progressive, sometimes avantgarde rock artists an in less than a decade. In the process they opened up an explosion of creative paths for future bands to explore - which they still do. Their influence on rock and pop history since then simply cannot be overestimated.

These two videos exemplify how they practically invented the music video. In a word: classic!

Pavement - "Rattled by the rush"

Recently, Rasmus posted on Pavement in anticipation of them coming to Roskilde Festival. I, too, am looking forward to their show very, very much. The newly reunited Pavement was THE quintessential indie-band of the 90's. Thoughout five high quality albums they treated us with quirky but insanely melodic songs, often played intentionally über-loose and scrambled - like they wanted to come of as bad musicians. They were anything but! They were just slackers.

'Rattled by the rush' is one of my personal favs and it comes with a rad video that sports some very characteristic camera movements that underlines the rhythms brilliantly. Remember to sit down before watching, tho.

Chillwave - the next generation

Wtf is chillwave? Well, I don't have a clue. So I had to check it out. Another crappy name invented to tell the story about a sound, which is a mix up? Well, yes. But behind the name there is a door. Behind that door there is a story. As always. And behind the story is the blogger at Hipster Runoff. He kind of put a name to this nofi genre aka hypnagogic pop aka glo-fi.I read about this phenomenon in a danish newspaper. So much for internet.

The genre is synthy and is supposed to sound like something that was playing in the background of an old VHS cassette that you found in your attic from the late 80's/early 90's.

And what is chillwave then? Get to the point! Well. Go find out yourself. Google it, man. But my take on the genre, from what I've been listening to is quite surprising.

Well. Check out the genre. It sure sounds cozy and would suit my mood any lazy summer-sunday. This is some of the artists. Have fun. Summer is here. Not.


Ariel Pink
Peaking LIghts
Toro Y Moi
Memory Tapes
Neon Indian
Washed Out

Alex Chilton - continued

Well, I realized that I needed to pay Alex Chilton an extra round of tribute with two additional videos. First up is a very young Alex at the beginning of his career with Box Tops' smash hit 'The Letter'. And then a proof of the enormous inpact in the shape of the classic The Replacement-song named after the man himself.

Alex Chilton, rest in peace

Alex Chilton, founder of the Box Tops and - most importantly - Big Star, has passed away at the age of 59. As Pitchfork reports, Chilton was still very active and was even supposed to play with Big Star at the SXSW festival in Austin this weekend. How I would have loved to see this band live...

Chilton was a songwriter's songwriter. Widely acclaimed and influencial among collegues, much lesser so among the audience. Certainly, without Big Star no R.E.M., no Teenage Fanclub, no Jayhawks, to name a few of the most direct followers of Big Star.

As John Lennon said when The Beatles broke up: 'The music is still there'. Indeed, it is and here are the final two songs from the first Big Star album '#1 Record'.

New video: Yeasayer - 'O.N.E.'

Today Yeasayer's second album 'Odd Blood' arrived in my mail box. My first impression says that it is a fine album but whether it rivals their brilliant debut 'All hour cymbols' is too early for me to say. Certainly, the New Yorkers have reached for a more electronic sound this time around. The second single, 'O.N.E.', is my pick of the album right now and Yeasayer has just released this smashing futuristic/retro video of the song:

Yeasayer "ONE" By: Radical Friend from ODDBLOOD on Vimeo.

OK GO

I guess it's really mainstream to post this entry and also way to old news. But I am afascinated by this incredible machine that OK GO had build to bring buzz to their music.

I don't care a bit for the music in the video. It's catchy, but OK GO has done everything to bring the focus away from the music. This video is pretty clever. 7 million YouTube-views in one week proves the fact that simple creativity well executed creates a massive hype.

Check it out - if you havn't already. This machine is a dreamtoy.

Goodbye Mark Linkous

Again one of the brightest stars in the indie universe has died. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse has apparently comitted suicide due to depression. So sad. Sometimes it was hard to understand where the beauty of his songs came from - maybe from too much pain in his life. See or listen to these two unofficial videos - songs that says a lot about Sparklehorse.

Roskilde speculations part 1

Hell yeah! New The Black Keys album out in may and tour this summer. What a night that could be at the summer festivals. They are at the top of my official Really-hope-they-will-come-to-Roskilde-list-2010! What are your hopes my fellow bloggers?

Roskilde warm-up part 1

The countdown has begun. And eventhough its freezing cold in Denmark the festival is on our mind every day. Especially after the announcement of bands like Pavement, Them Crooked Voltures and the danish genius C. V. Jørgensen. See this video of one of my Pavement favorites and join the festival-mood. Many warm-ups to follow!!!

Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago

Shearwater makes dramatic music. In a way they sound awfully dated, yet also highly relevant and important in this era. Their new album, 'The Golden Archipelago' is powerful as anything I've heard in the last few years and they have enough melodic and creative sense to avoid it becoming too much.

