Year in Review - Best of '07 Part IV

Best Music Video of 2007: Lyckans Undulat (Band: Detektivbyrån; Director: Daemon Film)

This video has it all… cool use of the dissolve technique and time-lapse videography, an easy to follow/ slightly off-kilter plot, a cockroach, petal vomit, over-sized lollies, shots of the mother-nation (Sweden) and some short, non-egotistical footage of the band playing live. Key to it all is the way in which the fast-paced visual imagery lines up with those frenetic instrumental sounds (as when the song slows momentarily as darkness descends and the twirling fire lady pops into view). It doesn’t hurt, too, that this is one of the best songs I’ve heard all year. In a word: Flawless!

It is because of the clever use of dissolving images that this video is best viewed in its proper format... download here. From their amazing website you can also check out the video clip documenting the purchase, and playing, of Anders Flanders' new accordion (exciting!)... AND download a great selection of Detektivbyrån tunes.

Best video of the year? Hell, Detektivbyrån are best BAND of the year! Here's more... Video Hemvägen (Live Nyhetsmorgon 2007) by Detektivbyrån

Gushing over. Here are some other fine examples of visual imagery set to incredible music from the year that almost was...

2. Peacebone by Animal Collective (strange, but with a cool car)



3. Thou shalt always kill by Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (appropriate walk-about/ rad beard)



4. Open your heart by Lavender Diamond (roller skating dance fest)



5. Top Ranking by Blonde Redhead (Miranda July doing her long-limbed thang)



6. Australia by The Shins (thieving, conniving band-members run amok!)
7. A brighter beat by Malcolm Middleton (great facial expressions/ fine balloon acting)
8. Manchester by The Beautiful South (chav alert!)
9. Kids aflame by Arms (great story - too bad the video no longer exists... anywhere!)
10. Can’t tell me nothing (alt. version) by Kanye West featuring Zach Galifianakis and Will Oldham (skimpy clothed beardo-weirdos getting their groove on - hilarious)
11. D.A.N.C.E. by Justice (cool t’s)
12. Belarus by Low (the loneliness of the cross-country skier)

The end.

Year in Review - Best of ’07 Part III

From Flash to Crash in 6.8 seconds flat

Once a hidden gem in the blog world, Young Folks by Peter, Bjorn and John is now a staple of dusty, crackling grocery store stereo systems the world over. I’d say that the karaoke version is not far off but I’m sure it’s out there somewhere already (yup, it is - just googled it). All that’s left is the “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” treatment. Whistling will reach a whole new level of competitiveness.

I have spent my life wondering why the music I like isn’t more popular, only to become hugely frustrated and annoyed when something does slip through from my world to that of the mainstream. I never understood why James never became the next U2 or REM; I’m happy to own “Neutral Milk Hotel” to (relatively) myself; I’m saddened, a bit, that Beirut has suddenly and surprisingly become media darlings (who’d have thought that ALL those horns would take off?).

Speaking of the relative merits of success… here’s Morrissey’s response to then-stadium-filling band, James and their rise to modest levels of stardom in the early 90’s:

VIDEO We hate it when our friends become successful by Morrissey Caution: lamé alert

Year in Review - Best of ’07 Part II

Best album of the year: Proof of Youth by The Go! Team

”do you wanna rock the house and turn this motha out?!” In the era of one-sorta-hit-wonders, it’s a relief to find a cohesive album. All the better then when that album transports you, via jump rope, to the streets of Harlem by way of Brighton, England. Here they are in all their dual-drumming glory at this year's Glastonbury Festival: VIDEO Titanic Vandalism (live) by The Go! Team



Best album of 2007 honourable mention nods go to...
23 by Blonde Redhead
Flying Club Cup by Beirut
Wincing The Night Away by The Shins

And by the way… the hands-down most over-hyped album of 2007: Neon Bible by Arcade Fire

Year in Review - Best of ’07 Part I

Biggest Influence: Sweden

Even in its heyday, Australia only ever offered me Hunters and Collectors, The Church and a bit of Midnight Oil. But in just one year, Sweden has pretty much consumed my musical scope entirely. The bands I’ve gotten into that share an affinity for curling up on their POÄNGs, plunking some Pippi in the DVD player and chowing down on a smörgåsbord of meatballs and glögg include, but are not limited to: Loney Dear, I’m from Barcelona, The Knife, José González, Elias & The Wizz Kids, the Teddybears, Peter Bjorn and John, The Field, Moonbabies, Shout Out Louds and Detektivbyrån.

But that’s not all! Apart from music, there remains a surfeit of cool things that come out of this damn fine Nordic nation. For example, nine tenths of the Vancouver Canucks call Konungariket Sverige their home. And the Vancouver Canucks rule of course (when they’re not sucking that is). In addition, one of the finest footie players to ever pull on the hoops of Celtic, Henrik Larsson, is a Swede.




Sweden has a rich history in the field of popular music (and heavy metal!). Today, the country appears to be at the forefront of a new wave of both electronic music and gently satisfying bubblegum indie-pop as well. Proof of this… these days more Swedish songs than those of any other country employ the holy trinity of modern pop music: handclaps, whistling and ukulele! Throw in some xylophone/glockenspiel, tambourine, some horns and the odd cow bell and I’m-a done for.

So, in an attempt to give a little something back to the nation that I have reaped so much from this year, and in recognition of the entire country receiving the coveted FBS “Biggest Influence” award… here are a few unsolicited/ eye-catching/ promotional musical-entertainment-themed headlines for usage by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce (free of charge):

Sweden: The new Iceland
Sweden: Very few Finns live here!
Sweden: We’ve recently cut our hair-metal emissions by 15%!
Sweden: We’re not really from Barcelona ya know!
Sweden: We’re sorry about Roxette. That was a mistake.
Sweden: Blonder, bolder and less-ABBA’esque than ever before!
Sweden: We speak English better than you!

VIDEO Take me to the ballroom by Moonbabies
VIDEO Tonight I have to leave it by Shout Out Louds
VIDEO Young and hairy by Elias and the Wizz Kids