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1. Blueboy - Unisex (424) 2. Various Artists - Romantic and Square is Hip and Aware (352) 3. Primal Scream - Screamadelica (313) 4. Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister (298) 5. Mercury Rev - All Is Dream (298) 6. Mercury Rev - The Secret Migration (290) 7. Dirty Three - Cinder (278) 8. Mi and L'au - Mi and L'au (272) 9. Blonde Redhead - Misery Is a Butterfly (240) 10. The Wave Pictures - Instant Coffee Baby (228)

30 questions about your top 30 (last.fm)!

1. How did you get into 29?
The Orchids in 1994, i saw some names in a local indie music magazine called Music Heaven, there was a special article about Sarah 100 farewell, but it took me almost ten years to first heard those bands, the compilation is the famous There Are Back Again Lane which with Peaches on it. i still not fancy the male vocal that much, but when the girl sings "get yourself high..." i'm really happy.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
The Embassy there was a misapprehension at first, because there was another Canadian band with the same name, my darling Swedish friend Julius burnt me a The Embassy and Jens Lekman mp3 disk, then marvelous tasty Stage persona popped up, i was fully in a dizziness, happy in the thirsty, hunger, lust for Swedish sweet.

3. How many albums by 13 do you own?
Jens Lekman all of them! Jens was in Shanghai around last Christmas, but i was too busy at work, so a lifetime regret tortured me for a while, i went to the same pub he performed, seeing some jazz band on the same stage, but the echo in my mind was all from Jens...

4. What is your favorite song by 5?
The Smiths haha finally a question about them! did they write a bad song? NO! it means it's reluctant to pick any masterful track to show my worship. too many to mention: Barbarism Begins at Home, Draize Train, This Charming Man, Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, but i guess i would pick Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, it was the first time i heard about 22 year old Johnny Marr 10 years ago on a cassette, dreamy, romantic, lush... Jonny Greenwood said Johnny was the reason he decided to pick up a guitar, actually, me too.

5. What is your favorite song by 15?
The Pale Fountains my friend here Red made me a mixtape with Abergele Next Time on it, and it turned out to be one of my fave tracks.

6. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
Prefab Sprout old Paddy with white beard singing Cowboy Dreams

7. What is your favorite song by 10?
Pipas Golden Square

8. What is a good memory you have involving 30?
The Sundays memory? it's always good memory whatever Harriet sings :) because she sings, i dream.
"it's that little souvenir of a terrible year
which makes my eyes feel sore
oh I never should have said the books that you read
were all I loved you for
it's that little souvenir of a terrible year
which makes me wonder why
& it's the memories of the shed that make me turn red
surprise surprise surprise "

9. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
The Sugargliders and Spearmint
Fruitloopin'
You Were Always Happy
this is such a cute track:
"there was a huge explosion
everyone was killed
except for you and i
we had to re-populate the world...

the two of us were kidnapped
locked up in a room
left alone for days
we had to find something to do
then when i awoke
i'd missed my stop again
my head in my hands
ignoring you to make you want me
was my only strategy
oh how come girls
are more mature than boys?"


10. How many times have you seen 26 live?
Chet Baker NEVER! he passed away but sexy

11. What is the first song you heard by 23?
Kings of Convenience I Don't Know What I Can Save You From

12. What is your favorite album by 11?
The Wake Here Comes Everybody no doubt!

13. Who is your favorite member of 1?
Blueboy, Paul Stewart, Keith is great man, but don't ignore Paul's timeless contribution, without him Blueboy wouldn't be so great. don't know why? just go listen Also Ran, Sea Horses, Fleetway, Angel at My Table... and all the others

14. Have you ever seen 14 live?
Brazzaville i wish, they were coming here 2 years ago, but they didn't find a proper promoter, David is a top bloke, they're ppl in Russian and Turkey.

15. What is a good memory involving 27?
haha there's no 27 in my list, two 26

16. What is your favorite song by 16?
The Cribs You & I, cute brothers doing cute songs.

17. What is your favorite album by 18?
Louis Philippe no favorite, i hate him.


18. What is your favorite song by 21?
The Pastels Different Drum
sometimes i think they drink too much to sing lol

19. What is the first song you heard by 25?
there's no 25 either, two 24 :(

20. What is your favorite album by 2?
The Cure definitely Pornography
i spent all my teenage years listening to this dark and dark and dark masterpiece, its totally maniac, numb, hopeless, destructive spirituality captured my entire youth illusion. Robert sucked my soul.

21. What is your favorite song by 3?
Ennio Morricone La Califfa touching...

22. What is your favorite song by 8?
The Railway Children Monica's Light
Mr. Newby is THE Jangle pop master.

23. How many times have you seen 17 live?
Adorable NEVER! it took me years to know who they are. and they disbanded before that.

24. What is the worst song by 12?
The Hit Parade i hate them all except for My Favourite Girl and You Didn't Love Me Then

25. What was the first song you heard by 28?
The Twilight Singers Teenage Wristband i was blown away hearing this, a modern 400 Blows, manhood!

