Belle and Sebastian

July 2, 2007

Pelle in a Nutshell

Filed under: Belle and Sebastian,Jarvis Cocker,Pelle Carlberg,Roy Orbison — AZLTRON @ 9:33 pm

I don’t know what they’re putting in the water up there in Sweden, because they just keep producing timeless pop album after pop album up there. Pelle Carlberg’s second solo album “In a Nutshell” is another bastion of quality Swedish pop.

Pelle knocks out songs using bouncy pastoral instrumentation that is immediate and catchy like early Belle & Sebastian. And just like early Belle & Sebastian , he distracts you with head bopping tunes while going directly for your heart with witty touching lyrics. From the bright boy-girl “I Love You, You Imbecile”, to the infinitely catchy “Clever Girls Like Clever Boys…” Pelle executes his songs with the earnest cool of Roy Orbison and the emoting lyricism of Jarvis Cocker.

Pelle Carlsberg Myspace

MP3 – I Love You, You Imbecile – Pelle Carlberg

MP3 – Clever Girls Like Clever Boys… – Pelle Carlberg

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June 24, 2007

Rest with The Special Pillow

Filed under: Belle and Sebastian,Dan Cuddy,Special Pillow,Yo La Tengo — AZLTRON @ 12:20 pm

With the inventiveness and lyrical agility of Yo La Tengo and the flawless guitar freak outs of Dinosaur Jr. comes “Sleeping Beauty” by the Special Pillow. The latest offering from Dan Cuddy and company features bouncy pop numbers that are at once fun, beautiful, and totally self aware.

The variety this band offers up on each song is incredible. Some ride on a wave of Belle & Sebastian like pastoral pop, while others shoot forth with sheer guitar rocketry. This band feels like one of those coffee shop, outdoor summer festival bands that actually got good, and I mean really good. There’s something uniquely folk about them even while they use fuzzed out guitars to flesh out their catchy tunes. From the guitar toasting of “Your Dead City” to the country tinged instrumental “Fairport Airport” to the flawless alt pop of “My Poor Skull”, “Sleeping Beauty” is a gem of a find and a flawless album.

MP3 – The Special Pillow – My Poor Skull

MP3 – The Special Pillow – Your Dead City

Special Pillow Myspace

Buy “Sleeping Beauty”

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June 12, 2007

Jeremy Thinks You’re Alright

Filed under: Belle and Sebastian,Jeremy,Kings of Convenience,Simon and Garfunkle — AZLTRON @ 11:14 pm

Jeremy is an up and coming dynamic folk duo comprised of Lars Christian Olsen (age 19) and Øivind Hatleskog (age 21) from the Norwegian town of Stavinger. They play a soft jazzy pop sound that is in the same vein as folk-pop masters Simon and Garfunkle. I don’t know what they put in the water up there in Norway, but they just keep producing more and more excellent folk-pop groups.

The gentle vocals and breezy light melodies evoke Belle & Sebastian at times. The Jazzy thump of “You’re Alright” is thoroughly enjoyable from it’s opening melodic salvo and you can hear the Kings of Convenience influence almost immediately. I have no problem with this, because, really, is there a better template for young bands to use than Kings of Convenience? I don’t think so. Their EP has a few great surprises, but my favorite tune would have to be the beautifully bell accented “Someday With You”, it’s just a fantastic song. Jeremy released their EP, conveniently titled, the “Jeremy EP” on May 29 in the United States. I couldn’t think of anything better to start off the day than listening to some nice bouncy folk-pop.

MP3 – Someday With You – Jeremy

MP3 – You’re Alright (RAC remix) – Jeremy

Jeremy – You’re Allright

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