There is traces of Talk Talk here and Jonathan Meiburg (also known from the wonderful Okkervil River) possesses a truly breathtaking voice.

Shearwater - 'Black Eyes'

The Feelies

I've been listening quite a bit to The Feelies lately. A relatively unknown , but highly influential New Jersey-band that operated from the late 70's till the beginning of the 90's. If you don't know them, think part Velvet Underground, part early-days Tom Petty. And sometimes the missing link between Television and REM. Either way, this is good stuff. Far too good to be ignored.

In 2008 they reformed and last year their first two albums - the classic 'Crazy Rhythms' and 'The Good Earth' - were reissued. Here is a snap from the last album, 1991's 'Time for a witness'.

Love's the greatest thing...

In a nostalgic mood I think back on a scene from the great Blur documentary 'No distance left to run' I saw the other day, which showed the great climax of Blur playing 'Tender' at last years Glastonbury festival. Telling a lot about Blur, rock festivals and the beauty of beeing an audience at great concerts.

The Submarine Sessions

A lot of our readers already know The Black Cab Sessions - a series of one-song performances by musicians and poets recorded in the back of a black cab and filmed for an internet audience. Now there is a danish alternative - and just as great I'd say.

The musicians in the danish Submarine Sessions aren't huge stars, but up and coming. Some has been around for a long time, some are just starting out. You should check this. A teaser in the YouTube below. And all of the many performances are available from Third Ears website - click here to go to the Submarine Sessions.

A drink in the morning- or evening - with James Yorkston

Another Fence artist, Domino signed singer-songwriter James Yorkston, to be enjoyed with your morning coffee (or nightcap, if you're in another time zone) as you settle yourself in the gloaming.

Eels - 'End Times'

Today is the official release date of the new Eels album, 'End Times'. Once again, Mark Oliver Everett is the indisputable centre of Eels and once again he proves that he is the master of disaster. His best release 'Electro Shock Blues' was made in the wake of his sister's suicide and his mother's fatal cancer. Now, Everett battles his recent divorce resulting in his best album - perhaps since 'Electro Shock Blues'.

End Times' is my first warm recommendation of 2010.

You can stream the entire thing at the Eels website.

The Rumour Said Fire

Friday The Rumour Said Fire won a danish music show. Who are we not to celebrate that talented band? Congratulations to the lads. They do great, simple music. This is a recording from the award show friday and the band is playing The Balcony.

Heartless Bastards - oh yeah

When you listen to Erika Wennerstrom sing you just know that she's meant to rock. The power of her voice is seldomly heard in rock and have this incandescent ability to leave you blind and drift in to her musical universe. Heartless Bastards, in which she is vocalist, is one of those bands I regret to have bought and forgotton about. But in the best of luck I found them again and is now blinded. Nothing more to say about that.

Wide awake (mp3)

Jazzy Waits - Step Right Up from West Germany

It's a doozy that Step Right Up, Mr. Tom Waits. We are in West Germany, in a TV Studio, in Köln.

I went to a matiné with my girlfriend to see The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and were thrilled by the story and the devil... Mr. Waits. Therefore I had to dig down his street.

-I havn't seen this performance before and I'm so amazed by Waits' be-boppin' street jazzy poetry, the way he is digging the stuff out. Bringing the stuff to the audience. And how about that band? Fuckin' amazing and tight. The sax, the bass, drums... that is beautiful.

Well, the whole album isn't really one of his best, but he always drags me in... into his wild world of all-night diners and dark bars. But again... I can just be me growing up in a small danish town with only one neon-sign saying Steak House...

Enjoy,

The Indie Laundry 2009 Album Top 10 is here!!

Unlike so many others, the Indie Laundry staff does not present it's awards for the year in October or November. We wait untill the entire year has passed. It may not have been the most memorable year in the history of music - or at least that is the general perception among our little panel - but we have managed to compile a list of our fav's of 2009.

The alt-country rockers-cum-krautrock explorers Wilco not only delivered the concert of the year with an absolutely perfect performance at the Royal Theatre here in Copenhagen in November, they also managed to sneak our collective Album of the Year Award.

Here is the Top 10 in its entirety, followed by video snacks of the first three. Happy new year to all of you.

1. Wilco / Wilco (The Album)
2. Pearl Jam / Backspacer
3. Grizzly Bear / Veckatimest
4. Bob Dylan / Together through life
5. Passion Pit / Manners
6. King Creosote / Flickr the Vs
7. The Whitest Boy Alive / Rules
8. Mew / No more stories...
9. Malcolm Middleton / Waxing Gibbous
10. The XX / XX

Wilco - Sonny Feeling

Pearl Jam - The Fixer

Grizzly Bear - While you wait for the others