26. What is your favorite album by 7?
The Style Council, all of them! Shout to the Top!

27. What is your favorite song by 24?
East Village Kathleen Red gave me this, the best from C86, the best Jangle pop

28. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy?
The Durutti Column vini vini! but he never makes happy.

29. What is your favorite album by 4?
Popundret only one album released haha

30. How many albums do you own by 20?
no 20, two 19 again :(

As one could easily see by looking at my plays for the last month or two, I've been on a pretty heavy shoegaze bender. It was a pretty productive run, found a few new bands (Rollerskate Skinny, Secret Shine, and Malory especially) and rediscovered a few (how did I forget about Chapterhouse?). Of course, there was a lot of terrible stuff in their as well, but that is to be expected.

What is interesting to me is what has been replacing the shoegazer stuff in my listening. Generally, it's twee-pop and early indie-pop stuff- generally mopey and lovelorn kind of stuff. Not outright depressing, but more whistful fare, like that found on Sarah Records or the C-86-style acts. So far, I've discovered two great acts, Aberdeen and Blueboy, rediscovered Heavenly and Comet Gain, and have picked up a number of things I'm excited to check out.

That's all well and good, but it got me thinking about why this stuff appeals to me right now. Little bit of backstory- I'm getting married in May to a woman who I genuinely believe is perfect for me. I've been engaged since last July, and I've had absolutely no second thoughts. Basically, I'm very happy with my romantic situation. So why am I listening to music that is almost exclusively focused on the either the absence of or difficulties relating to love?

In a weird sort of way, I guess I've become nostalgic for the days of being a lovelorn teenager/young adult (I'm 26, do I still count as a young adult - I hope so). I don't seem to be nostalgic for a specific period of my life, as I'm mostly listening to stuff that's new to me, rather than the music I listened to "back in the day". Instead, I'm inexplicably reminiscing about a time when I was, frankly, pretty miserable all around. I'm avoiding the REALLY depressing stuff, and keeping with the more wistful longing theme, rather than the "everything is hell" theme. It's just odd in two ways: 1) realizing that I really don't have "girl problems" like I had back then (I sometimes have "problems with a girl", though minor, but not "girl problems" writ large), and 2) that part of me misses having "girl problems".

Anyway, in honor of my misplaced nostalgia, I'm going to highlight a few songs (in no order) that helped me get through that period.

1) Dinosaur Jr. - "Raisans" - For when I needed to rage against something

2) For Against - "Coalesced" - While I was a little bit older when I first heard this song (first year of law school), it still hit me hard at the time. A good friend of mine at the time told me that he thought the song perfectly described me, so I guess that counts for something.

3) Nikki Sudden - "Chelsea Embankment" - "There's too many girls in my dreams" about sums up that feeling perfectly

4) The Stone Roses - "(Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister" / "Made Of Stone" - These two songs, coming sequentially on The Stone Roses' first album always spoke to me when I was depressed.

5) The Clash - "I'm Not Down" - because you sometimes need someone to kick you and tell you it's going to be better.

6) The Chameleons - "Soul In Isolation" - because sometimes it never feels like it's going to get better.

7) The Modern Lovers - "Roadrunner" - because nothing cures teenage angst like driving to a great song.

Moscow Olympics - Cut The World

Moscow Olympics are not from Scotland. They’re not even from Britain. The clarification is necessary here, not only because the band’s name is derived from Orange Juice’s song, but also because they sound so British/Scottish. The fivesome is from the Philippines. They chose the olympic bear (mishka) of the 1980 as their mascot - a nice creature that adds to the nostalgic impressions of the music. And the artwork (also a bit pro-soviet, but from even more distant times) was created by an ex-USSR resident, another Misha. So, it all might be a coincidence, but probably not… What is left unsaid, by the name of the first of the seven songs, is better to be listened on the debut, and long-awaited album Cut The World released by Lavender Records.

The album is under 30 minutes, just enough to be longing for more. In the abundance of music that exists today, Moscow Olympics is a true breath of fresh air. They sound like Blueboy, and like a whole lot more (influences on their myspace are all very accurate in determining their musical style) - Moscow Olympics yet sound like themselves. They are incredibly lovely, shoegaze-dreamy, New-Order-joyful. Sometimes it even seems like you’re listening to shoegaze remakes of New Order. In the intro of Second Trace you can even catch a glipmse of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart…

Moscow Olympics is another example of a music that is light and beautiful like an early misty morning. Shoegaze, indie pop, whatever you call, they are filed right next to Blueboy, My Bloody Valentine, New Order. Truly beautiful, to say the least.

http://readlisten.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/moscow-olympics/

its been a good week of new acquisitions. In particular, a bumper crop of Asian indiepop finds (YAY! For I do hail from this desolate musical wasteland). for a region that's been traditionally devoid of great indiepop bands, I've found quite a few new ones over the last week.

