Guilty pleasures

I know people who say you can't have guilty pleasures (when it comes to music) and I know people who basically aren't aware of the term's existence. Also, I know people like myself, who do feel slightly ashamed of liking certain music. For me this isn't really a fact of me being embarrassed because of the music I like, more it is I unexpectedly enjoy something that I would normally consider below the quality level of the other music I listen to. Sometimes I really like music that I feel is a bit, well, "crappy" or "cheap-sounding". What music am I talking about? the less shameful examples include:


I've been trying to convince myself otherwise for a long time now but I still cannot deny the fact that this song is a very catchy and excellently executed piece of pop music. Whenever it's played on the radio I can't help but turn up the volume and sing along, while goofily continuing whatever I'm doing (whether that's taking a shower, brushing my teeth or washing my face - yes, our radio is indeed in the bath room). I've got quite a love-hate relationship with Lady Gaga's other singles and I don't like any of them half as much as I like this one. Sadly, I've yet to actually hear it played at a party but when it happens I'll be doing my thing.


The last time I saw the amazing Owen Pallett live (that's another story), the main character of a magical evening (the supporting names were Lightspeed Champion, Sam Amidon, Nico Muhly and Beth Orton... yes, wow indeed) entered the stage while miming and singing along to this song while setting up his equipment. Strangely, it has given this song a whole new dimension to me. I don't particularly like Alicia Keys and I never have, though I definitely recognize the fact that she's got talent. Somehow all things seem to come together with this track - the heavy beat (which definitely makes the song for me), the heartache lyrics and the glossy video combined equal a fairly fine pop song that gets stuck in your head and refuses to leave.


Is Jay-Z bad? I don't know. I usually don't listen to rap or hip-hop - I believe there's something good in every genre, yet I just haven't really found anything in that area that made an impact on me. It's been months since the last time I heard this song but in the media lately there's been a heavy debate about the use of Autotune in the recent series of the X Factor (a programme that sometimes also turns out to be a bit of a guilty pleasure entertainment wise - even though I absolutely hate it with a passion) and it made me think of this track that I never really listened to enough when I found out about it. Back then I heard it on the radio once and thought 'this isn't bad actually... and I quite like its message'. So, I gave it a re-listen and I still think it's really damn cool.

What these three tracks have in common is the fact that in the long run they'll probably drive me crazy and I'll hate them just as much as I tend to hate lots of other mainstream pop music. Only they haven't reached that state yet - and I'm glad they haven't, there's nothing worse (there most certainly is but you get my point) than listening to the radio when there's nothing you secretly enjoy.

Michel is back!

Michel Gondry is not just my favourite music video director, he is one of my all-time favourite people. Whenever something new shows up from him it is quickly confirmed what an inexhaustible imagination and mind this man has. Or should I say boy? there's a documentary about him out there carrying the name 'I've Been 12 Forever' and it certainly fits with his playful and childish approach to things. His aesthetics often come off as amateurish, maybe even a bit cheap - but that's only because he uses such simple and old school tricks to create visually compelling movies and videos unlike anything else.
Lately, the Frenchman with the awesome mind hasn't been much in the limelight - especially not on the music video side of things. But a little while ago something new finally showed up. While the song isn't really my cup of tea, the video still manages to fit it perfectly through its simple, yet effective, fresh and fun theme. It's been compared to a Sony Bravia ad and I've always quite liked those, so that's only a good thing. Also, it's good to know Monsieur Gondry is still going strong.

This is the new thing, apparently: vinyl and blood galore

Hmm, musicians act weirdly these days. While the far-too-talked-about subject of illegal downloading and sharing of music keeps pushing the creaters and artists towards interesting new directions when releasing their music, some definitely seem more intriguing and thought-provoking than others. Examples? here are a couple.

Parenthetical Girls - Privilege
I'd heard a bit about these artpoppers releasing a new album, and that significant cover art has certainly popped up a few times lately, when I've been searching for other things. But it wasn't until later on, ie. a few days ago, that I actually found out about how this album was going to be released. There's a concept: a series of EPs released throughout 15 months, concluding with the fifth in May 2011 and in the end making an album. Also, physically, the album will only be available on vinyl. Limited to 500 copies from the band's own website... oh, and did I mention that these 500 copies will be hand-numbered by a band member in their own blood?
I guess that's supposed to be the interesting part, yet I'm much more tempted by the idea of slowly releasing an album this way. Nobody will know the exact flow, mood or general direction of the album until a year after the first part of it is released. I'm ready for the patience, because this could definitely become quite an interesting series to follow.

Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself
My relationship with Xiu Xiu is a little complicated, not to say non-existent. While I neither love nor dislike the few songs of theirs that I've heard (the one above was stuck in my head for an entire day last week), there's just something weird, really weird about them that makes me turn away and be intimidated by the thought of listening to more of their stuff. The idea of them releasing an album called 'Dear God, I Hate Myself' and making that above video certainly doesn't make them seem more appealing. Like many other bands do these days to make people want a physical copy of their album, Xiu Xiu release a special edition, limited to 100 deluxe vinyl copies. These all come with handmade chocolate(!), possibly relating to the fact that the album features a song called 'Chocolate Makes You Happy', and 21 of them a handmade shirt with 'Xiu Xiu for life' written on it in real blood. Apparently blood is the new black when it comes to making your record interesting... hmm. Still, I'm not convinced as in whether Xiu Xiu are genius or just plain weird but I guess it'll come. Whenever I've had a love/hate relationship with a piece of music it has mostly turned into a straight love or hate relationship a little later on. And 'Dear God, I Hate Myself' is in that position now, so I'll just have to wait and see.

A triple(!) album to be excited for

You guessed it. Of course the title's talking about Joanna Newsom's forthcoming 'Have One On Me' album, which is released on February 23. It's been quiet around the girl with the harp for a while but speculation has started long ago about her next album - an album that contains about two hours of music, making it an album for three CDs/LPs.
I've liked Joanna Newsom for a while but mostly in quite radical doses. Yet I listened to the three new songs revealed from the triple album. They - and especially the one above - made me realize a couple of things.
1. Joanna Newsom is more awesome than I thought.
2. Joanna Newsom sounds exactly like spring.
3. I want spring.

Yes, "'81" has reminded that the winter has lasted long enough. I really, really want the snow to go away now - it's not pretty anymore, it's just sad. And with the freezing cold it's almost impossible to walk properly outside without half-falling most of the time. I just want sunshine and a few more degrees - possibly 5 or 10, that'd be extremely nice. Pretty please?
Oh, and before I forget:
4. I'm very excited for 'Have One On Me'.

Track of the day #11

I'm slowly starting to realise that my way of dealing with winter this year isn't by listening to lots of heavy indie rock but rather by treating my ears to lots of lush, pretty and soft music. As well as Beach House and that 'Here Lies Love' track, I've today listened to a great big amount of Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman's work and it is really brillant. Especially this song and its silly yet awesome video have stayed with me and won't seem to leave my brain.

Track of the day #10

I didn't expect this but I have just discovered that David Byrne + Fatboy Slim + Florence Welch equals pop perfection. This track sounds both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time and is six minutes of pure, epic pop perfection.