 Astrolab (Indonesian)

These guys are quite lovely in a Blueboy sort of way. You'll certainly hear touches of If Wishes Were Horses here. But my favourite is a track in their native Bahasa language Lara Jiwa which is spacey and spectral with glittering guitars raining all over the track. Check them out here:



www.myspace.com/Astrolab8



Moscow Olympics (Philippines)



Oh my....these guys and gals are absolutely dreamsome. Again, they seem to be inspired by Blueboy (which begs the question why Blueboy seem to be so huge among Asian indiepop fans). Their releases on Lavender Records are must haves for all who want to sample some of the best shoegazey-poppy moments this year. Still has been mesmerising me for the past months, and it still hits at that right spot. The lead singer's got the vocals down to Blueboy-esque proportions to a T. Their latest release Cut The World is definitely worth seeking out.

www.myspace.com/moskva80



White Shoes & the Couples Company (Indonesia)



Here's more Indonesian indiepop goodness. The band are all about the finest sugar-coated hooks dripping with melodies that will melt you. They seem kitchsy and nostalgia sentimentalists, but their perfect pop moments will win you over when you hear them. Check out Nothing To Fear off their debut album White Shoes & The Couples Company released on Minty Fresh Records no less. Not in the same spacey shoegazey vibe as the other two, theirs is more of an orchestrated loveliness with hints of big band jazziness thrown in much like their compatriots Mocca.

www.whiteshoesandthecouplescompany.org
www.myspace.com/whiteshoesandthecouplescompany

Over the past few years, there have been more acts from my region that many should really check out. These include Ferns (Malaysia), Mocca (Indonesia again), Apple Orchard (Phiippines), Serenaide (Singapore). Its a wonderful time to be living here now I guess...

www.myspace.com/fernfrens
www.myspace.com/serenaide
www.myspace.com/moccaofficial
www.myspace.com/appleorchard

(9.3/10)



this is a happy-sad moment for me. part of me finds it painful to listen to and enjoy Astrolab's new record. their influence is so apparent to anyone who's ever listened to The Bank of England or If Wishes Were Horses that I feel I should pay respect to keith and stop listening.
the other part is overjoyed that anyone can make such great music with the man himself gone. that part of me is also convinced that this is by far the best record this year. with a stronger singer it could have been a solid 10/10.

and this is what astrolab's The Blue Thread Saga sounds like:

1. Maritime Symphony
instrumental intro. very maritime waves splashing to the sound of very jangly guitars.

2. An Odyssee to the Crystal Sea
sounds very much like sea horses (if wishes were horses)

3. My Guitar Stings The Nerves
sounds very much like self-portrait (unisex)

4. the deep secrets of the clouds
keith-style boy vocals. the music reminds me of angel at my table (bank of england).

5. When The Leaf is Not Green
deeper voice. slower pace. laid-back sound. more Lovejoy than Blueboy.

6. Linger Without Feeling
astrolab's attempt at swedish twee perhaps. more quirky than the rest of the songs but not unpleasant.

7. Lara Jiwa
the dreamy guitars in this track make for a great meandering jangle pop sound.

8. Hopes The Temple Cloud Can Hear Crusoe
viny reilly guitars at the beginning and in the background. boy girl vocals ca. blueboy if wishes were horses era again.

9. Sulk To Hidden
astrolab's very own sound and completely perfect at that. shimmering guitars and softly sung boy vocals. my favourite song on the album.

10. The End Of A Broken Man
filler track

11. We Are The Burlesque
more urgent guitars are balanced out well by the reflective vocals. reminds me of by appointment (the bank of england)

it's not the original but it's a very close approximation. and that's wonderful.

Tonight I played records and drank whiskey with Clare Wadd.

This is what she played:
The Frank and Walters - Colours
Baxendale - Music For Girls
ROC - Hey You Chick
Stars - Your Ex lover Is dead
British Sea Power - How Will I Ever Find My way Home

Chocolat - Like A Starberry
Even as We Speak - Drown
Fastbacks - Wrong Wrong Wrong
This Poison! - Poised over the pause button
Hidden Cameras - Ban Marriage

Hefner - The Greedy Ugly People
Death Cab for Cutie - The Sound of Settling
Wedding Present - Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Ballboy - Public Park
Primal Scream - Velocity Girl

Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #1
Jesus & Mary Chain - Upside down
Neil Diamond - Delirious Love
14 Iced Bears - Come Get Me
Orchids - Peaches

delgados - All You Need Is Hate
House of Love - Shine On
Field Mice - Sensitive
Blueboy - Joy Of Living
Dweeb - Scooby Doo
Spearmint - We're Going Out

Stars - Take Me To The Riot
Clouds - Get Out of My Dream

I made a zine. It has interviews with Loverlee, Strawberry Story, Katy from the Fat Tulips.

Bands that are mentioned in passing or alluded to are: The Lucksmiths, The Ramones, The Smittens, Bikini Kill, Julie Ruin, Blueboy, Luna, Red Pony Clock, Beat Happening, Heavenly, and Helen Love

I reviewed a manipulator alligator/Tinyfolk split.

It has coloring pages, one of those crazy cool "Can you find 5 differences between the pictures" thing-a-ma-jigs, two crayons, a crossword and a word search.

You can find out ordering information at myspace.com/sapricot